MasukNyra VirellionI’ve never seen anyone take rejection as well as Oryndor Blackveil did. He simply walked back to his room and told me his family was coming to visit. He had no idea how he was going to explain everything to his parents.After talking with him, I started to piece it together—his feelings for me must have been what made him pull back during the final Trial. He hadn’t wanted to look down on me by retreating from the challenge; he was trying to show how much he cared. And I’d gone and blamed him for being a bad sport without knowing any of that. What a mess.These past few days had been nothing but sleepless nights and constant restlessness. I desperately needed a break from all of it.I was just about to flop onto the bed when a soft knock sounded at the door. I groaned under my breath but dragged myself over anyway. It had to be important.“Hi!” Beta Raelor greeted me with his usual cheerful grin.“Hello! What’s up?” I replied, remembering he preferred things casual now.
NyraYeah, Oryndor had been looking for me. There wasn’t anyone else around here he’d be searching for. We both knew that.“Hey,” I said, walking up to him. He spun around quickly.“Hi! I was looking for you,” he started, but then his eyes suddenly narrowed. I had no idea why he’d gone quiet and was staring at me like that.‘He must have caught Vaerith’s scent on you, Nyra. Quick, distract him!’ Vaelyra urged inside my head. My eyes widened. Of course he could smell Vaerith on me. But how was I supposed to distract him?Ah!“I’m so happy I got what I wanted, Oryndor. By the way… I’m leaving the palace tomorrow. Beta Dravok needs me back. There are some important trades happening in the pack and I..”“Nyra, it’s been really sweet being friends with you. But somewhere along the way, I’ve grown more than a little attached,” Oryndor cut me off. I tilted my head, confused.“What… what do you mean? I don’t think I understand”“Nyra…” Suddenly he gently pushed me back into my own room. I sta
NyraThe lunch went smoother than I’d expected. The elders kept turning to me for my thoughts on different matters. Beta Dravok, who had pulled me into a tight hug the moment I reached the table, sat right beside me. Being the interim alpha must be weighing on him he’d lost quite a bit of weight.“Alpha Nyra, you know you’ll have some major decisions to make once you return to the pack, right?” Beta Dravok asked.“And when do you think you’ll be coming back?” another elder followed up.I just shrugged. My eyes drifted subtly toward Alpha Vaerith at the head of the table.“Well… I still need a little time to wrap things up here,” I said. “I’ve grown attached to a few things the training grounds, the gym, some of the contestants and workers. I want to close this chapter properly before I leave. If I’m allowed to stay a few more days, that is.” I pointed lightly at Alpha Vaerith.He swallowed, gracefully wiped the corners of his mouth, and replied, “Of course. All alphas and their people
Nyra VirellionAs soon as I got back to the palace, they told me no one could see me until I’d freshened up and been properly groomed. Groomed? The word threw me off.“Oh, it’s just a short quarantine thing, Fangborn—uh, Virellion,” Captain Kaelrith Mavros explained.“Quarantine!?” I blurted out.“Yeah, don’t freak out. There might be viruses or whatever from outside, and the elders are dead set on you getting a full medical check first.”“Ridiculous…”“I get why you’re not exactly their biggest fan now. Still, better safe than sorry.” He gave my shoulder a pat and left. I just hoped he wouldn’t catch any of the “viruses” I might’ve dragged back from the Ice Glaciers.I was heading to my room when a group of healers and their assistants stopped me. They were all smiling brightly, and I managed a tired smile back.“We’ve been asked to help with your bath and examination, Alpha Nyra Virellion.”“Oh… that’s okay, I can handle it myself. I really need to—”“Alpha Vaerith insists we assist
Nyra VirellionThe people who’d been watching me fight through the whole night finally rose from their seats.For the first time, the elders looked genuinely surprised. Everyone else could barely believe what they’d just seen. Almost three hours earlier, right before the pickup, I’d unlocked the most powerful energy my kind could possess. I’d finally gained my wolf.“…Alpha Vaerith. Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” Oryndor Blackveil stared at me through the globe, eyes wide. I’d already tossed the beast’s head far away just to be safe. I didn’t want the basilisk thinking it had won and going after the werebear’s head.“Yes…”Alpha Vaerith smiled. It was just as unexpected for him as it was for me. My wolf had awakened.‘Looks like we have to tell her, Vaerith,’ Tharok said in his head.‘When the time is right, we will. Until then, we need to be careful around everyone here especially the one who still can’t believe what he just witnessed.’ As he spoke, Oryndor and Vaerith turned to lo
Nyra“Hello, Nyra Virellion…It’s nice to meet you, finally.”I gasped so loudly it startled the wolf.Wolf?The reflection staring back at me was a magnificent brown wolf with a snowy white underbelly, strong, well-built, and breathtaking. I was looking at her.“Whoa…”So the out-of-body thing had shoved me straight into my wolf’s body? And her voice… it sounded downright divine.‘Thank you for saying that, Nyra.’“YOU CAN HEAR ME!?” I yelled out loud.The wolf let out a soft chuckle that definitely didn’t sound like any animal I’d ever heard.‘I’ll explain more later, Nyra. For now, just know my name is Vaelyra.’My eyes widened.Vaelyra.Such a beautiful name.“I’m glad to have you, Vaelyra. Are we seeing the same thing?” I asked as we lifted our heads toward the massive creature ready to tear us apart.‘You don’t have to speak out loud, you know? We’re connected in our headspace. Now let me show you what we can really do.’“Whoa!”Vaelyra sprang back onto solid ground and charged
~Vaerith~On the surface, I looked calm, but inside I was furious. Marrok’s words had me ready to burn the whole world down for the woman who had cried so bitterly in front of me. Her saying I was the reason for her tears cut deep deeper than I wanted to admit. Still, in the back of my mind, I knew
No… this isn’t how any of this was supposed to end.I’m burning for justice, but there’s no one left standing with me. It’s just me now my own strength, and at the same time, my own worst weakness. There has to be a way to bring him down. There has to.Zephyros… you absolute scumbag.*KNOCK KNOCK K
The thunder was crashing hard, like the sky itself was splitting open. Every boom rattled me to my core, and I shook like a damn leaf. Beta Dravok the steadiest, most level-headed one of all of us sounded completely rattled as he reached me through the mind link, and that alone made my stomach drop
Nyra’s POVThe thump of loud music hit me even from a distance. In the glittering heart of Vegas, where humans and werewolves lived side by side, everyone had gathered for what was easily the biggest event of the year.It was my birthday bash.My name is Nyra Virellion, the only daughter of my fath







