LOGINš·ļø Vaerion POV I did not need screams right now. Not here, at least. And it would be suspicious to take her to my wing. āSo you questioned her for me?ā I asked him before he reached the handle. āOf course, my lord.ā āShow me.ā He turned around and came back. Not eager. Not reluctant either. He knew the pain that would follow. He did not hesitate. I had somehow started tolerating that pet. He had strength, ruthlessness, and decisiveness. More than most of the wolves I had met. At times, more than the king himself. And he knew his place perfectly well. Marking that trash was his first real mistake. Arria Crestwood, I reminded myself. If she was the heir, as I now suspected, then I had misjudged one thing at the time. I had been searching for someone strong. Someone who had probably displayed power already. Not a weakling. I placed two fingers against his temple. I could do it from a short distance once my plant was well rooted. But I would have to sift through
š·ļøVaerionPOVThethrone room smelled of polished stone, old banners, and fear carefully hidden beneathceremony.King Edric sat where kings were supposed to sit.Straight-backed.Crowned.Dressed in dark blue and silver, withthegolden wolf of his line resting heavily over his chest.
š Arria POVSilence followed.Not the sharp silenceFenrircreated.Not the frightened one Alaric pulled from people without trying.This one was heavier.āYou donāt have to choose now,ā I told them. āYou can ask all your questions first. Greg and Stone will answer truthfully. Then youāll have three more days before the official vote.ā
š Arria POVA few minutes later, I was standing beside Fenrir on a wool blanket.Stone had organizedthespace perfectly. We were part ofthegathering circle, butthere was enough space around usso Alaric would not become overwhelmed.We received greetings, and as usual, everyone acted calmly, but no one met Fenrir’s gaze directly for more than two seconds.I positioned myself betweenhislong
š Arria POVI had finished my morning training session an hour ago, and now,freshand physically spent, I was going through the pile of documents I had postponed for the last two days.The housing arrangements were moving swiftly, and all families in the gathering already had their own place. So now I was prioritizing which building should come next—a new school, a packhouse, three more one-family houses, or an actual healing house instead of home visits.A loud knock startled me.
š Fenrir POV Arria was shocked. She needed time to think it through, so I pulled away from her and started moving around the kitchen, preparing the table and reheating the food. It gave my hands something to do. āThis canāt be part of the curse,ā Arria said eventually. āAlaric had a mate back then, right?ā āYes,ā I confirmed. āA chosen mate.ā āChosen or not, it doesnāt matter if he wasnāt forced to take her. And the kingās Beta being forced is out of the question.ā āYou are right. He wasnāt.ā I set a plate on the table. āThey had been friends from a young age. Neither he nor she had found their fated mate by twenty-five, so they had decided to try courting for a while. Eight months later, they had been officially mated.āāThat doesnāt sound bad,ā she said slowly.Uncertain.āNo. It had been good. She had always been respectful, understanding, and soft around him, and the Beta had reciprocated her feelings and actions.āI took a moment.āIn time, they had grown affectionate wit
The moment my feet left the edge, the world fell silent. There was only wind. And peace. For one fragile heartbeat, I was free. Like a bird. Then something slammed into me from behind. Arms. Hard. Unforgiving. The impact hurled me sideways instead of down. Wood splintered. Something inside m
š Fenrir POV“Who gave it to you?” Arria asked.“A trusted source.”
šArria POVI woke up slowly.Not all at once—j
A year later. Sixteen. The age when a wolf answers. The clearing was filled once again. Torches circled the altar. Warriors lined the perimeter. Children were lifted onto shoulders. My fatherās voice carried across the gathering. āTonight, our future steps fully into her power.ā Cheers erupte







