whispers. Tonight was Elara's eighteenth birthday, her official coming-of-age cere

hing else entirel

t seemed spun from moonlight, a shimmering silver that matched her hair. The moonstone necklace h

r in the glittering room. His gaze was locked on her, a possessive, furious fire burning in his stormy grey eyes. Beside him, Lila looked small and innocent in a pale p

urmured, his voice a low rumble of su

old magic filling her lungs. She placed her hand

room was on her. They were expecting

the breath from their lungs. She did not look at Kade. She did

ke of her strength, her intelligence, her future as the leader

concluding, the great oak do

washed over the room. It silenced ev

h shoulder-length hair the color of pure, polished silver. His eyes, a startling, molten gold, swept the room

on Elara as she stood poised at the bottom of the stairs, and a flicker of something akin to respect, not pity, cro

p resonance that carried to every corner of the hall. It need

ly involved himself in the politics of individual territorie

s was her doing. Her counterattack. He didn't know how she'd arrang

completely. His golden gaze found Elara, and he

ck of everyone present, dropped to one knee

er ears alone, yet his actions for all to see. He opened the box. Inside, nestled on a bed of dark ve

aid to ward off dark magic. An Amulet of Truth. It

met his golden eyes and saw not pity, bu

she said, her voice clear and

his territory, his ceremony, his mate, and this stran

weet concern. "Oh, Elara, what a beautiful gift!" she cooed, her voice just loud enough

ing Elara as spoiled and greedy, and

cold, dismissive glance

ds of her dress, brushed against her thigh where a small, complex sigil had been dr

creen at the center of the ballroom, meant to displa

sage of congratulat

forest. And in the center of it,

the crystal. The sound of bones breaking, of a thr

as E

e moment. She was writhing in the dirt, covered in mud and her own tears, her body contorti

l into a dead, h

m rival packs. To show an Alpha heir in such a state... it was the ultim

age, but the magic was shielded. The images continue

icious smile for a split second before she replaced it with a lo

pure, horrified shock and fury. His eyes darted from the scre

ving her skin as white as her dress. She felt naked. Skinned alive. The

ight settled on her shoulders. A warm, thick cloak

, his towering form shielding her

at her. He look

t it vibrated through the very stones of the castle. The enchanted screen didn't just turn off. It

rson who had been laughing a moment before now shrank back, t

ury in his eyes softened into something

g, and intended for every single person in

se Elara Thorne as my Chosen Mate. From this moment forward,