LOGINRose gripped the locket tightly in her palm, letting her unique bloodline override the barrier. "It's a blood ward," she whispered. "It only recognizes family. Follow exactly in my footsteps."She took the first step across the threshold, the barrier parting around her like water. Turning back, she signaled the team. One by one, Ethan and his scouts prepared to move through the narrow breach she held open.But before crossing, Ethan turned to one of his most agile soldiers. "Go back to the pack," he ordered, his voice low and commanding. Pulling a small parchment from his vest, he quickly scrawled the exact magical coordinates and landmarks Rose had just unraveled. Rolling it tightly, he handed it over. "Give this to the Alpha. Tell him to move quickly with the army backup."The soldier nodded instantly, the urgency of the mission clear in his eyes. In a fluid blur of motion, he shifted into his massive wolf form, carefully clamping his teeth around the rolled inscription. With a power
“What do you mean?” Ethan asked, a deep, frustrated furrow forming between his brows.“It means you don’t have a choice but to take me with you,” Rose answered, her tone soft and calm despite the storm brewing around them. “Only I can lead you past that barrier.”She watched as Ethan’s face shifted into a dark, heavy frown. He cursed aloud, instantly turning his back to her so she couldn't see the sheer disappointment and fear masking his features. He raked a hand through his hair, pacing a few steps away before finally turning back to face her.“Fine,” he growled lowly, his voice tight with reluctant submission. “But you will follow my orders explicitly. You don't do anything stupid to put yourself in danger, okay?”“Okay, Beta Ethan,” Rose teased softly, offering him a small smile.The title—and the slight challenge in her voice—made his eyes darken instantly. Moving with blinding werewolf speed, he closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye. Before Rose could even gasp
Ethan’s eyes turned deadly serious, a dark flash rippling through his irises as his wolf surged to the surface, reacting to her terror. “Are you okay?” he asked, his tone fiercely protective as he scanned her for any hidden injuries.Rose gave a tight, shaky nod to reassure him.Seeing that she was physically unharmed, Ethan allowed his wolf to recede slightly, but he refused to let her go, keeping her tucked safely against his chest. He looked out over the treeline, his expression grim. “We have to tell this to the Alpha immediately.”Rose immediately stiffened, pulling back out of his embrace. “No! We can't tell him yet.”“What?” Ethan’s brows furrowed in sharp confusion. “Why not?”“Because if Killian finds out what I just saw—if he knows how dangerous that place truly is—he will never let me go with you to find my mother and her clan,” Rose replied, desperation bleeding into her voice. “He’ll lock me away in the packhouse to protect me.”“But I can't hide this from him, Rose. It's
The next day, the hunt finally began. The mission was clear: track down Grace and Arthur, and uncover the hidden stronghold of the entire Sapphire Clan.Ethan was in charge, leading the scout team through the dense, unforgiving terrain. His jaw was clenched, his senses on high alert, but his eyes constantly darted back to the girl walking beside him. Rose was with them, her presence a silent testament to her bravery, even as the tension in the air hung thick.They halted in a secluded clearing near the pack borders, where the thick canopy of trees shielded them from unwanted eyes. Ethan turned to her, his expression softening just a fraction, though his voice remained serious.“Rose, we need you to summon the power within this locket to guide us to your mother and the Sapphire Clan,” Ethan explained, stepping closer. “It only activates by your touch, and it will only respond to your mind waves. You have to be the one to open the path.”Rose gave a firm nod, swallowing down her nervousn
Killian looked at her, his expression a mask of profound helplessness. “She used to travel constantly, disappearing for weeks at a time. I never questioned it back then because she always asked me to accompany her, but I was entirely consumed by my Alpha training, so I just let her go alone. And shadow wolves... their gestation period is less than a single month. They are corrupted, magical creatures, and their dark blood is capable of doing unbelievable things.”He ground his teeth together, the muscles in his jaw flexing tightly. The sheer fury of knowing their enemies had exploited his past negligence and weaponized his own biology was a bitter pill to swallow.Isabella seemed terrified by what the future held for them, but then she looked directly into his eyes, her gaze instantly hardening with absolute conviction.“Don't worry, Killian,” she said, her sweet, soothing voice carrying a fierce undertone that resonated with his wolf. “We will fight them together. We will prove to th
Killian sighed, licking his dry lips. He didn't want to tell her about the escalating crisis and the impending war. He wanted to shield her, to keep her safe in the peaceful bubble of their room. But how long could he truly hide it from her? Eventually, she would find out. After all, she wasn't just his mate; she was the Luna of the Blood Moon pack.He gently removed her warm hand from his cheek and turned his back to her. He couldn't look into those perceptive blue eyes while he was lying to her face.“It's nothing, Isabella. Why would you think that?” he tried to convince her, his voice a little too tight. “It's just standard pack business and some tedious official work. I am just exhausted. Today was a very long day, nothing more.”“Really? Then why won't you look at me, Killian? Are you hiding something?” she asked, her eyebrows furrowing as she tried to step into his line of sight.“Listen, Isabella,” he said, intentionally hardening his tone. He hated being blunt with her, but h
Killian heard her whisper even though her voice was barely there. “What… what do you mean?”“You’re in your first heat,” Killian told her, his voice low and steady despite the chaos inside him.Isabella gasped again, biting her bottom lip to stop another sound from slipping out. Killian’s eyes dar
She averted her eyes and turned her face toward the ceiling. When she tried to sit up, a firm hand around her waist stopped her. Isabella grabbed his wrist to push him away, but Killian tightened his grip even more. She frowned and turned toward him, confused and irritated. So what if they had mate
Fuck—she was burning. Her skin scorched his palm, the heat pouring into him like a damn wildfire. It shook him straight to the core, tearing through every layer of resistance he had built.Killian climbed onto the bed without hesitation and pulled her into his arms, caging her trembling body agains
Sitting in the back seat of the car, Isabella wiped at her damp eyes just as Killian slid in beside her. He didn’t glance her way, his gaze fixed straight ahead, his face impossible to read.A man with sharp features and a friendly smile sat behind the wheel. "Hi, Isabella! I’m Ethan, Killian’s be







