LOGINLANEY POV"Are your thoughts completely mad, Lucas?" I cry out, fat wet tears dropping onto my winter furs. "Why does your wolf accept a terrible deal like that? Your claws built Pierce Holdings from a tiny pup pack with Logan! That territory is basically your own child!""My life has to change now, Laney," Lucas says softly, using his thumb to wipe the wetness from my skin before pulling my frame into his strong arms. "My boots cannot run with Logan's hunting party forever. The elders are getting old, and my claws must lead our family borders anyway. Plus, my spirit has a much bigger thing to protect now.""My tongue promises to be the absolute best pack wife for your name," I sob loudly against his chest, my voice completely hoarse. "My claws will make your alpha father proud.""Don't change your wolf spirit for my sake, Laney," Lucas laughs gently, pressing his warm lips against my forehead. "Just stay exactly who you are.""Do not listen to their low growls, Laney," Brooke Lawson
LANEY POV"Did that weak female use the unborn pup to threaten your alpha position, Lucas?" my father Richard Lawson asks, baring his teeth."No, our bond is nothing like that, Father," Lucas Grant answers, shaking his head with deep disappointment. "My wolf tracks her presence because my soul loves her frame. My claws hunted her heart for many seasons, and her spirit finally accepted my love.""Well, our pack house does not need to rush this treaty," Richard says, exchanging a cold look with Evelyn Lawson. "My scouts will locate high caste daughters from the wealthiest territories in the Shifter Citadel. Your boots can join their hunting circles, and then your beast will find a suitable mate.""My mind agrees with your father's wisdom," Evelyn cuts in with a sharp smile. "Your bloodline belongs to the alpha caste, Lucas. Your boots will join the hunting circle tomorrow watch, and that is my final decree.""Treat the high caste female nicely, Lucas," Evelyn warns him the next sun-cycl
BROOKE LAWSON POV"My internal beast is completely ready for your crazy move, Charis!" I shout, jumping backward fast just as the boiling river-water splashes onto the stone floor boards with a loud hiss. "Help! Guards! Come inside this den quickly! Charis Turner is turning completely feral!""Mrs. Pierce, what happened to your physical frame? Are your limbs okay?" a lower caste office wolf asks, running up to my side the exact watch I burst through the doorway into the main territory floor."Charis Turner suddenly poured scalding tea onto my skin because her tongue claims my face looks disgusting to her eyes!" I cry out, making my voice tremble with deep fear while pointing a shaking finger back at her private den."Oh, praise the moon, this madness is getting more ridiculous every sun-cycle!" the staff wolves roar, their long-standing anger against her cruel claws instantly igniting like dry wood. "Miss Turner completely lost her mind after the forest house fire! She keeps ruining t
LOGAN PIERCE POV"Why are you throwing the heavy oak table across the council room, Charis?" I ask, stepping into the corridor after the pack elders scatter in fear. "My right-hand wolf Evan Brooks says your claws are snapping at every warrior who walks past your den.""Those lower caste wolves are whispering about my disfigured flesh behind my leather mask, Logan!" Charis screams, her chest heaving as she grips her fur coat tightly. "My ears tracked their mocking laughs during the territory alliance meeting!""The elders were only debating the border patrol layouts your own brain suggested last moon-cycle," I say, shaking my head. "Absolute zero wolves are laughing at your scabs, Charis. Your mind is creating dark illusions because your spirit is fragile.""My boots will not attend the Citadel banquets or the full moon festivals anymore!" she roars, turning her scarred face away from my stare. "The other high caste packs stopped sending their invitation scrolls because my hideous ski
LOGAN PIERCE POV"The gray storm-clouds are swallowing the sun over the valley right now, Charis, making the wilderness outside look completely dark," my mother Catherine Turner whispers, staring out the glass window of the clinic room."My eyes are trained directly on your bandaged skull, Charis, and my tongue demands a clear explanation for this entire maze disaster," I say, my voice sounding as sharp as a hunting eagle."Logan, why does your alpha beast refuse to trust my words?" Charis stammers, swallowing hard as her eyes shift around the room in a total panic. "My tongue only described your mate bond with Brooke Lawson from the perspective of an outside wolf! Your beast never talked about your private feelings with my soul, so how could my brain know if you two shared a true love? My eyes only tracked the cold way your paws treated her frame in public, so my intellect truly believed you hated her presence.""It is true that my beast is not good at expressing feelings to the pack
LOGAN PIERCE POV"My beautiful face was always my biggest pride, just like my mother Catherine Turner used to boast about our high caste features around the territory," Charis weeps, her voice sounding like dry leaves clicking together."Your claws must grip the mattress tightly, Charis, because our family line is completely ruined today!" Catherine cries, her shoulders shaking violently as she stands near the washbasin."If that pathetic female Brooke Lawson had just perished like a weak pup inside the burning timber, my system would not look like a charred log right now!" Charis screams through the heavy white gauze. "My plan to hunt her life failed completely, and my own beast paid the total price, yet my tongue cannot even roar the truth to the pack council without exposing my own hired arsonists!""My hunters will track every single scent in that valley, Charis!" Luke Turner roars, his calm face completely breaking as his fists smash against the stone wall. "The fire warriors dis
“You should just be happy that my beast is declining to project the silent treatment across our bond any longer.”Logan pursed his lips, his massive frame shifting as he managed to gain his boots, his golden eyes narrowing. “Did your limbs sustain a joint sprain when her claws propelled your weight
Evelyn’s claws dragged against the edge of the stone table, her breathing dropping into a dangerous, low vibration that rippled with unspent fury.“A high alpha commanding the sovereign silver-forges will never anchor his spirit to a secondary female of your tier. Even if the high council authorize
“The driver will adjust the horses to the Lawson Estate borders now,” I stated to the front grate, my tone absolute.The moment our pack-carriage rattled to a halt outside the iron gates of my family's den, my boots cleared the step. Logan trailed my flank immediately, his massive warlord furs bunc
“Your tongue plays loose with my patience, Evan,” I growled into the transmission stone, the golden fire in my eyes flaring in the darkened kitchen. “The northern pass of Barnes is secure under my iron vanguard, leaving your scouts with nothing but empty hours. If your spirit lacks the drive to une







