CON

" My fist slammed against the oak table, the sound echoing like thunder through the council chamber. Shadows

in ceremonial robes, shifted uneasily but said nothing. Their silence weighed heav

ke an approaching storm. "So

t sparkling at his temple. "Alpha... we believe the attack

blade to the ribs. "Blake?" I repeated, tasti

l my patience snapped. "Do we have unf

ed meet my eyes. "None that we know of, your hig

our patrols cross into his territory?"

no. My wolf pressed against my

lm the fire inside me. "There's no proof," I muttered, setting the cup down with f

elder whispered from the far e

. Finally. A lead.

d without swaying. His clothes were in tatters, stained with dried blood and d

sweep of my hand. "Since when do we

his face. "Forgive us, Alpha.

would answer to me later. I leaned forward, my vo

roke into sobs. "They were so fast... we couldn't fight back. Shadows in the tree

s sobs. Pathetic, but real. I studied him, searc

aved my hand.

rubbed my temple, the ache burrowing deep. "Artemis," I gro

r. Minutes later, he returned with a raven's scroll tie

ords. My jaw clenched. "Blake ha

ling. Trouble brew

uttered under my breath. My

d. "If he dares play g

ound, curling around our boots. I paced restlessly, my wolf bristlin

I snapped, scanning the tree

emis caught it mid-flight, untied the message, and passed i

my fist. "He's changed plans. He wants

"What does that h

," I barked.

*

of serpents in the wind. Guards in black and silver armor lined the path, eyes cold and sharp. Inside, the hall wa

reamed of a trap. This wasn't a ceremony-it was a show of power. Blak

him enjoy himself. A man who flaunts his

A girl was being maltreated, her thin frame stumbling under t

and in that instant

rd so violently it s

oise of the hall faded until only she remained in my vision. Her face

aned. Of all places... here? In Blake's

ony began. Blake, dressed in ceremonial silver, strode to the dais. Within minutes, he marked h

elsewhere. My

shadow, following the faint trace of h

were softer now, her body trembling, but when the bullies returned-smi

ibs. Fierce. Defiant. Her spirit b

d against the surface of my ski

ething inside me-somethi

ire. Possess

oman i