Esther’s POV
The corridors of the Blood Moon Pack’s main house seemed longer at night, echoing with my own footfalls. When Nicholas’s guards came to summon me, they didn’t even bother to say why anymore. They only said, “The Alpha calls.” And everyone knew what that meant: I was to go to him—again.
I clutched the hem of my simple dress, forcing myself to keep my breathing steady. Each summons pulled me deeper into the gilded cage. But I reminded myself, over and over, why I was here. For Carl. For Sofia. For Sharon’s awakening. For survival.
Nicholas’s private suite opened before me like a maw. Candles burned low in the wall sconces, their scents sharp and herbal. He always chose scents to steady his nerves, but tonight even the candles couldn’t hide the restless thrum of his wolf. Norm
