LOGINMICHAELA'S POV There are three ways to survive a disaster. The first is preparation. The second is luck. The third is denial. Personally, I have always preferred denial. Not because it works. It absolutely does not. But there is something comforting about convincing yourself that a terrible thing isn't happening while it is actively happening. Take today, for example. Thousands of werewolves and humans are staring at me. Representatives from neighboring territories are staring at me. The council is staring at me. The giant screens are staring at me. Somewhere out there, there is probably a boy staring at me. A girl. A mother. A father. All of them trying to predict my fate. All of them calculating the odds of this human embarrassing herself in a spectacular fashion. And despite all available evidence to the contrary, a small part of my brain still insists that if I simply avoid making eye contact with anyone for long enough, the Luna Trials might somehow forget I e
MICHAELA'S POVRepresenting the currently absent Alpha, Mason delivers the opening speech, which, I suppose, is to be expected of him as Beta.Still, nothing prepares me for the sight of it.Mason.Being serious.Truly serious.Not a joke in sight.It is, quite frankly, unsettling.He welcomes the pack members, the council, and the representatives from neighboring territories before offering a formal apology for the Alpha's absence due to health-related circumstances.Despite myself, a snort escapes me before I can stop it.I'm grateful the massive screens are currently focused entirely on Mason and his speech.The whole thing sounds rehearsed.Professional.Responsible.I barely recognize him in that moment.Mason continues speaking as though he hasn't spent his entire life making terrible jokes at every available opportunity and inappropriate moment.Murmurs ripple through the arena at the mention of Damon.Some attendees look disappointed.Others concerned.Others openly suspicious
MICHAELA’S POV The moment we reach the end of the aisle and step into the center of the arena, the noise hits me from every direction.Loud.A constant roar of voices bouncing off stone.Hundreds of conversations blending into one overwhelming wave of sound.And just as overwhelming are the eyes.Hundreds of them.Fixed directly on me.Now that I'm standing here, it is impossible to ignore just how many people have gathered for this.I slowly turn in a circle, taking in the arena in its entirety as my pulse quickens.From the entrance, I had thought the place looked large.From the center, it feels enormous.Stone terraces rise in wide circles around the arena floor.Not completely full.Large gaps remain between sections of spectators, a lingering precaution from the plague protocols introduced months ago.Even so, the turnout is staggering.Entire families occupy the terraces.Warriors stand along the upper levels.Several healers in white uniforms are stationed throughout the aren
MICHAELA'S POV I know Damon was here at some point during the night. Maybe he only just left. I reach across the bed, and my suspicion is immediately confirmed. The space beside me is still warm. His scent lingers in the sheets and pillows, wrapping around me like a memory that hasn't quite faded yet. I inhale deeply before letting out a slow sigh and rolling onto my back to stare at the ceiling. I haven't slept much. Couldn't. I spend most of the night tossing and turning, my thoughts running in circles until exhaustion finally takes pity on me and drags me into a few hours of restless sleep. I don't know what I'm feeling. Maybe that's the problem. Fear. Anxiety. Excitement. Dread. Everything seems tangled together into one impossible knot sitting in the middle of my chest. All I know is that it's the morning of my trials. And I barely sleep. I'm exhausted. I miss him. And I'm fairly certain I'm developing a headache. With a groan, I force myself out of bed. No ov
DAMON'S POV The sound of Michaela's footsteps fades slowly. Silence settles over the entryway. I remain where I am, my gaze fixed on the hallway long after she's gone. My hands slide into my pockets as I force myself not to follow. From the corner of my eye, I see Cole lean against the opposite wall. She had asked us to stay here while she went in first. And although every instinct I possess had rebelled against the idea of letting her walk in there alone, I'd understood. This isn't a battle I can fight for her. It isn't even a minute before the silence is broken. "What happens if she loses the trials?" Cole asks quietly. My gaze shifts to him. He's watching me. Not casually. There is no warmth in his gaze. No friendliness. Just the same restrained dislike that I have come to expect from him. To his credit, he keeps it leashed. Barely. And just as quickly, the emotion disappears behind a carefully neutral expression. A lesser man might have found t
MICHAELA'S POV "Michaela?" I blink, looking up to find that Damon is no longer studying the house but watching me. His expression softens slightly. "Do you want us to come in with you?" he asks, then adds, "We could wait outside if you'd prefer that." The question catches me off guard. For a moment, I simply stare at him. Because embarrassingly enough, I hadn't even considered it. Not really. I'd been so busy worrying about seeing Mum and Talia that I'd completely forgotten another detail. Was I even allowed to bring guests? My gaze flickers toward the front door. Then back to Damon. Then to Cole. Who suddenly looks just as uncertain as I feel. A laugh threatens to escape me. Because somehow the possibility of not being welcomed by anyone feels slightly less terrifying than having to explain why I've shown up with two men. One of whom happens to be the Alpha. And the other my best friend. I shrug. "I honestly have no idea." Neither of them says
His hand is still in mine.Warm. Heavy. Slightly unsteady.For a moment, nothing moves.Not him. Not me. Not even the night around us.Just silence stretching too tightly between heartbeats.I contemplate what to do next.Should I lead him back into the pack house and risk him losing control… doing
I wait a moment after Mason leaves, watching Damon’s chest rise and fall, once, twice, just to be sure.Then I move.I slip out of the room, easing the door shut behind me without a sound.The moment I step into the corridor, I have to swallow hard.Three bodies. Still and lifeless.A guard lies sl
…And yank the door open.For a second—Nothing happens.No movement.No sound.Just—Him.Damon stands on the other side of the door.He is close. Too close.Like he had been leaning against the door. The only thing keeping him out.His head is slightly lowered.Shoulders tense.Breathing uneven.I
There is no one here. I realise it after a few seconds of standing in the expanse of the room. It’s too still. Too quiet. In fact, it doesn’t even feel lived in. Just… Empty. Clean. Perfect. Untouched. For a moment, I almost convince myself Damon doesn’t stay here. That this is just







