Evans’ POVThere was an uncanny silence on the battlefield. Something inside of me broke the instant Kieran said, *this power is changing you*. Like the surface of a frozen lake under excessive weight, I sensed it fracture. But a presence swept across the field before I could process the pain in my chest or demand to know if he really thought I was losing myself. Icy, dominant, and familiar. Nightclaw and Eclipse were among the warriors when a ripple of silence passed through them. Something unnatural laced the air, making it heavy. It coiled like invisible chains around my throat and pressed against my skin. At that moment, he emerged from the center of the Eclipse Coven's ranks. A person wearing a silver and midnight cloak, with a polished obsidian mask that glinted in the moonlight. His movements were unhurried and fearless—as though he already controlled this battlefield. And he had a voice like velvet wrapped around steel when he spoke. "You are mine." A
Kieran’s POV Disbelief and anarchy dominated the battlefield. I was unable to take my eyes off of him—from it. The King of Eclipse. The guy wearing my face. I have experienced horrors and fought in numerous conflicts that would haunt lesser men. However, this? This was something completely different.“What do you want from us?” My voice reflected what was opposite to the turmoil that ate deep inside of me.The man chuckled, his gaze arresting mine as he closed the distance between us, his face stern. It wasn't budging.Evans was silent next to me, the panic that ravaged her being made her heart pound against her ribcage violently. I could sense her breathing irregularly and her eyes flitting between the imposter and myself. Confusion and fear were infused into her smell. Not from him. “I don't need anything though,” his lips tugged primaly as he darted his eyes towards Evans. Regarding me.No blade could ever cut as deeply as that knowledge did. "What kind of trick is t
Evans' POV Like a poison I couldn't get rid of, the weight of the past few days became lodged in my bones. The whispers—the ones that slithered through the pack like vipers—were unavoidable, and sleep had faded into the past. "She will bring ruin upon us.""She is not our salvation—she is our curse.""The Eclipse Coven only wants her because she is their queen." With every hour that went by, the words tightened their invisible bonds around me. I initially brushed them off. However, I saw how the warriors paused before bowing to me. The way I walked into a room and discussions ended. Kieran's current gaze on me which showed disgust and disapproval, as if I were something strange. Abruptly, the murmurs ceased to be mere rumors. They believed. In the morning, the summons arrived. My door was knocked on by a Nightclaw warrior wearing dark leathers. Although his face was expressionless, I could see the glimmer of discomfort in his amber eyes. "You must be in the counci
Kieran’s POVThe air in the council chamber was pierced with panic the instant the scout's comments broke the tight silence. It was the Eclipse Coven. Before mayhem broke out around me, I had hardly had time to comprehend the gravity of Evans' disobedience—the way she had refused to swear allegiance to the pack, the way her mere presence had unnerved the Nightclaw elders. With their voices overlapping in a furious dispute, the council members got up from their chairs. With their features etched in stone and their swords drawn, warriors rushed out of the room. The Nightclaw Alpha, his normally calm face shattered with anxiety, yelled commands. And in the middle of everything— Evans remained motionlessShe didn’t flinch, didn’t recoil, didn’t look to me for help. Instead, she met the Alpha’s furious gaze with a calmness that sent a chill down my spine. *"You brought this upon us," the Alpha snarled. "They wouldn’t be here if not for you.” Evans tilted her chin. "They would ha
Kieran's pov The smell of treachery and blood filled the night air. The war was still raging inside of me, but it had temporarily subsided. I couldn't keep track of all the wolves that had abandoned me because they trusted the council more than they did me. I was being forced to choose between myself and the very establishment that was trying to control my own soldiers, my own people and now Evans.I didn't have time to think about it, but the weight of it was like an iron vice pressing into my chest. Garrick had said in his last seconds before disappearing into the darkness, and I had followed that hint, that whisper: “The truth lies beneath the ruins.” I had no option but to look for it. The ruins in question were located deep within the Nightclaw stronghold's deserted subterranean chambers, which were old tunnels that existed before the packs. Unaffected by time and forgotten by people who were afraid of what was inside, the entrance had been concealed beneath thick roots and
Evans’ POVThe darkness enveloped them, oppressive and unchangeable. I was sinking—weightless, lost in a sea of unending darkness. My name sounded like a spectral chant as the air around me sparked with invisible energy. "Selene." "Selene." I scratched at the empty space, looking for anything to help me stay grounded. However, nothing was present. Just smoke-like shadows that slithered past my fingertips. I gasped for air as an invisible force dragged me farther down into the chasm. The murmurs then became screams. Voices overlapping, agonized cries, a cry of agony. With my heart racing, I whirled around, trying to find the source. As the shadows grew thinner, changing figures emerged, women in flowing white robes with veils covering their faces. They were standing in a circle, with *someone*—something—in the middle. A spooky silver light glowed from their raised hands. I cautiously moved in closer. The central figure raised her head. I gasped. My face was on
Kieran’s POVI needed to know what the hell I was becoming.The mark on my arm, the one that had burned itself into my flesh the moment Evans collapsed in the ritual, still pulsed beneath my skin. I could feel it thrumming with every heartbeat, as though something inside me was waking up alongside her. Evans hadn’t spoken much since we left the Nightclaw borders. Not since the battle. Not since her power had erupted and wolves had bowed to her while others had turned against her in fear. And not since she had heard my doubt. Is she still the same? I had asked myself. She had heard me. And something between us had fractured. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself, her posture rigid as she focused on the path ahead. I detested the quiet. At last, I remarked, "We need to discuss what happened back there." Evans didn't look at me, but I could see her grip the reins firmly. "There is nothing to discuss Kieran." I grumbled, pushing my horse forward to get a glimpse of h
Evans’ POVThere was complete darkness in the temple. The burning pain in my hand subsided to a dull throb, and I began to breathe in shallow, short gasps. As if whispering secrets only I could hear, the hilt of the golden dagger, the **Blood Oath Blade**, was still firmly grasped in my fingers. Kieran was kneeling next to me, his hands firmly grasping my shoulders, his voice gruff with haste. "Evans! Speak up!” I made an effort, but my throat felt constricted, as if something invisible were pressing against it. My heartbeat pounded like war drums in my ears, and the pressure in my chest increased. The whisper then resurfaced. * "The Lunar Queen has made her decision. However, will she govern or burn? * All at once, the torches around the walls rekindled, illuminating the massive carvings that line the stone walls of the temple with flickering light. Beside me, Kieran tensed up, his silver eyes sweeping across the shifting darkness. "What the devil is happening, Evans?
Evans' povSomething ancient, something alive, was thick in the ruins' heavy air. Draven moved closer, his silver eyes shining with a mixture of patience and hunger, and I stood motionless. My fingers were twitching at my sides, and my pulse was pounding in my ears. He said, "I have something to show you," The want to turn away was part of me. To give him a punch and run away. However, another aspect—the one that initially brought me here—kept me grounded. I required clarification. With his fingers hovering just above my temple, Draven raised a hand. Softly, "Let me in, Evans," he urged. "See for yourself." With a constricted throat, I swallowed. All of my instincts told me to turn him away and to fight whatever he was attempting.“You should stop that, you think it's that easy right?” My voice barely above a whisper as I cringed gradually. “I know it's not gonna be easy for you that was why I called here, Evans,” he moved closer to me, closing the distance between u
Kieran’s POV I sensed something wasn't right as soon as I entered Evans' vacant tent. The air was unspoiled and stuffy. The linens were still silky and unaltered, and the bed was still made. My chest coiled with a keen stiffness. I whirled around, looking around the pitch-black camp for her in the moonlight. My nostrils strained, searching for her aroma of wild rain and warm cedar, but it was too subtle. Lost. My throat rumbled with a roar. "No."With my heart hammering my ribs, I bounded out. She wouldn't have left me in the dark. Not after everything. Unless... I felt my stomach tighten with a horrible conclusion. She had gone to meet Draven. Just hearing the name made my blood boil. I pushed through the branches, moving quickly, my claws aching to reach farther. Every second since she had met him, every time I had witnessed her hesitating, every glimpse of something unreadable in her eyes—all of it was replayed in my head. I didn't want to accept it. Refu
Evans’ POV The smell of pine and damp dirt filled the cold night air. Long shadows were created over the thick woodland by the crescent moon, which was low in the sky and covered in floaty clouds. I didn't stop even though every step felt heavier than the one before. I was unable to stop from the moment the door slammed closed against me.Kieran walked in, as though my thought had beckoned him to return. But what I expected was a smiley face, only for what seemed like a cold expression shot back at me. “Evans, I have something for you.” He said, moving closer to me. A paper clenched at his hand. “What is that?” I asked, my eyes rested on the paper that he held.“She is now acting as though it is a surprise. But it's fine.” His voice was laced with mockery.“What are you talking—-” I was stunned by what caught my eyes. “Draven.” I muttered, taking the letter from Kieran's hands.“Ya, that's it!” I could not get Draven's message out of my head. L"Come to the ruins with me. By myself.
Kieran’s POVMy thoughts were loud, yet the forest was quiet. Even after leaving Evans last night, the pressure of what she had said still weighed heavily on me. *Something inside me responds to him.* The words that had escaped Evans lips earlier.The talk still hurt no matter how many times it resonated deep inside me repeatedly. No amount of reason or anger could make the deep, sluggish ache in my chest go away. All my life, I have been a warrior. Killed rogues. Killed wolves. Stood fearlessly in the face of monsters. However, this? In ways I never anticipated, this was shattering me. I leaned against the training post behind the barracks and clenched my fists, my claws cutting into my palms. I had to strike something. Shatter something. Anything to calm the raging tempest in my brain. But before I could, I felt a presence coming. I turned my faze to rest on the old woman, holding a walking stick. It was Briony. Even though she walked lightly, her presence was si
Evans’ POV Silence was thick in the night. That was not a calm kind. The kind that weighed heavily on my chest, stifling me and being dense with unsaid words. I could still feel Kieran's absence like a deep ache, even though his footsteps had long since gone into the night. Even though my wrist was no longer glowing, it continued to burn, as though the last of the power connected to Draven would not let me go. I placed my hand against it, like I could erase it, muffle the connection. But I was unable to since it was real and not in some sort of delusion. And I had told all the lies I could. I turned abruptly when a rustle of leaves pierced the stillness, my heart thumping. Standing at the edge of the clearing, partially obscured by shade, was Kieran. His stiff, inscrutable posture was characterized by his arms folded across his chest. I was shivering because of the intensity with which his eyes—those storm-filled, black eyes—were fixed on mine. He had returned. But w
Evans’ POV Even though the woodland was quiet once more, the storm inside of me continued to rage. My body buzzed with the lingering strength that wasn't really mine even after th scuffle was over and the Eclipse warriors had fled like shadows slipping through night crevices. I didn't know if it had ever existed. The heat that was still seething beneath my skin was not much relieved by the chilly night air. I had to fight every breath I took to suppress the energy, act as though nothing had changed, and ignore the fact that my wrist was still burning. However, I was aware that I wasn't the only one that noticed. Kieran was keeping an eye on me. His eyes, like twin shards of ice, had been fixed on me since the end of the battle, penetrating the darkness. It weighed heavily on my back, and I could feel the tension between us churning with unanswered questions. Focusing on the firm weight in my hand, I strengthened my hold on my dagger. I'll do anything to get grounde
Evans’ POVIt was too quiet at night. Silence was a predator that lurked just before turmoil broke out, but I had learned to trust it. The smell of pine and damp earth filled the air, but there was something more there as well. A hint of deterioration. A caution. Every muscle in my body tensed like a spring as I gripped my daggers tighter. The others gathered around me, anxious, anticipating. The warriors of Eclipse were near. I sensed it—a weight against my flesh, an invisible force scuttling through my bloodstream. A glimmer of motion. In between the woods, a shadow passed my vision. I whispered, just loud enough for the warriors beside me to hear, "Remain vigilant." I heard knives unsheathing with a gentle click. A few feet away, Kieran's presence served as a reassuring anchor despite the stress from our previous conflict at his room. However, I was unable to consider that at this time. A sigh. A change in the atmosphere. Then….A haze of movement. The ini
Evans' POVI could sense a problem as soon as I entered Kieran's quarters. He was standing by the fireplace, the walls framed by sharp shadows from the flames. He had his back to me, his fists clenched, his shoulders tense. The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. I gulped the lump that had formed in my throat, hoping my heart would calm down. With caution, I whispered, "Kieran," scarcely raising my voice above a whisper. He didn't look around. His eyes still blazed to the outskirt of his room. There was a dense, oppressive silence between us. I stepped closer, but his voice sliced through the silence like a sword before I could get close. "For what length of time were you going to conceal this from me?" I went cold. He spoke in a tone that was worse than anger. It was tinged with pain, treachery, and an untamed, raw quality that was hidden beneath the surface. I took a swallow. "What did I keep from you?" He laughed sharply and without humor. "Evans,
Evans PovTension permeated the war chamber's atmosphere. The weight of the revelation seemed to descend upon us like an unbreakable storm cloud, and the walls, adorned with faded banners and old maps, appeared to close in. Standing in the middle, Lucien's glittering eyes were piercing with power. Even though he was always an imposing presence, there was something about his posture today that seemed different—tense, cautious, as though even he wasn't sure how to say the words that would make all the difference. Briony's face next him was unreadable. She had always been hard to figure out, a lady who kept secrets like weapons and was selective about when and how to reveal them.They had both decided to share one of the most deadly realities of all tonight. With a calm but foreboding tone, Lucien started, "The return of the Eclipse King is not merely a possibility." "It is unavoidable." I tightened my jaw. "And what does that mean exactly?" Briony remarked, her emerald ey