A Wolf Turned Against MeDerek stood before me.But it wasn’t him anymore.His red eyes glowed like embers in the dim light, his stance rigid, unnatural. This wasn’t my mate. This was something else—something Ronan had twisted him into.“Derek,” I whispered.He smirked. Not his smirk.Ronan’s.“Diva,” he murmured. “You still think you can save him?”I clenched my fists. I had to.I took a slow step forward. “Derek, fight it. I know you’re still in there.”His smirk didn’t waver. “He’s gone, Diva.”“No.” My voice wavered, but I refused to believe him. “You’re lying.”I reached for him—And he struck.His claws sliced through the air, barely missing my face as I leapt back.The wind howled around us.My mate—the man I loved—was trying to kill me.But I refused to accept it.Derek lunged, moving faster than I’d ever seen.I barely reacted in time before he slammed me into a tree, the impact knocking the air from my lungs.His claws pressed against my throat.He leaned in, voice barely a
The Effects of the CurseThe world came back into view.I gasped in air, lungs burning, as I dropped to my knees.The darkness disappeared. The curse disappeared.But Derek—Panic struck me full-force as I spun around to him. He lay on the floor, too still.Too still."Non—" I scrambled to his side, my hands on his chest. Warm-skinned, but his breathing was weak, faltering.And then, finally—his golden eyes snapped open.I was hit by relief so powerfully that I came close to tears."You did it," he whispered in a voice almost inaudible.I laid my hands on his face, and they were trembling. "We did it."Our bond hummed between us, stronger than ever. Whatever Ronan had attempted to enforce between us—whatever darkness had bound Derek—it was severed.But something was wrong.A chill, icy dread twisted through me.This wasn't complete.Ronan's RevengeA roar tore through the darkness.I spun around as Ronan emerged from the shadows.He was—twisted.The curse hadn't killed him. It had dev
A Storm is BrewingThe battle with Ronan was over.But the war was far from being won.Derek and I stood in the aftermath, the weight of what still had to be done bearing down on my chest.We weren't safe. Not yet.The Blackfang Pack was still under the control of those who wanted Derek dead.And now, with Ronan dead, a power vacuum had opened up—one that would be filled by us… or worse.Derek turned to talk to me over his shoulder, his golden eyes slicing. "We have to leave. Now."I nodded, my body throbbing in pain. There was no time to lose.If we didn't move, the Blackfang Pack would disintegrate.And disintegration would breed war.A Dangerous HomecomingWe ran through the woods, our strides rapid, stealthy. The Blackfang Pack's den was close by.Derek's pack.My pack.I once had been the weakest wolf in their pack. Barely tolerated. Downgraded.But now?Now, I wasn't weak.Now, I was the mate of the rightful Alpha.And I was ready to fight for my position.As we reached the land
Diva’s POVA low, menacing growl rumbled through the air.The new Alpha stepped forward, his piercing gaze locking onto Derek. His presence was oppressive, like the weight of a storm just before it breaks.I didn’t know his name.But I knew one thing.He was dangerous.Derek stood his ground, even as blood dripped from his wounds. “Who are you?” His voice was steady, unwavering.The Alpha smirked. “I am Magnus. And I’m here to claim what you’ve lost.”Alec chuckled beside him, arms crossed like he had already won. “You see, Derek, ruling a pack isn’t just about brute strength. It takes strategy. Something you’ve always lacked.”Derek’s fists clenched. “You allied with an outsider?”Alec shrugged. “Call it an alliance. Call it a takeover. The Blackfang Pack needs a leader. A strong one. And Magnus has proven himself worthy.”I stepped forward, my pulse hammering. “You mean you sold your own pack for power.”Alec turned his gaze on me, smirking. “Diva Crest. The weak little wolf who som
Diva’s POVThe night was cold, the forest darker than I remembered. But my blood burned with anger.We had lost everything.Our pack. Our home. Our power.And it was my fault.Because I wasn’t strong enough.Because Magnus—that monster—had sensed something in me. Something I didn’t understand.But I would.I had to.Derek stood a few feet away, speaking in hushed tones with Jax. His body was tense, his muscles rigid with barely contained fury.He was planning. Plotting revenge.I wanted revenge, too.But first, I needed answers.I took a breath and stepped toward them. “We can’t fight Magnus without knowing what he is.”Jax nodded. “I have a contact. A rogue who deals in information. If anyone knows Magnus’s origins, it’s him.”Derek’s golden eyes flickered with hesitation. He hated trusting outsiders.But we had no choice.“Fine,” Derek growled. “Where do we find him?”Jax exhaled. “Shadowfen.”A tense silence fell between us.Shadowfen.The land of rogues and exiles. A place where n
Diva's POVThe temple loomed before me, ancient and crumbling, eaten by time.Its now-twisted remains were once grand pillars, its walls split by age.But the power—The power remained.Thick in the air, coiling around my skin, whispering on the wind.Ancient. Forbidden. Waiting.I shivered, my fists curling into my palms.Jax shifted uncomfortably beside me. "This doesn't feel. right."Derek's grip around my waist tightened. He hated this plan. Hated that I was walking into the unknown—aloner."There has to be another way," he snarled.I swallowed hard. "There isn't."The rogue's words echoed in my head.You are the only one who can break Magnus's blood oath.That meant this trial was mine.I stood before Derek, my heart racing. "I'll come back."His jaw flexed. "I should go with you."I shook my head. "This is my test. If I fail…"My throat tightened. "Then I was never supposed to win this war."His golden eyes blazed, a storm brewing inside them.But he didn't stop me.Instead, he
Diva's POVThe storm raged outside, tearing through the streets of Houndway like a loose beast.Lightning sliced across the sky, illuminating the Blackfang manor in strobing shadows. Thunder boomed behind it, causing the stone walls to shake as I gripped the glass at the window.Rain streamed down the glass, reflecting the chaos inside me.Derek had left hours earlier to hunt Ronan's spies.He hadn't returned.A black knot roiled in my stomach.Something was not right.I spun from the window, scanning the vast room.The fire in the hearth had burned low, casting long, dancing shadows across the stone floors. The silence was heavy, thick and oppressive.Then—A gust of wind howled through the room.My breath caught.The doors were locked. No one is here.Then I smelled it.Blood.A metallic, bitter odor in the air.I spun suddenly—just as something emerged out of the darkness.Tall. Cloaked.Not Blackfang.Ronan's.---The AssassinMy heart was pounding, every muscle clenching as I bac
Diva's POVWind screamed around us as we ran, our bodies a blur among the trees.My lungs tore with every gasp of breath, every step sending a jolt of agony through my ribs. I didn't stop.I couldn't.Derek kept pace beside me, his face contorted in fury, his footsteps thudding against the earth.Then—Smoke.A heavy, dark pillar of ash and flame curled above the Blackfang estate, stretching into the night sky lit by the moon.No.My gut clenched.No, no, no.The stone walls burned with flames.Screams rent the darkness.We had arrived too late.Derek's roar cut through the stillness, naked with rage, sorrow, and vengeance.Our warriors followed, their snarls merging with the destruction in front of them.Ronan had brought war.And we were going to bring it to an end.---The Battle for BlackfangWe burst into the fight, a flurry of fur, steel, and fury.Blackfang gates were down.Wolves tore at each other, the wind acrid with smoke and blood.A warrior came at me—too fast.Instinct o
The relic was gone.Derek looked at the shattered pieces of the obsidian box, its jagged rim catching a faint glint from the fading light. It had once vibrated with promise. Now, it vibrated with nothing. Mira was standing next to him, her hand against his arm in a shaking motion. She didn't say anything. There was nothing to say.The silence after the storm was always so loud.They stood within the clearing where it had begun—or ended. The wind shifted oddly, bringing with it the scent of ash and something far older.Eamon knelt at the perimeter of the shattered circle, eyes closed, lips moving in the darkness. Prayers to gods they no longer wanted to believe in. Behind him, the surviving warriors of the old alliance stood silent ranks. Bruised, battered, broken—but not bent."She's gone," Derek finally breathed.No, Mira whispered, her voice shaking. "Not gone. Changed."The words hung in the air like a query no one knew how to respond.---It had all transpired so suddenly. One mom
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