Gary stood at the edge of the Sloan mansion’s grand hall, his arms crossed, his dark eyes tracking Jack as his brother addressed a small group of Blood Moon’s most loyal warriors. The torchlight cast shadows across Jack’s face, highlighting the fierce determination in his usually stoic expression. Serena rested against Gary’s side, her fever dulled but persistent after the moonroot ritual’s partial success, her frail form a constant ache in his heart. The mate bond pulsed, a warm tether that bound him to her, deepened by his blood sacrifice, but it was laced with a gnawing fear: the ritual’s temporary fix left her vulnerable, and Olivia’s cryptic warnings, Hart’s betrayal, and the cloaked figure’s pursuit loomed like storm clouds. Gary’s love for Serena burned brighter than ever, but Jack’
