Darius's POVThe moon cast long shadows through the trees as I moved quietly through the forest. My heart hammered in my chest, but my face stayed calm. Years of practice had taught me how to hide my feelings, even from other wolves who could smell fear.I reached the clearing and waited, ears alert for any sign I'd been followed. No one in the pack suspected me—not even Kieran. Especially not Kieran.A twig snapped and I spun around, claws extended."Jumpy tonight, aren't we?" A figure appeared from the darkness, her face hidden beneath a hood."Isa," I answered with a curt nod. "The attack went exactly as planned."She pulled back her hood, showing sharp features and eyes that gleamed with dangerous magic. The Black Moon Witch smiled, but it never reached her eyes."And our Ruby Wolf?" she asked."The mark has activated," I confirmed. "Her powers are growing, just as the Queen predicted."Isa stepped closer, her fingers trailing over a nearby tree, leaving frost in their wake. "Kier
The Midnight Queen's POVI watched them all through my scrying pool—little pieces moving across my chessboard. The killer had found his memories. The Alpha offered defense. And Sienna, my beautiful Sienna, stood at the center of it all, unaware of the blood we shared.The water rippled, showing Ronan approaching the packhouse with his hands raised. Foolish boy. Love had made him weak."My Queen, we've lost contact with Nyx," Vex announced, entering my chamber. Blood stained his hands—someone had displeased him again.I waved dismissively. "Ronan killed him. It matters little."My inner haven lay deep beneath the mountains, far from prying eyes. Ancient symbols carved into black stone walls glowed with magic. A throne of polished obsidian commanded the room, wolf skulls decorating its high back."Summon the others," I ordered.Five hooded figures filtered in, making a half-circle before me. My closest circle—the only ones I almost trusted."Tomorrow night, we attack the Shadowfang Pack
Caius's POVMy footsteps rang through the marble halls of the Vampire Court. Servants bowed as I passed, their eyes downcast, fearing my look. I straightened my jacket, preparing myself for the show ahead.Father waited in the throne room, ringed by his ever-present advisors. The Vampire King hadn't left this castle in over a century, yet his reach stretched far beyond these walls."My son returns," he stated, silencing the court with a wave of his pale hand. "What news of the werewolves?"I knelt before the dais, a show of respect I didn't feel. "The Alpha suffers from his curse as the full moon approaches. His power weakens by the hour.""And the Ruby Wolf?" Father leaned forward, his ancient eyes gleaming with attention."Her powers grow," I replied carefully, giving only what served my purpose. "The markings spread across her skin, responding to some external force."I omitted Ronan's escape and Kieran's study. Some secrets were better kept, even from a king.Father motioned for m
Zeke's POVMy fist smashed into the training dummy, sending splinters flying across the room. Four more dummies lay in pieces around me, destroyed in under a minute."Impressive," Commander Vex said, his cold eyes showing nothing. "But not good enough."I wiped blood from my fingers. The other Syndicate troops watched from the shadows, their faces a mix of fear and envy. None of them could match what I could do."Again," Vex demanded, nodding to the guards.Two top fighters rushed me from opposite sides. I ducked under the first blow, my body moving faster than normal humans. My leg swept one attacker off his feet while my elbow connected with the second man's chin. Bone cracked. He dropped.The final fighter pulled a silver dagger – our weakness. But not mine. Not entirely.I caught his wrist mid-strike, twisted until he screamed, then threw him across the training pit. His body hit the wall with a terrible thud."Enough." Vex's voice echoed through the room. "Get cleaned up. Mission
Isolde's POVThe moon hung heavy outside my window as I arranged my tools. Five black candles made a star on the floor. In the middle lay three precious items: a strand of fiery red hair, a scrap of bloodstained cloth, and a small vial of ash. All taken from Sienna during the last attack."Little wolf, you can't hide from me," I whispered, striking a match.As the candles flickered to life, I closed my eyes and let power flow through my fingers. Magic wasn't just something I did—it was who I was. The Black Moon Witch. Once guardian of the Ruby Wolves, now their best hunter.I sprinkled dried herbs over the things and began to chant in a language older than time. The candles' flames stretched toward the sky, turning blood red. On the wall, shadows danced like dogs running through a forest."Show me the bloodline. Show me the Ruby Wolves."The flames converged into a map—floating, glowing lines that twisted across countries. Where Ruby Wolves once thrived, now only faint signs remained.
Ronan's POVBlood dripped from my knuckles as I stumbled through the trees. Three Syndicate guards lay dead behind me, but more would come. They always did.My side burned where Vex had driven the knife in during my "questioning." The cut wasn't healing as fast as it should—the blade had been laced with wolfsbane.The vampire's help had been surprising. Caius Blackthorne, of all people, causing a distraction that allowed me to break free. His leaving words echoed in my mind: "Find her before they do."Rain began to fall, washing away my smell trail. Small gifts. I pushed forward until an abandoned hunter's cabin emerged through the trees. The door hung crooked on rusty hinges, but the roof was mostly intact.Inside, dust covered everything. No one had been here for years. Perfect.I fell on a moth-eaten couch, checking my wound. The bleeding had lessened, but infection was setting in. I needed drugs. Rest."Some protector you are," I muttered, searching the cabin's shelves for anythin
The Midnight Queen's POVI watched them all through my scrying pool—little pieces moving across my chessboard. The killer had found his memories. The Alpha offered defense. And Sienna, my beautiful Sienna, stood at the center of it all, unaware of the blood we shared.The water rippled, showing Ronan approaching the packhouse with his hands raised. Foolish boy. Love had made him weak."My Queen, we've lost contact with Nyx," Vex announced, entering my chamber. Blood stained his hands—someone had displeased him again.I waved dismissively. "Ronan killed him. It matters little."My inner haven lay deep beneath the mountains, far from prying eyes. Ancient symbols carved into black stone walls glowed with magic. A throne of polished obsidian commanded the room, wolf skulls decorating its high back."Summon the others," I ordered.Five hooded figures filtered in, making a half-circle before me. My closest circle—the only ones I almost trusted."Tomorrow night, we attack the Shadowfang Pack
Kieran's POVThe smell of an intruder hit me before Thorne burst through my office door."Alpha, we found him at the north border. He says he needs to see Sienna."I growled, following Thorne to the courtyard where three of my wolves surrounded a man with blood-crusted knuckles and a familiar smell. The killer. The one who'd tried to kill Sienna weeks ago."Ronan Voss," I growled, my claws extending. "Give me one reason not to tear your throat out."His eyes met mine without fear. "The Syndicate is planning an attack. Tomorrow night. Three routes, fifty fighters. Main force from the river."Whispers spread through the growing crowd. I smelled their fear."And you expect me to believe you?" I circled him slowly. "The man sent to kill her?"Ronan pulled something from beneath his shirt—a ruby pendant that glowed like fire in the morning light."I'm her mate," he said frankly.The words hit me like a physical blow. My vision flashed red, the curse stirring in my blood."Lock him up," I o
Midnight Queen's POVI stood on the balcony of my refuge, hidden deep within the misty mountains where no wolf pack dared to trespass. Below me, dozens of my hybrid troops trained in the courtyard, their unnatural movements a testament to my power. Some leaped impossible heights, others turned limbs into weapons. My dream army.Five centuries of planning, of waiting, of sacrifice all for this moment."My Queen." My attendant bowed deeply as she neared. "The ritual chamber is prepared as you ordered."I turned, letting my hood fall back. Most feared to look upon my face a face that had once been beautiful, now marked with the cost of dark magic. Silver scars traced patterns around my ruby-red eyes, the price I'd paid for life."And the twins?" I asked."The boy was swept away by the Shadow River. Our scouts search for him now. The girl grows stronger her fire has evolved."I wasn't shocked. My niece had always been special, even as a baby. W
Darius's POVI waited until the pack house was quiet before slipping away. The smell of silver still hung in the air from Kieran's poisoning, making my nose scrunch with disgust. They were all so busy caring about their precious Alpha that no one noticed me leave.Fools.The forest received me with shadows as I changed, my wolf form melting through the trees like a ghost. This was the part I loved the freedom, the secret, the thrill of deception. Being Beta to the mighty Kieran Wolfe had its perks, but serving a greater power gave me purpose.Twenty minutes of hard running brought me to the meeting place an abandoned hunter's shack deep in neutral territory. I shifted back, quickly pulling on the clothes I'd stashed behind a hollow tree.The cabin door creaked as I pushed it open. A hooded person sat at the table, face hidden in dark."You're late," the figure said, voice twisted by magic.I dropped to one knee, head bowed. "Forgive me, Mis
Sienna's POVThe moon lit my way as I ran through the forest, my heart beating in my chest. Caius's last words echoed in my mind. "Even if that cost was Sienna's life. Or her love."I'd heard everything while hiding in the dark of his house. The Vampire Prince wasn't just using me he wanted to take my power, my blood. The truth burned worse than any fire I could summon.The smell of blood hit me first. Then smoke. I slowed my pace as I reached a small area, where a dozen bodies lay scattered on the ground. Midnight Syndicate killers, their black outfits now stained with darker patches.And in the middle of this chaos stood a man I'd recognize anywhere."Ronan," I whispered.He turned, silver eyes catching the moonlight. Blood splattered his face and clothes, but he was alive. The Phantom Wolf my phantom."You shouldn't be here," he said, voice rough. "It's not safe."I stepped over a fallen attacker. "Nowhere is safe anymore."Ronan
Caius's POVI returned to my home as the moon hung high in the night sky. The talk with Zeke had gone perfectly another piece moved on the board exactly where I wanted it.The grand hall of the Vampire Court fell silent as I entered. Fifty of my kind stood at attention, their eyes sparkling with hunger and respect. Unlike the wild werewolves, my court understood order."My Prince," my helper Livia bowed deeply, her platinum hair catching the candlelight. "The scouts have returned with news."I took my seat on the obsidian throne, letting my gaze sweep over the gathered vampires. "And?""The Midnight Queen has revealed herself to the Alpha," Livia said. "Kieran Wolfe is poisoned with silver but alive. The Ruby Wolf remains by his side."I tapped my fingers against the chair, feeling a smile tug at my lips. "And Zeke?""Heading toward his sister, as you predicted."Perfect. Everything was happening according to my plan. Five hundred years of waiting was finally bearing fruit."Leave us,
Zeke's POVThe forest was quiet as I tracked my sister's smell. Not as a hunter this time, but as something else something I wasn't sure I could name yet.I moved quietly between the trees, following the faint trail Sienna had left behind. The Midnight Syndicate thought I was still working for them. They'd be angry when they found I'd gone rogue.But after seeing Kieran's pack house, after watching the Queen show herself wearing Elena's face, something had snapped inside me.A memory hit me so suddenly I had to stop and lean against a tree.Two small children playing in a yard. A girl with bright red hair. A boy me chasing after her."Catch me, Zeke!" she called, laughing as she ran."I'm coming, Sienna!" I yelled back, my little legs pumping hard to keep up.I shook my head, trying to clear it. These memories kept coming more frequently now, breaking through whatever spell the Syndicate had used to hide them.For fifteen years, they'd told me my sister was a monster. That she'd kille
Isolde's POVI stood in the abandoned church, the moonlight streaming through the cracks in the broken roof. My hands shook as I clutched the old grimoire tightly to my chest. For twenty years, I had served a cause I once believed in. Twenty years of lies, of secrets, of serving someone I thought was doing the right thing. But now, everything was falling apart. The truth was coming out, and I didn’t know if I could fix it.The air around me got colder, and I knew she was here. The Midnight Queen. The woman I had served for so long. She stepped out of the darkness, no longer wearing the face of Elena, the kind woman I had once known. This was her true face a face I had known since I was a kid. Her eyes glowed with a power that made my skin crawl."You’re late," I said, trying to keep my voice calm even though my heart was pounding.The Queen smiled, but it wasn’t a kind smile. It was cold and dangerous. "I had business to attend to," she replied. "Kieran knows who I am now. That change
Kieran's POV I stared at the Midnight Queen as she stood before us, her mask of shadows moving like smoke. My body felt wrong caught between human and wolf, the silver poison still burning in my blood despite Sienna's healing. "Run," Sienna whispered again. But I wasn't going anywhere. Not this time. The Queen raised her hands to her mask, fingers wrapping around its sides. The forest seemed to hold its breath. Then a howl cut through the night my Beta, Rafe, calling the pack to war. The Queen's hands froze. Her head tilted, listening. "Your wolves come, Alpha," she said, voice like ice sliding over stone. "But they won't save you." With a wave of her hand, darkness overtook the clearing. I felt something sharp slice across my chest claws or a blade, I couldn't tell. Sienna cried out somewhere to my left. Ronan shouted. Then the darkness lifted, and the Queen was gone. "Is everyone alive?" I asked, putting my hand to the fresh cut on my chest. Sienna appeared at my side, her
Ronan's POV I ran through the forest, following Sienna as she chased after Kieran's howl. My side still burned where her fire had healed my wound not with pain, but with a strange warmth that spread through my blood like liquid gold. "Slow down," I called. "We need a plan." She glanced back at me, her red hair a flame in the moonlight. "There's no time." But I saw the fear in her eyes. Fear not for herself, but for Kieran. Something twisted in my chest. Jealousy? I pushed it away. I had no right to feel jealous not when I'd been sent to kill her. Not when I'd betrayed her once already, even if I couldn't remember doing it. Zeke caught up to us, feeling the spot on his head where he'd been struck. "Sienna, Ronan's right. Darius is setting a trap." She stopped suddenly, turning to face us. "I know. But I can't leave Kieran to die just because it might be dangerous." "Why?" I asked, the word leaving before I could stop it. "Why risk your life for him?" Her eyes met mine, and for
Sienna's POV I woke with a gasp, dirt and pine needles sticking to my cheek. Stars glittered overhead through a cover of trees. My body ached as if I'd been thrown from a great height, and maybe I had been. The cave was gone. The trial was over. But the face I'd seen the true enemy behind the Queen's mask burned in my mind like a brand. "Impossible," I whispered, pushing myself to my knees. My head spun with the movement, and I clutched at a nearby tree root to balance myself. It couldn't be true. And yet, deep down, I knew it was. The person behind everything, the hunts, the lies, the manipulation was someone I trusted. Someone who had led me. Isolde. My boss. The Black Moon Witch herself. A sharp pain shot through my wrist. I looked down to see a new mark forming on my skin a perfect crescent moon wrapped around a ruby-colored flame. The mark of the Second Trial. "I passed," I whispered, tracing the symbol with my thumb. "But at what cost?" Memories flashed through my mind