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ra'
ed around me li
l here," I
d Dominion came to celebr
ulted ceiling, casting warm light ac
xotic fruits lined the marble tables.
ckiest woman in the werewolf
e Alpha King,and ruler beside
who curtsied deeply. "Luna, your
replied, my voice steady and wa
aving me alone again in the
across the crowd. Alphas from allied territories
una whispered behind her silk fan. "The alliance
hern delegates are wearing? Those embroidered moon-silk gowns are ex
he center of the hall, their laugh
my wedding night," I m
hand clasped in Caius's, while the priestess
ertain that I was marrying the man I loved m
ed against the m
y beneath my skin, but it f
, like a fire
the tho
ured to myself. "Council matters, border d
s tasted
ng every night for the past si
ention, and the weight of rul
ice become lonelines
ir faces flushed with wine and celeb
!" one of t
nner plates. "You must be the proudest wolf in this room tonight,
"That's very kind of yo
h!" another Al
d everything, your warriors, your ter
e Dominion would never hav
ing, "your husband would still be fighting
s with practiced grace, but their words st
a business transaction, like I
is greates
, wondering where that
ing away from the group. "
uming I wanted a romantic moment wit
he crowd on
ad shoulders should have
ttention wherever he went, but tonight, t
rt cle
e you?" I
wd, nodding and smiling
of the visiting Lunas said warmly. "You are truly blessed bec
territories," another added with a sm
have matched a more perfect couple. The way Alpha Caius l
anked them, and conti
ed to
e floor. The music grew louder as I approached the orchestra
on," I ca
turned im
and watchful gray eyes. He had served Caius for
dipping his hea
ething
seen Caius
as barely a fraction of a
y for a private
he'll retu
epeated. "What kind of
iberty to say
s too many times lately. Caius had secrets and meetings I wasn'
lways believed he would tel
ime had n
demanded, my voice
ssion remaine
g, but I'm no
eady walk
the palace was
ed by the sound of my own footsteps echoing against stone walls. The torches along the
he guards?"
stationed. Windows stood open, letting in cold night air t
behind me, muffled and far away, l
d restlessly b
wrong," she
," but I i
nights lying awake wh
rnings waki
nations, and promises that
ing secrets, I
ne floor, illuminating a marble fountain shaped like a howling wolf. Water t
tely I
to me. Long silver hair cascaded down her
gged her slender figure, and her bare f
hair, I knew
efore, on the day she was
a," I
er lips. Her eyes were the color of
d cruel in e
tly, "I was wondering
ammed again
," I said. "The Alpha King banned you f
l. "Well, I suppose bans only matter if someone enforces them. Y
g through my shock. "You need to l
ng, after all the celebration is still going strong. Everyone is so ha
dripped wi
ou want?"
ing insect. "I wanted to see you, and after all this time,
ou," I said. "Caius chose me,
Nysera interrupted. "I
nswer, but the words w
uth was, I had
een too overjoyed to question his reasoning. Too blinded by love
bloodline, Alora, the viremont pack, your warriors, your resources, and you
aid, my voice shaki
"When was the last time he held you? When was the last time he looked at y
dn't a
forgotten what it felt like t
d to his Dominion and no one could challenge his rule, your purpose had en
." I forced t
se he chose me over
e was no humor in it. "Jealous
ce, and a throne beside the most dangerous wolf alive. But even then, I
pointed toward the
's eyes glittered
g between us,
isonous words anymore. I needed to find Caius, I need
and you should ask yourself why he always works late, why he's a
t wal
lf why he never told y
top
phecy?" I
eps approaching, s
ever wanted," Nysera murmured, her lips close to my ear. "That
rage and fear war
said, my voice sh
. "Then why does it h
ged at her, my wolf surging forwar
era was
e speed, her hand shooti
on, and I felt something c
the blade, it was smal
ed?" Nysera whispered. "I've bee
ronger than she should have been, st
ust..." I stammered, strugg
Nysera interru
. But you'll never learn the truth, and you
he blade in
rough my flesh and muscle, burning like liquid fire. I s
nees, blood pouring
tiful face was the last thing I saw
whispered. "You were his greatest adva
away, her footsteps
oling beneath me. The silver burned
retreating, her how
eathed. "Caiu
for him to find me, to save me, a
o one
on, and the celeb
onlight and lies. With the echo of
is greates
cheeks as my visi
im with every
soul, my future. And in the
ever bee
whispered in the darkness. "Y
ely the worl
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