se

ace strode in, his tailored suit crisp, expecting the usual submissive quiet of his domain. Instead,

the ancient threads. I could practically feel his Inner Wolf, Titan, thrashing beneath his skin, agit

emanded, his voice trembling wi

pha. The Moon Goddess's sacred relic has been defiled. By the ancient laws of the Pack, the

ound echoing off the stone walls. "

ed your Pack," Mar

hing!" she sobbed, her mascara running down her cheeks. She pointed a trembling

snapped to me, his

rely reminded her that Pack relics require reverence, Ciera," I said, my voice carrying clea

e reality of his ruined finances and shattered authority sinking in. He w

end of the discussion, I adjusted my sh

e, wa

l Ciera aside. He marched toward me, swallowing his pride, though his t

wouldn't hear. "The purification ritual will cost a fortune. I need you to open your personal trust fund

his sheer audacity. He wanted me to drain my

withdrawal limitations, Jace," I lied smoothly. "It seems the cost of being your Lu

Ciera's renewed wailing, ascending the stairs to the West Wing. The nomina

e heavy brass door. The silence o

Moving to the massive walk-in closet, I pressed a specific sequence agains

ver glow of the *real* Moon-Blessed Tapestry. I had commissioned a human artisan to weave the f

m threads, a cold thrill of

ed burner phone buzz

uminated the dark room with a

Solstice Conclave this Friday. Do not tes

o ice. My grandmother. The Mat

a trial. The Blackwoods had sensed the instabili

ction papers was ruined. If I ran now, Hilda's trackers would hunt me down before I crossed the

the walls of the Shadowcres