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
The sky was an endless black canvas, with only the full moon piercing through the clouds. A chill ran through the air as the warriors of Valenwood formed a protective circle around the clearing, their eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of danger.Lira stood at the center of a ritualistic symbol etched into the ground with silver and herbs. Morgana paced around her, murmuring in a language older than time itself, her voice a low hum that reverberated through the air. The witch's violet eyes glowed faintly, her hands moving in intricate patterns, drawing the threads of magic together."This will not be easy," Morgana warned, her voice edged with both caution and determination. "The bond has only just begun to form, but Malakar is not a force that lets go easily. He will fight back with everything he has."Lira clenched her fists, her body trembling with both fear and resolve. She couldn't let Malakar have control. Not when everything—her life, her future—was at stake. "I don’t care
The moment the howl rang through the air, every warrior in Valenwood tensed. Swords were drawn, and the once-calm clearing turned into a battlefield waiting to ignite.Tobias’s sharp voice cut through the tension. "Positions! Defend the stronghold!"Dain snarled, his gaze scanning the trees. "They didn’t waste time, did they?"Lira struggled to stand, her body still weak from the severing ritual. Caius helped her up, his grip firm.Thoren turned to Morgana. "How did they find us so quickly?"Morgana’s expression was grim. "Lucien. The crystal wasn’t just a message—it was a beacon. Malakar now knows exactly where we are."Then—the forest erupted.Dark shapes surged from the forest’s edge, their eyes gleaming with unnatural hunger. Malakar’s wolves. They were no longer the majestic, noble beasts that had once roamed the lands of Valenwood. These creatures were twisted, corrupted by his dark influence, their bodies contorted and grotesque. Some were barely recognizable as wolves, their f
The flames in Lira’s hands flickered, their blue glow casting eerie shadows across her face. She stared at them in disbelief, unable to comprehend what was happening. It was as if the fire had a mind of its own, a power that surged from deep within her.Caius grabbed her wrist. "Lira, how are you doing this?""I—I don’t know," she stammered. "It just happened."Morgana took a step closer, eyes narrowing. "Her wolf is still dormant, but her other gifts... they’re beginning to manifest."Before Lira could respond, the ground shook with the sound of rapid, heavy footfalls. A massive black wolf—its eyes glowing an unnatural green—lunged at her from the shadows. The creature was terrifying, its fangs bared, its claws extended like daggers.Instinct took over.Lira didn’t think. She didn’t hesitate. The flames that had been dancing on her hands surged, twisting and expanding into a wall of fire that sent the monstrous wolf howling in pain. The heat was intense, almost unbearable, but Lira c
The air was thick with tension as Lucien stood before them, his expression one of dark amusement. His black armor gleamed under the moonlight, his golden eyes locked onto Lira with an intensity that made her wolf stir restlessly, despite still being dormant."I’ve waited so long to see you up close, Lira," he murmured, his voice smooth, almost too casual.Caius immediately moved in front of her, his body rigid with barely restrained aggression. "You won’t touch her."Lucien chuckled. "Oh, I don’t need to. She’ll come to me in time."Lira’s heart pounded in her chest, her wolf stirring restlessly inside her. She could feel its presence, like a dormant ember ready to ignite. Her hands clenched at her sides, trying to suppress the urge to fight, to flee. But Lucien’s voice was like a whispering thread, pulling at the very fabric of her will.His gaze flickered past Lira, and for a moment, Lira felt a shift in the air, a heavy presence she couldn’t quite place. Lucien’s lips curled into 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
ELIAS The warmth of the dining hall clashed with the tension humming beneath my skin. We’d only just returned—Thoren, Ronan, Kora, and I—bringing news from the nearby village. We hadn’t been gone long, but in war, every hour stretched thin. Every moment was weighted. And yet, in the middle of it all, I found myself rooted in place—not by dread, not by urgency—but by a scent. I froze near the entrance, my breath catching. It drifted through the air, cutting through the aromas of roasted meat, earth, and fire. This scent was different. Unmistakable. Fresh rain on wildflowers. Sweet… and wild. Mate. My head snapped toward the far end of the hall. And that’s when I saw her. She stood beside Dain, half-shielded by the curve of his arm. Her gaze was already on me. Wide-eyed. Curious. Like she felt it too. No—she knew. The world narrowed. Sounds dimmed. I took a step forward before I even realized I was moving. My heart thundered in my chest as I closed
SERAPHINA The warmth of familiar arms still lingered on my skin. I was wrapped in it—reunion, laughter, tears. The scent of my mother, the comforting cadence of Tobias’s voice, even Morgana’s sharp, dry wit—it all created a fragile kind of joy, stitched together by disbelief. I was home. Somehow. Even though the walls were different, the ground colder, and the people scarred by what had come before, I was here. After so long, I let myself breathe again. Because suddenly, something cold twisted in my gut. My father. The joy faded from my face like ash on the wind. I turned sharply, searching the faces around me—Tobias, Morgana, Dain. Dain. He stood near the fire, his arms crossed, face half-cast in shadow. “Dain,” I said, stepping forward. “Valenwood… what happened to it? Where’s my father? Is he still—” I couldn’t finish the question. My voice cracked, and the unspoken horrors hung between us like smoke. His jaw tightened, lips pressing into a thin l