Chapter 405\u00a0<\/p>\n
Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0<\/p>\n
.73%\u00a0<\/p>\n
+5 Pearls\u00a0<\/p>\n
Outside the infirmary, Duke stood stiffly, as though he\u2019d just chewed a mouthful of bitter herbs. The lines of his face were practically twisted in knots.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Just moments ago, he\u2019d received a call from Alaric of the Ebonclaw Pack.\u00a0<\/p>\n
How the man had even gotten his number was beyond him, but the obsequious tone that rang through the receiver still echoed in his ears. It left a sour taste in his mouth.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The last time the Ebonclaw Pack tried to forge an alliance at a gathering-pushing their daughter into a mating arrangement with Lucien Duskgrave-it had already made Duke want to retch. Now, they had the gall to send women to \u201caccompany\u201d his Alpha to dinner?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Desperation wasn\u2019t even a strong enough word. It was insanity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Duke muttered under his breath, \u201cThey tortured their own daughter until she was half-dead, and now they want to curry favor? What a charming bunch.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He glanced through the hospital window.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, Riley sat quietly at a small table, spoon in hand, sipping soup like a ghost had finally allowed her peace. Across the room, Lucien lounged by the window sunlight casting a halo around his tall, sharp frame as he read.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The scene was\u2026 surprisingly serene.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though Riley had fallen from grace, it was clear she was different from the rest of the Ebonclaw Pack. A single flower blooming from rotting soil. A rare one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Duke felt a pang of sympathy. It wasn\u2019t often the Stormridge Alpha Prince took a genuine interest in anyone-especially not someone with Riley\u2019s history. That alone said enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2014\u00a0<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, across town in first Mooncrest Healers Hall, Alaric Vale was fuming.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He hurled his communicator onto the bed, the device bouncing once before landing with a muted thud.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His face was so dark it could smother a fire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather?\u201d came a sweet, calculated voice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett Vale, draped in cream silk, approached the bedside with practiced delicacy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Prince Lucien reject the offer again?\u201d she asked with a tilt of her head.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric clenched his fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat arrogant bastard refuses everything. First, he declined the mating proposal with that useless girl Riley. Then, even after I invited him to a private feast-with handpicked companions, no less-he still turned me\u00a0<\/p>\n
down.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His chest rose and fell in furious waves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:11 Mon, Jan 5 G.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 405\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f25 \u0f4a\u0f71\u0f72, 73%\u2a9c\u00a0<\/p>\n
+5 Pearls\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett frowned. \u201cBut I heard he has a reputation for indulgence\u2026 for enjoying she-wolves. Why would he refuse you twice?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric\u2019s lip curled. \u201cMaybe the rumors are wrong.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s expression shifted subtly. Her gaze sharpened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cFather\u2026 what if the gossip is false? What if Lucien Duskgrave doesn\u2019t care for she-wolves at all?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric paused, considering. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. Whether he does or doesn\u2019t-Duskgrave is the gatekeeper to the Eastern Ridge project. If we can\u2019t secure his support the Ebonclaw Pack has no standing left in the Alpha Council.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s eyes glinted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThen we change tactics,\u201d she said smoothly. \u201cI heard Matriarch Duskgrave is holding her birthday celebration in Northhaven next month. If we prepare an offering that touches her heart\u2026 we may yet forge a connection.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric\u2019s brow lifted. \u201cThat\u2019s\u2026 not a bad idea.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we win over the Matriarch,\u201d Scarlett continued, \u201cLucien will have no choice but to acknowledge the alliance. We just need to send a gift worthy of her attention.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric grimaced. \u201cShe\u2019s the Matron of the oldest bloodline in the North. What could we possibly give that hasn\u2019t already crossed her table?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett gave a secretive smile. \u201cIf we understand her personal taste-what makes her heart move-we\u2019ll find the answer. I want to go to Northhaven myself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to scout her preferences?\u201d Alaric asked, instanly reading her intention.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett nodded. \u201cThis project isn\u2019t just about the Pack-is about our future. Once the elders see we\u2019ve brought in Eastern Ridge, they\u2019ll pressure your mate to elinquish her remaining shares. When that happens\u2026 the Ebonclaw Pack will be ours. Entirely.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Alaric didn\u2019t hesitate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cGo,\u201d he said. \u201cYou should lie low anyway. I\u2019m sure Rona suspects you already.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s expression darkened.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yes. Ronan had interfered when his sister tried to accuse her. At first, she thought he was protecting her. Now, she saw it for what it was-he was trying to protect Riley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He\u2019d always liked that little runt, hadn\u2019t he?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Even after everything.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett\u2019s mouth twisted. \u201cRonan is only shielding her because he\u2019s ashamed. Once Riley is proven innocent, he\u2019ll look like a fool. And he knows it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Scarlett had another reason for going to Northhave.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She wanted to see Lucien Duskgrave for herself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
10:11 Mon, Jan 5\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 405\u00a0<\/p>\n
G\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u0f25 73%\u25aa\u00a0<\/p>\n
+5 Pearls\u00a0<\/p>\n
It had started that night at the auction.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She hadn\u2019t meant to look. Hadn\u2019t planned to. But the moment her gaze landed on Lucien Duskgrave across the room, every thought in her mind screeched to a hal\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tall. Impossibly still. His silver-ringed eyes unreadablender the low chandelier light, like a beast held in check by the thinnest thread of restraint. He hadn\u2019t spoken. He hadn\u2019t needed to.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She\u2019d seen many Alphas in her life. Fought them, outwitted them, used them.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But Lucien? He wasn\u2019t like the others. He was\u2026 terrifying. And magnetic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A prince by title. A storm by nature.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett had told herself it was just curiosity. Just strategy. Just politics.\u00a0<\/p>\n
But days passed. Then weeks. And still, that one glance haunted her like a brand on her skin.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Yet Lucien wasn\u2019t without infamy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The rumors whispered of a Moon Goddess curse-one that sealed off the mate bond entirely unless the chosen mate fell for him first, without fate\u2019s nudge. It was said none had ever succeeded. That Lucien\u2019s aura devoured those who dared come close. That dozens of she-wolves, from noble to rogue, had tried and\u00a0<\/p>\n
failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some even claimed he\u2019d \u201ccursed\u201d them to death.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And still, packs sent their daughters. Still, mothers schemed to see their line tied to the Stormridge throne. Why?\u00a0<\/p>\n
Because if the curse was real\u2026 then Lucien\u2019s true mate might never find him. And that meant the position beside him was open-if only one dared to take it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Scarlett did.\u00a0<\/p>\n
She needed to see for herself. To confirm whether the monster in the rumors was real-or if Lucien Duskgrave was simply a legend shaped by fear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And if he turned out to be everything they said\u2026 then she\u2019d make him hers anyway.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Riley? Riley would never get near him again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Send Gifts\u00a0<\/p>\n
924\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph King is an editor and storyteller who ensures every chapter is clear, polished, and engaging for readers.<\/p>\n
Midnight Letters by Daniel Crowe 405 Chapter 405\u00a0 Third Person\u2019s POV\u00a0 .73%\u00a0 +5 Pearls\u00a0 Outside the infirmary, Duke stood stiffly, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pack-princess"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20680"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20680\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}