The air was thick with silence, heavy and oppressive.Derek's fists were balled at his sides, his knuckles white from the tightness of his grip. His wolf stirred, restless beneath his skin. Ronan was not dead.The thought seared him like a knife to the heart.Diva sat stiffly on the bed, her breathing shaky, her hands curled into fists in the blanket as if anchoring herself. The flush of her cheeks had receded, leaving her pale and tawny-looking, her lips compressed together.Kieran drew a hard breath, breaking the silence. "If Ronan's alive, he's not coming back as a ghost." His voice was low, controlled. But there was tension in his shoulders, a nervousness in his stance that Derek resented.Diva's voice, gentle but authoritative, interrupted the moment. "Then how?"Derek gazed at the dead body of the rogue on the ground. The son of a bitch had died with a smile on his face. That alone made Derek's rage boil."We should have burned him," he snarled, the words venomous.Diva flinched
The air that night was thick with tension.Derek's eyes were fixed on the dark shape standing at the edge of the forest, his muscles coiled like a spring ready to unwind. The sight of Ronan, alive, stirred up a fierce turmoil inside him. His wolf growled, a low, throaty sound that resonated in his chest.Diva was beside him, her breathing in ragged gasps, her fists curled into the wood of the balcony railing. The moon cast a faint light on her face, highlighting the fear in her dilated eyes.Beneath the fear, however,Something else was there.Anger.Ronan didn't move. He simply stood there, looking at them, the same sadistic smile on his mouth. A silent taunt. A promise of destruction.Derek could not abide by it.He turned sharply, storming down the steps, his body humming with adrenaline. His pack warriors had already gathered below, their eyes glowing in the darkness, waiting for his command.Kieran appeared at his side, his voice low but urgent. “Derek, don’t rush into this.”Der
The world was transformed.When Ronan was transformed, the world was reformed.The field of battle, where wolves once ran crimson with blood, was now smaller, stifled by his mere presence. Dark energy tendrils encircled his monstrous form, his colossal frame no longer wolf, but something much more terrifying. His eyes, red-rimmed with an unnatural light, held Derek's gaze.Derek felt it—the strangely power radiating from him, thick as smoke, filling his lungs, clawing at his skin. His instincts screamed at him to flee, to strike, but for the first time in years a flicker of doubt intruded.Diva receded, breathing in harsh spasms. Something was wrong near Ronan, the very fabric of reality seeming to distort.But Derek had no time to hesitate.Ever. Now.With a snarl, he burst forward, claws raking against Ronan's throat.Faster. Leathal. Precise.But Ronan was faster.Much faster.A dark smear—then pain.A brutal blow to the ribs sent Derek crashing.He slammed into the trunk of a tree
The battlefield still smelled of blood. Ash and death clung to the air like a sickness, thick and suffocating. But Derek barely noticed it.His lungs burned, his ribs throbbed, and the deep gash across his chest still leaked blood. But all of that was nothing compared to the storm raging inside him.Ronan was gone.Not dead. Not defeated.Gone.And that terrified him more than anything.Diva stood a few feet away, frozen in place. The way Ronan had looked at her—the way he had spoken—those words clawed at Derek’s mind."So that’s what you are."Derek turned toward her, his breath unsteady. “Diva.”She didn’t answer.She was trembling. Her hands clenched into fists, her nails digging into her palms, but she didn’t seem to notice.Derek reached for her. “Diva, talk to me—”“Don’t,” she whispered. Her voice was raw, broken. “I— I don’t know what just happened.”But she did.Derek could see it in her eyes. She was scared. Of herself.His chest tightened.“Whatever that was, we’ll figure i
A shiver ran down Diva’s spine.Soren inhaled sharply, his body going rigid.Isolde’s gaze flickered to him, amused. “You smell it too, don’t you? That power in her blood?”Soren said nothing.Diva’s pulse thundered in her ears.Isolde took a slow step forward. “Ronan was right.” Her voice was almost reverent. “You’re something else.”Derek growled. “Back off.”Isolde barely spared him a glance. “And you,” she said, voice laced with mock pity. “Poor Alpha. Always fighting. Always protecting.” Her eyes gleamed. “Always losing.”Derek’s growl deepened.Diva forced herself to breathe. “What do you want?”Isolde’s lips curved.“Your blood.”The words were soft. Deadly.The wolves behind Soren tensed.Diva’s blood ran cold. “Why?”Isolde sighed, almost bored. “Because, darling, your blood is the key.” Her smile sharpened. “To everything.”Derek moved in an instant.A blur of motion.Claws slashing—But Isolde was faster.She dodged, spinning with unnatural grace, her cloak billowing as she
The night air felt heavier than before, thick with something unnatural.Diva’s mind raced."You are not meant to exist."The creature’s words echoed in her skull, rattling her bones.What did it mean?What was she?She shook her head, forcing herself to focus. Now wasn’t the time to break.They had three days before Isolde came for her.Three days to find answers.Three days to survive.Derek exhaled sharply, his hand tight on her wrist. “We need to move.”Soren was already ahead, his expression unreadable, but there was no hostility anymore. Whatever doubts he had about Diva, the creature’s sudden arrival had shaken him too.Diva’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as they ran through the trees.She tried to keep up, but something inside her felt wrong.Like something inside her was stirring.Like something inside her was waking up.Then—A howl split the silence.Not a wolf’s.Something worse.Derek stopped abruptly, throwing his arm in front of her. Soren unsheathed his dagger, his sho
Diva’s breath hitched.Ronan’s smile was slow, cruel.“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said again, his voice a quiet promise of destruction.Derek stepped forward, his body rigid with fury. “You shouldn’t be here.”Ronan only chuckled, his sharp gaze never leaving Diva.“Don’t you want to know the truth, little one?” he asked, tilting his head.Diva’s stomach clenched.She didn’t trust him.She didn’t want to hear him.But deep down—She needed to know.The creatures had feared her.Why?Derek growled. “You have three seconds to leave before I rip your throat out.”Ronan’s expression didn’t change. “You won’t,” he murmured. “Not when she still has questions. Not when she knows something inside her is… wrong.”Diva flinched.He was right.Something was wrong.Something had always been wrong.And Ronan knew why.Derek turned to her, his golden eyes desperate. “Don’t listen to him, Diva.”But she already was.She took a step forward, her voice low. “Tell me.”Derek stiffened. “Diva—”“I n
Diva ran. The field was a charnel house of corpses and shattered weapons, air thick with the stench of blood and burning earth. Her lungs burned, muscles shrieking for respite, but she didn't stop. She couldn't. Not as long as Derek fought on. Not as long as Ronan lived. Her feet were barely touching the ground as she wove through the carnage, leaping over fallen warriors, sidestepping puddles of crimson. The air above spun in a demented whirl of dark skies, charged with something not natural. Then— A glint of motion. Diva hardly had time to respond when something slammed into her, driving her to the earth. The impact rattled her bones, stole her breath. Pain flared, but she fought through it, scrambling up to hands and knees, already preparing to shift if necessary. Then she saw him. A tall, unmoving figure towered over her, his face hidden under a deep hood. Shadows clung to him like living things, as if they knew him as their own. Diva's instincts screamed danger. She sc
They left the forest behind, though it hung on their heels in every nightmare. The world was lighter—the curse was undone—but Diva and Derek walked in darkness. Their coming together was strained, and every look held the anguish of what they'd lost. Farmers bowed their heads in silent thanks. Children smiled when they saw any troops who had protected them. Life continued.That night, camped by a lake, Eamon appeared at Diva. "There is a city devastated, far to the east—Arknor. There is a relic there that has the power to restore bonds torn apart by darkness. You and Derek will go there."Diva's heart jumped. Eamon nodded. "But you will not go alone."Derek's eyes snapped up. "I'm going.""No," Eamon shook his head. "This relic is dangerous. You two will not be together when you go in and retrieve it."Diva stared at him in horror. "Why?"Eamon's eyes were compassionate. "Because it demands unity of purpose. Not of heart. If you are bound by love, the relic will refuse you."Derek's f
They rode hard.The woods darkened. The sky chilled. Magic writhed awry.Half-way through, they were ambushed.Not by soldiers. By illusions. Memories embodied.Diva battled her mother's ghost. Weeping. Bleeding. Accusing."You let your sister die. You chased your pride."Derek saw his former pack. Their deaths. Their screams.Eamon relived the fight he lost to save his temple.Each memory warped their ability. Pulled on old wounds.But Diva clenched her fists. "This isn’t real."She flung raw truth outward. Light from her core.The illusions shattered.---At the edge of the northern pass stood the ruins of a forgotten city. Smoke curled from its towers. Shadows roamed its streets.And on a throne of bones, Ronan sat.Older. Scarred. Smiling."Welcome, children," he said. "Come to see your god?"Diva stepped forward. "You’re no god. You’re a coward hiding behind lies.""Lies?" he laughed. "No, girl. I gave your world meaning. Without me, you're nothing but beasts chasing after the mo
Suddenly, a thundery roar resounded out from inside the earth, and the floor beneath their feet shook. Slivers of stone spattered every way across the ground, and an eyeburn-ing light flared out out of the abyss before them, so that they protected their faces with their arms. From the light stepped a figure shrouded in darkness, its form rippling and flowing like smoke. Diva's breath stopped in her throat as the figure advanced, and a face familiar yet strange burst out. "Liora," she breathed, horror and astonishment mingling in her voice. The figure snarled, her eyes burning with malice. "Surprised to see me, sister?" Diva's head spun trying to understand the impossible. Liora had been consumed by the darkness, submerged by the same force that they fought against today. Yet here she was before them, upright, fiercer and deadlier than she ever was. "You would have stayed hidden if you'd kept your distance," Diva snarled, her voice holding strong above the chaos raging within. "W
The council chamber trembled with the weight of silence. Weapons were drawn, and the flickering truth-flame cast eerie shadows across the faces of the gathered leaders. In the doorway stood the woman who wore Diva’s face like a mask—a reflection twisted by darkness, a mirror to her light.Liora.Diva stepped forward, her heart pounding against her ribs like a war drum. She searched the woman’s features for some sign of doubt, of remorse, of shared memory. But there was none.Only cold triumph."How are you alive?" Diva asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Liora tilted her head with mock curiosity. "Alive? No, sister. I was never given the chance to live. You were chosen. I was cast aside. But the shadows welcomed me. They nurtured what the light rejected.” "She was a stillborn," Lady Mira murmured behind Diva. "The midwives said the second child was lost.""Not lost," Liora replied, her smile chilling. "Given. Offered. A sacrifice to the old powers that slumber beneath this world
The atmosphere in the cave was filled with an odd energy, the pieces of light glowing gently around Diva. Her fingers trembled as she placed a touch on each piece of light, memories flooding into her head—moments of loss, sacrifice, and love. Every piece of light pulsed with a portion of her own soul, bridging her past and future. "The enemy won't wait."Eamon nodded gravely."There are still pieces that must be found. Each is essential to the ritual. Without them, we stand no chance against the darkness."They stepped out of the cavern, the first light of day sending long shadows over the ground. The keep was abuzz with preparation, warriors hurrying to prepare for the upcoming wars. Diva's pride swelled with fear; they were eager to fight, but at a high price.When they walked along the corridors, the groundquake shook their feet. Screams were heard as if from behind the east wall. Diva and Derek exchanged glances before they sprinted in the direction they came from.They careened i
Diva's heart thudded in her ears as she sprinted through the broken gate of the devastated courtyard. Dawn light fought through the dark clouds to cast a deserted battlefield strewn in chaos. Wolves—her loyal pack—poured rapidly around her, their eyes blazing with determination, but in their trail, a wire of tension crackled like lightning. Every step echoed with the urgency of a last stand. Abruptly, without precursor, a low, rasping bellow shredded the air. From ruin and wreckage, the foe appeared—faces twisted by shadow and terror. In this instant, Diva seized her sword in white-knuckled resolve. She rushed forward like a flood, fluid and untamed in action. Her cry, tempered from sheer will, rang out, "For the light and for our future!" The voice itself was a vow that the very darkness looming could not consume. Derek, bloody and marred but with the flame of a true Alpha still burning fierce inside him, stood beside her. His battle-worn eyes blazed like a guardian's whenever they c
The eyes of Diva flew wide as war disappeared into heavy silence. She shuddered in released energy everywhere she looked out over Chapter 83's field of war. The walls of the fortress reverberated with the din of old wars, and broken stone at every splintered pillar reverberated with the history of pain and suffering. But here in the heavy stillness, another noise erupted—a thudding, pounding boom out of the depths of darkness. Her own heart boomed like a mad drum as she moved ahead, her bare feet squelching through rain-sodden passage. Memory of betrayal surrounded her, of hope betrayed that still smoldered beneath. For every step there was the wordless cry of rage and fierce hope that had driven her this far.His resolute and confident eyes now sparkled with uncertainty. She could feel the unspoken anguish from his eyes—a mix of frustration and helplessness—as if their mutual burden of fate had finally begun to break him from the pretence. Each spasm of the enemy lurking in the darkne
Diva closed her eyes and breathed. The process was agonizing—a flood of memories, loss, grief, images, and love threatened to overwhelm her. She wept, the anguish running through her like an arrow. With each tear she wept, something else retreated into hiding. Finally, her heart and spirit opened to show a seething, raw energy that ran through her, full to brimming from the depths within. As she opened her eyes, they glowed with focus and determination. "I am ready to fight for our future," she murmured. As if on cue, the war horns of the enemy rang in the distance. The pack was getting ready to make one final push. Time was short. Diva stepped into the room, moving with slow determination. Derek stood waiting, his gaze sweeping hers with a silent vow and a fear. For a moment, as the initial light of morning sliced through darkness, their union stood whole and unbroken amidst all the earlier trials. "Both of us," Derek whispered, voice soft and obstinate. "Together," she repeated once
Diva's heels pounded the wet road as she rushed down the winding corridors of the citadel. The bewildering events of last night still echoed with every inhalation. She was driven by bitter betrayal and fear of an uncertain tomorrow. Chapter 81's cryptic warning haunted her—the ominous warning that success earned with blood and toil was vulnerable and shadows clung only at an arm's distance. Behind her, the ferocity of battle receded into the distant, persistent hum—a reminder that there were still threats out there, waiting just beyond reach. Her heart racing in her chest, she gripped her sword tightly, every step the result of raw desperation. The pack had regrouped after the last attack, but suspicion and wariness seethed beneath their hides. Every wolf's eye showed the tension, the underlying fear of the unseen threat. Diva's mind remembered Derek's wretched, desperate face as he had promised to live. His heart-rending voice which had once given them a future now was besmirched