The Rejected Luna's Secret Triplets & The Lycan Emperor

ike a second skin. Evelyn's fingers moved with practiced, rhythmic speed, separating the pale stalks from the bruised leaves before

fter boundary skirmishes and scrub the marble floors of the pack house before dawn. But tonight, as the s

verything w

avy, jewel-encrusted velvet worn by the high-born females of the inner council, but simple spun silk, hand-dyed a deep indigo that mirrored the night sky. She had

creaked near

with a sudden, intense warmth before the scent even reached her nose-

a low, gravelly voice ec

locking out the pale moonlight from the hallway. His dark hair was wind-tousled, his jaw dark with a day's worth o

ly, offering him a small, hesitant smile. "A future High Alpha shouldn't b

ge, calloused hand cupped her jaw. His thumb brushed over the high curve of her

. "Let them talk. Tomorrow, every elder who looked down on you will bow to you. I don't c

beneath her ear. Evelyn gasped, her hands instinctively catching the rough fabric of his leather

her skin, his hand sliding down to

ate. The ceremo

, Ev

ging her toward the side door that led into

t and silent through the dark forest, his grip never loosening. They climbed the familiar, rugged path that spiraled upward toward Moo

tched out like a velvet blanket, dotted with the glowing torchfires of the pack village bel

his chest. His arms wrapped tightly around her waist, anchorin

is chest rose and fell in heavy, deliberate breaths. "Everything the li

a high-born Luna, Connor. Someone from a powerful border pack. A female with wealth and legions

most terrifying devotion. "You have me," he growled low in his chest. "You have my

he opened his hand, the moonlight caught the metallic glint of a dark silver band. It was heavy, hand-carved with

"The Ring of the First Luna... Connor, no. T

h was firm, refusing to let her pull away. "And this ring was meant for the

the cold metal warming instantly against her skin as the dorman

d, his eyes searching hers with a desperate intensity. "Swear that you will

e doubt that had been gnawing at her chest for months melted away, bur

a sudden, bruising passion that stole the air right out of her lungs. There was no hesitation, no gentle hesitati

r of an ancient pine tree. The world narrowed to the scent of cedar and pine, the rough texture of

k of her neck-marking her with his scent, claiming her before the moon-Evelyn closed her eyes and surrendered completely. S

gave him everything she had-her trust, her heart, and h

he world was bathed in the pal

e shoulders as she sat up on the bed of moss. The fire in her blood from hours ago had

t, expecting her hand to find the b

touched cold

e beside her was empty. The moss was flattened where he h

softly, her voice raspy

of the pine need

d herself in the dim light, smoothing down her wrinkled tunic and pulling her cloak over her shoulders. The

she told herself, forcing a breath into her tight lungs. He h

ding path from Moonlit Ridge. The forest was eerily quiet. No birds sang in the high branches. The usual mor

ipped inside through the back door, headi

was sligh

open, stopping de

ceremonial robe, was a thick piece of heavy parchment. It was sealed not with

rs catching on the rough edge of the paper. She

rushed, written in Connor's

el

what I promised you on the ridge, and every word burned in my chest as I wrote it

We cannot survive a war alone. The Council has reached an agreement with House Be

for the pack. Stay in your quarte

numb fingers, fluttering us

harsh, strangled gasp. Outside her window, high up in the central plaza, the deep, thunderous ch