PTE

enne

warmth of home. The Silvercrown Pack's Sacred Moon Ceremony was in full swin

ight breeze, while the Moon hung high abov

white-threaded gown swaying with my movements. I felt light, almost

den of my existence-the quiet whispers about my birth, my inabi

as meant for

own Pack was more than a home-it was my family, bound by duty and devotion

veryone w

with sharp, anxious eyes. My father, Alpha Aldric Moonborne, stood beside me,

hose to ignore it. Toni

elders recited the ancient rites of their people. I bowed respectfully, then turn

eace. A prayer

words away, and for a

wls shattere

ebration, silencing the laughter in an instant. The m

hen the at

descended upon the Silvercro

d. Blood stain

-peaceful night. I turned, searching for my

mot

was urgent, her hazel eye

caught. "W

y pulling us toward the hidden passage behi

ank in. This wasn't just

r

her cupped my face, for

you know, my moondrop," she

owing rune across my forehead, an

e spell. A

out. "You're

with unshed tears. My f

he said, his voice fir

d forward-toward the darkene

am was lost in t

ra

ad before. Faster th

death. There was thick smoke curling up fro

shiny white walls, reduced to Black,

e dress was torn, dirty and damp with

dge of the hill, I stopped

rned

s my pare

crimson-stained earth, silver we

rown Pack w

f my bloodline. I h

was

ot fo

d Si

yer. Silas Vale, was a Beta wolf and my mate, He

ad promised that if ever the time came, he would stand

ran t

. It was nothing like the grand estate Silvercrown had been,

of the manor felt warm and welcoming-a

the sting of the icy night air against my skin. The manor was d

on them with trembling fists. "Silas!" My voice was h

le

s he not home? Has something happen

door creaked ope

hirt was untucked and his brown hair mess

looked me over from my head down to my to

hands, my torn night dress a

ping forward again, but he

r his shoulder before stepping outside

e was calm. Too calm

the gut. "My pack," I choked out. "The hunte

did not re

ran through

gain, my voice ple

rossed his arms, and lazily leaned against the door

his tone. "Y

ned. "Am I? Ho

don't understand. We are supp

gs." He cut me off sh

s since your eighteenth birthday Vivienne. Three long year

enne. I waited for you to be strong. To

iled in my ches

is head. "

f stealing the breath fro

speak, the door beh

broke the silence. "Sila

epped into

lk robe clung to the curves of her body. But it was the hand

eve Ra

ha. Hi

gnant-with

neath me see

n eyes gleamed with amusement as they moved from him to me

s around his, her fingers curling possessively ov

ra

eeper than any

rubbing the ba

evie

nothing more than dirt below her polished boots. "You really shoul

k. "Silas," I rasped. "Tell me this

rief moment, something fli

one as quick

e is my m

y went

, shaking my head

"You were a gamble, Vivienne

Like a blade had go

e your parents' place. That your wolf would fi

g. An Alpha princess without a wolf. Wi

head. "You're

lin

n slightly, hi

my heir. She is everything you w

satisfied smirk. "Honestly, Silas, you should'

m fall. I squared my shoulders, my voice raw.

k I want to feel the pain of a broken bond

ething dark. "No, Vivienn

fore his hand shot out, gripp

small glass bottle from his pocket. The de

fsb

gh me like lightn

la

lips, tilting my head back. The metallic, burni

a

urning my veins, my limbs growi

o breathe, my body convulsing. Silas bent b

a pathe

th

ss swallow