POV: Aria Blackthorn
The voice stopped.
The glowing symbols faded from the walls. The door unlocked with a soft click.
Whatever had breached the wards was gone—or hiding.
Corvus's voice came through the emergency speakers: False alarm. Magical interference from the mountains. Return to your quarters.
But I'd felt that presence. So had my three Alphas—their terror through the bonds had been real.
Someone was lying.
And I needed answers.
This is a terrible idea, Raven whispered as we crept through dark hallways toward the library.
It was past midnight. Curfew had been in effect for hours. Getting caught meant punishment—probably worse for me than for her.
But I couldn't just sit in my cell and wait for the next attack.
You didn't have to come, I pointed out.
Yes, I did. You'd probably trip a dozen wards without me. She paused at an intersection, fingers glowing purple as she sensed for magical alarms. Clear. Move.
We slipped through the main library—rows of books about pack history, wolf magic, combat techniques. Normal student stuff.
The restricted section was in the back, behind a door marked with warnings and sealed with heavy locks.
Raven pulled out a small pouch. Borrowed these from the Magical Theory supplies. Don't tell anyone.
Breaking and entering with stolen goods. We're bonding.
She grinned and sprinkled powder on the locks. They clicked open one by one. What are friends for?
The restricted archives smelled like old paper and secrets. Shelves stretched into darkness, filled with books that hadn't been touched in decades.
What exactly are we looking for? Raven asked.
Anything about Nullwolves. My mother. The Blackthorn pack history.
We split up, searching through dusty records. Most of it was boring—pack treaties, territorial disputes, bloodline charts.
Then I found it.
A leather journal, hidden behind other books. The cover read: Blackthorn Bloodline - Classified.
Inside were medical records going back generations. Birth certificates, death certificates, secret reports marked Council Eyes Only.
My hands shook as I read.
My great-grandmother had been a Nullwolf. Executed by the Council when they discovered what she was. Her death covered up as illness.
Before me, there had been five other pregnancies. Five babies who supposedly died during birth.
All Nullwolves. All murdered to hide the truth.
Someone in my family line kept producing Nullwolves. And someone kept trying to either use them or eliminate them.
Aria. Raven's voice was urgent. You need to see this.
She'd found an ancient text, pages yellowed with age. The title made my blood run cold: The Primordial Return: Prophecy and Preparation.
Raven placed her hands on the page, magic flowing from her fingers. Hidden text appeared, glowing silver in the darkness:
When three kings mark the kingmaker, the hierarchy breaks. The wolfless queen will sever all bonds and forge new chains. Primordials return to judge their children. The sacrifice determines survival.
Three kings, I breathed. Three Alpha bonds.
And you're the wolfless queen. Raven looked at me with new understanding. This prophecy is about you.
But what does it mean? What sacrifice?
Before she could answer, footsteps echoed in the main library.
Patrol, Raven hissed. We need to go. Now.
We grabbed the books and ran for the back exit—but it was sealed with wards we couldn't break.
The footsteps got closer. We were trapped.
Then a shadow moved in the corner. Zane stepped out of darkness like he'd been made from it.
He didn't say anything. Just grabbed both of us and pulled us into a section of wall that shouldn't have existed.
A hidden passage.
We stumbled through darkness while behind us, instructors entered the restricted section. Their voices faded as Zane led us deeper into the secret passages.
Finally, we emerged in an abandoned classroom three floors away.
How did you know about those passages? I asked, heart still racing.
Zane shrugged. Mapped the academy. Know every entrance, exit, hiding spot. His ice-blue eyes found mine. Been watching. Making sure you're safe.
You've been following me?
Yes.
The honest admission should have creeped me out. Instead, it was oddly comforting. At least someone was watching my back.
These books— I held up what we'd stolen. They're important. About Nullwolves and some prophecy
Not safe, Zane interrupted. Should tell others. Dante and Kieran. Pack shares information.
We're not a pack, I said automatically.
His expression said he disagreed but wouldn't argue.
Raven cleared her throat. I'm going to take these to my room. Copy the important parts with magic before someone notices they're missing. She looked between me and Zane. You two... talk. Or whatever you do.
She left us alone.
Zane studied me in the dim light. Coven destroyed? he asked Raven's retreating back.
Werewolves killed her entire family when she was twelve.
He nodded slowly. Knows loss. Good friend for you.
Something in his voice made me ask: Your sister. How did she die?
Pain flickered across his face. Pack trial. Deemed too weak. Left in wilderness to prove worth. His hands clenched. I was already enforcer. Couldn't protect her without defying Alpha. Found her three days later.
I'm sorry.
Not your fault. Mine. He looked at me with devastating intensity. Won't fail again. You're pack now. My pack. Will protect.
Before I could respond, he melted back into shadows, disappearing as silently as he'd appeared.
I made my way back to my cell, books hidden under my shirt, mind racing with prophecies and questions.
I opened my door—and froze.
Dante sat on my bed, silver eyes gleaming in the darkness.
Breaking rules already, little Nullwolf? His smile was dangerous. I'm impressed. And annoyed I wasn't invited.
His eyes dropped to the books I was carrying. What did you find?
None of your business.
He stood, moving with predatory grace. Everything about you is my business. You're my mate.
I'm no one's mate.
Liar. He crossed the space between us in two strides, backing me against the wall. I felt you tonight. Through the bond. Your fear, your excitement, your determination. You feel me too. Don't pretend you don't.
The bond hummed between us, electric and undeniable. His body was inches from mine, heat radiating off him.
Let me go, I said, but my voice came out breathless.
No. He leaned closer, lips near my ear. I'm going to claim you, Aria. Break the other bonds. Make you mine alone. And you're going to beg me to do it.
My Nullwolf power surged instinctively—self-defense against his dominance.
His wolf submitted immediately, whimpering inside him.
But this time was different.
Dante's eyes went wide with shock. His breath caught. And I felt it through the bond—
Pleasure.
He'd enjoyed the submission. His wolf had liked being brought to heel by me.
What— He stumbled back, horrified by his own reaction. That shouldn't—
Get out, I whispered.
He stared at me for another heartbeat, silver eyes burning with confusion and want. Then he climbed out the window without another word.
But the promise in his eyes was clear: This wasn't over.
I locked the window and collapsed on my bed, heart racing.
Outside, I caught movement. Kieran stood in the courtyard below, staring up at my window.
He'd watched the whole thing. Seen Dante in my room. Seen the tension between us.
His golden eyes met mine across the distance.
Then he turned and walked away, jaw clenched with barely controlled jealousy.
Three Alphas. Three bonds. Three different kinds of dangerous.
I pulled out the prophecy notes, reading them again by moonlight:
The sacrifice determines survival.
What sacrifice? Who had to die to fulfill this prophecy?
My mother's note appeared in my mind: You're not a mistake. You're a revolution.
I touched the mark on my chest—three interlocking circles that bound me to three rival Alphas.
Whatever was coming, whatever the Primordials wanted, I was at the center of it.
The wolfless queen who would either save them all or destroy them.
Outside, a wolf howled in the distance.
And I could have sworn it sounded like a warning.