"Tell me everything" Clarisse said plopping next to Adrian "I've never seen wolves fighting. How was it? Did any of our people die?"  "Have you forgotten how you fought rebels on your own?"  "About that, it turns out I wasn't the one who killed them. Titania and her enforcers did it"  "You mean your enforcers?"  "Something else I want to know, is there like an official ceremony when someone becomes an Alpha?"  She shook her head "Not that I've heard of. As long as the pack accepts you as their leader, you automatically become one"  "That's not the answer I wanted. This directive thing is the only cool thing about being the leader of a pack. The responsibilities that come along with that title are not cool at all" she narrowed her eyes at Adrian then clapped her hands "I've just had an epiphany"  "I can tell it's something I

                   "You think or you are?" "I can't be sure. It just occurred to me that I haven't had my period since I came here" He sniffed her then shook his head "I don't think so, darling" "How do you know? Have you ever been pregnant?" "No. But pregnant she-wolves smell different. I'll be able to tell right away if you get pregnant" "Oh, really?" She hadn't thought about that. How did they smell different? Although the question should be why she hadn't had her period for close to four months now. Didn't werewolves have periods? Better ask Adrian "Continue your work then" she tried to leave but found herself being dragged backwards. "Not so fast. Now that you mentioned it, I would like to see your belly swelling with my pup" "What? No. It's too soon. We can't have kids now" "Fine. I'll settle for being inside you then" 

                        "Your highness, you're back. How was the trip? Did you have fun? Where's Adrian?" "Out of my way before I punch you" "Let me carry that for you" Eilie glared at him, making him fold his hands behind his back "Or not" "Where's Reed? He should have been waiting for me at the entrance" "Your mate is a busy man" "Busy with what?" "Aside from being an Alpha, he's also the king's man. Before you arrived, he was rarely in the pack" "Are you saying I was holding him back from his duties?" "No. I mean that he probably reverted back to his workaholic self when you were gone. Are you guys hungry? There's food in the kitchen" "This nice act is creeping me out Laurent. Don't you, as the Beta, have things to do?" "I'm trying to be nice but you don't appreciate it" he huffed, leaving. Cl

                         A minor broken statue in a overcast morass marked the entrance to the dungeon. Beyond the broken statue lay a scanty, dark room covered in dead vermin, and small bones. The torch allowed them to see the remnants of a pillaged burial chamber, pillaged and consumed by time itself. Further ahead there were three paths, they took the middle. Its twisted trail led past collapsed rooms and pillaged treasuries and soon they entered a clammy area. There was a round stone in the center, around it a dozen skeletons in a circle. Opal swallowed, knowing who the remains belonged to.  They advanced carefully onwards, deeper into the dungeon's shadows, passing a few more rooms and passages, most of which looked just like the other. Eventually they made it to what was likely the final room. A large granite door blocked their path. Dried blood splatters were all over it, somehow untouched by time a

                   Silver chains dug into his wrist, irritating the already open skin. Pain shot through his hands, spreading down to other parts of his body. His wolf was angry but too week to do anything. Reed concentrated on not moving so as not to worsen the wounds but it was hard because his hands were supporting his dangling body. A body that was battered and in dire need of water. Food was a luxury he didn't dare think about. He attributed his weakness to the poison he'd accidentally injested. Even though it had been neutralized, he hadn't had time to recover before they were attacked again. Although the second time, the rebels had gone there for him. They were like parasites. Cut off a head and another one grew in its place. He couldn't blame anyone but himself for the predicament her was in.  Why he'd trusted a madman was beyond him. Indrik had swooped in, saved them, only to flee during the second attack. His e