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DaneThe energy from the ritual still pulses through my veins as I make my way to Alpha Bennett's office. That moment of connection—Finley, Liam, and me forming a perfect circuit of power—has left Summit restless and contemplative. It felt right in a way I'm not prepared to examine too closely.But I don't have the luxury of dwelling on it. Not with what I discovered in the Mountain Ridge archives. Not with what's coming.Alpha Bennett looks up as I enter, the strain of recent days evident in the new lines around his eyes. "Enforcer Parker. Welcome back. I understand we have you to thank for assisting with Liam's healing."I don’t miss the way he takes every opportunity to use my current title to demean me the same way my father deos by insisting I work fro him. Assholes, both of them. Though now, with Finley in the picture, I’m no longer sure Alpha is a role I’m destined for. "I did what was necessary," I reply, standing at formal attention. "But that's not why I'm here."His express
Dane As I leave Alpha Bennett’s office, my phone vibrates with an incoming call. Father. Again. The twelfth call in as many hours. I've been avoiding him since returning to Forest Trails, knowing each conversation will just tighten the trap around me. But I can't delay the inevitable forever.I answer as I step outside, the afternoon sun offering no warmth against the chill of impending confrontation. "Father.""Where are you?" His voice is controlled but cold, tension vibrating beneath the surface. "The Silver Creek delegation has arrived. Aria is asking for you. The ceremonial preparations cannot proceed without your presence.""I'm at Forest Trails," I reply, keeping my tone neutral despite Summit's growing agitation. "There have been developments. Critical information about the entities attacking multiple packs.""Whatever territorial disputes Forest Trails is experiencing are their concern, not ours." His dismissal is absolute. "Your duty is to Mountain Ridge. To our alliance wit
Dane Suddenly, my decision solidifies and I feel a perfect peace settle over me. I know what I have to do. What I should have done weeks ago, when I first recognized Finley as my mate. What I've been too cowardly, too bound by obligation, to admit even to myself."There will be no announcement ceremony tomorrow," I say, my voice carrying clearly to everyone gathered.Aria's perfect composure slips, confusion creasing her brow. "What?""I cannot and will not proceed with the arranged mating," I continue, addressing not just Aria but the gathered wolves, and by extension, my father. "I respect Silver Creek and the alliance our packs have built. But I cannot enter a mating bond that contradicts the Moon Goddess's will.""You can't be serious," Aria hisses under her breath. "This arrangement has been years in development. Both our packs have invested everything in this alliance.""I am entirely serious." I maintain steady eye contact, owing her that much respect. "And I apologize for the
Finley"Are you sure about this arrangement?" Dad asks, his voice low as we stand outside the secure wing where Liam is recovering. "All three of you in such close proximity, given the... situation?"I maintain a neutral expression despite the awkwardness of discussing my love life with my father. "It's the most practical solution. If our bloodlines are what these creatures are targeting, we need to maintain a unified defense.""Practical," he repeats, a hint of skepticism in his tone. "And the emotional aspects?""Are secondary," I finish firmly. "We're all adults, Dad. We can handle complicated feelings while focusing on the crisis at hand."He studies me for a moment, parental concern warring with Alpha pragmatism. "Dane Parker made a significant public declaration today. One that will have lasting consequences for all involved.""I'm aware." I keep my voice steady despite Nova's restless stirring at the mention of Dane's name. "But one declaration doesn't erase past actions. Trust
FinleyI stare out the car window as we pass the "Welcome to Glass Lake" sign, my stomach doing that weird flippy thing it always does when I know I'll be seeing Liam soon. You'd think after eighteen years of friendship, I'd be over this schoolgirl crush. But apparently my wolf, Nova, hasn't gotten the memo.Just friends, I remind myself for the thousandth time. That's all we'll ever be."Cheer up, birthday girl," my brother Rhett says, nudging my shoulder from the backseat. "You look like you're heading to a funeral instead of your own party."I force a smile, though it probably looks more like a grimace. "I just don't see why we had to celebrate here. All my friends are back home.""The Stones, Crosses, and Kanes have been coming to our place for your birthday every year since you were born," Mom chimes in from the front seat, her tone gentle but leaving no room for argument. "It's our turn to visit them, sweetheart. These summer gatherings are tradition."She's right, of course. Ou
FinleyThe party swirls around me in a blur of silver and white, but I barely register any of it. My wolf paces restlessly beneath my skin, yearning for our mate who keeps finding reasons to stay on the opposite side of the room. But I refuse to let anyone see how much it hurts."He probably just needs time to process," I whisper to Nova, forcing myself to smile as another pack member wishes me happy birthday. "Anyone would be shocked."I'm lying to myself and I know it. But it's better than facing the truth I saw in Liam's eyes when he ran from me.Kaden, Liam's older brother and the Alpha of Glass Lake, approaches with his mate Olivia. They both hesitate, nostrils flaring slightly, and I know they can sense it – the newly formed mate bond humming in the air. Olivia's eyes fill with concern, but before she can say anything, I shake my head slightly. Please don't make me talk about it."Happy birthday, Fin," Kaden says smoothly, respecting my silent plea. His eyes flick to where Liam
FinleyThe morning sun mocks me with its cheerfulness as I stare at the ceiling of the guest cabin. I've barely slept, my eyes raw from crying, my throat sore from where Nova howled most of the night. The mate bond still pulses inside me, an open wound that refuses to heal.Why? I've asked the Moon Goddess this question a thousand times since last night. Why give me a mate who doesn't want me? What kind of cruel test is this?But as dawn breaks, a strange clarity settles over me. The Moon Goddess doesn't make mistakes. She doesn't create mate bonds for nothing. There must be a reason Liam is my mate, even if he's fighting it with everything he has.I push myself up, a new determination taking root. I can't leave Glass Lake without trying one more time. I need to make him understand what he's throwing away – what we could be together. If he still rejects me after that, I can walk away knowing I did everything I could. At least that’s what I tell myself. Nova stirs anxiously as I dress
FinleyTwo years. That's how long it's been since I felt a mate bond tear my world apart. Seven hundred and thirty days of carefully crafted excuses for why I couldn't attend pack gatherings at Glass Lake. Twenty-four months of throwing myself into training until my muscles screamed louder than my heart.Now, watching the female warriors I've trained spar in the morning sun, I almost believe I'm past it all. Almost."Your stance is too wide, Tara!" I call out, circling the training ring. "Remember, speed over power. Let the bigger wolves underestimate you – that's your advantage."The young she-wolf adjusts, then lands a perfect combination that sends her opponent stumbling backward. Pride swells in my chest. Two years ago, female warriors were rare in Forest Trails. Now we have an entire unit, thanks to Dad finally listening to my suggestions."Looking good out there, Bennett." Bradley calls from the sidelines, earning an internal eye roll from me. But I pointedly ignore him. Tara a
Finley"Are you sure about this arrangement?" Dad asks, his voice low as we stand outside the secure wing where Liam is recovering. "All three of you in such close proximity, given the... situation?"I maintain a neutral expression despite the awkwardness of discussing my love life with my father. "It's the most practical solution. If our bloodlines are what these creatures are targeting, we need to maintain a unified defense.""Practical," he repeats, a hint of skepticism in his tone. "And the emotional aspects?""Are secondary," I finish firmly. "We're all adults, Dad. We can handle complicated feelings while focusing on the crisis at hand."He studies me for a moment, parental concern warring with Alpha pragmatism. "Dane Parker made a significant public declaration today. One that will have lasting consequences for all involved.""I'm aware." I keep my voice steady despite Nova's restless stirring at the mention of Dane's name. "But one declaration doesn't erase past actions. Trust
Dane Suddenly, my decision solidifies and I feel a perfect peace settle over me. I know what I have to do. What I should have done weeks ago, when I first recognized Finley as my mate. What I've been too cowardly, too bound by obligation, to admit even to myself."There will be no announcement ceremony tomorrow," I say, my voice carrying clearly to everyone gathered.Aria's perfect composure slips, confusion creasing her brow. "What?""I cannot and will not proceed with the arranged mating," I continue, addressing not just Aria but the gathered wolves, and by extension, my father. "I respect Silver Creek and the alliance our packs have built. But I cannot enter a mating bond that contradicts the Moon Goddess's will.""You can't be serious," Aria hisses under her breath. "This arrangement has been years in development. Both our packs have invested everything in this alliance.""I am entirely serious." I maintain steady eye contact, owing her that much respect. "And I apologize for the
Dane As I leave Alpha Bennett’s office, my phone vibrates with an incoming call. Father. Again. The twelfth call in as many hours. I've been avoiding him since returning to Forest Trails, knowing each conversation will just tighten the trap around me. But I can't delay the inevitable forever.I answer as I step outside, the afternoon sun offering no warmth against the chill of impending confrontation. "Father.""Where are you?" His voice is controlled but cold, tension vibrating beneath the surface. "The Silver Creek delegation has arrived. Aria is asking for you. The ceremonial preparations cannot proceed without your presence.""I'm at Forest Trails," I reply, keeping my tone neutral despite Summit's growing agitation. "There have been developments. Critical information about the entities attacking multiple packs.""Whatever territorial disputes Forest Trails is experiencing are their concern, not ours." His dismissal is absolute. "Your duty is to Mountain Ridge. To our alliance wit
DaneThe energy from the ritual still pulses through my veins as I make my way to Alpha Bennett's office. That moment of connection—Finley, Liam, and me forming a perfect circuit of power—has left Summit restless and contemplative. It felt right in a way I'm not prepared to examine too closely.But I don't have the luxury of dwelling on it. Not with what I discovered in the Mountain Ridge archives. Not with what's coming.Alpha Bennett looks up as I enter, the strain of recent days evident in the new lines around his eyes. "Enforcer Parker. Welcome back. I understand we have you to thank for assisting with Liam's healing."I don’t miss the way he takes every opportunity to use my current title to demean me the same way my father deos by insisting I work fro him. Assholes, both of them. Though now, with Finley in the picture, I’m no longer sure Alpha is a role I’m destined for. "I did what was necessary," I reply, standing at formal attention. "But that's not why I'm here."His express
FinleyTo my surprise, Storm responds—not with submission, but with recognition. Wolf to wolf, Alpha to Beta. The grip on my wrist eases slightly, though Liam's eyes remain that uncanny blue."Finley," Celina directs, "remind him of pack bonds. Of human connections. His wolf is fighting, but his human needs anchoring."I lean closer, maintaining our healing circle while meeting Storm's gaze directly. "Liam, I know you can hear me. Hold on to Storm, but don't let him take over. Remember who you are. Glass Lake’s Beta. Kaden's second. The pack needs you. We need you."Something flickers in those wolf-blue eyes—recognition, determination, the human fighting to resurface. The black veins across his chest pulse once more, then begin to recede, the unnatural darkness gradually giving way to normal wound coloration.Celina's chanting reaches a crescendo. A final pulse of energy flows through our circle—from my connection to the territory, through Liam's wounded body, through Dane's stabilizin
Finley"His temperature's still rising," I tell Celina, pressing a cold cloth to Liam's forehead. His skin burns beneath my touch, unnaturally hot even for a wolf's naturally elevated body temperature. The wounds across his chest have turned an alarming shade of black at the edges, dark veins spreading outward like poisonous roots seeking deeper soil.The witch examines the progression with supernatural focus, her fingers hovering just above the damaged tissue. "The containment spell is slowing it, but not stopping it. This isn't ordinary venom.""Can you help him?" My voice remains steady despite the fear clawing at my insides. Nova whines anxiously, distressed by Storm's weakening presence.Celina's expression is grave as she meets my eyes. "The poison is targeting his human side directly, trying to separate it from his wolf. If we don't stabilize it soon..."She doesn't finish the sentence. She doesn't need to. I've seen what happens when a wolf's nature fractures. It’s rare, but it
LiamAs the sounds of combat intensify outside, I move to the tactical display, tracking our defensive positions. The creatures are attacking with unexpected coordination, probing for weaknesses rather than committing fully at any one point."They're testing us," I realize aloud. "Looking for gaps in our defense.""Or creating a diversion," Finley suggests, studying the pattern. "The heaviest assault is north, but their numbers are thinner than expected for a full attack."She's right again. This feels like a feint, a distraction from their true objective. But what—A scream from the adjacent corridor interrupts my thought. Not a battle cry, but pure terror. Finley and I move simultaneously, rushing toward the sound with several warriors behind us.We find a young pack member crumpled against the wall, blood pooling beneath him from a wound to his throat. Nearby, a door stands open that should have been secured—the entrance to the records room where we've been storing all evidence coll
Liam"They knew the patrol signs," adds another team member, a Mountain Ridge enforcer, as we try to sort through the chaos before us. "They even responded correctly to the challenge phrases. We had no reason to suspect them until they were within striking distance."Alpha Bennett's expression darkens. "Gather the team leaders. Now. If they're mimicking pack members, we need new identification protocols immediately."As the command center explodes into activity, I catch Finley's gaze across the room. The same realization passes between us—if these creatures can convincingly pass as wolves, no one is safe. Trust, the foundation of pack life, has become a vulnerability."What do you need me to do?" Ryleigh asks, pulling me back to the immediate crisis."Find Kaden," I tell her. "Tell him to implement security protocol Delta. Then report to Finley for evacuation acceleration."She nods sharply and moves off without hesitation, all personal history temporarily set aside in the face of imme
LiamMaps, communication protocols, patrol schedules—organizing a multi-pack defense network is complex at the best of times. Doing it while exhausted, emotionally raw, and facing an enemy we barely understand verges on impossible. Yet here we are."Glass Lake's southeastern quadrant remains vulnerable," I tell the assembled team leaders, highlighting the area on the digital map. "The terrain makes it difficult to patrol effectively, but that same difficulty makes it attractive for ambush points.""We can redirect two squads from the northern border," Kaden suggests, leaning over the table. "River Run has that area heavily covered now."I nod, making the adjustment on the tactical display. Three days of intensifying attacks have forced us into unprecedented cooperation—territory boundaries temporarily dissolved as we create a unified defense grid across all allied packs. The joint command center established in Forest Trails' main hall has become the nerve center for our operations."Wh