After trudging across rivers, forests, and open grasslands, hiking miles along a winding and rocky terrain that went higher and higher with each step, the entrance to Lyklos Keep was a glorious sight to behold emerging from the side of the mountain. Ronin could hear a myriad of voices echoing along the path just beyond the stone archway, chanting a sacred hymn to the Goddess that he hadn’t heard since his youth. A fleeting memory teased his mind: sitting on his mother’s knee as she braided his hair, singing a sweet ode that often sent him off to sleep. He wished he could hear her sing again. “Going in?” Thaddeus touched his arm lightly, jolting him from his reverie. “You go,” Sybl urged. “Phoebe and I will keep watch out here until you return.” She moved to the side, sitting on the large boulder near the entrance. Ronin nodded, going in first with his council trailing behind him. Torches lined the walls along the path, shining brighter the deeper they got into the cave. He kept hi

The full moon was especially bright on the night of Liora’s coronation. Shuddering with anticipation, she smoothed her hands down the front of her delicate gown. The white satin was covered in gold embroidered vines and flowers, starting out dense at the lower half of the skirt, and spreading out towards her midriff. The sleeves were fitted lace, flaring out over her knuckles. A heavy gold robe with white fur lining sat on her shoulders, the train pooling behind her.It took weeks, but Maia and her team had managed to pull off one of the most prestigious events the Helm had seen in years. Every high-status wolf from all the neighboring packs would be in attendance. Shifting her eyes from the door to the throne room, she watched as the courtyard slowly filled with civilian wolves.Knowing that they were waiting for her made her heart swell. She prayed to the Goddess that she remembered the proper protocol and didn’t make a fool of herself.The doors to the throne room opened and she st

Liora fidgeted with the hem of her t-shirt as Dr. Reynolds passed a large hecatolite over her body. The peculiarly shaped stone reminded her of a metal detector, only in this case, he was scrying for any darkness or corruption in her wolf.This was her fourth time on his examination table, but she could never get used to being under such scrutiny. It felt invasive, and her wolf agreed, squirming within her as he moved the glowing stone from head to toe.“Keep still.” The whisper of Ronin’s voice came from her left, filled with anticipation.“Why do we do this every week again? If there was anything–the doctor would’ve found it by now.” She huffed, folding her lips when Dr. Reynolds gave her a stern look. Right. No talking.He made one last pass with the stone before nodding in approval, “Luna’s wolf is clean.” He moved away to the side, scribbling on his clipboard.“Thank you, Doc.” Liora sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the table. “Can we go now? The packs will be here any

The rest of the day was filled with several challenges and activities that required teamwork and synergy between the participants. They weren’t exactly doing trust falls, but the daunting games fostered more morale among the people than Liora had seen in a long time. With Alpha Derith’s wedding to be the highlight of the night’s activities, everyone was in high spirits.It took her a while, but she was finally able to slip away from the crowd at sunset, without being drawn into another huddle of small talk and inquisitions from high-status wolves. Dusting off the thighs of her jeans, she scaled the steps of the training center.He was a slippery one, but after a few tries Liora latched on to Nikolai’s strand and found him. Pushing the door open, she was greeted by the rhythmic sound of flesh hitting a hard surface. Moving in rapid succession, his hands whacked the thick bars that extended from the base of the wooden dummy.She stared at his exposed back, gaping at the thin scars that

“Take another step and I’ll gut her from throat to navel.” Ronin clenched his teeth, sending out a command through the mind link that no one should attempt an attack. He could feel the panic from the wolves around him, unable to ease their fears. He knew what they saw. A mindless beast. Who infiltrated the Helm’s pack. In human form. The council had succeeded in concealing the knowledge of mindless beasts being able to shift. Now it was in the open, and chaos would soon follow. “Let the bride go. Your grievances are with me, Saberlon.” Ronin slowly pushed Liora behind him, and she was surrounded by Lucien, Thaddeus, and Nikolai. The other Alphas shielded their pack members in the same manner, poised to defend them. Saberlon scoffed, “My grievances are with whom I deem them to be.” He pressed the sharp blade closer to Heather’s neck, drawing a thin streak of blood. Derith growled in place, unable to retrieve his bride. Juanzo was equally seething beside him. “So many shocked