“Have you forgotten you were the one who denied her in front of the entire pack? Took a new mate and had her banished from the pack!” a voice countered.“It was for the pack! I did it for the unity of the pack!” he argued, trying to convince himself.“Deal with it then!”-The voice disappeared.Alexa got up and started pacing the room. “She’s hiding in that small village.” She muttered.“We will have to smoke her out then.” She said, the idea igniting a smile conclusively that as her final decision on this matter.Thane was quiet but he didn’t like the idea. “Did you have the book in sight?” he asked the soldiers instead.“No Alpha, but we believe she’s still in custody of it.” They responded.“Good. Until we decide on what next to do, don’t breath a word of these to anyone!” He instructed.Alexa turned to him, her jaw dropped slightly at his pronouncement. What could be his reason for keeping this a secret?The soldiers bowed once more and saluted, making their way out. The metal door
“Thinking about your unfaithful mate?” said the voice as it made a turn and sat beside me.I let out a huge sigh of relief and suddenly calmness eroded my soul.I turned to the person now sitting beside me. ‘Cara!’I suddenly remembered what she did for me. “I’m sorry I never got to thank you for breaking the spell.” I said with a polite smile.“Yeah… I heard you can finally wield your wolf.” She said looking distant.“Nia, right?” she turned to me. “Your wolf.” She asked.“Yeah.” I replied with a nod, a little shy.“How does it feel to finally grow into her under a full moon without any hindrance?” she looked at me with a smirk.“It feels great, it’s something I can’t really explain.” I said.Cara nodded. “That’s great.” She paused, continuing afterwards. “Now one part is over, what’s left for you to do is harness the magical powers handed down to you from your bloodline.” She added.I was quiet. “The aurora’s seal right?” I asked. “That’s what is needed to help me harness my powers.
“You howl beautifully, Mira.” He said while coming towards me and I lowered my gaze shyly. “Thank you.” I blushed.“Alright.” Cara cleared her throat, interrupting the building chemistry between us.“I’ll be on my way now, catch you two later.” She winked and I more than anything wanted to protest and swear on my mother’s grave that there’s nothing going between us let alone be couples but she trotted away before I had the chance to speak.We watched her brown wolf disappear into the woods Luca emerged from.I sighed and looked at the moon, our attention fell on each other again after she went out of sight.“Didn’t know you could howl so well.” Luca said circling me.I exhaled sharply. “I too was surprised at how good I howled.” I shrugged. “I guess they are things I’m still discovering about me.” “You’re indeed a book worth a read.” He commented. “So what brought you out here?” he asked. “Nothing… just wanted to be a lone wolf for a while, playing with my thoughts but Cara didn’t
“And so when everything was calmer, my mom and I scavenged through the forest helplessly until we found this village. It became our home.” He narrated.“We were happy to see people like us here.” He exhaled sharply. “Apparently most of them shared the same fate, casted away, rejected, unwanted folks and no matter our differences. We have learnt to stay in unity and peace for as long as I can remember.” He narrated.Tears gathered in my eyes and I felt their pain. Imagine if I didn’t have anywhere else to go or if he hadn’t rescued me from Thane’s men. What would have been my fate?Perhaps, one day I will read about the founders of this village or probably I could get someone to tell me about its history and then I would write it down in a book so everyone else who comes into this village would know how it became and appreciate those who had come together to make sure the outcasts have a place in the world.“Sorry about that, Luca. You and your mother have been through so much together
I couldn’t help the laughter that erupted through my lungs but I had to look ahead and focus on the race before me.I did my best to out run him but he still had a way to catch up with me. He slowed down and was now running at my own speed.“Who’s about to be the loser now, aye?” he raised a brow and sneered at me.I panted heavily, trying to catch my breath but I didn’t stop running. I laughed and shook my head, he wasn’t even putting half the effort I was putting in this race.For a kiss? That’s not gonna hurt, is it?It’s nothing, it's just a kiss. You can totally rest and catch your breath.Thoughts of giving up to catch my breath were more spontaneous than the thought of winning.“No!” I shook it off. “I won’t give up!” I muttered, building up courage, I increased my strides and fudged ahead.He was surprised at my sudden zeal and determination as I went five times more than my current speed. It so amazed him that he trotted behind while he watched me girdle up ahead.I only stop
Where exactly in Thane’s pack was this seal?My mind started searching every nook and cranny of the library wondering if I had mistakenly seen it around and then I recalled vividly.In the midst of the growing love between Thane and I, he had shown me something. Something he claimed was a heritage to his pack and had been kept safe since they had possession of it.Silence cut through like a sword. “Its okay!” Della sighed, her words cutting through my thoughts. She got on her feet. “Since you’re one of us now,” She started. “You will have to undergo training in order to be able to survive here and protect our village against intruders.” She announced.She turned to leave but suddenly halted and turned to me. “Perhaps you could learn to fight like a warrior or learn to wield your powers.” She ended and continued walking towards her bedroom.I and Luca exchanged glances but didn’t say a word. Luca left the room, and now it was just I and Cara left.She too left eventually and I was b
“So you think people who would hurt you would heal you of your wounds?” I questioned.He looked at himself that moment and oddly remembered that all his injuries were gone and scar free.“I didn’t check anything. All I wanted to do was get to safety.” He replied. His words seemed honest but I wouldn’t know for sure.My eyes squinted as I looked at him intently. There was something off about him—something familiar.“What’s your name?” I tried again, this time more friendlier.The man hesitated at first, then he gulped and exhaled. “Nathan.” He answered.“Alright, Nathan.” Luca took over. “Why were you sneaking off in the middle of the night? If you wanted to know where you were, you would have waited until morning to talk to someone.” He questioned.Nathan hesitated again, his eyes landing on me for a brief moment before looking away. “Because I don’t trust any of you.” He replied.Luca scoffed. “You don’t trust us? Even after we found you wounded in the woods, brought you here and tre
Nathan clenched his jaw as his eyes darted between Della and the rest of us. He inhaled deeply before answering, his voice clothed with frustration. "I woke up in an unfamiliar place, okay? I didn’t know what to do, I didn't know if I was safe or not. So yes, I tried to leave.""You tried to leave.” Luca scoffed, shaking his head.Nathan shrugged despite his bounds.Della examined him for a long while, her countenance was blank and unreadable. Then, she sighed sharply and turned to me. "Mira, you seemed interested in what he had to say. What was he telling you?"I hesitated. How could I explain it? How could I explain that the moment he said he knew my parents, a storm was stirred inside me? That for the first time in a long time, I felt like I was on the verge of understanding who I was."He told me he knew my parents," I admitted, my voice almost a whisper.Della’s eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained composed. "And you believed him?"Luca scoffed. "Of course, she shouldn’t, th
Nathan laughed—a cold laugh. “You call this power? This is you selling your soul for a taste!”“ENOUGH!” Alexa’s voice boomed, the ground trembling as magic pulsed from her.“I've had enough of this pep talk with you.” She said, “Enough stalling!”“Now back to what I really came for and if you try to stop me again, then I promise you, I won't play nice.” she threatened."I don't bloody care!!" He growled and lodged at her with great speed but she already saw him coming.She stretched her hand, exuding dark violent fumes at her fingertips... she held him in a still bubble mid air and with a twist of a finger, she crushed all the bones in his body, all his joints went cracking, torn—all in a single bend of the finger.My heart sank.Nathan growled in pain under such torment and when she finally released him. He fell to the ground, a loud and heavy thud. It got the earth shaking and vibrating for a second."Nathan!” I yelled and ran to him. I didn't want to lose anyone else tonight.Ale
She groaned, her lungs gasping for air as she looked at me, water trailing off the corner of her eyes. She stammered…blood oozing from the side of her lips. “Mira…” I heard her say in a low whisper.“Guard the seal!” she said, “Safe… keep the seal. Luca, keep him—” she sighed, releasing the last air before her eyes rolled to the back of her head, closing shut and just like that, she was gone.I screamed in pain, clinging her body to my chest tightly. I cried uncontrollably.Luca heard me scream and turned to look, it was then he realized it was his mother. He saw me crying over her with her body in my arms.He was traumatized and weak, his sword slipped through his hands and fell to the ground and that’s when the enemy army overpowered him.I didn’t realize I was screaming until my throat burned yet I couldn't stop.“Mira!” a voice called in a loud whisper. “Let’s get out of here!” “Do you want to get killed out here?” it reprimanded. “Follow me, I know a way out!.” He added, eyes
“Mum…” I protested, gasping for air and freedom. She loosened her grip and apologized, planting a soft kiss on my forehead.I loved it—I loved hugs, I loved being in her arms—but something about today felt different.It felt like a goodbye.I was scared.She took me to my father. He came closer and stayed in front of us while she carried me in her arms. He looked at me with worried eyes.“My princess,” he said, as he fondly called me, pressing his forehead unto mine. “I love you.” he muttered.I smiled and held his face playfully, pulling his blonde hair. "Ouch!” He feigned a look and chuckled, but there was something about his laughter.It wasn’t excitement. It wasn't free, it wasn't wholesome. It was bitterness laced with something else.Something deeper.“What’s going on daddy? Mummy?” I asked, sensing the tension between the two of them. They exchanged glances—a look that said more than words could ever—then mother broke down in tears. She collapsed into father’s arms, sobbing
Luca returned, armor strapped, sword in hand. He went to Della’s side. “What now?”“I’m going to try to reinforce the barrier,” she said. “But we’ll need time. If she breaks through before I finish... there will be no hiding anymore. We will have to fight back! Protect Mira with all you have. She is our only hope for redemption.” She instructed.Luca gave a nod. He turned to me, “I told you before. Stay behind me.” I gave a sharp nod like my life depended on it.He held my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.We have no idea what was going to come after now but this was war.Back at the center of the village, Cara rallied the others—warriors, magicians, even those who had long forgotten how to fight.They all knew: the end of hiding meant the beginning of war.I stood between Luca and Della, my heart out in my palms. A thousand thoughts swirled in my mind, but one thing was clear. My presence here had brought the threat to our doorstep. I couldn’t run anymore.“Della,” I said, my voice
His toned chest was likened to that of an athlete, the water trailing down his sculpted form. I imagined my hands brushing over his torso, my lips kissing off the wetness—desire.Suddenly, I seemed to forget how to breathe.Goodness, he’s beautiful! I gasped between breaths, biting my lower lip unconsciously.“Mira!” he snapped his fingers in her face, voice sharp and weighty.I blinked hard, caught red-handed in my daze. “Yes!” I replied quickly, my voice soft barely a whisper—too soft, like a submissive partner.He paused, his jaw tightened. He held a breath and closed his eyes, groaning inside, trying to bade away the thoughts, his well built flesh responding to me, hardening. His body responded to my eyes, too well—but now wasn’t the time.He left me, else he might just lose his mind and lose control. He ran to get himself cleaned and got dressed.He turned, running a hand through his wet hair, trying to banish the rising heat. He needed control. He needed to banish the thoughts
Alexa narrowed her eyes, lips pressing into a thin line. This chase was growing tedious. She refused to let it spiral into a game of chance, going round in circles because of a powerless girl. It was time to shift tactics.She raised both of her hands. Dark, shadowy energy began to swirl between her fingers like a round ball, forming a massive orb of glowing violet flames, black and unstable, thrumming with menace. She whispered incantations, low and incomprehensive. They escaped her lips, ancient and intelligible, not meant for mortal ears.The orb hurled with sharp thrust towards the forest.It streaked violently across the sky, leaving behind a glowing trail of destruction, it came down quickly and tore through the trees as it homed in on its target—guided by magic, rage, and a name etched into it's very soul:Mira.As the violent trail of energy scorched through the forest, carving a burning path through it. Trees bent and splintered in its fury, animals fled, and even the wind s
“Let me see your wounds,” I said, reaching for the towel on a flab beside the tub and a small jar of healing herbal ointment I found there as well, he must've kept them there to use them on himself. He lifted his arm first—scratches, a gash on his side, purple bruises forming along his ribs and collarbone. I bit the inside of my cheek as I gently dabbed at the injuries, cleaning them with care.Then his back.“You know,” I said quietly, focusing on the gash near his shoulder blade, “you didn’t have to fight him because of me. I was already going to stop talking to him. Besides…we are just friends. I bet he fought you to spur you.” I didn't know when I chuckled to myself.A spark of frustration flickered in his tired blue eyes as he turned his head to look at me.“You don’t see what I see, Mira,” he said in a hush whisper. “He was slowly winning your heart. I couldn’t just wait around and watch that happen.”I sighed, pausing for a second before resuming with the ointment. “No. But y
She said the words I so much dreaded, and my heart stopped."Luca and Nathan are fighting over you!” She blurted out.“What?” I half yelled in surprise. “Why?” I asked.She shrugged, “I don’t know—I bet over who should be your mate!” She replied.“Oh my god!” I exclaimed, feeling so ashamed on their behalf. I lunged myself into any outfit I saw. “Where?” I asked, ready to go.“By the clearing, hurry!” she yelled, snapping her fingers at me and I jumped into a coat and a boot and headed out with her dragging me along.“Calm down, Cara.” I begged but she heard none of it.We pushed through a crowd of ready watchers and my eyes dilated when I saw them, my jaw dropped and I could only use my hands to cover them.“Stoppppp!” I yelled. My voice thundering across the clearing like a wounded kitten. Snow flurried around me, my eyes glowing with disappointment and shame.The air crackled, they both turned to me. Neither of them moved for a moment. Then—slowly, their hands dropped away from e
I looked away and exhaled softly, "Doesn't matter what I want, I just want peace. I don't want any trouble.” I spoke, putting myself in an innocent position. I was indeed innocent, I didn’t have to be dragged into their boyish fight.“Okay.” he nodded slowly and turned to go.I stood still, winter chills brushing over my skin, my chest began to tighten with unspoken words. “Nathan…” warm air escaped my lips.I could tell he was hurt, by me? Or Luca’s new orders.I was the only person he was close to since being brought here and even I was pushing him away now.He didn’t look back. He just walked into the midst of the field and kept going, his shoulders a little hunched, like he was carrying a heavy load .Where was he going?I had no ideaBut the way he moved—the way he didn’t even glance back at me—told me he wasn’t okay. He was deeply hurt.Probably he would confront Luca.Or maybe… something else was stirring inside him.*NARRATOR The sky burned orange against a steel-gray horiz