MAGNAR’S POVI tapped my fingers against the wooden armrest of my chair, my gaze drifting to my father. He was waiting for something.His eyes flicked to the grand entrance every few moments, checking the time, his jaw tight even as he wore a practiced, almost sickeningly sweet smile. Ever since the royals arrived, he had been too pleasant—his words laced with excessive flattery, his demeanour unnervingly controlled. He wasn’t usually like this. He never cared for formalities unless they served his purpose.His obsession was showing.And if I had noticed, then so had everyone else.Even Valeria.I stole a glance at her across the area. Her posture was tense, her lips pressed into a thin line, her sharp eyes scanning everything, absorbing every detail. She knew he was up to something.We all did.To the others, it would seem absurd—a suicidal move—to attempt to dethrone the royals here, in their presence, at their own event, surrounded by their most trusted warriors.But that was the p
VALERIA’S POVThe news of Magnar taking over as Alpha tonight spread through the packhouse like wildfire. Whispers echoed down the halls, some filled with surprise, others with suspicion.No one expected Dimitri to allow such a thing so easily.Unless… he didn’t have a choice.It made sense. The laws had been on Magnar’s side for a while now, yet Dimitri had clung to his power for his personal gain. The fact that the queen herself had stepped in made it clear that this wasn’t his decision at all. It was forced upon him. Now whatever she said to convince him to do that, I don’t care at least Magnar is not as bad as Dimitri.But can’t say for sure, thirst of power and position make people do horrible things.Dimitri valued his reputation too much to openly rebel. He had no choice but to make it look like his own decision to save face.Still, the packhouse buzzed with unease. No one quite knew what to make of it. Would Magnar be his own Alpha? Or was this just another one of Dimitri’s tw
VALERIA’S POVNow that Lily was out of sight, I turned my focus back to what truly mattered. Magnar.I needed to know what was going through his head after everything that had happened. All of this must have taken a toll on him but i still i need to pull out as much information as I can."Magnar, wait!" I called out, quickening my steps to catch up with him.He stopped but didn’t turn immediately. His shoulders were tense, his fists clenched at his sides. Before I could ask he answered first."He was pressured by the royals to do it, he obviously didn’t want to," he said before I could even ask.I nodded. That much was obvious. Dimitri had spent years clinging to his power—there was no way he would just hand it over. Magnar has been fighting over this for quite some time now, I have witnessed it first hand."Do you think he’ll actually step down?" I asked carefully.Magnar let out a sharp breath, shaking his head. "No. He’s planning something, I can sense it. He won’t let his position
VALERIA’S POVThe air outside felt heavy. Thick with tension. Thick with something unnatural.I forced myself to breathe, to act normal as I stepped outside the packhouse. Every movement had to be measured, every glance had to be casual. If Dimitri even suspected that I was up to something, it could mean disaster.Just as I reached an open spot near the training grounds which looked so different now with all the decorations and everything else, my phone buzzed. Elijah.I quickly answered, keeping my voice low."Elijah? Is everything okay?" I questioned."Yeah, I just…" He sighed, a hint of guilt in his tone. "I’m sorry I’ve been away and not been able to help you."I blinked. I hadn’t expected that.He was calling to apologize?"It’s fine, Elijah," I assured him. "You needed time with your mate, and I get it. I’m not going to hold it against you."There was a brief pause. Then his voice softened."Yeah, well… we marked each other."I stilled for a moment."And I thought I should tell
VALERIA’S POVI ran my fingers over the fabric of my dress, smoothing the invisible creases as I stared at my reflection. I was almost ready for tonight’s event, yet my mind was far from at peace.What will happen tonight?How will it all unfold?What if I fail?So many questions. No answers.I exhaled sharply, trying to ground myself. Whatever happened tonight, I needed to be prepared. This wasn’t just about surviving. It was about fighting back.A sudden knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts.I turned, giving myself one last glance in the mirror before stepping forward. I expected one of my friends, maybe Magnar or a guard, but when I opened the door—I froze."Dimitri?" My voice barely came out as a whisper.He stood there, looking perfectly composed, dressed in all black as always, his sharp eyes scanning me with an expression I couldn't decipher. In his hand, he held a black rose."You look gorgeous," he murmured, a slow smile spreading across his lips. "Just like your moth
VALERIA’S POV"I think you don’t need me at all," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "After all, you've planned everything in advance. You can take everyone down on your own including the royals."I had to play it cool. I had to.I couldn't participate in this bloodbath. Not after everything I had seen, after everything I had learned.Dimitri smiled, slow and knowing, as if I were a child fumbling through a game I didn’t know the rules to. "Oh no, Valeria," he tsked, his voice dripping with amusement. "I kept you close for a special reason."A chill ran down my spine.He lifted his hand, pointing toward the throne that had been placed at the very top of the ceremonial stage.My gaze followed his finger, and my stomach twisted violently.Riven.She sat there in her regal attire, her dark eyes scanning the gathering crowd below. There was something almost… still about her, as if she sensed the danger lingering in the air.I turned back to Dimitri, frowning. "I don’t understand. Tha
VALERIA’S POV"Now, I’m leaving," Dimitri murmured, his voice casual, almost amused. He reached out, lightly tapping my shoulder before turning away. "But be a good girl and wait for my signal. Remember, Valeria—many innocent lives are in your hands as well."I stood frozen, my mind whirling as he walked away, his confident stride as unshaken as ever.I lifted my gaze to the grand ceremonial stage, my stomach twisting at the sight before me.Riven.She sat rigid in her throne, her shoulders tense, her sharp eyes searching the crowd.She had felt my warning.I didn’t know how, but somehow—through the smallest of signals, a glance, a shift in energy—she had understood that something was wrong.But it wasn’t enough.I had no way of telling her what was coming.I clenched my fists, my breath shallow as I scanned the sea of royals and Alphas gathered in the clearing.Each of them sat on the elevated platform, their chairs arranged in a semi-circle to form the Royal Council. The rest of the
MAGNAR’S POVThe ceremonies had begun, and I was already exhausted.I had spent the last few hours proving my worth in ways that felt almost ritualistic, a spectacle for the royals and the gathered packs. It turns out, having them present meant everything had to be grand, elaborate, and dragged out beyond reason.But I endured it.Because I had to.Because tonight was more than just a title transfer.It was a power play, a game of dominance, and an unspoken warning to every pack present—watch closely, because the future is being decided tonight.And I would be damned if I let my father dictate it.________________________________________The First Test was of physical StrengthThe warriors gathered in the large stone-floored arena, the torches burning high above us, casting flickering shadows over the sand-covered ground. The best fighters from different packs had volunteered to challenge me, each one an Alpha or an elite warrior trained for battle.I was expected to take them on, one
VALERIA’S POVRiven left, but I stayed.Her words echoed in my mind, a quiet reminder of the truth I needed to accept.I need to change the way I think.All of this was meant to be.Dimitri’s death. The battle. The bloodshed.I had to take revenge. It was supposed to happen one way or another.I couldn’t blame myself—not anymore.But I couldn’t stay here either.This place, these walls, this land—they would always remind me of what happened.Still, I couldn’t just walk away without a final goodbye.I had to make things right. I had to set everything straight.________________________________________By the time I returned to the pack, the battlefield was nearly cleared.The royal traitors had been dealt with.The Alphas who had dared to cross Riven were handcuffed in silver and being loaded into vans. I had no doubt she would deal with them personally.I walked toward the packhouse, my heart steady but my mind restless.I wasn’t sure what I expected, but when I stepped inside, I was m
VALERIA’S POVDimitri was dead.His lifeless body lay still, surrounded by the very people he had tormented and betrayed.And yet—I didn’t feel victorious.I didn’t feel like a hero.Instead, a sharp, twisting knot of dread and guilt settled deep inside me, like a festering wound that refused to heal.I should have felt relief. Peace.But all I felt was…Empty.A murderer.I had taken a life.Yes, it was justified. Yes, it was necessary. Yes, he deserved it.But that didn’t make it any easier.My gaze flickered toward Magnar. His lips were pressed together in a firm line, his golden eyes locked onto Dimitri’s body. I saw the shine of unshed tears, the war between grief and justice playing out in real time.I turned away.I couldn’t look at him.I couldn’t look at any of them.The weight of their stares, their unspoken expectations, was suffocating me.The world blurred as my breathing grew shallow. My heartbeat pounded against my ribs. I had to get out of here.I took a step back—then
VALERIA’S POVThe battlefield was silent.Not because the war was over—But because they were waiting.Waiting for me to finish what Dimitri started.I stared down at him, breathing heavily, my heart hammering in my chest.Riven’s voice sliced through the silence, low and certain.“Don’t show any mercy this time, Valeria. Your friends are safe—he has nothing against you now.”And just like that—My hesitation disappeared.The weight I had been carrying, the fear, the second-guessing—it all vanished.I turned my head slightly, catching sight of Magnar.He stood there, his arms tense at his sides, his jaw locked.His expression was unreadable, but his eyes…They were conflicted.He may have accepted this fate, may have severed the final tie with the man who raised him, but I knew—watching this wouldn’t be easy for him.I exhaled slowly and met his gaze.“You should look away,” I told him. “This is going to be painful for you to watch.”But he didn’t move.Didn’t blink.Didn’t turn away.
VALERIA’S POVI had never seen a vampire in my life.Not in person.Not until now.And suddenly, we were surrounded by them.Their presence was undeniable—an eerie, otherworldly force that sent shivers down my spine. Their sharp features, their glowing red eyes, the way they moved so effortlessly, like shadows given form.Riven is associated with vampires?Wow.I had heard whispers about her, of course. Rumors that she had ties beyond the werewolf realm. That she had even visited the fae kingdom.I never believed it.But now?Nothing seemed impossible when it came to Riven.And honestly… good for her.If anyone could command respect across different species, it was the woman standing before us with that annoyingly confident smirk.Dimitri, however, didn’t share my thoughts.His face twisted in pure rage, his lips pulling back over his teeth as he snarled at the newcomers.“Vampires are abominations! They are not allowed on my land! This is exactly why you should never have been queen,
VALERIA’S POV“No—”I lunged forward, my heart slamming against my ribs like a war drum.But I was too late.Dimitri’s fingers slammed down on the button, his smirk widening as if he had already won.For a split second, my world froze.I braced myself, every muscle in my body tightening. I knew what was coming—poison.A gas so lethal it would seep into the lungs of everyone around us, burning them from the inside, turning them into lifeless corpses before they could even scream.The end.I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for the sting, the suffocating burn, the chaos—But…Nothing happened.I snapped my eyes open, my breath catching in confusion.The arena was still there. The ground hadn’t turned into a graveyard.The warriors, the royals, everyone was still standing.For a moment, even Dimitri looked stunned.His hand trembled over the button, his eyes darting wildly across the battlefield as if expecting bodies to drop at any second.Nothing.No poison.No death.No victory for him.
VALERIA’S POVThe battlefield still burned with chaos, but in this moment, my world narrowed down to only three people—Dimitri, Riven, and myself.Dimitri stood a few feet away, blood dripping from his nose, his fury barely contained. He was no longer the composed, manipulative mastermind. No. I had managed to push him into desperation.And Riven?She was watching me intently, her violet eyes sharp as she slowly began to understand what I was about to do.I turned my gaze back to Dimitri and smirked.“You know, Dimitri,” I called out to him, my voice clear over the noise of the battle, “you missed one crucial detail about Moonbound wolves.”Dimitri clenched his jaw. He wasn’t in the mood for games.But Riven, oh, she was.“I would love to know what it is,” she drawled, amusement flickering across her face.“I don’t care,” Dimitri snapped at the same time.I chuckled darkly. “Oh, but you should, Dimitri. You see, you’ve spent so much time obsessing over your revenge, your plans, and co
VALERIA’S POVI don’t know what came over me.One moment, I was staring at Riven, knowing Dimitri’s command had sealed my fate.The next, I was turning against him.All the energy I had been gathering, all the rage, the frustration, the helplessness—I redirected it.Not at Riven.At him.A blinding surge of power exploded from my hands, aimed straight at Dimitri.It hit him dead center.The force of my attack sent him flying backward, ripping him from the ceremonial platform. He crashed hard onto the stone floor below, a thunderous impact shaking the entire arena.Gasps echoed around me.A thick cloud of dust and debris rose from where Dimitri had landed, swirling in the air like a storm brewing around us. The weight of my attack had thrown him back with such force that the ceremonial platform itself trembled from the impact.For a heartbeat, all I could hear was the ringing in my ears and the shallow gasps of those who had witnessed what I had just done.Then, movement.I wasn’t give
VALERIA’S POVThe moment the signal came, I ran.The battle raged around me, the air thick with the scent of blood, smoke, and something far more sinister—Dimitri’s victory.His forces were overwhelming, tearing through the opposition like a wildfire, precise and merciless. The royals who had sided with him played their part well, cutting down anyone who dared to challenge their authority.This was his battlefield.His game.And I was just a piece he had moved into place.By the time I reached the throne, I expected to see panic, desperation—fear.But Riven sat there calmly, her posture regal, her gaze surveying the chaos below with a detached sort of curiosity.As if she were merely watching a performance rather than witnessing the fall of her kingdom.“So, you’re here to kill me.” She stated with a sigh.She didn’t sound afraid.Not even surprised.I faltered for a moment. She knew?“You knew?” I asked, disbelief coating my voice.She turned her head slightly, her golden eyes meetin
MAGNAR’S POVThe Queen followed my gaze.She saw it too.The fear in Valeria’s eyes.The helplessness clinging to her like a shroud.Riven’s expression remained unreadable, but something flickered in her gaze—understanding.“Hmm… interesting,” she muttered under her breath, her tone thoughtful, calculated. Then, without missing a beat, she turned her attention back to the gathered audience.She took a single step forward, commanding absolute silence.“As the reigning Queen, I declare the trials complete,” her voice rang out, powerful and unshaken. “Magnar has proven himself worthy through strength, strategy, and wisdom. He has shown that he is capable of leading not only his pack but making the hard choices necessary for the greater good.”The crowd erupted in cheers.Pride swelled in my chest, but a weight still pressed against me. Something wasn’t right. I could still feel Valeria’s gaze, though I couldn’t find her in the sea of people.Queen Riven turned to face me once more.“I ho