Ella“Oh, my Goddess!” I don’t care that I’m screaming for the entire world to hear. My voice echoes off the walls as I barrel down the stairs, practically blind, tears springing from my lashes and rolling down my cheeks. I trip over my own feet and fall to my knees on the tile just as Ryatt reaches my side and hauls me upright. He doesn’t let me go. I squirm in his arms, panting, reaching a hand toward the bloodied man staining the ivory tiles crimson. Westfall’s glacier blue eyes meet mine, but his expression is strained as the wolves hold him down. Several of the wolves have him by their teeth, blood pooling around the wounds they’ve inflicted by getting him on the ground. “Isaac, please!” I shout.Isaac looks from me to Westfall, confusion blurring his features. “Alpha King!” Ryatt shouts, a touch panicked as he holds me back. “Let him go.”Cassian rushes into the room, cursing audibly as he skids to a stop. Hannah is hot on his heels but he swings his arm out to stop her. Sh

Amanda“Lovely,” I say out loud as I run my fingers over the fine lace runner covering the length of the formal dining table in the castle in Veiled Valley. “More flowers, I think. What do you think of lilies, perhaps?” A light breeze drifts around me before crystal vases full of lilies, snapdragons, and tulips of several different shades appear out of thin air and drop onto the table. The scent of the flowers is rich and sweet, like the spring air outside. Veiled Valley is beautiful in late spring. Warm and lush and glowing with pale green as I lift my gaze from the table to the massive windows and archways leading out onto the sweeping veranda. “I love it, thank you,” I say to the house and step away to admire our work. With Granger still traveling through the Roguelands, I’ve returned to Veiled Valley. It feels good to be here again. This place–this city, and this magical castle–feel like home now. And being the Beta’s wife comes with responsibilities that keep me more than bus

EllaI don’t think I’ve ever been in this part of the castle before. Honestly, I feel like I haven’t seen more than half of Ryatt’s grand, mountainside home since the day I first landed in this onyx palace. But this room… this room has my full attention. The walls are the same black stone that weaves throughout the castle. Towering stained glass windows scatter ribbons of purple, blue, and ivory light across faded leather furniture and ancient portraits of what I assume are past rulers. Ornate rugs lie at odd angles, their colors bleeding into one and another, worn from age.I wonder how many people have walked across the rugs and run their fingertips over the circular table in the center of the room. I wonder how many people have looked at the incredible 3D map that covers nearly the entire table and stood in awe of it like I am now. I run my fingers across the jagged, scaled down peaks of the mountain ranges that border the northern edge of a circular model of Eastonia. My touch d

Ryatt“What the fuck is happening?” My hands curl into fists as I stalk toward the group of warriors–a gaggle of dirty, exhausted men and wolves–and stop a few feet away from their general, a young man named Tanner. His nostrils flare as he tries to stay upright in my presence, but his knees wobble. He’s resisting the urge to back away. “We were attacked last night in Fenwyrd Pass. We counted six rogues.”“Rogues don’t run in packs,” I counter, eyeing the young general. I don’t know him. He was put in his position by Artyom, who is currently speaking in low tones to Granger. “We came upon a campsite,” the young general grinds out, his teeth chattering with nerves as I lean in. He swallows hard then continues, “Two of my men were attacked from behind and hauled off into the woods. We followed and came upon a… feeding ground.”I raise my brows. “What exactly did that entail?”The general goes a little green, but clears his throat. “It’s about as bad as you could expect, my King.”‘Rog

EllaThere’s nothing in my head but the sheer will to survive as Petra swings Ryatt’s sword. She miscalculates how heavy it is, and based on the way her arms tremble and bow, she’s never wielded a sword before, either.The gem-encrusted hilt slides out of her hands, the sword whizzing through the air. A screech of pain sounds nearby, and I spare a glance in the direction of the sound.A wolf—one of Petra’s warriors—is twitching on its side while blood pools around his body.I don’t hide the smirk that stretches over my cracked lip as Petra slowly turns her gaze back to me. I step to the side, then step again, putting a few feet of distance between me and the deranged witch. All around us, warriors, guards, and even some of her slaves are starting to gather to watch the fight.I mean to give them a show they’ll never forget.If I can muster the strength.Each step is painful. Each breath rattles through my lungs. My blank thoughts flash with images of Ryatt. He can’t find me without th