ARIAFive days earlierIt was my third day of replacing Tyrion, and I felt completely overwhelmed. I was sitting in his chair, inside his office, signing documents that were meant for him to sign, and I thought that I would never complain about the little paperwork I had as the Alpha of Bright Haven Pack. Felix kept telling me that I was doing fine, and Zane mentioned that he was impressed with my decisions on how to protect our borders better, but nothing changed the fact that I felt lost.Nova called me the night before and told me that the ritual went well. Tyrion was in a coma, and he was going to be in a state of deep sleep for a few days. Harriet assured me that it was completely natural and that she and Nova would watch over him the entire time. I knew that it was supposed to calm me down, but I couldn't help but feel anxious. I missed Tyrion, and I wanted him back already—not to mention that sleeping in a room filled with his scent was making me perpetually horny.I groaned, s

TYRION I was close to losing my senses. The anger I felt ignited a hellish fire within me, and I could barely stop myself from tearing my Beta to pieces. He left her there. How the fuck could he have left her there?! My inner, cold rationality told me that it wasn't Felix's fault, that it was her choice, but even aware of that fact, I kept my claws extended, ready to kill. I had to clear my mind before I turned everything around me into a bloody pulp. I turned into my wolf and leaped toward the forest. I kept running until my emotions became less lethal and I could think about our next move. I returned to Harriet's house and called everyone to figure out a plan. The fear for my angel pierced every inch of my insides like thousands of burning needles. What if it was already too late? What if Ragnar burned down the entire town? What if he killed… her? "Aria is still alive," Aziz assured. "Our connection is strong, and I would have felt it if her link snapped." I inwardly sighed in r

TYRIONOur preparations were far from perfect. We might have had a lot of ammunition, but not too many snipers able to take down enemies without any collateral damage. Harriet might have prepared nearly four hundred cloaking talismans that were currently hanging around each of my warriors' necks, but they could work for a little less than an hour. The last time Nessa called us, she said that Ragnar had most likely lost the witch's support, and that was the only fortunate news. We could be certain that there wouldn't be any magical surprises on our way… assumingly.The good thing about Harriet's talismans was that we were still able to see each other as slightly translucent shades while staying invisible to everyone else who didn't have her talisman. We passed the main checkpoints of our frontiers and walked alongside the clueless Ragnar's warriors. Then we launched a surprise attack. We went for the kill, believing that those who were already bewitched, couldn't be easily reversed. We

ARIA The royal council was a group of over twenty influential wolves from different packs. Some of them were Alphas or former Alphas, others received their position because of their vast knowledge. They meant to create an elite able to control the king's actions and interfere when it was necessary to give the ruler a little nudge in the elbow. Of course, it was just a poetically written theory. In reality, the council members were appointed by the previous rulers as a form of reward, while others bought that position by bribing the rest of the members and winning the internal vote. As a result, the council had become corrupt and greedy, with only a few good people among them. Now, those people wanted to meet with the King as if they were going to prosecute him and me along with him. "Damn fuckers," Tyrion grunted, getting dressed with reluctance painted all over his face. "What happens in Moon Blade Pack shouldn't concern them," I pointed out. "This had nothing to do with the whole

TYRIONA few hours earlierI stood still watching Aria leave the audience hall. Her haunted and painful expression broke my heart in two. I was trying to control myself. I didn't want to level those dickheads and restrain every murderous intent I had within me, but what had I done? I allowed them to humiliate MY MATE. She hadn't deserved any of this. She had never asked to be poisoned. She was a survivor and the strongest she-wolf I had ever met. If the council wanted to attack someone, they should have attacked ME! They proved to be a bunch of cowards, and what they had done could only be considered the lowest of all low moves."You see? No woman is fit to rule. Luna's sole purpose is to bear Alpha babies. If she can't do even that, she ought to be rejected." Dante Greco must have had a death wish. He had tested my patience long enough; he and the rest of those council cunts.My wolf was close to surfacing. My aura was emanating in lush waves, thickening the air. None of those assbra