Page 16

Draven

W e arrive at Mirenwulf Pack in the late afternoon, the air thick with grief.

Before we left, I gave Sin a full set of instructions in case something goes wrong. He usually stays behind to manage the palace in my absence, but I brought him this time. I need someone I trust, someone who would protect Kassira with his life.

Because this trip? It reeks of a setup.

Alpha Parrin’s death doesn’t sit right with me.

It’s too sudden. Too convenient. And I know in my gut — she’s here.

The witch who’s been playing with my life.

Whoever orchestrated this has been moving the pieces for a while, and now, they’re bound to make a move.

I just wish we had more answers before walking into the lion’s den.

We’re barely in front of the packhouse entrance when the first voice cuts through the somber crowd.

“Welcome, Ven.”

Amira. Of course she’s the first to greet us. I feel Kass’ discomfort through the bond, but she keeps her expression composed. Regal.

Amira stands beside Luna Hana, who looks like a shell of herself, pale and hollow-eyed, and beside her is the Alpha Heir — Amira’s older brother, Isak. Levi lingers just behind them, noticeably separate from the group. I make a mental note of that.

I don’t stop walking. I just tighten my arm around Kassira’s waist and keep moving forward.

“My condolences, Luna,” I say as we come to a stop before Luna Hana.

Kass’s voice follows mine, soft and sincere. “I’m so sorry for your loss, Luna.”

Luna Hana dips her head in acknowledgement. Her voice is barely more than a whisper when she speaks. “Thank you, Alpha. Luna. Your presence means a great deal.”

“We’ll hold a private dinner tonight,” Hana continues. “Only family and the Alpha Primes and their mates, to honor Parrin’s memory. The funeral will take place tomorrow, at noon.”

I nod, but my grip on Kassira tightens.

“Amira will show you to your room,” she adds.

Amira offers a small smile — too practiced to be real — and turns to lead the way.

Kass doesn’t speak, but I feel the pulse of irritation through our bond. She hates this as much as I do. But what can we say? We can’t very well argue with a grieving widow. So we follow.

Amira stops in front of a door and turns toward us, just as I feel that now-familiar ripple of warning roll up my spine. Instinctively, I tighten my grip on Kassira’s waist, pulling her flush against me.

“I’m sorry, Ven,” Amira begins, her voice too soft, too careful. “My mother hasn’t been thinking clearly since it happened. I’ll ask the staff to prepare a second room. For your mate,” she adds, smiling — though the way her teeth grind around the word ‘mate’ makes it feel more like a curse.

A deep growl coils in my throat, barely contained.

The implication laced in her words nearly pushes me past the edge — that somehow I didn’t accept my mate, that she doesn’t have a place beside me.

As if the bond is still up for debate. And the way she says my name — Ven — with the intimacy of a claim she has no right to anymore, especially after I already made everything clear to her? That is unacceptable.

“Amira,” I say, voice low and laced with steel.

“You’ve studied court etiquette long enough to know that I am to be addressed by my title.

Especially in front of my mate.” I let the words settle, sharp and cold.

“No matter what passed between us, you will show Kassira the respect she’s due.

She is your Luna. She outranks you in every way.

I’ll let this slide once, out of respect for your grief.

But there won’t be a second time. And one room is enough for us. ”

Her smile crumbles. Her lips tremble. But I feel nothing.

Beside me, Kass straightens. I can feel the satisfaction humming through her, even before she speaks.

“I don’t care what you thought you had with my mate,” Kassira says coolly. “It’s over. And if you keep testing me, I’ll personally see to your punishment. Funeral or no funeral.”

Amira’s eyes flare. “You don’t have the power to order anything,” she snaps. “You’re not even marked. You would know that — if you’d taken the time to actually study the palace rules. Only the King can give commands.”

Kass lets out a slow sigh, like she’s scolding a child. Her eyes lift to mine, glinting with amusement as she blinks sweetly. “My love,” she says, sugar-sweet, “if I wanted to order someone’s punishment… I could, couldn’t I?”

My love.

Where the hell did that come from? I like it. A lot. Too much.

I lean down, brushing a kiss to her lips. Soft. Possessive. “You can order anything you want, my beautiful mate.”

She turns back to Amira with a bright, victorious smile. “Perfect. Glad we cleared that up.” She flicks her hand in a casual, dismissive wave. “You can go now. We can open a door on our own.”

She opens it without waiting for an answer, steps inside, and I follow — without so much as a glance back.

I don’t need to see Amira’s expression. I can feel it.

But more than that… Something is off. Her father just died, and yet she’s playing games? Trying to push boundaries with Kass? It doesn’t sit right with me.

The moment we step into the dining hall, I already want to turn around and leave.

The room is full — Alpha Primes with their Lunas, Betas, heirs, and gods know who else — all dressed to impress and ready to talk my ear off.

I can feel their gazes shift in our direction as we enter.

Some curious, some calculating. Most of them won’t be able to resist the chance to pitch a new alliance, a trade route, or some other half-baked plan.

Sin is already doing what he does best — working the room, slipping between clusters of conversation. As instructed, he’s listening for anything out of place.

I take a slow, deep breath to steady myself.

Beside me, Kass chuckles, her voice low and amused. “Are the kingly duties already too much for you tonight, Your Majesty?”

I glance sideways at her and grin. “I thought I was ‘your love’. No take-backs now. You made it official.”

She opens her mouth to probably bite my head off, but before she can get a word out, I spot my uncle stepping in — cutting off Alpha Gradin just before he can corner us. He does it casually, but I know him too well not to catch the deliberate shift in his path.

“Nephew,” he greets with a nod.

“Uncle,” I reply, matching his tone. I lean in slightly. “Appreciate the rescue. Gradin would’ve talked until sunrise.”

He smirks. “I could already see the ambush brewing. You’re welcome.”

Then he turns to Kassira and gives a small bow. “Luna Queen,” he says, with a rare warmth in his voice. “I’ve heard plenty about you from my nephew. Beautiful, intelligent, kind, and strong. From where I’m standing, it seems he was right.”

Kass arches a brow, smirking. “I haven’t even said a word. How can you be so sure he wasn’t exaggerating?”

He taps the side of his nose with a grin. “I have a nose for greatness.”

Kass lets out a quiet laugh, light and genuine. And just like that, my mood shifts. Her laughter always does that to me — cuts through the noise, the pressure, the weight of everything hanging over us.

She’s the calm in the storm.

Less than half an hour later, my mood nosedives.

Kass isn’t seated next to me at the long table. Instead, Amira’s name is printed neatly on the place card where Kassira’s should be.

Fuck this.

I pick up the card like it’s something filthy and hand it to the nearest server. “Find another seat for her,” I say, voice cold and clipped. “My mate sits beside me.”

The server’s eyes widen. He nods fast and disappears.

Kass slips into the chair beside me with a satisfied sigh and a sharp look in Amira’s direction. “This woman is getting ridiculous,” she mutters. “She’s acting like a spoiled teenager. This is her father’s funeral dinner, for the goddesses’ sake.”

“I know,” I say, lowering my head and brushing my lips against her temple. “I’ll deal with her. After the funeral.”

“Can I watch?” she asks, eyes sparkling with excitement.

I chuckle under my breath. “If that’s what makes you happy, you’ll get a front-row seat.”

“Great,” she hums. “I’ll bring the sweets.”

Sin drops into the seat on my other side, already rolling his sleeves.

“Hei,” he greets lowly. “No one’s acting out of pocket.

At least not the Alpha Primes or their mates.

My sister’s still a bitch, but that’s nothing new.

Didn’t get to corner the Mirenwulf heir yet, though. He’s been avoiding too much contact.”

“Keep your eyes sharp,” I say. “This whole thing stinks. I don’t believe for a second that Parrin’s death was natural.”

He nods once. “Will do.”

Dinner goes about as well as a formal gathering in enemy territory can. Luna Hana offers a quiet tribute to her mate. A few Alphas speak about Parrin’s leadership, his legacy. Standard posturing and mourning, all polished and proper.

But Amira? She keeps looking at me like I’m a prize she won and just misplaced temporarily.

Every time her eyes flicker to Kass, I feel a growl rising inside my chest.

This isn’t just jealousy. My instincts are screaming. There’s something else going on with her — something I can’t ignore anymore.

She’ll be going through an interrogation right after the funeral.

At least, that’s the plan.

But I don’t get the chance.

The last thing I remember is leaving the dining hall and walking down the hallway with Kassira, her hand warm in mine, the scent of her calming every nerve in my body as we headed back to our room.

The next thing I know, I’m swallowed in darkness.

Weightless. Disoriented.

Standing face to face with my other half.

Draxis. My hellhound.

He's furious. Drowning in wild, hot rage.

And it's not just the red, glowing leash around his neck anymore.

Now, thick glowing threads — like burning ropes — coil around his limbs, his torso, even his chest. They pulse, alive and tightening, magic seething between each layer.

I can't move, I can't say a word. I'm frozen in horror, panic slithering inside my veins.

I can only watch as my hellhound thrashes in chains I didn't even know existed. Growling. Snarling. Biting at the ropes until blood drips from his jaws.

If both my hellhound and I are here, inside my mind, who is with Kass?