CLAIMED BY THE ALPHA OF THE SOUTH

d with clashing blades and sharp commands. Crystal stood with her arms crossed, jus

swift, but not without merit; he had the loyalty of the younger warriors, the respect

Crystal looked around, she saw Elder Mara, one of the council's

knew

ran deep with loyalty. It's a hard thing

used at the edge of the stone wall wher

lk about them

speak," Mara replied

ovement slowly, " Dangerous.

g the field, he caught her eye across the clearing, his face lighting up with something warm and personal, and cr

low, edged with the teasing conf

," Crystal said

w I looked good. I want to

g her hand brush agai

sun caught in his tousled brown hair, highlighting the faint scar on his jaw; earne

ndship fully blossomed; after a joint patrol turned into a battle for survival against rogues. She recal

between them wa

second heartbeat wh

en they touched, it sparked beneath her skin. She felt it e

" she said quietly. "Mara hinted y

h surprise, but with someth

an honor," his tone was eve

inued, in a semi-joking man

ead. "You mean

ed her, but she

and carved stone walls with a golden glow. Logan's usual spot would've been among the warriors at the

onversed with each Elder, paying more attention than he spoke. When the Beta addressed him direct

der Rehan, notoriously hard t

wolves learn to hold the

chest. Without missing a beat, Logan go

l chambers when the hall had mostly cleared. Except for the ru

took h

pressed

ing her in. "I want them

ged. "And how

rusting. Worth buil

is. Like a warm wind, the bon

o you ever think

ry d

ough to meet her

ife. I want... a legacy. A place bes

d him, reassuringly as she

---

Council events became more frequent. Invitations arrived not just for him, but addressed with respect, acknowledging his

uring a borderlands watch, that t

ordinated pack of rogues descended from the trees; large

s er

tly, voice slicing t

protect the fla

rned soil filled Crystal's nostrils as she pivoted, claws extended, me

a blur of instinct and power. But t

plit the

the slick grass. A rogue lunged low; another from behind. She turned

n. A cry torn

, his massive wolf form crashing into the rogues with unrelenting force. He tore through them with violent pr

back the remaining rogues as Logan fell to his knees besi

ious, met his gaze as he k

not like I lost them."" he raspe

touching his hand

g as he looked away, the sil

had he arrived seconds later. Crystal leaned against him

, "We need to

ut w

ure. Our

of silence, he

ve him

ou're chosen to b

u'll still be beside me; strong, s

wincing at the pull of he

use I beli

she healed, the bond

ks and quiet moments. It w