Later that evening, Lira sat in the pack house, exhausted from the day's training. The cracklingfire in the hearth provided a bit of warmth against the chill that still clung to her bones. Sheleaned back in her chair, savoring the quiet, a rare moment of peace amid the chaos that hadbecome her life.Then, it hit her.A scent, rich and familiar, so strong that it sent a rush of emotion through her chest. It wasunmistakable.Her heart stopped.No. It couldn’t be...Footsteps echoed down the hall, getting closer, until they stopped right outside the door.“Did you miss me, or did you forget about me completely?”Lira’s breath caught in her throat, and she turned sharply, her eyes widening in pure shock.“Kora?” she gasped.The blonde-haired, hazel-eyed she-wolf stood in the doorway, a grin spreading across her face,radiating the same confidence and energy that Lira had missed so much.“Oh my Moon Goddess,” Lira exclaimed, her voice cracking slightly as she surged forward. Shethrew
Lira stood in the middle of the training grounds, arms crossed tightly over her chest, watching asCaius and Ronan sparred. Their movements were a blur of speed and strength, fists connectingwith precision, growls echoing in the crisp air. The power behind each strike resonated throughthe ground, the thud of their feet against the earth punctuating their ongoing battle fordominance.Normally, Lira would have been fully immersed in their movements, analyzing each of theirtechniques, mentally planning her own training sessions, and preparing for the future. Buttoday?Today, she couldn’t focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the way Caius had kissed her lastnight—no, the night before that, too. She could still feel the heat of his lips against hers, the wayhis hands had pulled her closer, his touch igniting something deep inside her. Her bodyresponded to him in ways she couldn’t ignore. The warmth of his hands on her skin, the fire thatburned between them every time their ga
*WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS R-18 SCENES*Lira was exhausted.The past few days had been a blur of non-stop training—magic training, combat training,strategy sessions. It was more than she could keep up with, especially with Caius constantlypushing her limits in ways she never thought possible. He was relentless, and while the resultswere impressive, she was starting to feel the weight of it all.Her muscles ached with every step, her mind heavy with exhaustion. All she wanted—no,needed—was a long, uninterrupted sleep. It had been days since she’d truly rested, and herbody was screaming at her for a break.She shuffled toward her room in the guest house, dragging her feet, rubbing at the tension inher shoulders. The cold air from outside nipped at her skin, but she didn’t care. She just neededto get inside, strip down to her pajamas, and crawl into bed.As she reached for the door handle, she heard it.A sound so wrong, so utterly nightmare-inducing that her soul nearly left
Lira sat on the log, staring blankly into the crackling fire before her. The flames danced in frontof her eyes, but she saw nothing. Her mind was a void, her thoughts nothing more than atangled mess of confusion, exhaustion, and pure embarrassment.She was numb. Emotionally, spiritually, mentally scarred.Her eyes were glazed, as though nothing in the world could pierce through the haze that hadsettled over her like a heavy fog. Last night’s events replayed in her mind over and over like anightmare she couldn’t escape.Caius sat beside her, an amused glint in his eyes. He wasn’t one to shy away from trouble—hewas the source of much of it, after all. His deep chuckle vibrated through his chest as hewatched her, obviously trying to suppress the amusement bubbling inside him. “You alright,love?”Lira slowly turned her head toward him. Her face was blank—empty, devoid of the usual spark.“I need therapy,” she muttered, her voice flat and devoid of any life.Caius raised an eyebrow,
Lira stood at the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, as shewatched the warriors spar. The icy wind of winter nipped at her skin, but it was nothingcompared to the tension that was coiling tighter and tighter inside her chest. She could feel thepressure, the expectation, and it had been growing stronger every day. Only a week remainedbefore her birthday, and with it, the moment she had both dreaded and anticipated her entirelife.Her first shift.And four days after that—the full moon.Lira’s fingers clenched into fists at her sides as she thought about it. It had been a constantworry in the back of her mind for as long as she could remember. There was so much she hadto prepare for. The full moon would be the moment when everything changed. She would stepinto the world as a fully realized wolf, something she’d been dreaming about for years, but alsosomething she was terrified of. What if she wasn’t ready? What if she failed? There was no way
Lira barely had a moment of peace before Kora barged into her room, her usual energetic self,arms crossed and dark curls bouncing with every step."LIRA!" Kora practically shouted, making Lira jolt in surprise. She blinked at the suddenintrusion, her heart racing for a moment before she realized it was just Kora being Kora."You are officially few days away from your birthday!" Kora’s voice was loud enough to shakethe walls, her eyes sparkling with mischief.Lira stared at her, still processing the words, a frown forming on her face. “Uh… yes?”Kora’s grin grew wider, and she threw herself onto Lira's bed dramatically, landing with a bouncethat made the entire mattress shift. "Do you realize what that means?"Lira gave her a blank look. "That I’ll shift for the first time?" she asked cautiously, unsure if thiswas leading to something she wasn’t ready for.Kora rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t pop out. "That too, but also…" Shesat up with exaggerated excitemen
Lira woke up to the softest kiss on her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open, and sheimmediately felt the warmth of Caius beside her."Caius?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, her mind still tangled in the hazy remnantsof dreams."Wake up, love," he whispered, his voice low and warm. "I have something planned for youtoday."Lira blinked, the sleepiness clinging to her like a blanket. "What...?" Her voice was slow,reluctant to shake off the drowsiness."You’ll see," Caius replied with a teasing smile that she could feel even though her eyes werestill half-closed.Later That Evening…Lira walked into the main hall, her steps slow as she took in the space around her. There wassomething off about the atmosphere. It was too quiet. Too still.Then, suddenly—"SURPRISE!"The doors swung open with a dramatic flourish, revealing a breathtaking sight. The entireballroom sparkled, glittering with gold and silver decorations that shimmered under the soft glowof fairy lights strun
The night air was crisp, the sky stretching vast and endless, illuminated by countless stars. Agentle breeze whispered through the towering pines surrounding Grimhowl’s training grounds,carrying with it the electric anticipation of the wolves gathered. Tonight was the night.Lira stood at the center of the clearing, barefoot on the frozen earth, feeling the energy pulsingaround her. The pack was silent, their collective presence a quiet yet steady supportsurrounding her like an invisible shield. Each breath she took seemed to magnify the moment,the weight of everything leading up to this night pressing down on her shoulders. But there wassomething else that grounded her, something more solid and real than anything else—Caius,standing beside her, his presence like an anchor. His steady gaze never wavered from her, andthe strength in his eyes made her heart hammer in her chest.“You’re ready,” he murmured softly, his golden eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that madeher pu
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
THOREN Ysara’s words clung to the air like a spell. “Yes, I am a Bloodseer, and only few of us are left. I’m the only one in Enomenos. We are not simply part witch and part wolf—we are two complete souls living as one. One soul bound to the craft of magic, the other to the wildness of the wolf. Balanced. Powerful. But vulnerable to corruption. And once turned, a Bloodseer becomes the perfect servant of darkness.” Her voice held both strength and sorrow. For all her wisdom, there was weight behind every word—weight that had settled into her bones from carrying the burden of truth for far too long. Her gaze drifted across the room, landing briefly on Kora, then Ronan, and finally me. “That is why I remain hidden,” she continued. “I'd rather die righteous than live twisted. But these people…” she gestured subtly to the villagers gathered in the shadows, “they need me. So I walk a thin edge.”I swallowed hard, the scent of smoke and ancient herbs thick in the cavern air. The fir
THOREN The girl’s name was Elianna. A quiet strength pulsed in her steps as she led us deeper into the woods, through a narrow trail flanked by thick underbrush and twisting roots that reached like hands from the forest floor. The silence of the village had followed us, replaced now by the occasional crackle of twigs and the distant hoot of an owl, despite the sun still shining overhead. Ronan walked close, eyes scanning the shadows. Elias brought up the rear, her steps light but cautious, her hand never far from the hilt of her dagger. The rest of our warriors followed closely behind. Eventually, Elianna paused in front of a large outcropping of moss-covered stone. She placed her hand on its surface, whispering something in a tongue I didn’t recognize. The stone shimmered, then split down the center with a soft groan, revealing a narrow entrance, just large enough for one person at a time to slip through. "After you," she said, offering a small smile. Inside, the passage wa
THOREN The dirt path that led away from Grimhowl wound like a lazy river through the thick woodland, eventually opening up to reveal a sight that should’ve brought comfort—quaint homes, flowering vines curling over wooden fences, laundry lines swaying gently in the breeze. But as we stepped past the old stone sign that marked the village of Enoménos, unease settled heavily over my shoulders. It was too quiet. Not the peaceful kind of quiet, the kind you find in a small village taking an afternoon nap. No birds, no dogs barking in the distance, no chatter of children or clang of pots in kitchens. Just... nothing. Ronan, walking beside me, scanned the rooftops with narrowed eyes. His fingers flexed at his sides, brushing the hilt of his blade. “This place is dead,” he muttered.“No,” Elias said behind us, his voice low. “It’s not dead. It’s hiding.” He wasn’t wrong. The village wasn’t destroyed. There were no signs of struggle—no broken doors, no burn marks or blood on t
CAIUSI stood near the edge of the dining hall, leaning slightly against one of the carved wooden beams, my arms folded across my chest. Around me, the low hum of conversation continued—tearful reunions, long-overdue laughter, names spoken with awe and reverence. But I only had eyes for her.Lira.She was glowing in a way I hadn’t seen before. There was a joy on her face so radiant, so fiercely pure, that even Fenrir stirred inside me, watching her through my eyes with silentreverence. I felt it—the happiness that surged through her like warm spring water after a long frost. A daughter was finally reunited with her mother. A family mended after years of silence and pain.And yet, underneath that joy, I felt her sorrow too. A quiet grief pulsed in her chest, one that clung to the edges of her smile. Her heart ached for Deanna, for Elowen, for the twenty years robbed from them. Lira’s empathy ran so deep that it swallowed everything. The walls of her heart had never been built to keep