Emily's POV The night stretched on like a blade, its sharp edge pressing against my nerves. Sleep was a distant thought, scattered like ashes to the wind. My mind raced, thoughts tangled with fear, determination, and something darker, something that tasted like revenge. I stayed in my room, pacing, my fingers clenching and unclenching. Fayne’s words echoed in my head, and for once, his voice sounded like something more than irritation. It was concern. Desperation. But I couldn’t afford to let it sway me. Not now. Before dawn broke, I slipped from my room and made my way to the training hall. The air was cool, fresh with the scent of rain that hadn’t quite fallen. It was the kind of crispness that made your lungs ache with every breath. The hall was empty, silent but for the quiet creak of the wooden floor beneath my boots. I didn’t want witnesses. Didn’t need anyone to see the way my hands trembled or the ragged edge of my breathing. I grabbed a training dummy, tossing it
Emily's POV The silence hung, suffocating and electric. I stood above Rosie, chest heaving, the adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My knuckles throbbed, my limbs ached, but I stood tall. Victorious.Rosie looked up at me, blood on her lip, her pride cracked and leaking through her gaze. And yet—there was something else in her expression now. Something unfamiliar.Respect.The crowd still held its breath, eyes darting from me to Rosie and back again. They were waiting for someone to speak. Waiting to see if the new world we just stepped into would break them... or lead them.Rosie shifted onto one knee, then the other. Slowly, deliberately, she bowed her head to me.“I yield,” she said, voice rough but clear. “Alpha Emily.”The words echoed through the clearing like a bell tolling across a battlefield.A few gasps broke the stillness. Then, like falling dominoes, the rest of her warriors lowered their heads. Submission. Unity.I should’ve felt triumph. I should’ve smiled. But
Emily's POV "And if he turns on you?" Link stepped closer. "Will you wait until your throat is already slit before you believe me?"I stared at him for a long moment. He was right in many ways. Link had always done the dirty work—without asking questions, without demanding praise. But tonight, he wasn’t just looking at me like his Alpha. He was looking at me like I belonged to him."Is that what this is?" I whispered. "You’re jealous?"His jaw tightened. "I’m not a child, Emily. I don’t get jealous. I get dangerous."His words weren’t a threat. They were a promise.I moved past him to the window, needing space, needing air. Outside, the pack grounds lay quiet under the weight of the night. I could see the training fields where warriors used to train under Jacob’s rule. Where I now held court."You’ve always had my loyalty, Link," I said quietly. "But you don’t own me."He was behind me now. I could feel the heat of him, the restraint in his breath. "Not yet."I turned sharply, our fa
Emily's POV The silence between Fayne and me had grown roots—thick, winding vines that curled between glances and swallowed every word we didn’t say.Weeks of brushing past each other. Weeks of watching him from across the training field, his arms slick with sweat, his blade catching sunlight like it had something to prove. Weeks of pretending that I didn’t notice the way he stood a little straighter when I approached, the way his gaze never dropped until I made it.But I felt it.All of it.And I hated the ache of not knowing what lingered behind his quiet loyalty. Or worse—what lingered in me.Tonight, I couldn’t take it anymore.It was late. Most of the pack was asleep. Only the night guards remained, posted at the perimeter under a silver-stained moon. I moved through the stone hallways with purpose, each step echoing like a heartbeat down the corridor.I stopped in front of his room.The door wasn’t locked. I pushed it open without knocking, just as I always did when I wanted to
Emily's POV The truth of his words sat heavily between us. I didn't confirm or deny it.“You read me too well,” I said.“Only because I’ve spent every waking second trying to.”His words should’ve unnerved me. Instead, they warmed something inside me that I hadn’t allowed to feel in a long time.That night, I couldn’t sleep.Not because of nightmares. But because I was starting to crave the quiet presence of a man I once saw as a threat.Over the next few days, he made it worse—in the best way.He brought me coffee in the morning. Not just any coffee. The kind I liked—black, strong, with a hint of cinnamon. He never asked how I took it. He just knew.One night, during a strategy session, I was so tired I nearly fell asleep mid-sentence. Fayne didn’t say a word. He took the papers from my hands, led me to the chair by the fire, and wrapped a blanket around my shoulders. His hand brushed my cheek so briefly it might’ve been a ghost of a touch—but I felt it for hours after.I started fi
Emily's POV The days grew quieter, the once-unruly tension that plagued the halls of Galahad now reduced to a soft hum beneath the daily rhythm of leadership. For the first time in weeks, I felt as though I could breathe. There were no intrusions, no visitors at the gate demanding answers about Jacob, no crises to solve before breakfast. The air smelled of pine and freedom.Fayne’s recovery had been slow but steady. I made sure he was well-fed, had the best healers watching over him, and—more often than I’d like to admit—I found myself checking in on him personally. I told myself it was part of my duty. But the truth was simpler.I missed him.I missed the way his eyes softened whenever I walked into the room. I missed the quiet loyalty in his words, the strength in his silence. I even missed the foolish little smirks he gave me when I tried to maintain my mask of indifference.We never talked about what had happened—the kiss, the fevered declaration that I was his wife, the night I’
Emily's POV I watched Link walk away, shoulders tight with unsaid words and silent wounds. The door clicked shut behind him, and the silence he left behind weighed heavy on my chest.He’d always been loyal—my right hand, my shadow. He never asked for more than orders. Never demanded space in my heart. But tonight, he had. And I didn’t know how to answer him.Because I wasn’t the same woman I used to be.And part of that… was because of Fayne.Fayne, who’d woken something I’d buried deep. Not just desire, but the terrifying ache of being wanted—not as Alpha, not as a weapon or symbol—but as *me*. I found myself walking to his room again, steps slow, unsure. It was past midnight, the pack settled in sleep. I told myself I was just checking on his recovery. That I was still Alpha, and this was just duty.But my heart was louder than logic.When I pushed the door open, Fayne was awake, sitting at the edge of the bed. His torso still bandaged, eyes dimmed with exhaustion, but he looked u
Emily's POV The silence in the room wasn’t peaceful. It was the kind that pressed against my ribs like a weight.I sat at my desk, the flames from the candles flickering softly across my scattered notes. I’d been reviewing reports all evening—territory defenses, supply counts, schedules for the warriors. The usual duties of an Alpha. And yet, none of it held my focus.Fayne.That man had slowly become more than just a complication. He was an ache I had grown used to. And worse, I was beginning to crave the ache.Link had noticed. Of course he had.He hadn’t always been in my circle. In fact, Link only truly became my right hand after I became Alpha. I chose him. I needed someone sharp, dependable, loyal. Someone who didn’t know the old me too well—someone who could adapt to the version of Emily I was creating: cold, strategic, unflinching.And Link fit that perfectly. Until recently.Now, there was something in his eyes when he looked at me—some emotion I never invited but couldn’t f
Emily's POV The table was simple tonight — fresh bread, grilled meat, and platters of fruits and cheeses. No servants, no formalities. Just us.Fayne poured drinks while I set out the plates, and before long, laughter began to fill the air — the natural, effortless kind that only comes from people who know each other too well. "You’re heavy-handed with the wine, old man," Kael teased, raising his cup at Fayne.Fayne gave him a mock glare. "I’m making up for all the times I had to deal with your troublemaking.""Ah," Aerlyn smirked over the rim of her glass, "he means the time you tried to tame a wyvern in your second year of training."Kael groaned. "I will *never* live that down.""You were brave," I said, unable to hide a chuckle, "but extremely foolish.""And slightly singed," Fayne added, lifting his cup toward Kael with a wink. "To Kael, the bravest fool we know."We all laughed and raised our glasses together, the clinking sound ringing through the open air.The conversation
Emily's POV The days that followed were spun from sunlight and laughter.After breakfast one morning, Fayne clapped his hands together and grinned wickedly. “Time for a family sparring match,” he announced, eyes gleaming. “No backing out!”Aerlyn immediately brightened, already stretching her arms behind her head. “I’m in.”Kael gave a loud, theatrical groan. “Do I have to? I almost died last time!”“You stubbed your toe last time,” I said dryly, sipping my tea. “Hardly a near-death experience.”Still, when we gathered outside in the practice yard, Kael bounced on his toes with nervous excitement. The sun was high, the breeze carried the scent of wildflowers, and the whole pack seemed to watch from the edges, smiling at the scene unfolding.We split into teams — Fayne and Kael against Aerlyn and me."Unfair," Kael complained immediately. "Mother and Aerlyn are terrifying!""You wound me," I said with a grin, circling him slowly. "But I’ll take it as a compliment."The match began w
Emily's POV The days that followed felt golden.The castle, often a place of endless decisions and strategy, settled into a rhythm that was almost domestic. It wasn’t that there weren’t matters to attend to — of course there were. Packs still needed watching, alliances still needed tending. But the urgency that had once ruled every breath was gone, replaced by something warmer, deeper.Trust.Aerlyn spent her mornings training patrol groups, her voice sharp and sure as she called out orders in the training fields. She was growing into her power in a way that made my heart ache with pride. Some mornings I would watch her from the balcony, sipping tea while the wind carried her laughter up to me.Kael had thrown himself into studying — a surprise to all of us. He was determined to master governance, battle strategies, herbal remedies, everything he could get his hands on. It was as if, after the talk about leadership, he had decided to prove he was ready for more.Sometimes, I would fi
Emily's POV “We’re not as young as we used to be,” I murmured, feeling the ache in my bones with a smirk.“But we’re better,” he said. “We know when to stop fighting the world.”I turned toward him, resting my head on his shoulder. “This is what we fought for.”He didn’t answer with words, just pressed a kiss to my forehead.Eventually, reluctantly, we returned home.As we rode into the castle gates, our cloaks damp and hair wild, the guards blinked at us like we were forest spirits returning from myth. We waved them off before they could ask questions, and made our way back to our private quarters, still grinning like fools.We’d barely stepped out of the bathing chamber when there was a knock at the door. This time, it wasn’t a guard. I knew the rhythm.“Come in,” I called, already smiling.Aerlyn entered first, her braids freshly redone, her uniform pristine. Behind her, Kael followed, taller than before, but still hiding part of his face behind his curls when he felt uncertain.“
Emily's POV “Was hoping you'd think I was unconscious,” he mumbled into my hair. “So you wouldn’t make me move.” I laughed softly and turned toward him, our legs tangling naturally. He looked younger in the morning light, softer. As if the weight of his past had stepped back, if only for a few hours. I brushed my fingers across his brow, smoothing back a strand of hair that had fallen in his eyes. “I don’t want to move either,” I whispered. “Then don’t,” he said, pulling me closer. “We’ve earned one morning.” It was a strange thing—stillness. Foreign, almost. Our love had bloomed in war, grown through hardship, deepened through leadership. Most days, it felt like we were always on the edge of something: a threat, a decision, a moment too big to breathe through. But today… Today, we were just Emily and Fayne. Not Alpha. Not demon. Not legend. Just two people who had made it through the storm and still chose each other. He kissed the top of my head. “Still thinking about Kael?”
Emily's POV The echo of my children’s voices still lingered in the corridor even after I walked away. Something had changed—subtly, but powerfully. Kael and Aerlyn had finally found a rhythm, however fragile. That mattered more than any council, any throne. I drifted into the quiet of our chambers, the familiar warmth of it greeting me like a gentle tide. Fayne stood near the window, bathed in moonlight, his arms crossed as he stared into the distance like he always did when his mind wandered too far. He turned when he heard me, and his crooked smile instantly softened everything in me. “They’ll be alright,” I said, sinking into the edge of the couch. He raised a brow. “Kael didn’t burn down anything?” “Not today,” I teased. Fayne chuckled and walked over. “Then we’ll call that a win.” There was silence for a beat, one that didn’t demand to be filled. We were getting good at this kind of peace—the quiet between the wild. The world outside always turned, but we had carved out
Emily's POV I nodded. “Exactly. A joint council. One that unites the packs and keeps decisions balanced. Aerlyn will lead the Galahad and Red Cross packs, yes. Kael will govern Donovan when the time comes. But their power won't lie in their territories. It’ll lie in their ability to come together for decisions that affect all of us.”“Smart,” Fayne admitted, brushing a hand across my shoulder. “Give them shared stakes so there’s less room for rivalry.”“And more room for respect,” I added. “We’ll train them to make decisions together. Mediate conflicts. See each other as equals, even when their paths differ. We’ll show Kael that his role isn’t smaller, just different. He’ll grow into a protector, a strategist, a voice for the more volatile edges of the packs.”Fayne gave a small smile. “That sounds like you’ve been planning this for years.”“I have.” I turned toward him fully, letting the weight of my thoughts settle. “Because I know what it’s like to be raised in a world that pits s
Emily's POV The sun had dipped low, brushing golden light across the glass windows as I stood at the edge of the balcony, overlooking Galahad’s inner gardens. The breeze was gentle, tugging at the silk of my robe, and in the distance, I could hear laughter—Aerlyn training the younger wolves again, just as she always did.Behind me, I heard Fayne’s footsteps, quiet but heavy with thought. He came to stand beside me, his arms folded, gaze cast out toward the horizon. For a moment, we stood in silence, listening to the world we had carved out together. The peace we had fought for. Bled for.I sighed. “We have a family.”Fayne looked at me, his expression softening.“There were nights,” I continued, voice low, “when I didn’t think that would ever be our truth. That we’d ever survive long enough to see it. But now we have two children. A daughter who's strong enough to lead, and a son with a heart that's still learning to shape itself.”His hand slid gently over mine, warm and grounding.
Aerlyn’s POV I sat at the edge of the long stone table, the parchment map spread before us rippling with age and memory. Every scar on its surface marked a past battle, a lesson etched in ink and blood. Now it was my turn to leave a mark.Alpha Dante from the southern border was mid-sentence, proposing a joint patrol with his fastest wolves. Normally, I would’ve deferred to my mother—but today, I leaned forward.“That route won’t hold,” I said, surprising even myself with how calm my voice was. “The rogue movements I tracked followed wind pockets and low paths. They’re avoiding open terrain. We’d be leaving our flank exposed.”The room went still. A few of the elders exchanged glances. One even scoffed under his breath. But my mother said nothing. She didn’t have to. Her silence was her faith in me.Dante grunted, pointing at a different section of the map. “Then you suggest we close in here?”I nodded. “And reroute the scouts to this ridge. It’s narrow but provides full visibility.