Chapter 21Logan's POVToday the big dinner with council and elders of Blood Moon pack. My heart beat fast as I approach hall, Selene by my side. My beautiful mate.The whole pack stand when we enter. They respect me as Alpha, their leader. I give nod to show I see them. Selene walk close, I hold her tight like somebody gonna try take her from me. We sit at head table, Selene to my right. My mama and sister Gina on other side. Luke and Zara next to them, Luke my beta. My mother want me mate with Zara before but Moon Goddess choose Selene for me instead.Elder Raph, he old friend of my father, he signal for me to make speech. I squeeze Selene's hand under table and she smile up at me. Her face give me strength.I stand tall and clear my throat. "Greetings, my fellow pack. It been too long since we gather like this for council meeting."I look around at all my people. "Important for Alpha to share bread with those who guide our great pack. Discuss problems and victories as family."I p

Chapter 23 Mia's POVI sit back, drinking in the pungent fumes swirling through Littne's dark ritual chamber. That acrid, swampy stench of dark magics and incantations never fails to fill me with wicked satisfaction these days.A sly smile curves my lips as I recall how gloriously my vengeance against Selene initially unfolded. That naïve little bitch never suspected a thing back when we were supposed "best friends." Made it laughably easy to sabotage her at every turn until she was the one exiled in disgrace instead of me.Of course, my carefully constructed schemes hit a bit of a snag when Selene somehow ended up in the arms of Logan himself - Alpha of the fearsome Blood Moon pack. I sneer at the thought of that arrogant brute and the way he fawned over my castoff trash of an ex-friend.Still, even having that idiot mutt take Selene as his mate shouldn't have posed much issue in the grand scheme. Not if the hex I cast on her wretched former packmate Nathan held true like it was mea

Chapter 25Mia's POVThe putrid, swampy reek of Littne's lair clings to my clothes like a viscous miasma as I finally emerge, wrinkling my nose in distaste. Honestly, I'll never understand why that twisted old crone insists on dwelling in such repulsive squalor.I pause to draw in several steadying breaths of fresh forest air, allowing the familiar scents of pine and petrichor to chase away the foulness as I re-center myself. My gaze shifts toward the lightening sky just peeking through the canopy overhead, streaks of pre-dawn violet already starting to bleed across the horizon.A cruel smirk twists my lips as I think of the seeds of beautiful, glorious ruination I've planted this long, profane night. Soon enough, everything in that sacred celestial expanse will come to fear the name of the one true Lich Queen ascending.But first, there's the delicate matter of upholding certain...domestic pretenses in the interim, lest I arouse suspicion about my nefarious schemes from any undue cor

Chapter 27 Mia's POVI wake before the sun peek over the trees. Time to set next move in motion. I slip quiet from bed, not want to wake Nathan yet. He make bad actor and I need him blind for now. I grab quill and parchment from my pack sitting by the door.The words flow easy, practiced lies dripping from my pen:"Dear Luke, You surprised to hear from me, but no need. I occupied with pack work Logan don't want to hear. Feel he never let rogues like us get too close now. I think we should meet, talk in person. Just you and me.Mia"I smirk reading it over. Just enough truth sprinkled in to not raise too much suspicion from that half-feral lout.Outside, I hear the cawing cry of the raven Littne send to be my herald. Bony talons scrape at the window shutter as the clever bird waits for its message. I hurry over and gently tie the folded note to its scaly leg. One firm look in those beady black eyes is all it need to screech out a hoarse cry and take wing over the canopy. Off to f

Chapter 29Nathan's POVI woke up early in the morning, expecting to find Mia by my side, but to my surprise, she was nowhere to be found. The empty space beside me felt cold, and a sense of unease crept over me. I recalled our discussion from the previous night about her Luna ceremony, and I couldn't help but wonder if her absence had something to do with it.Pushing aside my concerns, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. As the warm water cascaded over my body, my mind raced with thoughts of Mia and her whereabouts. I hoped she wasn't still upset about our disagreement.After my bath, I made my way to the training ground, hoping to clear my mind and focus on my duties as the alpha. As I approached, I spotted Gaza, my trusted beta, already engaged in his training routine."Gaza!" I called out, grabbing his attention.He immediately stopped and bowed his head in respect. "Good morning, Alpha. How can I assist you?"I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have yo