The inside of Alpha Thoren’s home was even more mesmerizing.The walls were crafted from a dark, polished wood that seemed to shimmer under the lantern light. Silver filigree markings ran along the beams, forming intricate symbols that pulsed faintly. The air carried a scent of fresh earth, herbs, and something Lira couldn’t quite place—magic.Carved stone hearths lined the hall, where fires crackled with warmth. Long tables filled the open space, with wooden benches arranged neatly, likely for gatherings or feasts.As they walked deeper into the home, the pack members moved around them with familiarity, but also reverence. Some whispered among themselves, their gazes lingering on Lira.She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.But then, something—or rather, someone—caught her attention.At the far side of the hall, seven individuals stood waiting.The witches.Three men and four women. Each with a different presence, a different aura.The oldest of them was a tall man with silver-strea
Caius must have sensed her unease, because without a word, he reached for her hand.His warmth grounded her. His golden eyes met hers, steady and sure. “Are you alright?”Lira swallowed hard. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I feel… watched.”Caius’s lips twitched. “Because you are.”She huffed a quiet laugh. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”He tugged her a little closer, lowering his voice. “They’re looking at you because they believe in you.”Lira exhaled sharply. “That’s what scares me.”Caius studied her, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. “Why?”Lira hesitated. “Because I don’t know if I can be what they need me to be.”A moment of silence stretched between them. Then, Caius leaned in just enough that his breath brushed against her temple.“You already are.”His words sent a warmth through her chest, a quiet strength settling in her bones.She wasn’t sure if he was right. But for now, she let herself believe it.A History Woven in SecretsTheir group had been given a
The Prophecy of Selene, the Mother of NightIn the days of old, when the world was young and the wolves roamed free beneath the gaze of the Mother of Night, Selene, she beheld her children—the wolves who walked beneath the silver glow of her eternal light. She saw their strength, their unity, and the harmony of the packs. But she also saw the darkness creeping at the edges of their realm, the shadow that slithered close to their hearts, waiting to strike. And so, Selene, with the voice of a thousand winds, did speak unto her children in a tongue as ancient as the stars:“A time shall come, my children, when the Dark One shall rise. His hunger shall be boundless, and his fury unrelenting. The packs shall be torn asunder, their bones broken by his mighty hand. Rivers shall run red with the blood of my own, and the strongest among you shall fall first. The weak shall be devoured, scattered to the winds. The earth shall weep, and the moon shall mourn for the souls lost to the darkness.”“
Lira sat at the great wooden table in Alpha Thoren’s council chamber, the ancient parchment in front of her feeling like a weight upon her chest. The ink had faded over centuries, the edges of the paper frayed and worn by time, yet the words upon it burned in her mind with an intensity that couldn’t be ignored.“Upon the turning of the twenty-second year, the wolf shall awaken within the Alpha-born…”Her wolf. The part of her that had remained dormant all her life, locked away deep inside her. The prophecy spoke of the awakening of that primal force within her, a force that would now be thrust into the world at the most critical of times.Her heart pounded as she skimmed the parchment once more, her fingers trembling as she traced the inked letters. “As the moon waxes nearest to her birth, the bond must be sealed…”Her gaze lifted from the scroll, her eyes searching for Caius. He stood near the window, his silhouette framed by the dim light of the evening. His arms were crossed, his p
Lira walked through the moonlit village, her footsteps barely making a sound against the soft earth. The village of Valenwood was beautiful, timeless in a way that made her heart ache. Yet, all the beauty in the world couldn’t ease the weight pressing down on her chest.She had time.But not enough.Six weeks. Six weeks before her twenty-second birthday. The prophecy had made it clear: the wolf would awaken within her, and with it, the bond she shared with Caius would demand to be sealed. Four days after the full moon following her birthday, their bond would either be sealed or broken. She had no choice in the matter. Neither of them did.Lira’s mind raced, a flurry of questions she couldn’t quite answer. What if she wasn’t ready? What if she couldn’t handle the power the bond would bring? What if it overwhelmed her, consumed her, and tore her apart instead of giving her strength?Or worse… what if Caius suffered because of it? What if the bond between them became a chain, not a sourc
Two days passed, Lira could feel the subtle shift in the air. Something was coming.It wasn’t just her, though. The wolves of Valenwood grew more alert, their movements sharper, their patrols tighter. It was as if the very land itself had become restless. The usual hum of life in the village had turned tense, charged with anticipation.Lira couldn’t escape the feeling that everything was leading to something—something that would change everything.Then, one night, it happened.Lira awoke with a start, her body drenched in cold sweat. The room around her was cloaked in darkness, but the air was thick with something unseen, something heavy. It was as if the night itself had taken on a life of its own, swirling with an ominous presence that pressed down on her chest.She lay frozen for a moment, trying to gather her bearings, her breath coming in shallow gasps. There was something wrong. Something… watching.Then, she heard it.A voice."Little Alpha."Her blood turned to ice at the soun
Lira swallowed hard, her throat dry, as the weight of the revelation settled over her like a suffocating fog. "It was him," she whispered, barely able to get the words out. "Malakar. He spoke to me."The room went still. The silence hung heavy, each person in the room processing the implications of what she had just said.Tobias and Dain, who had rushed in at the sound of her distress, exchanged a look. It was one Lira had seen before—the kind that signified something was terribly wrong."How?" Tobias demanded, his voice sharp with concern. "How did he reach you inside Valenwood?"Caius, who had been kneeling beside her, his presence a comforting weight, stiffened. His jaw tightened as his gaze darkened. "You said Valenwood was protected. How could he breach that?"Dain, ever the strategist, nodded grimly, his arms folded across his chest. "It is protected," he confirmed, his tone heavy with disbelief. "There's no way Malakar should be able to reach her—not without—"He stopped abruptl
The night stretched on, heavy with the weight of uncertainty. Valenwood was on edge, its warriors moving like shadows through the trees, searching for any trace of hidden crystals or other dark artifacts. The pack was restless, every member feeling the tension in the air, but none of them were certain who or what to trust.Lira sat at the grand table in the heart of the stronghold, surrounded by the familiar faces of those she trusted most. Tobias and Dain stood near the entrance, their voices low and urgent as they discussed their next steps. Caius sat beside her, his presence a steadying force, though his usual calm had been replaced by an edge of unease. His fingers absently tapped against the surface of the table, the rhythm betraying the tension inside him.The traitor—Lucien, or whoever else had worked with Malakar—had not yet been found, but the certainty that one of them was feeding information to the Dark Lord gnawed at Lira's mind. It was only a matter of time before they we
CAUISThe clearing outside the main packhouse was quiet that morning. Not the kind of silence that came with peace—but the kind that settled in after something sacred had been broken.They all knew.Word of the ritual had spread before the sun had even risen. Whispers carried through the pack like wind through tall grass, brushing against every soul with reverence and sorrow.The Alpha had sealed his wolf.I stood at the edge of the training grounds, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the horizon. The sky was a pale silver streaked with soft gold. Birds chirped faintly in the distance. The world moved on like it didn’t feel the hole inside me.But they did.I could feel them—every pack member who passed me today. Their eyes held something different now. Not pity. Not fear. But something closer to awe. A deep, collective ache, mirrored by quiet loyalty. Even without saying it, they knew what it cost me.“Alpha,” someone murmured as they passed. Heads dipped lower than usual. Bows lingered a l
LIRAThe morning light filtered through the high windows of the Alpha’s quarters, soft and golden, wrapping everything in a delicate hush. The kind of light that promised a new beginning—but carried the shadows of the night before.Caius lay beside me, his arm draped loosely across his middle, eyes fixed on the ceiling. He wasn’t asleep.He hadn’t slept at all.Neither had I.Though his body was still, his mind stirred like a storm behind his eyes. The pain he carried wasn’t just physical. It hummed through our bond like a low, distant thunder, muted yet unrelenting. He hadn’t spoken since the ritual. Not really. Just soft words to reassure me when I’d tried to ease his grief.But he didn’t have to speak for me to know.I felt it all.The weight of silence where Fenrir once resided.The ache carved deep into his spirit.And the way he kept replaying the moment—the split second when he chose to seal his wolf to save us all.I turned on my side to face him, brushing my fingers lightly a
CAUISThe walls of the packhouse felt smaller than I remembered.Every creak in the floorboards, every breath I took—it all sounded louder now without Fenrir’s presence muffling the world. Without him, my senses were mine alone. Just mine. But it didn’t feel like freedom. It felt like a void.Lira walked beside me, silent but steady, her hand wrapped around mine. She hadn't let go since the clearing. I didn’t realize how much I was leaning on her until we reached the edge of the war room and I stumbled slightly.She caught me, of course. Just like she always did.“I’m fine,” I muttered, more for myself than for her.“You don’t have to lie to me,” she said gently, guiding me into the chair beside the long table. “You’re allowed to break, Caius. Just… not alone.”I leaned back, resting my head against the chair. The same chair I used to sit in when planning patrol routes, border meetings, or war tactics. But now I felt like an impostor in my own command.“I used to feel him everywhere,”
CAUISTwo days.That’s how long I’ve been walking around with the weight of a war I can’t even fight properly. Since Morgana’s revelation—since Ysara’s talisman reacted to me—I’ve been carrying more than just the burden of being Alpha.I’ve been carrying him.Malakar.He’s been leaking into my mind, into my instincts, tainting my bond with Fenrir. I’ve heard whispers that don’t belong to me—urges that feel wrong in the marrow of my bones. At first, they were faint. But now… they pulse beneath my skin.I’ve kept it hidden. From everyone.But Morgana knew.She came this morning, not alone—but with Aldric at her side.I was in the clearing behind the packhouse—the only place where Morgana’s wards still muted the noise in my head. It was the only place I could think. Or at least try to. And Lira, my luna, had been by my side through it all.I heard Aldric’s boots before I saw him—solid, slow, and full of purpose. Morgana’s steps were quieter, but the magic she carried always announced her
MORGANAThe scent of rosemary and dried bloodroot clung to my robes as I pored over the fifth tome of the morning. My fingers trembled—not from age, but from urgency. It had been two days since we discovered the truth.Two days since I learned that Malakar had not merely touched Caius’ mind… but had laced himself into his very shadow.A tether. A slow poison.A curse older than most witches alive today.I hadn’t slept. The fire in my chamber barely flickered anymore, kept alive only by the pulse of my magic and the constant rustling of pages. On the table before me, scrolls lay scattered, ink smudged by my hurried notes. I’d summoned wind spirits for answers. Brewed insight draughts. Called on the ancestors through the Oracle’s Mirror.Nothing had given me what I needed.Because this was no ordinary corruption. Malakar wasn’t just feeding off Caius—he was waiting. Waiting for the right moment to seize full control.And that moment was drawing near.Caius hadn't said much in the last t
CAUISWe scoured the halls until our feet ached and our patience thinned.Every wall, every crack, every space in the packhouse was searched—twice. The talismans Ysara gave us were sensitive, humming lightly in our palms whenever they neared even the faintest trace of cursed energy. But for hours, they offered nothing but silence.Until Kora stopped dead in her tracks."Wait… the old stone hearth," she said, her voice sharp with realization. "The one in the original east wing kitchen. No one uses it anymore, but it's still there."The east wing. Of course.No one cooked there now. The kitchens had been rebuilt on the other side after the fire years ago. But the room remained accessible—used occasionally for storage, sometimes by pups playing hide-and-seek. A forgotten relic of our home’s past.And the perfect place to hide something no one was meant to find.We rushed to the hearth, the talismans growing heavier with each step.As soon as we crossed the threshold, the symbols on the t
MORGANA I didn't walk. I ran. The vision still echoed behind my eyes like lightning that refused to fade. I had no time to waste, no room for caution. I clutched the edge of my cloak and stormed through the halls of Grimhowl, the weight of destiny—and dread—pressing down on my shoulders like an avalanche ready to fall. Caius. Lira. They needed to know what I saw. The future was still uncertain, a thread split in two. One path led to fire, ruin, and death. The other—hope. But both required a choice. A sacrifice. A weapon. And time, we had little of that left. I reached the dining hall, heart thudding in my chest, relief washing over me as I spotted them all inside. Lira stood beside Caius, her hand resting gently on his. Tobias and Thoren sat nearby, deep in conversation with Seraphina and Dain. Deanna and Elowen were seated next to Ronan and Kora, who looked up the moment I entered. Elias stood at the far end, arms crossed, eyes alert. Even the Elders Council had g
MORGANA The moment I stepped out of the war room, scroll clutched tight to my chest, I felt the weight of centuries settle on my shoulders like a cloak spun from memory and magic. The Map of the Bloodseer. I had heard of it in whispers—in forgotten tomes and fragmented chants. A myth, they claimed. A tale told by seers too old to trust and too mad to be believed. But it was real. Right in my hands, pulsing faintly with the tangled threads of fate itself. This could be the turning point in the war. Or a trap we were too desperate to ignore. I moved quickly through Grimhowl’s stone halls, ducking into the small chamber I’d claimed as my study. Candles flared to life with a flick of my fingers. Runes on the walls shimmered, reacting to the old magic now saturating the space. I laid the map out carefully across the old table, heart pounding not with fear—but with urgency. Because this time, it was personal. My hands hovered over the parchment, and I whispered an incan
CAUIS I stood at the head of the hall, my hand resting lightly on the back of Lira’s chair, listening to Ronan speak. His voice echoed just enough to remind us all why we were really here. "Alright, as beautiful as all these long-lost family moments are,” Ronan began, flashing a small grin, “we didn’t come back just to cry and sniff each other’s hair.” A few chuckles rumbled through the hall—Kora rolled her eyes, Seraphina smirked into her cup, and even Tobias cracked a grin. But I could feel the shift in Ronan’s tone even before the humor faded from his face. “We come bearing news from the Village of Enomenos,” he said. Just like that, the air changed. I straightened. “Then we need to meet. We’ll keep this here brief and move to the war room.” “Thoren, Tobias, you and your daughters stay,” I added, catching my mate’s gaze and brushing my fingers across her hand. “You deserve the time to catch up.” “But unfortunately for Elias,” Ronan smirked over his should