Page 114 of Court of Aether and Shadows

But it was his eyes that captured my attention — they burned like twin suns, holding both warmth and devastating power.

"Lord Aetheron," he said, his voice carrying harmonics that made my newly awakened power stir in response. "I am Alpha Solaris Dawnfire, pack messenger of the Aether Court's Solar Pack."

I felt rather than saw both Liam and Aetheron tense.

The air grew thick with competing energies — shadow, sunlight, and the primal power of I could only assume, was because there were b two Alpha wolves suddenly sharing space.

I still knew so little about this whole wolf dynamic, especially because Liam had no time to explain the logistics of it all, but if I was going to meet other potential wolves like him, I’d need a fast-track lesson so I wouldn’t feel so oblivious to the power dynamics.

Solaris's burning gaze found mine, and something electric passed between us.

His nostrils flared slightly, and part of me wondered if he could sense whatever I was.

This whole Omega status seemed to be deemed glamorous and rare from the gist of things.

A slow smile spread across his face, radiant and devastating.

"I've come," he said, though his eyes never left mine, "to offer my services personally in regards to the training of your...guest."

The last word carried weight and meaning that made both Liam and Aetheron's power surge in response. I wasn’t sure what this was going to ignite.

I was pretty confident sitting here and observing the madness that was about to ensue would give me the answers I sought.

Rival Dawn

~LIAM~

Fuck…

The moment Solaris entered the room, my wolf surged forward with a jealous rage that took every ounce of my control to contain.

It wasn’t helpful that Solaris’ Aether wolf's energy radiated through the space like a physical force — warm and golden in a way that perfectly complemented Sparrow's awakening energy.

And that was precisely what infuriated me.

RIVAL!

My wolf snarled within our shared consciousness.

He dares to enter our territory! To look at our mate with such hunger.

I watched, my hands clenched under the table hard enough to draw blood, as Sparrow's eyes met his.

The connection was instant and undeniable — like witnessing two stars aligning. Her power,still new and unstable,reached unconsciously toward his warmth, just as it had reachedfor my shadows back in the forest when I’d saved her from falling off the cliff.

Mine!

My wolf growled.

She's supposed to be ours. We protected her. We watched over her all this while. Where was he when she needed a safe hold? Working on himself, just like the others.

But I could only sit there, still bitter about last night's events between Sparrow and Lord Aetheron, as Solaris moved through the room with fluid grace.

Every step he took radiated alpha energy, challenging my own dominance without a single word being spoken. His sunrise-colored hair caught the light like a halo, and his sun-bright eyes never left Sparrow's face.

"The Shadow Court's hospitality is... unexpected," Solaris praised, his voice carrying harmonics that made my teeth ache. "Especially given recent tensions between our realms."

"Yet here you are," I couldn't help but growl, the words coming out rougher than intended. It wasn’t like we weren’t acquaintances. To be fair, I considered him a better friend than the majority of the wolves I’ve encountered from the various realms.

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