Thank you for reading!
Sage I scan the gathering crowd again, my heart sinking when I still don't see Alaric. The mate bond pulses with his pain and guilt, but when I reach for him, I hit solid walls. He's gotten better at blocking me these past days, each barrier higher and colder than the last."My King will be here shortly," I overhear Helena telling the council members, but her voice wavers slightly. She knows he won't come, just as I do.I hover uncertainly at the edge of the crowd, not sure where I belong. Without Alaric here, without anyone knowing what I am to him, I feel more lost than ever. Some of the noble wolves notice my discomfort, their whispers carrying clearly:"—doesn't even know proper protocol—" "—no place at a royal memorial—" "—probably relieved the old Alpha can't disapprove of her anymore—""Lady Sage." Victoria's honeyed voice drips false concern. "Perhaps you'd be more comfortable... elsewhere? These formal occasions can be so overwhelming for those not raised to them.""She's exa
AlaricFor a moment, I can only stare up at her in stunned disbelief. No one has dared use power against me since I became king. Even my father... My chest tightens at the thought, but Sage's foot pressing firmly against my sternum demands my attention."Did you just—" I start, rage building."Knock you on your ass? Yes." She looks down at me, violet eyes blazing. "Going to do something about it?"My beast rises at the challenge, but before I can act, she removes her foot and drops gracefully to straddle my thighs. The intimate position steals my anger, replacing it with awareness I've been trying to suppress for days. "Look at me," she demands softly, framing my face with her hands. "Really look at me."I try to turn away but she holds firm. "Sage—""No more running." Her thumbs stroke my cheeks, the gentle touch at odds with the power still crackling around her. "No more pushing me away. No more drowning alone in guilt that isn't yours to carry.""You don't understand—""I understan
SageThese past days have been a whirlwind of private joy mixed with public solemnity. The morning after our engagement, Alaric gathered his mother and sister in his study. I stood by his side as he apologized, voice rough with emotion, for abandoning them during their shared grief."I learned the wrong lessons from him," he'd admitted, holding his mother's hands. "About strength, about feelings. About family. I want to learn better ones now."Helena had broken down then, pulling him into her arms like he was still a pup. Iris joined the embrace, and I'd tried to slip away to give them privacy, but Alaric caught my hand. "Stay," he'd said softly. "You're family too."Later that day, he addressed the pack about his absence from the memorial. Standing before them, he showed a vulnerability I'd never seen him display publicly."A king who cannot face his own grief," he'd declared, "cannot truly lead his people through theirs. I failed you that day, but I promise to do better. To be the ki
Sage Time seems to freeze as Eris's words hang in the air. Through our bond, I feel Alaric's fury building like a storm, but outwardly he maintains that deadly calm that makes lesser wolves bare their throats."These laws," Eris continues, her perfect smile never wavering, "are quite specific about the requirements for a royal mate." She unrolls the ancient scroll with deliberate slowness, clearly savoring every moment. "Particularly regarding bloodlines and... certain natural abilities a queen must possess."My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure everyone can hear it. Victoria's smirk grows wider as she moves to stand beside Eris, their alliance now clear to everyone."Perhaps," Victoria's father suggests smoothly, "we should discuss this privately, my King? Such delicate matters—""No." Alaric's tone brooks no argument. "You want to challenge my choice publicly? Then do it properly. Read the laws, Eris. All of them."Through our bond, I feel his silent command: Stand tall, sweetling. Sh
Alaric "The council demands an answer, my King." Lord Marcus's voice grates on my last nerve as I stare out my study window. Below, I can see Sage in the garden, her silver-blonde hair catching morning light. Through our bond, I feel her trying to stay strong despite the whispers that follow her now."I've given them my answer." My voice could freeze the blood in their veins. "Multiple times.""The Northern territories grow impatient." He presses on despite my obvious dismissal. "Lady Eris's offer of alliance—""Is neither wanted nor needed." I turn from the window, letting my power fill the room. "Was I unclear about that?"The elder shifts uncomfortably but doesn't back down. "The laws are quite specific, my King. A royal mate must meet certain requirements—""Laws can be changed.""Not these." Now Victoria's father steps forward from where he's been lurking in the doorway. "They are woven into the very fabric of our society. To break them would be to invite chaos."Through our bond
SageThe ancient text blurs before my tired eyes as I search for anything that might help our situation. I've been in the library since dawn, surrounded by dusty tomes about healing pack history, hoping to find some precedent, some loophole in the laws Eris is using against us."—dangerous powers—" The whispered fragment catches my attention as two noble wolves pass nearby. "—remember what happened to her family's pack—""Destroyed for good reason, I heard," the other responds, just loud enough to ensure I hear. "Some abilities are too unpredictable to be trusted."Through our bond, I feel Alaric's protective instinct spike at their words, but I send back calming energy. Let them whisper. Every reaction just gives Eris more ammunition."You should rest." Iris appears beside me, frowning at the dark circles under my eyes. "You've been at this for hours.""I'm fine." But my hands shake slightly as I turn another brittle page. "There has to be something here, some explanation for why thes
Alaric"You can't be serious." I watch Sage prepare a basket of healing supplies and baked goods - a peace offering she intends to take into the pack village. "Not with tensions this high.""That's exactly why I have to do this." She meets my eyes steadily. "Eris wants them to see me as something dangerous, something to fear. The only way to fight that is to show them who I really am.""By putting yourself at risk?" My beast rises at the mere thought. "When half the pack believes her lies about your powers being dangerous?""And keeping me locked away in the packhouse only reinforces those fears." She touches my face gently. "Think about it, Alaric. If you keep me too protected, what message does that send? That even you don't trust me among our people?"The truth in her words doesn't make them easier to hear. Through our bond, I feel her determination warring with her own anxiety. But there's something else too - that core of strength that made me fall in love with her."At least let
Alaric"Where is she?"The wolf chained before me flinches at my tone, throat bared in instinctive submission. He reeks of fear – not just of punishment, but of something deeper. Someone more dangerous than even his king."My King, please..." His eyes dart to the guards, to Garrett, to anywhere but me. "If they find out I spoke...""They?" Power floods the dungeon cell. "Or she?"His silence is answer enough. Through our bond, I feel Sage's pain even from here – each breath sharp with broken ribs, each movement an agony as she refuses magical healing that might frighten the pack further. The rage building in my chest threatens to shatter my control."You will tell me everything." My voice holds deadly calm. "Every word she spoke. Every coin she paid. Every promise she made. Or I will show you exactly why they call me the Lycan King.""She'll kill me." The words burst from him. "Lady Eris, she... she has ways. Powers from the North. She said we'd be heroes, protecting the pack from dang
Lyra "Or another of your bloodline, though few remain." Thalia’s words bring me back to the present as she reaches for my hands, clasping them in her own. "The Northern delegation seeks a Silverspiral healer for their ritual. Whatever they plan, it involves the prophecy, the Lycan heir, and the disruption of the true mate bond you now share.""But why? What could they hope to gain?""Power," she says simply. "Control over the balanced power that the prophecy promises. If they can bind the heir to their bloodline instead of his true mate, they might redirect the fulfillment of the prophecy to serve their purposes."My mind races, connecting fragments of overheard conversations with this new information. "I overheard them speaking of a binding ceremony, of needing a healer of pure bloodline for a ritual to work properly.""A perversion of ancient magic," Thalia growls. "They would use your blood—your essence—to create a false bond between the prince and their princess, overriding the t
LyraI follow the hidden paths back to our secondary encampment, my mind still reeling from the encounter with Alexander. Every step increases the distance between us, and with it comes a physical ache I've only heard described in tales of true mates separated. The silver bond stretches taut between us, a constant reminder of what fate has decreed and duty denies.The dream flowers in my basket seem to pulse with their own soft luminescence in the fading light, their scent more potent than usual—or perhaps my senses are simply heightened by the awakening of the mate bond. Either way, their presence is a tangible reminder of my responsibilities to my people, responsibilities that now seem at odds with the pull of my heart.Our emergency settlement is well-concealed, nestled against a cliff face with natural caves providing shelter. Unlike our permanent enclave, this location is sparse, functional, designed for temporary safety rather than comfort. As I approach, I sense rather than see
AlexanderMy mother’s watchful eyes pierce right through me as she waits for me to speak. I consider lying, brushing off my questions as nothing more than curiosity. But I’ve never lied to her before, and I don’t intend to start now. "I found my true mate today," I say finally, the words both liberating and damning. "A healer named Lyra, from one of the hidden communities."Elara gasps softly while my mother's expression transforms from shock to a complex mixture of joy and concern. "The mate bond—you're certain?""As certain as you and Father were," I confirm. "The silver connection, instantaneous and undeniable.""Oh, Alex," Elara breathes, understanding immediately the impossible position I'm in. "The Choosing Gala, Princess Selene, the prophecy...""All pointing me in one direction," I finish grimly, "while fate pulls me in another."My mother rises, coming to me, her hands cool against my face as she studies me with those violet eyes so like my own. "A true mate is a gift beyond
Alexander The Grand Ballroom is even more crowded than the previous night, the competition among potential matches growing as the Gala progresses. By tradition, I should be narrowing my preferences, spending more time with those I find most suitable. Instead, I move mechanically through the required dances, my thoughts a thousand miles away in a forest clearing with a woman whose touch brought balance to my warring nature."Your Highness seems distracted tonight," observes Lady Mirella, the daughter of an influential Alpha from the Western territories, as we complete our obligatory dance."Forgive me," I say automatically. "Many matters require my attention with the coronation approaching."She simpers appropriately, but I can see the calculation in her eyes. All of them are watching, evaluating, strategizing—except Selene, who stands across the room in conversation with my father, her poise perfect as always but her gaze finding me repeatedly.I've successfully avoided her so far, pl
AlexanderEvery step away from Lyra feels wrong—physically painful in a way I've never experienced. The silver thread of our mate bond stretches but doesn't break, a constant pull urging me to turn back, to claim what fate has decreed is mine. My head pounds and my dual nature—healing and Alpha—roils inside me, more unsettled than ever before."Alex?" Dominic's voice breaks through my inner turmoil. "You need to slow down. You're practically running."I realize I've been striding through the forest at a punishing pace, as if physical distance might somehow diminish the connection I feel to her. I stop abruptly, bracing one hand against a tree trunk, struggling to bring my breathing under control."A true mate," I say, the words hollow with disbelief. "Now, of all times."Dominic says nothing, just watches me with concern etched on his features. He was there, he saw the connection spark between us, but he can't feel what I'm feeling—the bone-deep certainty colliding with equally powerfu
LyraMy healing ability activates instinctively, energy flowing through my fingertips into his arm. I sense immediately that something is wrong—his dual natures pulling against each other with increasing force, creating internal fractures where they should flow together."Your power is destabilizing," I tell him, medical concern momentarily overriding the more complicated emotions of our situation. "The Alpha strength and healing ability—they're fighting each other instead of balancing."He looks at me with surprise. "You can sense that?""I'm a healer," I remind him. "Diagnosing is what I do." I hesitate, then add, "But this is beyond my experience. I've never felt anything like the conflict in your energies.""The conflict has been growing stronger as my twenty-fifth birthday approaches," he admits. "Headaches, power surges, difficulty controlling either ability."His Beta watches our exchange with growing concern. "We should return to the palace," he suggests. "If you're unwell—""I
LyraThe moment I lock eyes with him, everything inside me shifts—rearranges itself around a truth I never expected to face. The legendary silver connection of true mates flares between us like a living thing, pulsing with recognition so fierce it nearly brings me to my knees.My basket tumbles from my fingers, precious dream flowers scattering across the forest floor. I rise to my feet, unable to look away from the man standing at the edge of the clearing. Even without the royal trappings, I would know him anywhere—the violet eyes that mark his heritage, the commanding presence that no plain clothing can disguise. Prince Alexander, heir to the throne, son of the king who descended from those who hunted my people to near extinction.My true mate."It's you," he whispers, his voice carrying easily across the clearing.I can't speak, can't move. Every instinct urges me forward, toward him, while every rational thought screams danger. The mate bond thrums between us, demanding acknowledgm
AlexanderAfter some discussion, Merrick provides us with a crude map marking the locations of reported sightings and the disturbance. With daylight still abundant, Dominic and I set out immediately, following the forest paths that grow increasingly wild as we move deeper into territory rarely traveled by royal patrols."This feels like crossing into another realm," Dominic comments as the forest changes character around us—older trees, more undergrowth, a stillness that seems almost watchful.I know what he means. There's a different quality to the air here, a sense of ancient presence. As we continue, I notice something else—a subtle resonance with my healing abilities, like a low vibration just beneath my awareness."There's power here," I murmur. "Old power."We reach the area Merrick marked as the site of the disturbance by mid-afternoon. At first glance, it appears to be nothing but dense forest, but closer inspection reveals signs of recent activity—broken branches, disturbed ea
AlexanderThe reports lie scattered across my desk, each more troubling than the last. For the past hour, I've been reading intelligence summaries from our border patrols—accounts of strangers asking questions about healing bloodlines, mapping remote areas where healing enclaves are rumored to exist, and in one case, pursuing someone through the forest near the eastern boundary."This can't be a coincidence," I tell Dominic, who stands by the window, his expression grim. "Not with the Northern delegation's sudden interest in the prophecy, their questions about Elara's abilities.""You think they're connected?" he asks, though his tone suggests he's already reached the same conclusion.I run a hand through my hair in frustration. "Three reports of strangers in Northern colors sighted near areas where healing communities might be hidden? During the exact week they arrive with prophecy texts mentioning both Elara and me?" I shake my head. "That's not a coincidence. That's coordination."D