Kael’s gaze flicks between Lucian and me, and in it I see his silent plea, reminding me of my promise—to never reveal Shadow Ridge's sacred secret. But beneath that, I see his resignation. He has no choice.
"Very well," Kael says, his voice tight. "Take her."
"Excellent." Lucian rises from his seat, his movements liquid grace, and gestures commandingly to all the Alphas in the room. "Let us sign the pact.”
The ancient scrolls are brought forth, and one by one, the Alphas step forward to sign. When Lucian takes the pen, his green eyes find mine again, watching me as his signature flows across the parchment.
>The deal is sealed: the packs will unite, and I am now the property of Lucian Blackwood, the most powerful Alpha in the world.
"Pack your things, fiery little wolf," he says. "I'll wait for you in the parking lot."
"She doesn't own anything," Sabrina snaps, “She’s a sla—” but Kael cuts her off with a growl.
"Go to the Governor's Mansion," he tells me. "Get your old belongings."
I rush back to the mansion—my home with Kael for three years—my heart pounding against my ribs. “What are we going to do, Eira?” I ask my wolf as I throw clothes into a bag.
“Lucian is ruthless. If he discovers I’m carrying Kael's heir...” My anxiety rises to a crescendo, nearly escaping in a scream, but then I catch myself as an image of Lucian flashes through my mind.
Something about those green eyes calls to me. I remember our first meeting at last year's Convocation—that moment when our gazes locked across the hall, the way his spicy scent lingered in my thoughts for days afterward. Cinnamon and incense and something wild, untamed.
“We must trust fate,” Eira whispers in my mind. “Trust the instinct that’s drawing us toward him.”
Tears sting my eyes as I close my bag. Whatever happens now, Shadow Ridge is no longer home.
"Talia!"
Rhea bursts through the door, her face streaked with tears. "You can't go! What about the—"
"I have no choice," I cut her off, my hand instinctively moving to my stomach.
"Then I'm coming with you."
"No, Rhea. You need to stay here." I squeeze her hand. "You have to stay at Shadow Ridge and find a mate. You can't put your life on hold forever."
A harsh laugh escapes her. "There's nothing for me here, Talia. No one." Her eyes flash with determination. "Besides, Grandma made us promise to take care of each other, remember?"
She grabs both my hands in hers, her grip fierce and protective. "I'm not letting you leave without me. Not alone. Not like this."
Looking into her tear-filled eyes, I see the same stubborn loyalty that's gotten us through everything since we were pups. Finally, I nod, my throat tight with emotion. "Okay."
When we reach Lucian's sleek black car, he raises an eyebrow at Rhea. She lifts her chin, squaring her shoulders. "I'm her cousin, and I'm not leaving her side."
Amusement flickers across Lucian's face. "Two maids for the price of one?" He shrugs. "Get in."
As we slide into the leather seats, I watch Shadow Ridge disappear in the side mirror. My hand rests protectively over my belly, cradling the life I must protect at all costs.
The Moonborn Heir is leaving his father's lands, and only the Goddess knows what fate has in store for us now.
LUCIAN’S POV
She shivers in the seat beside me, her scent a mix of fear, pain, and something else—something she's trying desperately to hide. My eyes trace the curve of her neck, the way her dark hair falls across her shoulders, and hunger stirs deep within me.
“She should have been ours from the start,” Ragnar growls in my mind. “I knew it the moment we saw her at last year's Convocation. I want to taste her...”
“Patience,” I silence my wolf. “Look at her—she's broken. She needs time.”
"Why did Kael reject you, little wolf?" I keep my voice gentle, though the question burns in my throat.
Talia tenses, her hand flying instinctively to her stomach before she catches herself. Interesting. I file the gesture away but don't comment on it.
"Those bruises," I continue, noting the marks visible beneath her thin dress. "Is this how Shadow Ridge treats their maids?"
"She wasn't a maid!" The cousin—Rhea—leans forward from the back seat. "She was turned into a slave after—"
Talia's sharp glare silences her, and Rhea shrinks back into her seat.
More secrets. Shadow Ridge has always been full of them.
Ragnar stirs again “She’s important to them,” he says, his voice a growl laced with curiosity. “Kael wouldn’t keep her alive otherwise.”
“She knows something,” I agree, my thoughts sharp and focused. “Something they’re desperate to hide.”
My father’s voice echoes in my mind, as clear as the day he spoke his dying words.
“Lucian,” he rasped on his deathbed, his once-mighty frame frail and broken, “Shadow Ridge guards something ancient. A secret, a power so profound it could change the fate of all wolfkind. If they unlock it, they will gain unfettered dominion. But in the wrong hands…” He coughed, blood staining his lips. “In the wrong hands, it could destroy everything.”
I remember the way his eyes burned, even as the life ebbed from him.
“Promise me,” he said. “Promise you’ll keep Shadow Ridge under our control. Never let them rise, Lucian. Never. The future of Darkfang, and every pack under the moon, depends on it.”
I’d made that promise, and I’ve kept it. But now, standing on the cusp of something greater, I can’t ignore the possibility that Talia Hale might be the key to unraveling the mystery my father warned of. A former Luna, now a slave—rejected but not discarded. Why?
The gates of Darkfang territory loom ahead, iron and ancient stone reaching toward the darkening sky. I glance at Talia again, watching how the fading light plays across her face. Desire coils in my gut, primal and demanding.
What are you hiding, little wolf?
“She's the key,” Ragnar growls. “The key to unlocking everything Shadow Ridge wants to keep buried.”
For once, my wolf and I are in perfect agreement.
TALIA’S POV
Darkfang territory takes my breath away. Beyond the towering gates lies a city, not a compound, its grandeur eclipsing Shadow Ridge’s rustic charm. Skyscrapers pierce the sky, their glass aglow with the setting sun. Sleek vehicles glide through orderly streets, and well-dressed wolves stride purposefully along pristine sidewalks.
I knew Darkfang was the wealthiest and most powerful pack in the world—a military and industrial giant—but seeing it firsthand makes Shadow Ridge's success seem quaint in comparison. No wonder Kael was so desperate to unite the packs. No wonder he'd sacrifice anything—even me—to rule over all of this.
My eyes drift to Lucian. Why did he really take me? Does he think he can extract Shadow Ridge's secrets from me, or is there something else behind those mesmerizing green eyes? Stories of his ruthlessness echo through all packs—how he crushed three rebellions without mercy, how those who cross him simply disappear. A shiver runs down my spine as I wonder what fate awaits me behind Darkfang's gleaming facade. How does the most feared Alpha in the world treat his maids when no one's watching?
The car winds through the city until we reach the Governor's Mansion, a towering masterpiece of glass and stone. A cocky Beta approaches as we pull up, opening the car door with practiced grace.
Lucian helps me out, his touch sending an unexpected shiver down my spine. "Talia, Rhea, meet Cade, my Primary Beta."
Cade's lip curls as he looks us over. "Picking up strays now are we, Alpha?" He sniffs the air, his eyes narrowing. "Shadow Ridge wolves. Here?"
"I've brought you a maid," Lucian says smoothly, gesturing to Rhea. "Show some gratitude."
"I don't trust Shadow Ridge wolves in our pack."
Lucian doesn’t skip a beat. He raises his hand and…thwack. The crack of flesh meeting flesh echoes through the courtyard. Cade stumbles backward, blood trickling from his split lip. Lucian's movement had been too fast to track—delivering punishment in an instant.
"Stand down, Cade." Lucian's voice is soft, but deadly. His authority crackles in the air like lightning before a storm. "Question me again, and you'll lose more than your pride." His tone lightens, though the threat lingers. "The unity pact has been signed."
Cade wipes the blood from his lip with the back of his hand, straightening to his full height. Though his posture shifts to something more befitting a Beta, I catch the flash of defiance in his eyes before he masks it.
"Signed?" His voice is carefully modulated now, respectful on the surface. But as his gaze fixes on me with renewed suspicion, I see the predator still lurking beneath his forced civility. "What persuaded you to agree?"
"We'll be stronger together."
"And who will be ruling Alpha?"
"That will be decided at next month's meeting."
Cade's jaw tightens. "How do we ensure it's you and not Kael?"
Lucian's eyes flick to me for a heartbeat. "We'll discuss it later. For now, our guests need to settle in."
A predatory smile spreads across Cade's face as he grabs Rhea's arm. "Come with me. I'll show you to the maid's quarters in my house."
I step forward instinctively to protect her, but Rhea's scent spikes with interest. "I'll be fine, Talia," she says, her eyes bright as she follows Cade.
I watch them leave, trying to ignore the feeling of dread growing in the pit of my stomach.
"Let me help you with that." Lucian takes my bag, the unexpected gentleness of the gesture catching me off guard. His hand finds the small of my back as he guides me inside. "I'll show you to your room."
I can't help but flinch when his fingers brush against my fresh wounds, and though his expression doesn't change, I feel his hand shift slightly, becoming even gentler. This tenderness from the most feared Alpha in the world unsettles me more than his earlier display of violence. Is this how he plans to extract Shadow Ridge's secrets from me—with a gentle hand instead of a cruel one? After what I just witnessed with Cade, I know better than to trust this kindness.
As I try to keep my composure, Lucian leads me to a guestroom, and I let out an involuntary gasp—it’s a spacious suite decorated in rich blues and silvers, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
"These are the maid's quarters?" I ask, unable to keep the confusion from my voice.
A smile plays at the corners of his mouth. "I've decided to upgrade your position to Strategic Advisor. You'll be staying here in the main wing of the mansion." He pauses, those green eyes studying me. "Next door to me. I hope you'll find it comfortable."
My heart skips a beat. Advisor. Of course—he wants Shadow Ridge's secrets, and he thinks this is the way to get them.
Lucian steps into the en-suite bathroom, turning on the shower. Steam begins to curl through the air. "You should change out of those clothes," he says, his voice rougher than before, as he eyes the bruises on my neck. "I'll have some ointment brought up for those…wounds.”
His gaze lingers on me, and something flashes in his eyes—desire, hunger, need—before he quickly masks it.