Mira’s POVI ran.My heart pounded against my ribs as I pushed my legs as fast as they could go, the sound of claws scraping against marble echoing behind me. Lucian was chasing me. Lucian.Or at least, the beast that had taken over him.The castle was in chaos. Guards yelled orders, trying to block his path, but it was useless. I stole a glance over my shoulder, and my stomach twisted at the sight. He was too fast, too strong. The warriors attempting to hold him back were tossed aside like ragdolls, their bodies crashing into walls with sickening thuds. Some of them tried again, but his massive form barreled through them with terrifying ease.Another guard lunged at him with a spear, aiming for his leg, but before I could blink, Lucian grabbed him and tore him apart. Blood splattered across the stone floors, and I let out a strangled gasp.They couldn’t stop him.They knew it. I knew it.Which was why they were no longer trying. Instead, they focused on keeping me alive.“Run, Luna!”
Mira’s POVI traced my fingers over the words on the old parchment, my mind racing as I pieced everything together. Every name, every clan, every kingdom—there was a pattern, a connection.The Blackwood Clan was ruled by Kai, Damien, Lucian, and Rowan. That much, I already knew. But now, I understood something deeper—each lycan family was named after the clan or kingdom they had established.Blackwood. Korvus. Stormbringer. Drakon. Vandros. Bloodstone. Darkfire.The realization hit me like a crashing wave.The lycans that attacked me weren’t random rogues. They weren’t mercenaries acting alone. They were rulers.That meant they had to be from one of the six other clans—Korvus, Stormbringer, Drakon, Vandros, Bloodstone, or Darkfire.I gripped the parchment tighter, my breath unsteady. This wasn’t just a small dispute. This was an act of war.In the world of lycan politics, interfering in another ruler’s business without consent was already a serious offense. But to attack the que
Mira’s POVThe air inside the dungeon was heavy with the scent of death and something far worse—mystery. The lifeless bodies of the captured lycans lay sprawled against the cold stone walls, their eyes still wide open in frozen terror. The sight sent a shiver down my spine.No one spoke for a long time.The guards stood stiffly, their expressions shifting between confusion and fear. The councilmen exchanged wary glances, their minds no doubt racing with the same questions that were swirling inside my head.How did this happen?How could high-grade prisoners be slaughtered under tight security without anyone noticing?Councilman Ryker was the first to break the silence. His voice was sharp and filled with barely restrained anger. “What in the Moon Goddess’ name happened here?”The guards snapped to attention, but none of them answered immediately. They looked just as clueless as the rest of us.Councilman Baylor frowned, stepping closer to one of the bodies. “Were they poisoned?”O
Kai’s PovThe journey had been long and merciless. Every warrior with me was weary, their exhaustion evident in their sluggish movements and the way they struggled to stay upright on their horses. We had left in haste, with no time to pack food or water, relying only on the occasional generosity of the few scattered clan members we passed. But I refused to stop.I rode at the front, my gaze never wavering from the path ahead. My brothers were out there—Rowan and Damien—possibly injured, captured, or worse. The thought gnawed at me, fueling my determination.The man leading us stumbled slightly, struggling to keep pace. I tightened my grip on the reins, my patience hanging by a thread.“If we arrive at the location and my brothers aren’t there,” I said, my voice cutting through the wind like a blade, “you and your entire family will be executed and fed to the crows.”The man flinched but nodded frantically. “I swear, Alpha Kai. I would never deceive you.”I didn’t care for his reas
Kai’s PovThe wind carried a heavy stillness as we approached the hut. The land around it was barren, untouched, and eerily silent. No movement. No signs of life. Just an isolated structure standing alone in the middle of nowhere.Jorah rode up beside me, his gaze sharp as he scanned the area. “There’s no movement inside, Alpha Kai.”I didn’t like this. Something wasn’t right.I raised a hand, signaling the warriors to spread out. “Surround the hut,” I ordered, keeping my voice low. “No one moves until I give the signal.”The warriors immediately followed my command, positioning themselves strategically, their weapons drawn, their eyes scanning for any hidden threats.Jorah and I dismounted, stepping toward the hut with cautious precision. I could feel the weight of every warrior’s gaze on me, waiting for my next move.The closer we got, the stranger it became.There was no entrance.No doors. No windows. No visible way inside.Jorah frowned, running his fingers along the stone-like
Mira povThe night was silent, yet I couldn’t find peace.I rolled onto my side, then onto my back, then onto my stomach, but sleep refused to come.My mind was a battlefield of thoughts, conflicting and troubling, clashing against one another. The dead prisoners haunted me. Their lifeless eyes, their untouched bodies, their inexplicable deaths.“How were they even killed?”Nothing made sense. The prisoners had no wounds, no signs of struggle, no poison detected in their bodies. It was as if something had just… taken their lives without a trace.A shiver ran down my spine.Then my thoughts drifted.To them.Lucian. Kai. Rowan. Damien.I hated how much I thought about them. How much I worried about them.It had been easier when I only had one purpose—to avenge my mother.I came to Blackwood to destroy the Lycan Kings. To tear them down. To make them suffer.And now?I was restless because they were in danger.I ran a hand through my hair in frustration, sitting up in bed. I was lo
Mira POV I woke up late.The sunlight filtering through the window was brighter than usual, meaning the morning had long passed. I groaned, rubbing my temples as I sat up. My sleep had been deep, but not exactly restful.My thoughts from last night still lingered—the conversation with Lucian, my decision to investigate the council, and my growing suspicions about the prisoners’ mysterious deaths.The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my thoughts.“My Lady,” one of my handmaids greeted me with a bow. “We have prepared your bath.”I nodded, pushing my thoughts aside for now.Two of my handmaids assisted me into the large bathtub, the warm water soothing my tense muscles. As they washed my hair, I found my mind drifting again—to the dead prisoners, to Serena’s disappearance, to Kai’s search for Rowan and Damien.So many unanswered questions.By the time I was dressed and prepared for the day, I realized that the castle was too quiet.I frowned as I made my way to the royal dining
Mira’s POVI embraced them for what seemed like ages.For the first time in days, I let go of all the weight in my chest and just held them. Rowan’s scent, Damien’s warmth—it was real. They were back. Safe. Alive.I didn’t realize my eyes were stinging until I felt the first hint of a tear threatening to fall.I quickly pulled back, wiping my face before anyone could see.I had lost myself in the moment, forgetting that we were standing in front of too many people. The warriors, the councilmen, even some castle servants were all watching. I straightened my back, regaining my composure.Rowan smirked at me. “Did you miss us that much, Mira?”Damien chuckled, folding his arms. “She couldn’t have. She still hasn’t succumbed to the mate bond yet.”I frowned at him, ready to argue, but before I could open my mouth, Kai scoffed.“You two have been kidnapped for days, and the first thing you care about is whether the Luna missed you or not?” he mocked, shaking his head. “Pathetic.”Rowan smi
Mira PovThe moment the gate slammed shut behind me, a deep sense of dread settled in my stomach. I turned just in time to see the monstrous boar step into the training yard, its thick muscles rippling under its coarse fur. Its beady black eyes locked onto me, nostrils flaring as it let out a deep, guttural snort. My heart stopped.I whipped around to face Rowan, who stood lazily by the sidelines with his arms crossed over his chest, watching me like this was some kind of twisted entertainment.“Rowan!” I shrieked, stumbling backward as the boar took a slow step forward, sizing me up. “What the hell is this?!”His response was maddeningly calm. “Your training.”“Training?!” My voice cracked as I took another step back, but the beast mirrored my movement, its sharp tusks glinting under the sunlight. “This isn’t training! This is murder! What sort of rubbish is this.” I was almost going crazy as I was scared it was going to come for me.“If you think that,” Rowan said, complete
Mira POV I woke up feeling warm, wrapped in a cocoon of heat and comfort. My body was tangled with another’s, and for a fleeting moment, I didn’t question it. I sank deeper into the warmth, my fingers absentmindedly tracing firm, smooth skin. It felt… right.Then I heard a deep chuckle, and reality struck me like a bolt of lightning.My eyes snapped open, and I was met with the sight of Lucian’s bare chest beneath my hand. His arm was wrapped securely around my waist, and the moment our eyes met, his lips curled into a knowing smirk.“Good morning, little mate. How was your night? Hope you had a peaceful and wonderful rest.” His voice was husky, laced with amusement as he grinned at me.I gasped and shot up, scrambling away from him as if burned. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and the events of last night came rushing back in vivid detail—the way he touched me, the way I let him, the way I had completely lost control.What have I done?I yanked the sheets around me and tur
Mira POVI froze on the spot, unable to answer Lucian’s question. My lips parted, but no words came out. What was I supposed to say? That I didn’t know? That my mind screamed at me to reject the bond, but my heart longed for something else?For the longest time, I had a single purpose—to bring them down, to tear them apart. It was the reason I endured everything, the reason I came here in the first place. The lycan brothers had to be destroyed, and I was the only one who could do it. But the Moon Goddess had different plans. She had played a cruel trick on me, binding my fate to theirs in the cruelest way possible.I was supposed to despise them. I was supposed to see them as nothing more than enemies, obstacles in my path. And yet…Lucian stood so close, his warmth enveloping me, his intoxicating scent clouding my mind. He smelled of the wild—earthy, masculine, raw. The heat from his body seeped into mine, weakening my resolve. Unlike his brothers, Lucian didn’t push. He di
Lucian’s POV I had just finished my meditation, my mind momentarily at peace, though the storm within me never truly settled. Afterward, I decided to take a shower before returning to my painting. The rhythmic sound of water cascading over me did little to wash away the weight I carried—memories, responsibilities, and the undeniable pull toward the one person I shouldn’t crave so desperately.When I stepped out of the bath, steam clung to my skin as I reached for a towel, running it over my damp hair before wrapping it loosely around my waist. My chambers were silent, just as I preferred them. Or so I thought.As I turned toward my bed, movement caught my eye.Mira.She was standing near the paintings, her back partially turned, but I could see the moment she froze—her entire body going rigid as her gaze locked onto mine. Or rather, onto the bare expanse of my chest, trailing lower until she abruptly looked away.I didn’t move. Neither did she.A tense silence filled the room,
Mira POVI couldn’t tell where the voice was coming from. It was a woman’s voice, which meant it couldn’t be the shadow guards. That should have reassured me, but it didn’t. A shiver crawled down my spine as I stood still, scanning my surroundings. The torches flickered against the stone walls, casting restless shadows that seemed to move on their own.I swallowed hard, tilting my head slightly. “Who’s there?” I whispered.Silence.I let out a slow breath, trying to convince myself that I had imagined it. Maybe I was exhausted. Maybe my thoughts were so tangled that I was starting to hear things that weren’t real.But then—“Mira.”The voice came again, clearer this time. A soft, almost melodic sound, as if the speaker was both close and far away at the same time. My heart pounded, and I took an involuntary step back.This wasn’t normal.I turned sharply, but before I could investigate further, another voice—louder, real—broke through the eerie stillness.“My lady!”I gasped,
Mira POV I wiped the sweat from my forehead, smudging soot onto my skin as I handed Damien another tool. The air in the workshop was thick with heat, the scent of burning metal mixing with oil and dust. My muscles ached from bending and lifting, but I didn’t mind. Strangely enough, I enjoyed this—watching Damien work, seeing how his hands moved with precise intent, as if he were shaping something far greater than just a tool. He was brilliant, there was no denying that.“You don’t usually have someone helping you with all this, do you?” I asked, glancing around at the organized chaos of blueprints, gears, and half-finished contraptions scattered across the workbenches.Damien barely glanced up as he adjusted a clamp on the metal piece he was working on. “No. I work alone.”I arched an eyebrow. “Why?”He shrugged, tightening the clamp before reaching for a hammer. “People can be distracting.”I placed a hand over my chest in mock offense. “Are you saying I’m distracting?”Damie
Mira POV Kai didn’t answer me. His expression remained calm, unreadable, as he said, “That’s not my story to tell.”His words made my frustration bubble even more. I hated when people kept secrets from me, especially when I knew they were about something important. But I also knew pushing Kai wouldn’t get me anywhere. He wasn’t the type to give in easily. So, instead, I let out a sharp exhale and crossed my arms.“Fine,” I muttered. “But I didn’t learn anything today.”Kai arched an eyebrow, his lips curving into an amused smirk. “That’s not true. You ran a few successful laps and stretched properly. That’s progress.”I scowled, kicking a loose pebble near my foot. “That’s not real training. Rowan just wanted to punish me.”Kai chuckled. “Rowan believes strength starts with endurance.” He paused before adding, “And patience.”I shot him a glare, already knowing what he meant. He was hinting that I needed to be more patient, that I had to trust the process. But patience wasn’t
Mira’s POVA shrill note from a flute shattered the silence of my sleep, jolting me awake. My eyes flew open, and for a moment, I was too disoriented to react. Then the realization hit me—I was being woken up. And not in a gentle manner. My body tensed as anger flooded through me. Who dared disturb my rest?I shot up from my bed, my heart pounding in irritation, and my gaze landed on a guard standing stiffly near the doorway, the wooden flute still in his hands. My glare could have burned a hole through him.“What in the gods’ names do you think you’re doing?” I snapped, throwing my blanket off me.The guard bowed slightly, clearly sensing my fury but not deterred by it. “I was ordered to wake you, Lady Mira,” he said firmly. “Lord Rowan instructed me to ensure you were awake and ready for training.”Rowan. Of course, it was him. Only someone as insufferable and overbearing as Rowan would have the audacity to drag me from sleep in such a ridiculous way. My hands clenched into fists
Mira’s POVThe council hall remained silent as everyone absorbed the weight of Lucian’s question.“If witches are behind this, how do we find them?”No one had an answer.Then, finally, a councilman spoke.“We should send an emissary to Darkfire Clan,” he suggested. “Their kingdom had the last known witch executions in history. If there is any place that might still have traces of witches, it’s there.”A murmur of agreement passed through the room.It was a reasonable plan.But now, the real question was—who would go?“We need someone skilled in negotiation,” another councilman added. “Someone who can get information without drawing too much suspicion.”“I nominate Alpha Lucian,” Councilman Baylor declared.I turned to look at Lucian, expecting him to either accept or decline the nomination.But before he could say anything, his brothers immediately refused.“No,” Kai said firmly.“Absolutely not,” Rowan added.Damien didn’t even hesitate. “He’s not going.”The council members looked