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
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
Ronan's POVThe trees blurred past us as I carried Sienna through the darkness. Her golden fire wings had faded, leaving her tired in my arms. The Midnight Queen's revelation still echoed in my mind – the queen was Sienna's grandma. Another piece of the puzzle I hadn't seen coming."Almost there," I whispered, feeling her stir against my chest.The cabin emerged through the trees – small, weathered, but secure. My safe harbor for the past five years. No one knew about this place, not even my old handlers at the Syndicate."Where are we?" Sienna mumbled, her ruby-red eyes fluttering open."Somewhere safe." I kicked open the door, carrying her inside.The cabin was sparse but practical – a bed, a fireplace, basic supplies. I gently laid Sienna down and lit the fire with practiced moves."You've been here before," she noticed, pushing herself up on her elbows."It's mine." I gave her water from my pack. "Built it myself after I escaped. Th
Kieran's POVThe great hall of the Shadowfang Pack territory hummed with anxiety. Ten Alpha werewolves sat around the huge oak table, their eyes fixed on me. Each led their own pack, but all recognized the Shadowfang's authority. For now.I paced at the head of the table, my wolf scratching beneath my skin. The silver poison still burned in my veins from the last fight, weakening me when I needed strength most."You've called us here at a dangerous time, Kieran," growled Arlo, the gray-bearded Alpha of the Northern Claw Pack. "With the Blood Moon approaching, we should be securing our territories, not attending meetings."I stopped pacing and put my palms on the table, letting my eyes shift to their wolf form – golden with red flecks."I called you here because of the danger," I said, my voice cutting through the murmurs. "The Midnight Syndicate has made their move. The Blood Moon won't just bring my curse this time – it brings war."Darius sto
Caius's POV The old library beneath the Vampire High Court was silent except for the rustle of pages. Dust motes floated in the dim lighting as I hunched over texts so old they crumbled at my touch. "Careful with that one, Your Highness," my elderly librarian warned. "That manuscript predates even your grandfather." I ignored him, my fingers tracing the faded drawings of ruby-colored wolves with glowing eyes. Three days had passed since I'd last seen Sienna, and the image of her fire wings haunted me. Not just for their beauty, but for what they meant. "Leave me," I ordered without looking up. When the door closed, I relaxed my perfect stance. Five centuries of being the perfect prince got tiresome. I rubbed my temples and pulled the oldest book closer – its black cover made from some unidentified skin, its pages yellow with age. The text was written in Ancient Vampiric, a language only royal clans still learned.
Sienna’s POV“She went this way!” Someone yelled, running through the woods. I kept running, ignoring the branches and tall grasses hitting my body. I panted, my feet getting tired. I was tired, but I couldn't stop. If they caught me, then I was as good as dead. I rested behind a tree, trying to catch my breath. “I see her!” One of the men shouted. “Shit!” I groaned and continued running. Please help me. Moon Goddess. Please. I didn't….I can't anymore. Please. A sharp thorn from a plant scratched my knee, and I yelped. “Goddamn it!” “Find her!” One of the men yelled. They were closing in on me. I needed more time. I couldn't face them. They would kill me. “Dear goddess, what do I do?” I murmured, and closed my eyes for a second. I transformed into my wolf form, it was the best chance I had now and I opened my eyes. My wolf was a bright red with white undertone fur. My wolf was bigger than the regular teenage wolves and I started to run, howling with the moon. Half of the
Kieran’s POVI noticed a red wolf running through the woods. I had been scanning the area, getting ready to hunt when she passed. I sensed she was a female and followed her. Her fur was unusual and I was intrigued. Loud roaring and howls greeted my ears. Different bikes riding with the wolves. They were chasing her. I sensed her tiredness and transformed into my wolf form. Unlike the others, I moved quietly even though I was fast. I was larger too and watched in awe as she easily got away from them, making them crash and collide with each other. I stood at the top of a hill hiding behind the shadow and noticed a clothed man enter the ruined packhouse. He looked just like the assassins chasing her and I waited. Next, she ran in, and I heard her groan with a fall. I ran towards the building and snarled, getting their attention. The man already had her pinned to the floor and his claws raised to slash her throat. I stopped forward, ready to pounce on him when a huge wind pulled hi
Ronan’s POV“She should not have survived.”The words rang through my head while I sat in the Syndicate's war room, blood hardening over the tear in the sleeve of my jacket. Dorian Maddox, the enforcer for the Midnight Queen, paced the room, his sharp, hawk eyes slicing through the silence like the edge of a knife.I felt the weight of his eyes upon me but did not flinch. I never did.“You had one job, Voss.” He said this softly yet menacingly. “Kill the girl. Bring back the proof. But instead, you come back with a useless excuse of her disappearing into the lands of Shadowfang. Care to explain?”A muscle in my jaw convulsed. “She escaped.”Dorian’s lips twisted into amusement, though his eyes were not amused. “Escaped?” He leaned against the cold steel table dividing us. “You’re the Phantom Wolf, the Syndicate’s greatest assassin, and you expect me to believe some starving girl overpowered you?”My silence did the talking.Dorian exhaled through the nostrils, the deliberate expulsio
Caius's POV The old library beneath the Vampire High Court was silent except for the rustle of pages. Dust motes floated in the dim lighting as I hunched over texts so old they crumbled at my touch. "Careful with that one, Your Highness," my elderly librarian warned. "That manuscript predates even your grandfather." I ignored him, my fingers tracing the faded drawings of ruby-colored wolves with glowing eyes. Three days had passed since I'd last seen Sienna, and the image of her fire wings haunted me. Not just for their beauty, but for what they meant. "Leave me," I ordered without looking up. When the door closed, I relaxed my perfect stance. Five centuries of being the perfect prince got tiresome. I rubbed my temples and pulled the oldest book closer – its black cover made from some unidentified skin, its pages yellow with age. The text was written in Ancient Vampiric, a language only royal clans still learned.
Kieran's POVThe great hall of the Shadowfang Pack territory hummed with anxiety. Ten Alpha werewolves sat around the huge oak table, their eyes fixed on me. Each led their own pack, but all recognized the Shadowfang's authority. For now.I paced at the head of the table, my wolf scratching beneath my skin. The silver poison still burned in my veins from the last fight, weakening me when I needed strength most."You've called us here at a dangerous time, Kieran," growled Arlo, the gray-bearded Alpha of the Northern Claw Pack. "With the Blood Moon approaching, we should be securing our territories, not attending meetings."I stopped pacing and put my palms on the table, letting my eyes shift to their wolf form – golden with red flecks."I called you here because of the danger," I said, my voice cutting through the murmurs. "The Midnight Syndicate has made their move. The Blood Moon won't just bring my curse this time – it brings war."Darius sto
Ronan's POVThe trees blurred past us as I carried Sienna through the darkness. Her golden fire wings had faded, leaving her tired in my arms. The Midnight Queen's revelation still echoed in my mind – the queen was Sienna's grandma. Another piece of the puzzle I hadn't seen coming."Almost there," I whispered, feeling her stir against my chest.The cabin emerged through the trees – small, weathered, but secure. My safe harbor for the past five years. No one knew about this place, not even my old handlers at the Syndicate."Where are we?" Sienna mumbled, her ruby-red eyes fluttering open."Somewhere safe." I kicked open the door, carrying her inside.The cabin was sparse but practical – a bed, a fireplace, basic supplies. I gently laid Sienna down and lit the fire with practiced moves."You've been here before," she noticed, pushing herself up on her elbows."It's mine." I gave her water from my pack. "Built it myself after I escaped. Th
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