knew the Alpha heir h

my's gossip network. Wolves thrived on hierarchy and scandal in equal measure, and nothing stirred both more than t

tdown to her social execution. The walls, lined with gilt-framed family crests of packs old and powerful, seemed to sneer down at her as much as the s

es set with real diamonds that caught the morning light. Beneath it, smaller crests formed constellations of power-the

ght against her shoulder like armor that might protect her from the stares. But the whispers followed

of girls near the trophy cases, their designer

of male students who stopped their co

mate on the first day. The Moon Goddes

'll never last a week here.

with the territorial musk that said she didn't belong in their world. Their wolves

cations. Every word dug into her skin sharp as claws, but she refused to let them see her flinch. She'd been through worse than hig

who saw her as beneath him. But because the rejection had painted a target on her back in permanent ink. In wolf soc

la

r long silver-blonde braid swinging behind her like liquid starlight. Celeste wasn't flashy-not one of the heirs who commanded attention wherever the

egun to know each other through the

her fingers warm against Elara

bined. Pity meant she looked as broken as she felt, that her carefully constructed mask was

m f

ersistence of someone who'd grown up mediating pack dispute

ut sharper than Elara intended, her wolf's wo

he said to you behind Blackstone Hall. And they'll keep whispering until something else distracts them-probably another scandal i

threading through her like poison. Celeste meant well-more than well. Maybe she even believed wh

ing help meant depending on someone else's goodwill, and goo

spered under her breath, the words a

her head, enhanced hear

g across her face like a curtain. "Nothing. Thank you,

choice, but by necessity. The world didn't coddle the weak, and she'd le

eyes seeing more than Elara was comfortable with. Finally, sh

ind, I'll be around.

step echoed with the vow she'd made years ago, standing in the ruins of her old life with smoke still burning in her lungs: Never again wo

ht. Outside, the training grounds glimmered in the sun, where other students were already gathering for combat practic

ad to survive th

their morning schedules. The Academy's ancient stone walls seemed to breat

was

asy posture that spoke of predatory confidence. His presence radiated something entirely different from Darius

ade her wolf lift its head in wary interest. Not the scent of her mate-that bond lay wounded and rej

ach his dark eyes, the expression calculate

first

y before, surrounded by a cluster of students who seemed to hang on his every word like he was dispensing secrets worth their weight in gold. His

creamed danger wrapped

inded her of a wolf stalking through moonlight. When he reached her, close enough that she could see the flecks

ith me,

e smirk playing at the corners of his mouth promised trouble of the most dan