a

t stare across the library table. Another history session meant two hours of h

eeks, the picture of a frustrated sister. "This matters, Ka

s expectations felt like lead in my veins. "I have to visit al

Alpha you visit gets the first chance to impress you. An advantage. But," she paused, her eye

a

tirred, her phantom fur bristling with sudden interest. She

my father's cold, calculating logic. He would head straight for the apex predator

g her excitement back into the dark corners of my mind. 'Y

shing her skin. She looked baffled, but she didn't fight me. "Fine. It

pped mid-mo

weren't enough of a headache

"The word is the older one is set for th

ht of twins made my skin cr

elah whispered. Mayb

, hand-drawn map toward her and drew a thick X ove

o drone on about timing. He always said seconds were the difference betwe

her pen on the table. "Who is firs

ing on the page. "If you w

om the paper as she locked eyes with

n a tour of the country," I coun

th before she could think better of it. She

a brow. "

run the house, Kaia. They train as warriors. Hard. You'd learn how to bleed

was one thing, but the idea of teeth

ghost of a smile pulled at

e through hell in my human skin. But he had never touched my wolf training. He cal

watching her closely. "Was that your

Selene bit her lip, her

er words. My jaw clenched as the realization settled in. My father. He would never allo

air creaking under my

dded. She marked the map with a sharp flick of h

d. She didn't give a simple answer; she star

ikos. That's a headache. You need Alpha clearance just to breathe on their borders. Though, knowing your fat

I interrupted. "Tell

steel. They own the biggest silver mine in the territory. Your

e pen at my chest. "Go t

anymore, but the spark in her eyes caug

ck. "They're scholars. They f

are of books and bandages. "And you

strongest Luna in the four

. If my father's plan was to marry me off to a high-ranking wolf, I needed to s

sighed,

with a small sense of victory. "So it's settl

ned, sliding down in my chai

Selene's hand to Thorne's, and then straight to my father's d

I should have taken this more seriously. Letting Selene p

ece of paper across the dark wood of his desk. It

ul. Usually, he just looked annoyed, but today his steel-gray eyes were alive wi

meeting my gaze. His voice was smooth, li

e. Why hit Voreios and then trek to the far edge of the map for Dytikos? You want to cross Ken

er. He was the one holding the leash. "I know it's

chin on his hands. He looked like he was

se in my fur. The Voreios pack are killers. I want to learn how to fight in wolf form so I can actually defend myself

rn," Thorne snapped. His fi

nt silent, though his chest heaved with

ah's ears perk up at the mention of power. "If I'm going to lead, I ne

ee their new silver tech. And Notios..." I hesitated, knowing this was the

first," my fa

d who takes the Alpha seat. If I go there last, the dust

waited for the laughter or the lecture. The silence in the room was s

ack. The tension snapped. "

'd been slapped. "Narci

"She has no idea what she is doing, but let her walk the path. She wi

sting of his words tasted like copper. He didn'

orne star

missed," my

ok he gave me as he passed was sharp enough to draw blood.

reached into a heavy desk drawer. "Kai

in these halls. No matter how much I hated his shadow

u are my daughter. You will always have a place here. Wear this

m it. One was our White Moon Sigil. The other was a strange shape-a h

his s

ind, a warning vibration t

s voice softened, just a fract

ne month. He hadn't spoken of her in y

, looking up at him. "Te

n. The brief flash of humanit

the metal pressing into my palm. "Thank

.

y and forgotten on the table. I traced the grain of the wood wit

e stone walls. Her brows were pulled tight. "Focus. You head to Vo

. "First, tell me what happened

the stacks of books. She fumbled with the edge o

out a breath and leaned in closer. "When I shifted. When you sa

oft pink crawled up her neck. "Sorry. I just... I'v

you know wh

e said, as if it were

t before, but the concept felt like a wall I c

mental bridge, Kaia. You share thoughts, images, even a

e felt small. Selah was a constant hum in the back

tened. "It fits. Snow. She's...

felt a low, vibrating warmth. 'S

t, stop purring,

a cat,' sh

peer into mine. "They didn't change. Every wolf I've ever seen gets

that

the old texts, but white wolves are rare. There isn't m

s a dull ache in my c

avy mood. She tapped a diagram on the pag

ruth. "That morning, when you and Cain bol

settle into your skin. To breathe. Besides," she paused, a teasing glint in

show her slow,

.. or the person who might be your mate... it's how we bond. It's primal." She shook a textb

I said. My voi

Faelon and Luna Calantha. Their inner circle is Beta Arawn and Gamma

. "If they have a future Alpha and Luna a

pack. Siblings don't lead together, Kaia. Lorcan take

e short end of the stick just

now, you'll be t

ked. "She train

aybe even envy, in her eyes. "They say she's the most brutal instructor in the terri

oment they left my tongue. In my mind, Selah stood tall, her t

Selene warned. "Training won't st

compet

face, half-amused and half-wary. "I can't really d

but the knot in my stomach had finally loosened. A strange sense of ca

ady for whatever Rave