RYKER Elora sat on the edge of the bed, her dark eyes locked onto mine as a frown stretched the gentle features of her face. The sunlight filtering through the tent’s entrance bathed her in a soft glow, but there was nothing delicate about her expression.“I’m not going back,” she said again, and I could hear her voice in my head even after I told her I didn’t want to. She was stubborn, resilient. I could give her that. “I’m going to become stronger,” she continued. I studied her, waiting for hesitation, fear—anything to show that she wasn’t thinking clearly. But there was none. Only resolve. Did she know what she was getting into? The wolves of the North were everything we were rumored to be, and worse. Yes. I had heard her thoughts earlier. “You could have died last night,” I reminded her. “If you stay here, the pain will only continue. Odessa said—”“I have told you, I don’t care what the healer said,” she cut in. “Just give me the potions I need for the pain, and I will
Elora’s POV A full moon meant the perfect night. For everyone besides me. I sat on my bed, staring at it, letting its light wash over me as if it could fill the emptiness I felt my heart. The painful, numb ache inside. My hands twisted in the fabric of my dress, a light blue gown I’d once dreamed of wearing to a night like this. But tonight, I wasn’t at the coronation or the mating ceremony. “Stay in your room, Elora,” my father had said, his voice stern, and his eyes were colder than usual, letting me know he meant every word. “You’ll just embarrass us.” The words stuck to me, pressing on me like a cold steel blade. I didn’t argue. I couldn’t. The truth was, he wasn’t entirely wrong. What use was I to anyone? The daughter who couldn’t speak, who couldn’t stand tall like a beta’s daughter, beta Varek Valewind’s daughter, should. My gaze dropped to my hands, trembling in my lap. I closed them into fists, trying to steady myself. It didn’t work. Selene would be th
Elora’s POV The room was quiet, except for the soft sound of Kael’s breathing. I tried to take in sight of him. This would be the closest I would ever get after today. I made a mistake last night, and it could never repeat itself. I slipped out from under his arm, moving carefully so I wouldn’t wake him. I couldn’t afford that. Not until I figured out how to keep our secret. I found my clothes and grabbed them, pulling my dress on as quickly as my shaking hands would allow. Slowly, my fingers rose to brush the mark on my neck. The bond had been sealed, but it felt like a curse, not a blessing. Sierra whimpered, confused and hurt. “I don’t understand,” she tried to say. “Why aren’t you happy? I’m trying to be, but there’s an energy I can sense from you that isn’t letting me.” “He’s yours, not mine.” I told her. It didn’t ease her confusion. “What does that mean? You and I are the same.” I scoffed. “Not when I’m the mute, abandoned daughter. Not when I’m no
Elora’s POV Just as I had expected, the meeting was a disaster. Kael had called one in the throne room between his father, my father, Athlea - my stepmother, Selene, and I. He told them everything. How he had found out we were mates and how he marked me. Just as Selene said, his father, the former alpha, told him he didn’t have to marry me. “It’s not compulsory. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” He spoke about the prophecy again. “But it said you’ll be with one of the Valewind sisters, and you made your pick as a young man.” Athlea cut in. She placed her hands on Selene’s shoulders. My sister’s eyes were swollen from all her crying. She had always been very cruel to me. Still, it hurt me to see her like that. “The goddess chose Elora for me. I’m sure there’s a reason for that.” He had responded. “So, I would take Elora as my Luna, and she would be accorded the respect she deserves. I would not question fate or the goddess. If I am to end this
Elora’s POV The sheets covering my body did little to stop the chill that seeped into my bones. My head pounded like I’d been hit by a rock, and my limbs felt heavy. I struggled to part my eyelids, but they wouldn’t budge. The smell of the room was strange. No matter how hard I sniffed, I couldn’t recognize it. Where was I? It was raining outside, I could hear the sounds of soft raindrops. Fear shot through my bones, causing my eyes to open widely. Rain never came during this part of the year. How far away from home was I? My fingers brushed the soft fabric of the bed beneath me. It wasn’t familiar. Nothing here was. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me to lie back down. It all came rushing back. The attack. The wolves. The pain. My hand flew to my side, expecting to feel open wounds, but instead, there was nothing but smooth skin. What happened? Amidst my confusion, the door creaked open. Frightened, I pressed my back agains
Elora I was already mated to one man I wasn’t supposed to: Kael Stormrider, the man who loved my sister. Now, I was mated to my pack’s worst enemy as well?! Why didn’t I remain without a mate? I was better off locked up in my room in the pack house than in enemy territory. My eyes didn’t leave his amber ones as I stared intently at them. Sierra stirred softly within me. He was right when he said that she had been injured severely. As she awakened slowly, I began to feel the pull again. The scent of the silver haired man wafted through my nostrils; wet earth and rain…olive oil? The hairs at the back of my neck tingled under his gaze. It was the same feeling I had with Kael last night, and when his gaze softened, I could tell his wolf had recognized me. ‘Mate.’ Sierra purred. “Yes, another one.” I replied to her. I needed to speak to him. To tell him it was all a mistake and I needed to return home as a soon as possible. I wasn’t sure how many days had passed, but I had a weddin
Kael “We couldn’t find her, your majesty.” The guards chorused as they bowed their heads to the ground. I sucked in a deep breath and scratched my chin in thought. It had been five days since the meeting with our parents. She was never to be seen again after that. I had searched the entire pack, and even neighboring packs to the East and West. Everytime the guards came back without her, one thing became clearer. Elora was gone.On the first day, I had searched the entire pack house, checked the gardens, the training grounds, and even the little cabin she liked to sit in when she wanted to be alone. I had often found her there during my visits to Selene. Nothing. She wasn’t anywhere. At first, I told myself she was probably just taking a walk. Maybe she needed time to think. But as the minutes stretched into hours, and hours turned into days, ceased to make sense. Something was wrong.Her best friend, Camilla, hadn’t seen her since the eve of my coronation and mating ceremony
Elora I sat on the bed, my legs tucked under me, staring at the locked door. It had been days, maybe longer—I had no way of knowing. The only people I ever saw were the maids who brought my food and left without a word. I wasn’t allowed to leave until I was strong enough to start my training. It wasn’t my first time being locked up or hidden, still I felt like a prisoner. Then, the door opened and she walked in. She was tall, with short, dark hair and sharp eyes that looked like they could cut through steel. I recognized her from the other night. Kiara. Relief washed over me. Finally, someone I could talk to—well, communicate with. The maids never spoke to me, almost like they were afraid to. I grabbed my scroll and quickly started to scribble a message, but before I could finish, Kiara sighed and shook her head. “Don’t bother,” she said. “I can understand sign language just fine.” I paused, the quill hovering over the paper. Slowly, I set it down. Kiara pulled a chair close
RYKER Elora sat on the edge of the bed, her dark eyes locked onto mine as a frown stretched the gentle features of her face. The sunlight filtering through the tent’s entrance bathed her in a soft glow, but there was nothing delicate about her expression.“I’m not going back,” she said again, and I could hear her voice in my head even after I told her I didn’t want to. She was stubborn, resilient. I could give her that. “I’m going to become stronger,” she continued. I studied her, waiting for hesitation, fear—anything to show that she wasn’t thinking clearly. But there was none. Only resolve. Did she know what she was getting into? The wolves of the North were everything we were rumored to be, and worse. Yes. I had heard her thoughts earlier. “You could have died last night,” I reminded her. “If you stay here, the pain will only continue. Odessa said—”“I have told you, I don’t care what the healer said,” she cut in. “Just give me the potions I need for the pain, and I will
ELORA The moment my eyelids parted to take in the sunlight, a dull ache spread through my body. It wasn’t as bad as last night, but it lingered nonetheless, and brought back cruel and painful memories to my mind. I almost died last night. I would have been dead if not for…I blinked against the soft morning light filtering through the tent as my eyes struggled to adjust. That was when I saw him.Ryker.He was seated on the chair beside my bed, his head tilted slightly against the backrest, eyes closed. Asleep.For a long moment, I just… looked at him. I didn’t know why I did it. I wasn’t supposed to spare him as much as a second glance knowing who he was and what his pack had done to mine in the past, their role in this war, in the death of women and children from all over. Maybe because it was easier than thinking about the pain. Or because I had never actually taken the time to look at him before.Unlike Kael who had handsome gentle features, Ryker’s face was strong with sharp
Ryker“Anya, always watch your back! She can…” I spoke too late. A sword hit Anya from behind and she fell to the ground with her right knee first. Hagar moved quickly, swiping her left foot off the ground with her right, and Anya crumbled to the ground totally. The men cheered as Hagar emerged the winner. She was the recent addition to my warriors, and was only sixteen. Anya was older with about two years. A sense of pride filled me as I watched them with a smile on my face. These were my warriors, my brothers, and my sisters. There was nothing I wouldn’t give to them. Hagar turned to me and bowed, and I replied with a smile. Her cheeks turned tomato red, and she looked away quickly. Kiara appeared beside me. “The girls are growing fonder of you. You’re becoming their favorite commander.” I nodded in agreement. “I’m their king.” She heaved a sigh and reached for my hand. “Oh, Ryker. You’re so much more.” I said nothing in reply, only turning to her when I caught a whiff of E
Elora I sat on the bed, my legs tucked under me, staring at the locked door. It had been days, maybe longer—I had no way of knowing. The only people I ever saw were the maids who brought my food and left without a word. I wasn’t allowed to leave until I was strong enough to start my training. It wasn’t my first time being locked up or hidden, still I felt like a prisoner. Then, the door opened and she walked in. She was tall, with short, dark hair and sharp eyes that looked like they could cut through steel. I recognized her from the other night. Kiara. Relief washed over me. Finally, someone I could talk to—well, communicate with. The maids never spoke to me, almost like they were afraid to. I grabbed my scroll and quickly started to scribble a message, but before I could finish, Kiara sighed and shook her head. “Don’t bother,” she said. “I can understand sign language just fine.” I paused, the quill hovering over the paper. Slowly, I set it down. Kiara pulled a chair close
Kael “We couldn’t find her, your majesty.” The guards chorused as they bowed their heads to the ground. I sucked in a deep breath and scratched my chin in thought. It had been five days since the meeting with our parents. She was never to be seen again after that. I had searched the entire pack, and even neighboring packs to the East and West. Everytime the guards came back without her, one thing became clearer. Elora was gone.On the first day, I had searched the entire pack house, checked the gardens, the training grounds, and even the little cabin she liked to sit in when she wanted to be alone. I had often found her there during my visits to Selene. Nothing. She wasn’t anywhere. At first, I told myself she was probably just taking a walk. Maybe she needed time to think. But as the minutes stretched into hours, and hours turned into days, ceased to make sense. Something was wrong.Her best friend, Camilla, hadn’t seen her since the eve of my coronation and mating ceremony
Elora I was already mated to one man I wasn’t supposed to: Kael Stormrider, the man who loved my sister. Now, I was mated to my pack’s worst enemy as well?! Why didn’t I remain without a mate? I was better off locked up in my room in the pack house than in enemy territory. My eyes didn’t leave his amber ones as I stared intently at them. Sierra stirred softly within me. He was right when he said that she had been injured severely. As she awakened slowly, I began to feel the pull again. The scent of the silver haired man wafted through my nostrils; wet earth and rain…olive oil? The hairs at the back of my neck tingled under his gaze. It was the same feeling I had with Kael last night, and when his gaze softened, I could tell his wolf had recognized me. ‘Mate.’ Sierra purred. “Yes, another one.” I replied to her. I needed to speak to him. To tell him it was all a mistake and I needed to return home as a soon as possible. I wasn’t sure how many days had passed, but I had a weddin
Elora’s POV The sheets covering my body did little to stop the chill that seeped into my bones. My head pounded like I’d been hit by a rock, and my limbs felt heavy. I struggled to part my eyelids, but they wouldn’t budge. The smell of the room was strange. No matter how hard I sniffed, I couldn’t recognize it. Where was I? It was raining outside, I could hear the sounds of soft raindrops. Fear shot through my bones, causing my eyes to open widely. Rain never came during this part of the year. How far away from home was I? My fingers brushed the soft fabric of the bed beneath me. It wasn’t familiar. Nothing here was. I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through my side, forcing me to lie back down. It all came rushing back. The attack. The wolves. The pain. My hand flew to my side, expecting to feel open wounds, but instead, there was nothing but smooth skin. What happened? Amidst my confusion, the door creaked open. Frightened, I pressed my back agains
Elora’s POV Just as I had expected, the meeting was a disaster. Kael had called one in the throne room between his father, my father, Athlea - my stepmother, Selene, and I. He told them everything. How he had found out we were mates and how he marked me. Just as Selene said, his father, the former alpha, told him he didn’t have to marry me. “It’s not compulsory. You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” He spoke about the prophecy again. “But it said you’ll be with one of the Valewind sisters, and you made your pick as a young man.” Athlea cut in. She placed her hands on Selene’s shoulders. My sister’s eyes were swollen from all her crying. She had always been very cruel to me. Still, it hurt me to see her like that. “The goddess chose Elora for me. I’m sure there’s a reason for that.” He had responded. “So, I would take Elora as my Luna, and she would be accorded the respect she deserves. I would not question fate or the goddess. If I am to end this
Elora’s POV The room was quiet, except for the soft sound of Kael’s breathing. I tried to take in sight of him. This would be the closest I would ever get after today. I made a mistake last night, and it could never repeat itself. I slipped out from under his arm, moving carefully so I wouldn’t wake him. I couldn’t afford that. Not until I figured out how to keep our secret. I found my clothes and grabbed them, pulling my dress on as quickly as my shaking hands would allow. Slowly, my fingers rose to brush the mark on my neck. The bond had been sealed, but it felt like a curse, not a blessing. Sierra whimpered, confused and hurt. “I don’t understand,” she tried to say. “Why aren’t you happy? I’m trying to be, but there’s an energy I can sense from you that isn’t letting me.” “He’s yours, not mine.” I told her. It didn’t ease her confusion. “What does that mean? You and I are the same.” I scoffed. “Not when I’m the mute, abandoned daughter. Not when I’m no