The night was cold and silence was everywhere. I Ronan just stood still in the center of the room as he faced the spy that was sent to Derek’s mansion.The spy leaned casually against a rickety table, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his unease. “She’s growing stronger,” he reported. “I don’t think the manipulation is holding the way it used to. She’s starting to question things.”Ronan’s face twisted with irritation. “I know. I felt it the moment she fought back in her dream. She saw me. Not fully—but enough to shake the illusion.”The spy narrowed his eyes. “You said she was just a weakling. A pawn. If she’s breaking free—”“She is,” Ronan cut in, voice low and sharp. “But let’s not pretend she was ever my target. That girl—Diva—was never meant to survive this.”The spy said nothing, watching Ronan closely.“She was just a tool,” Ronan continued, pacing slowly. “A cursed thread in the bond between her and Derek. That fool had everything—power, loyalty, the title—and he r
The grand hall of the pack house buzzed with murmurs and thick tension. Warriors stood in rigid rows, elders sat with unreadable expressions, and the rest of the pack filled the space with anticipation. They hadn’t seen Alpha Derek like this in a while—not since the Luna was chosen.When he finally appeared at the head of the hall, flanked by guards, the entire room fell silent. His towering frame radiated power. His jaw was tight, eyes cold, and posture demanding authority.“I’m not here to beg,” Derek’s voice sliced through the silence. “And I don’t owe anyone an explanation.”Murmurs stirred again, but his next glare silenced them.“I chose to be absent the day the Luna was introduced. That was my decision. If you have a problem with it, take it up with me directly.”One of the elders, a graying man named Warren, rose. “Alpha, with all due respect… how can we accept a Luna who cowers in corners and can't even shift properly? You’ve always demanded strength. Why lower the standard n
The grand hall was filled up with tension. Derek just stood in front of them with his jaw tight. The Alpha's aura was overwhelming, his authority pounding upon the pack like a tidal wave. Even the strongest among them could not even dare to stir into Derek's eyes. Diva just stood at his side with her hands clasped tightly in front of her.Though she had spoken boldly just moments ago, the silence that followed had been deafening. Now, everyone waited for Derek—the Alpha—to speak.He didn’t look at her. Not even once.When Derek finally stepped forward, his boots echoed heavily against the stone floor. His gaze swept over the room like a predator surveying prey."Enough," he said coldly. The single word sliced through the room. "I’ve heard enough whispers. Enough mockery. Enough disrespect."He paused, letting his words settle in their bones. "From this moment forward, anyone who dares to speak against my Luna will face consequences. If I hear a word—just one word—mocking or belittling
The sun started its slow descent, creating long shadows across the clearing where the practice area met the woods. The wooden training sword she held felt heavier than it did an hour before. Still, she stayed with determined look as all her focus was fixed on Caleb.“Let's go again,” she said with an authoritative voice. Caleb stopped for a minute as he placed his hands on his waist. "Are you certain?" It was six rounds. "I'm quite certain I sensed my shoulder click in the final one." “Once more,” she reiterated, not diverting her gaze. With a weary grin and a defeated nod, he lifted his sword and advanced toward her. The sound of wood striking wood resonated in the clearing as they advanced, quick and purposeful. Caleb was powerful and talented—but Diva was unyielding. She evaded a hit, pivoted down, and knocked his legs out from beneath him. He landed on the ground with a sigh. "Don't let me upset you again next time," he said quietly, massaging his back. Diva didn’t smile. She
The sun has not yet risen for the day as it was still early in the morning when Kieran stood at the edge of the northern boundary with his eyes looking left and right to see if anyone was coming. He kept glancing over his shoulder, anxious yet composed. No sentries patrolled this stretch of the forest wall; he’d made sure of that by altering the patrol schedule earlier in the week. Everything was lining up perfectly.A shadow emerged from the tree line—quick, quiet, lethal. The rogue. He was lean, sinewy, his coat dusted with ash to dim the silver of his fur. Kieran raised a clawed hand, and the rogue halted just beyond the clearing."You're late," Kieran said under his breath, glancing toward the towering den-lodge in the distance."You changed the meeting time twice," the rogue replied, voice cold and rasping. "I don't like games."Kieran’s lips curved into a half-smile. "Neither does Ronan. So don’t screw this up."He stepped aside, revealing a narrow breach in the stone barrier. T
The rogue lunged, a blur of black and steel slicing through the stillness. His blade whistled through the air, aimed for her throat. Diva twisted low, the knife grazing her ear, drawing the first blood.She didn’t flinch.With a snarl, she kicked the small stool near her foot toward him. It cracked against his shin, throwing him off balance for just a second—long enough for her to strike. Her claws extended mid-swing, slicing across his chest. He hissed, staggered, then regained footing with unnatural speed."You’re quicker than I was told," he growled, circling her, one blade reversed in his palm, the other spinning lightly between his fingers. His voice was calm, too calm for a predator stalking his kill.Diva’s breathing slowed. Her body moved on instinct now. Every muscle remembered Caleb’s teachings. Every step, every breath felt like it belonged to someone far older, far deadlier.She whispered under her breath, "He taught me well."He charged again, blades aimed in a deadly cro
The rogue lay crumpled against the far wall, his limbs twisted unnaturally, the cold gleam of his blade dulled by failure. Shards of a shattered mirror glittered across the floor like fallen stars. The scent of scorched air, blood, and something unearthly still hung in the room. Diva stood in the center, her bare feet planted firmly into the cracked wooden floor, her breath ragged but steady. Her hands—still curled into claws—trembled slightly. Not with fear. With power still humming in her veins.She hadn’t just survived. She’d won.The door burst open.Derek stormed in like a thunderbolt, sword drawn, eyes wide and wild, his shirt half-buttoned, the left sleeve still soaked from rain. “Diva!”He froze.His gaze collided with the wreckage. Then the body. Then her.She looked over her shoulder at him, her face smeared with blood, her eyes distant—like she hadn’t fully come back yet.“Are you okay?” His voice cracked, part awe, part confusion, part something deeper.“I had it handled,”
Diva walked briskly through the stone corridors, her feet moving before her mind could catch up. The scent of iron still clung to her hands, and even though she’d cleaned her blade, she could feel the ghost of blood on her fingers. Her body was sore, her muscles humming with tension and the aftershocks of power she still didn’t fully understand.Caleb was waiting in the courtyard beneath the old ash tree, where the moonlight spilled like silver over his furrowed brow. His arms were crossed, but as soon as he saw Diva, his expression softened with concern. He stepped forward, scanning her from head to toe."You’re hurt," he said."Not badly," she replied, her voice lower than usual. Her eyes held something new. Not just strength—but fury, restrained like a dam about to break.Caleb led her to a nearby bench carved from rough stone. He crouched before her, inspecting the scratch on her shoulder and the faint bruises blossoming along her jaw."What happened?" he asked.Diva exhaled. “One
The wind cut through the trees like a whisper full of teeth.Diva stood in silence, her breath shallow, eyes lingering on the blood-stained threshold they had just stepped over. The Seer was dead—murdered. The shadows that loomed around the edges of the forest felt like they were crawling closer, feeding off the fear and the unknown.Derek didn’t move at first. He just stared at the empty hut, his expression unreadable. But something shifted in his posture—a stillness that only came before instinct sharpened to a blade.“We’re not leaving yet,” he said.Diva looked at him, confused. “Why? You said we needed to get out in case someone returns.”“I know. But something’s not right. This isn’t just a hit-and-run. It feels… intentional. Clean. Too clean.” His eyes swept across the clearing, then narrowed toward the corner of the wooden frame near the door.He crouched suddenly, brushing his fingers against the stone at the base of the door. A loose tile shifted beneath his touch, revealing
Diva walked briskly through the stone corridors, her feet moving before her mind could catch up. The scent of iron still clung to her hands, and even though she’d cleaned her blade, she could feel the ghost of blood on her fingers. Her body was sore, her muscles humming with tension and the aftershocks of power she still didn’t fully understand.Caleb was waiting in the courtyard beneath the old ash tree, where the moonlight spilled like silver over his furrowed brow. His arms were crossed, but as soon as he saw Diva, his expression softened with concern. He stepped forward, scanning her from head to toe."You’re hurt," he said."Not badly," she replied, her voice lower than usual. Her eyes held something new. Not just strength—but fury, restrained like a dam about to break.Caleb led her to a nearby bench carved from rough stone. He crouched before her, inspecting the scratch on her shoulder and the faint bruises blossoming along her jaw."What happened?" he asked.Diva exhaled. “One
The rogue lay crumpled against the far wall, his limbs twisted unnaturally, the cold gleam of his blade dulled by failure. Shards of a shattered mirror glittered across the floor like fallen stars. The scent of scorched air, blood, and something unearthly still hung in the room. Diva stood in the center, her bare feet planted firmly into the cracked wooden floor, her breath ragged but steady. Her hands—still curled into claws—trembled slightly. Not with fear. With power still humming in her veins.She hadn’t just survived. She’d won.The door burst open.Derek stormed in like a thunderbolt, sword drawn, eyes wide and wild, his shirt half-buttoned, the left sleeve still soaked from rain. “Diva!”He froze.His gaze collided with the wreckage. Then the body. Then her.She looked over her shoulder at him, her face smeared with blood, her eyes distant—like she hadn’t fully come back yet.“Are you okay?” His voice cracked, part awe, part confusion, part something deeper.“I had it handled,”
The rogue lunged, a blur of black and steel slicing through the stillness. His blade whistled through the air, aimed for her throat. Diva twisted low, the knife grazing her ear, drawing the first blood.She didn’t flinch.With a snarl, she kicked the small stool near her foot toward him. It cracked against his shin, throwing him off balance for just a second—long enough for her to strike. Her claws extended mid-swing, slicing across his chest. He hissed, staggered, then regained footing with unnatural speed."You’re quicker than I was told," he growled, circling her, one blade reversed in his palm, the other spinning lightly between his fingers. His voice was calm, too calm for a predator stalking his kill.Diva’s breathing slowed. Her body moved on instinct now. Every muscle remembered Caleb’s teachings. Every step, every breath felt like it belonged to someone far older, far deadlier.She whispered under her breath, "He taught me well."He charged again, blades aimed in a deadly cro
The sun has not yet risen for the day as it was still early in the morning when Kieran stood at the edge of the northern boundary with his eyes looking left and right to see if anyone was coming. He kept glancing over his shoulder, anxious yet composed. No sentries patrolled this stretch of the forest wall; he’d made sure of that by altering the patrol schedule earlier in the week. Everything was lining up perfectly.A shadow emerged from the tree line—quick, quiet, lethal. The rogue. He was lean, sinewy, his coat dusted with ash to dim the silver of his fur. Kieran raised a clawed hand, and the rogue halted just beyond the clearing."You're late," Kieran said under his breath, glancing toward the towering den-lodge in the distance."You changed the meeting time twice," the rogue replied, voice cold and rasping. "I don't like games."Kieran’s lips curved into a half-smile. "Neither does Ronan. So don’t screw this up."He stepped aside, revealing a narrow breach in the stone barrier. T
The sun started its slow descent, creating long shadows across the clearing where the practice area met the woods. The wooden training sword she held felt heavier than it did an hour before. Still, she stayed with determined look as all her focus was fixed on Caleb.“Let's go again,” she said with an authoritative voice. Caleb stopped for a minute as he placed his hands on his waist. "Are you certain?" It was six rounds. "I'm quite certain I sensed my shoulder click in the final one." “Once more,” she reiterated, not diverting her gaze. With a weary grin and a defeated nod, he lifted his sword and advanced toward her. The sound of wood striking wood resonated in the clearing as they advanced, quick and purposeful. Caleb was powerful and talented—but Diva was unyielding. She evaded a hit, pivoted down, and knocked his legs out from beneath him. He landed on the ground with a sigh. "Don't let me upset you again next time," he said quietly, massaging his back. Diva didn’t smile. She
The grand hall was filled up with tension. Derek just stood in front of them with his jaw tight. The Alpha's aura was overwhelming, his authority pounding upon the pack like a tidal wave. Even the strongest among them could not even dare to stir into Derek's eyes. Diva just stood at his side with her hands clasped tightly in front of her.Though she had spoken boldly just moments ago, the silence that followed had been deafening. Now, everyone waited for Derek—the Alpha—to speak.He didn’t look at her. Not even once.When Derek finally stepped forward, his boots echoed heavily against the stone floor. His gaze swept over the room like a predator surveying prey."Enough," he said coldly. The single word sliced through the room. "I’ve heard enough whispers. Enough mockery. Enough disrespect."He paused, letting his words settle in their bones. "From this moment forward, anyone who dares to speak against my Luna will face consequences. If I hear a word—just one word—mocking or belittling
The grand hall of the pack house buzzed with murmurs and thick tension. Warriors stood in rigid rows, elders sat with unreadable expressions, and the rest of the pack filled the space with anticipation. They hadn’t seen Alpha Derek like this in a while—not since the Luna was chosen.When he finally appeared at the head of the hall, flanked by guards, the entire room fell silent. His towering frame radiated power. His jaw was tight, eyes cold, and posture demanding authority.“I’m not here to beg,” Derek’s voice sliced through the silence. “And I don’t owe anyone an explanation.”Murmurs stirred again, but his next glare silenced them.“I chose to be absent the day the Luna was introduced. That was my decision. If you have a problem with it, take it up with me directly.”One of the elders, a graying man named Warren, rose. “Alpha, with all due respect… how can we accept a Luna who cowers in corners and can't even shift properly? You’ve always demanded strength. Why lower the standard n
The night was cold and silence was everywhere. I Ronan just stood still in the center of the room as he faced the spy that was sent to Derek’s mansion.The spy leaned casually against a rickety table, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his unease. “She’s growing stronger,” he reported. “I don’t think the manipulation is holding the way it used to. She’s starting to question things.”Ronan’s face twisted with irritation. “I know. I felt it the moment she fought back in her dream. She saw me. Not fully—but enough to shake the illusion.”The spy narrowed his eyes. “You said she was just a weakling. A pawn. If she’s breaking free—”“She is,” Ronan cut in, voice low and sharp. “But let’s not pretend she was ever my target. That girl—Diva—was never meant to survive this.”The spy said nothing, watching Ronan closely.“She was just a tool,” Ronan continued, pacing slowly. “A cursed thread in the bond between her and Derek. That fool had everything—power, loyalty, the title—and he r