a's

ilverhollow like

hem through my window. Servants rushing through the corridors, warri

xcited, as they pressed their faces against the gates hopin

his was the greatest da

oom window, it felt like wal

from behind me. "Your dress is r

way from t

hildhood bedroom, illuminating the dress that

, modest but elegant. Perfect for a f

" I said quietly. "But

lly selected this and told me to have it

a different outfit, a simple pair of leather pants, a dark

serious. The Alpha King is arriving and all

ead. "No, I need to look like a fu

t..

was gentle but firm. "I won't be dressin

n my expression must have stopped her, because she simply

es opened at e

across the courtyard. Hundreds of pack members had gathered to w

lined the path in perfect formation. Children climbed onto

op of the grand staircase, my han

rtain that the man riding through those gates would be my sa

erately. First came the advance scouts,

rying the black and crimson ba

ng warriors, their armor

the center of it

erful, with broad shoulders and sharp featur

es the color of storm clouds. He sat atop a massive black

ed like

mind with brutal force, from our first meeting to o

for a moment, s

red. "This time, my heart

expression was calm, compo

w enough that only I could hear.

Father. Jus

ng to be nervous about. This is the begin

n't a

rs to greet Caius personally,

across the courtyard,"welcome to Silverhollow."

and graceful. He clasped forearms with my fat

ty, Alpha Valor. Your pack is

o explore." My father gestured toward the staircase.

chin high, my expres

y mind. In my previous life, I had smiled and bl

s presence that I had barely be

this

rmal. "On behalf of the Viremont Pack, I welcome y

d respectful. Perfectly courteou

ing flickering in his storm-gray eyes. Was

he said slowly. "But it

e, his open palm a gesture of

ted for

the eyes of the entire pack on me, watching, and

no c

t it to his lips. The contact sent a jol

tween us, something that made m

as quickly as I coul

prepared," I said, stepping

ard the castle without

uietly to Orion, who had dismoun

ned to her?

low for me to hear,

ew what he w

t hall, where long tables had been arran

ne without drawing too much attention to myself. My father sat at the head, wi

operation, border security, and trade routes. All the practi

ed different

eyes kept darting toward Caius,

table whenever the marriage was mentioned, and I noticed the way sever

," Marlow said, his voice smooth. "The sooner the alliance

Fendrel added. "But there's no reason we c

, he remained calm, and h

said. "There are many factors to consider, and I would pre

respect, Alpha King, the negotiations have already been

es to matters of state." Caius's voice was cool,

lliance will shape the future of both our packs. We shou

yes lingered on Caius, somethin

e hiding?"

he discussion. I was too focused on watching the elders

ce with another, followed by a quick look away when t

arriage for reasons that h

all was transformed into

light across the room, and musicians

eats and exotic fruits. Nobles from both packs mingle

gh the crowd

sation, accepted every compliment with grace, and praised others w

ing every face in the room, every mo

eep crimson that perfectly matched the color of blood. Her

glittered in t

erly unremarkable, just another no

I know t

ht she drove a silve

but I forced myself to take a d

ns show," I whispered,

h, and that's ex

vening, I kept m

to linger near the edges of conversations involving the Alpha King, and the way she moved thr

somethin

and efficient. In that brief moment of contact, I

lded

posture remained relaxed. But I saw him conceal the note inside his sleeve wit

red into the crowd b

eded to know what that note said a

fully maneuvered through the crowd to get closer. I didn't dare reach for the

riting, it was elegant, flouris

emembered from the letters Nysera had s

od ran

along? Had they been working together, even b

anquet, the mysterious note

o wonder if the conspiracy that had led to my

n I once loved had been involve