a's

dark when I steppe

d in shadow, the only light coming from the di

ir morning drills, dozens of wolves moving in perfect synchronizati

with a cup of tea, dreaming about becoming someone's Luna..." I let out a quiet, bitt

railing until my k

"What a fool I

ulling off my nightgown and changing into the leather training

ack in a tight knot and lacing up

t me, her eyes burning with determination, her jaw set with resolve, and

ion, "I prove that I'm not th

ning session, Alphas and betas and deltas, young wolves barely old enough to shift training alongside seasoned vetera

widening with surprise as they recognized the future Alpha who had ap

uriosity and grudging respect in his weathered face. "I didn't expect to see yo

you I needed to be stronger, Commander, and I meant

turning behind his expression, the questions forming that he chose not to ask. "Your hands are

striding past him and grabbing a practice sword from the rack

go easy on me just beca

ile tugging at his weathered lips. "But don't say I d

ly, "I've sur

was even more bru

ching and my hands still raw beneath their bandages, but I pushed through the pain wi

teeth, driving my sword against Rourke's with enough force to ma

ation. "Where is this coming from, my lady? You fight like someone

ad already lost everything, watched my pack fall, my marr

proving to myself and everyone watching that I w

with a mixture of shock and respect, and I could hear whispers spreading through the cro

ars," one of them murmured to another

not days," another replied. "Like she's been pre

reathing, and the fire burning in my chest. I pushed myself harder than I ever had before, ignori

ould barely stand, my legs trembling beneath me. But I refused to collapse, refused to

ve never seen anyone push themselves that hard, my lady. I've trained some of the mo

g with fatigue. "It wasn't enough, Commander.

r what?"

, my voice quiet but fi

ly, taking a seat in the corner where I could observe everything without drawing too much att

le surrounded by his advisors, their voices low an

ed with excitement. "The Valkrynd Dominion has the largest standing army in the

Trade routes and resources and access to territories we've never been able to reach be

s eyes darted toward the door every few seconds, the way Elder Fendrel's fingers drummed nervou

?" I asked suddenly, my voice cutting thro

ather's eyes widening in surprise as the elders stared a

epeated slowly, his brow furrowing with

all our options? Are there no other powerful packs we could align with,

ith irritation. "The Valkrynd Dominion is the only choice, the only

" I started, my

was sharp, cutting me off with a

perhaps you should focus on preparing for the welcoming ceremony

ing the arguments that wanted to spill out. "O

t me. I barely heard it because I was too busy watching Elder Marlow's hand drift toward his

udly, rising from my seat

ing toward the elder whose face had gone p

mmered, "just old note

closer, my voice steady and hard. "That looked li

was sharper this time, hi

not even a member of this council. You are a future Luna who should be

eline, I was just a young wolf with no experience in politics. No one would take me seriously

ietly, lowering my gaze.

the same chest I had ignored for two days, afraid of what I might feel if I opened it, but with th

letters tied with ribbon and smelling faintly of sandalwood, and I pulled o

arest

as though I already know you, your spirit, your grace, the way you described the moonlit gardens outsi

ak so openly, but something about you makes me want to share everythin

ll my

a

tion, nothing in them suggesting manipulation or deceit, nothing hinting at political

the letter into the fireplace and watched as the paper caught instantly, curling and bl

it, I wasn't sure I believed it, and tha

another, throwing them all into the fire one by

made me pause, a symbol pressed into the wax seal, small and intrica

mining the seal more closely, my heart pounding as I realized the symbol wasn't Caius's personal cre

ind out wh

scrolls, and the elderly archivist, Master Orin, peered at me through thick spe

what brings you to my hu

ied, placing the letter on his desk,

ith concentration. Then he shook his head slo

up? There must be

ething that looked almost like pity. "There used to be records, my lady

hat do you mean, myst

if afraid of being overheard, "there was a fire in the archive wing fifteen years ago,

a messenger stumbled inside, his face flushed

ied out, "my lady,

ded, my heart already

t along the northern border, large nu

hose disturbances had happened months later, long afte

y voice barely audible. "

th fear. "I don't know, my lady, but the elder

ss's warning echoing in my ears, the knowledge

e was already changing, that someone was mo