登入AMRETH’S POV “Alpha, Rowan is here.”The moment these words came out of Marcus’s mouth, something inside of me went completely still. I felt like a blade that was waiting to be drawn. I didn’t say anything at first. I just stood up from my desk and pushed the chair back hard enough to make it scrape against the floor.“Where is he?” I asked.“The courtyard.”That was all I needed. I had already started walking before Marcus stopped talking. Rowan’s name was enough to leave a bitter taste in my mind. The last time I saw him was amid all the blood and chaos. My twin brother, who was in love with the woman after my heart.I still remembered how he had kidnapped her. My hands clenched into a fist. If we hadn’t found her that day, I wouldn’t have been able to handle being without her. My jaw tightened as I walked into the corridor. Guards straightened when they saw me, a nervous look on their faces. Maybe they could feel the anger radiating off my skin.Marcus kept a steady pace behind me
LEA’S POV “Do it again.”The old Mage’s voice rang through the entire clearing. I groaned as I looked at the woman who was standing in front of me, an unimpressed look plastered on her face. For someone who looked old enough to spend her days sitting in a rocking chair and knitting sweaters, she had the cruelty of a drill sergeant.I was beginning to question whether she just enjoyed watching me sweat my ass off.The clearing where we trained sat deep in the outskirts of the territory, right where her cottage was. Trees surrounded us from every direction, the branches acting like a natural canopy from the blazing hot sun. Sunlight filtered through the leaves in scattered rays of light, casting golden patterns across the grass.It looked breathtaking, but that didn’t make the training feel any easier.I wiped sweat away from my forehead and gazed hard at the flowers growing at my feet. The old mage folded her arms.“Well? What are you waiting for?” she asked.I glanced at her. “I am t
ROWAN’S POV The journey to Downfall Ridge took three whole exhausting days of crossing through rough terrain and narrow mountain paths, which had dense forests that seemed to make it their life's mission to slow us down at every given opportunity. By the time the Ridge came into view, every wolf travelling with me looked as tired as I felt.But I didn’t complain because a part of me told me that we were close to uncovering the truth. The burned letter remained tucked inside my jacket, and over the last few days, I had read it so much that I practically memorised every word in it.And no matter how much I had read it, none of it seemed to make sense. Why was he deliberately keeping these captives alive? And more importantly, who were these captives?The cold wind whipped against my face as I guided my horse onto a rocky hill. I looked down below, and my eyes landed on what looked like an old fortress, surrounded by cliffs and thick forest. The structure looked so old, it was ancient.
AMRETH’S POV Something was bothering Lea, and I had noticed it for three days. She hadn’t told me anything, but I couldn’t help but notice that she had been quieter than usual. She was more distracted as well and very distant. Every time I saw her, she looked like she was lost in thought, thinking about something I couldn’t comprehend.It didn’t seem like she was just distracted or exhausted; it felt like something heavier.I had tried asking her what was wrong, but she always found a way to avoid answering it. Three days went by and by the fourth day, I was tired of her ignoring me, especially when I could basically see that her thoughts were eating away at her.I stood at the edge of the training grounds with my arms crossed. My eyes were fixed intently on Lea. The afternoon sun was shining down hard, making shadows pour across the floor. Lea was standing several yards away.She was crouched down over a cluster of small flowers, staring so intensely at them that I choked back a lau
ROWAN’S POV The more I dug into Damian’s past, the less sense any of it made. I expected to find an answer that tied everything together. Maybe this was another hidden enemy, or a conspiracy. Some long-buried secret that would explain why the man whom I had trusted for years was somehow dead long before anyone realized it.Instead, everyone I found only led me to more questions, and I was getting sick and tired of it.I sat on a horseback at the edge of a dense forest, my eyes locked on the crumbling cabin that was hidden between a few trees. The cabin looked abandoned, and most of the walls and part of the roof looked like they had collapsed years ago. Yet, according to the information I gathered, Damian used to come here rather frequently.Or at least, the man pretending to be Damian did.The wind blew, stirring the trees as I dismounted from my horse and handed the reins to one of my guards.“Do you think there’s actually something in there?” he asked.I shrugged, looking at the c
KAEL’S POVWhen I stepped back into my territory, I was already in a foul mood. I thought maybe I would be able to wash this irritating feeling with a few drinks and a good night’s sleep. But this feeling has already stalled beneath my skin, gnawing at me until I solve the issue, making me feel this way.The guards stationed at the entrance to the pack house lowered their heads as I passed. I kept my eyes forward, boots striking the stone path leading into the pack house, and my steps felt heavier than the last. Mirabeth’s face immediately flashed in my mind.I hated how she was so stubborn, stupid, and obsessed with useless things. That woman had always been ruled by her emotions, and that was her greatest weakness. I pushed the doors of the pack house open, and servants immediately scrambled out of my way.A few advisors who were gathered near the entrance straightened when they saw me. One of them stepped forward.“Alpha Kael.”I loosened the button on my collar as I kept walking.
LEA’S POV The maids around us were already watching me like I was something disgusting to look at. I lowered my eyes, swallowing hard as the weight of their stares pushed down on me.“Rowan, you really shouldn’t be here,” I tried to tell him again, my voice coming out as low as a whisper. “Everyon
LEA’S POV My hands were still firmly clasped in his as he pulled me out of the washing area. His grip was firm, like he was afraid that if he let me go, Amreth might come and snatch me away. Rowan didn’t slow down as he walked down the corridor; he didn’t even look back or give me a chance to gath
AMRETH’S POV Mirabeth’s fingers curled tighter around my arm the moment the door closed behind Lea. The silence in the room somehow got louder, but not in a way that brought relief. There was a lingering tension, as if there was something unfinished in the air, something I couldn’t understand.“Wh
LEA’S POV The sound of my name made me come to a halt. I didn’t need to turn to know who it was because I recognized his voice. It was Rowan. My chest twisted painfully as I stood there, my back still facing him and my fingers gripping the basket a little harder now.“Lea, I haven’t seen you in a







