Serena clung to Lucian in an embrace so tight she could hardly draw breath for thefear threatening to burst from her. His forehead was oily with sweat; hisheart beat faintly. Itwas as if his body was still fighting the naked strength it had encountered in the woods. She’d doneeverything she could think of—begged the moon goddess to have him wake up. But the pack doctors reassured he was fine otherthan the “severe bruising and cuts.”

"He'll wake up soon." The pack doctorresponded before walking away. But really, that haven’t donemuch to help her pain.

Serena sat at Lucian’s bedside, anxiety weighingdown her heart. Theroom was still except for the gentle rustling of leaves outside his room. Her mind most certainly was not at ease, she had freed the Onyx Wolf—her heart of darkness—andit had damned near destroyed the landscape of the world.

She had never felt power like this before. Thetrees had literally bowed before her strength, and the ground had shivered. Even now, that power remained a coiled spring inside her, poised to spring at the hintof provocation.

But the ruined forest didn’t frighten her evenclose to the way that Lucian did. There he lay, perfectly still, unbroken by the passage oftime. Why he hadn’t woken up just then, especiallygiven that he was physically fine, was lost on anyone. Itwas as if his soul were trapped somewhere, lost between worlds. He had managed to shield her from the possibilityof losing it, but now she couldn’t rid herself of the anxiety that he might never return.

Dorian studied her for a beat as he slipped inside, the door creaking as he opened it, his expression unreadable, those vibrant eyes ofhis. But Serena didn’t look up. She just was not up to hisjudgment.

SerenaHis voice broke. “We have to hurry, theywill be coming back soon.”

Serena’s face softened, more tears spilling from hereyes. “Dorian” shesaid softly “ I don’t know what to do, I’m the one who probably put Lucian in this state. I don't know what to do."

No, he said toher remark, shaking his head. You were protecting all of us, protecting the packand Lucian. He'd be fineLucian was a fighter.”

Serena sighed. “I am afraid that he may never come back, Dorian." Sheexhaled and fought to get herself together.

He glanced up at her, catching alittle of her fright. We would get him back,but he would be really happy if you continued your training,” he says.

" Yes he would." She flicked the corner of her lips in a small smile, still nottaking her eyes off Lucian. Her face grew serious.

The weight in Dorian’schest only grew as he looked down to Lucian’s face. “ Heis your true mate, Serena."

Serenalooked at him, puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

“ He alone cantame you. The one whocan commune with the Onyx wolf and not be eaten by it's magic, is it's mate."

“No, Elias is my mate. Even when he rejects me, I can stillfeel the connection.

” Well, we have biggerproblems at the moment.” Dorian let out afrustrated sigh.

" Which problem?"

" Silver ridge pack."

As Serena processed Dorian’s words, the room around hergrew suddenly small. Her stomach still twisted with worry over Lucian, but the mention of mates lingered between the two ofthem like a thick fog. True mate? The idea wascompletely blowing her mind. Was it even possible? Could it be that Lucianis the key to taming the Onyx Wolf when no one else would? And whatdo you do with Elias, Alpha of the Silver Ridge Pack? She believed they were always meantto be bound together.

No, she toldherself, shaking her head, trying to push those thoughts away. There were much bigger problemsat hand — things scarier than the confusion in her heart.

“Silver Ridge Pack,” Serenamumbled under her breath. She knew they were a threat, but hearing the urgencyof Dorian’s voice really drove it home. They weren’t just some rival anymore— Silver Ridge was once her home, her family.

Dorian stepped to the side, his face all seriousness as he took his voice lowenough that only she could make it out. “There is something Elias has been planningfor a long time. His eyes have been watching over us, monitoring you and your training to control theOnyx Wolf. They know more about you than you think, a lot morethan we thought.”

Serena ground her fists, feeling the leather against her softpalms, the sweat beading up against the layer of skin. She knew Elias posed a threat, but she hadn’t fully understoodhow far he would take it. He’d notstop until she—and the Onyx Wolf—were under his thumb.

Dorian leaned in close, justabove a whisper. “He’s already rounding up hispack. He’s got more allies than we everfaced before.” The Silver Ridge Pack has beenstriking deals with other packs and amassing power at all costs. “They want the Onyx Wolf,and they’re not going to stop until they get it.”

Everything began to click for Serena with a horrible knot in herstomach. This wasn’t just about Elias wanting to keep her underhis thumb; this was their still being connected. That raw energy she’dtapped into in the forest? It was likea beacon, beckoning enemies from all directions. And now she was the target, the ultimate weaponthat everyone seemed to want to own.

But there was something Dorian had said thatkept chewing at her. "Spies?" Serenathought, her tone sharp. "Who’s backstabbing us?"

For a moment Dorian's face twitched, but he recovered himself almost atonce. “It is worse than you can imagine,” hesaid in a low voice.

"Mira."

An icy feeling ranthrough Serena’s veins. Mira? A trusted member ofthe Nightfang Pack? Her closest ally in recent months, theone who had helped her manage her health. Serena hadseen Mira as a sister, a true friend. This news impactedher more than she could have thought.

“She’s been telling Elias of your training progress.” Dorian said. “She’s been filling him in on yourprogress, your relationship with Lucian, the magic you have. We don’t know how long this has been going on, but clearly she has been on theside of Silver Ridge since the beginning.'

Serena’s breath hitched. She never thought she’d have to dealwith something like betrayal — from someone she’d trusted so much. But then again Mira had always been this mysterious person, so quiet and calculating. Now Serena found herself recognizing the small things she had ignored — the way Mira would zone out atlittle moments, and how her responses sometimes felt a little too varnished.

"Why?" Serena murmured,more to herself. “Why is she doing this tous?”

“Power,” said Dorian,his face stern. “Luna of SilverRidge pack was offered to her by Elias. Andyour father… he’s been biding his time waiting for a chance at the Onyx Wolf.” He doesn’t care who gets hurt in the process,just as long as he gets what he wants.”

The war had begun.