LOGINAdrian crossed the final stretch between the outer district and Frostveil Castle in a series of tremendous leaps. His entire focus remained fixed upon the woman resting quietly in his arms. The mask had long since been removed from her face, allowing him to see her clearly.At some point during the short journey to the castle, Estelle's shoulders had stopped trembling. The tears that had stained her cheeks had dried beneath the relentless wind, but her eyelashes were still damp.Judging by the slow, steady rhythm of her breathing, she had fallen asleep.The battle had drained her far more than he had initially realized. Both her body and mind had been put under great strain, and now exhaustion had wore her down, pulling her to sleep.Her face rested against his chest while one hand remained loosely clenched around his clothing. Even in sleep, she had not let go of him.Adrian's cold eyes scrutinized Estelle's face.This was the very woman who had once sought to kill him. The same defi
The massive black wolf leading Frostveil's forces abruptly slowed.Behind him, hundreds of werewolves followed suit. Snow exploded beneath their paws as they skidded across the frozen plains, carving deep trenches into the frozen ground.The wolf leaped and shifted mid air. It dark fur receded and it's size shrank. Moments later, a man landed upon the snow in human form. His pale blue eyes immediately swept across the snowy plains.Then his steps slowed down.The sight before Adrian wasn't what he had expected when he came rushing back from the south. When the deadly battle with the rogue werewolves had neared it's conclusion, the remainder of them had gleefully told Adrian that they were just a decoy and Frostveil was currently under siege. This made Adrian almost lose control on the spot. After mercilessly finishing them off, he and his pack had rushed back in futile hopes of making back in time. He had concluded that whoever was attempting to raid Frostveil when he was away would
A deafening boom rang out across the battlefield as a Beta crashed violently into the snow. Moments later, another warrior was hurled through the air before slamming into a tree hard enough to knock him unconscious on impact.Minutes passed, accompanied by an endless chorus of pained grunts, breaking wood, and bodies crashing into the frozen landscape.Near the western gates, the Frostveilian soldiers stood rooted to the spot in stunned disbelief. These were men and women who had marched here fully prepared to lay down their lives defending their home, yet none of them could believe what they were witnessing.A single woman was holding back an entire invasion force by herself.No.Holding back was the wrong phrase.She was effortlessly destroying them.One after another, Silvervale's warriors were sent crashing into the snow, trees, and even their own comrades.The werewolves fell, No matter how many charged her, the outcome remained unchanged.The battlefield had become a spectacle of
“ Remember, our objective is simple.”Near Frostveil's western border, a tall werewolf marched at the head of the formation. His voice carried effortlessly across the snow-covered plains, reaching every warrior behind him.“ Inflict as much damage upon Frostveil as possible.”A cruel smile spread across his face.“ Burn what you can. Destroy what you cannot take. And if an opportunity presents itself...” His eyes gleamed with malice. “ Bring back as many women and children as possible. Perhaps even Frostveil's new Luna... if she's here, that is.”"Understood, sir!"The surrounding Betas answered in unison, their voices echoing across the frozen landscape. That last part hadn't been included in the official mission, but Darius had secretly instructed them to do it if the opportunity arose.“ Good. Another grim reminder.... We have at most forty minutes before Frostveil's main forces return."The leading Alpha's grin widened.“ Perhaps if one of the women we bring back catches Lord Dari
Estelle stood frozen like a statue. A bitter feeling rose within her chest, spreading through her like poison.The wolves she had grown up with and the same wolves who had bled beside her.She should have been happy to see the pack that belonged to the place she once called home.Yet as she stared at the approaching force, she felt nothing resembling relief or joy. If she were to describe what she felt, it would be something close to numbness. The sight that should have filled her with familiarity left a hollow ache lingering deep inside her chest instead.The silver cloaks fluttering in the wind. The insignias she had spent her entire life revering...All of it felt distant and unfamiliar, As though she were looking upon fragments of a life that no longer belonged to her.For a brief moment, memories surfaced.The camaraderie she felt as she crouched low along with her pack as they stalked prey.Victory celebrations that stretched long into the night. The countless missions she had u
“ Take me to the roof. There's something I want to inspect there.” Darnon's gaze lingered on her briefly. This was the first time Estelle had ordered him. Maybe she noticed something? He bowed slightly. “ As you wish.” The two of them moved through the castle without another word. The higher they climbed, the quieter everything became. The heartbeats of servants slowly became distant. The steady breathing of the guards faded. Only the distant howl of the wind remained. Several minutes later, they emerged onto the highest section of the castle. They were greeted with the cold air that brushed past the rooftop. The castle's rooftop was a masterpiece of dark and formidable architecture. Several towers rose from different sections of the fortress, their obsidian bodies stretching toward the heavens like black sentinels standing eternal watch over Frostveil. Some were broad and imposing, while others were slender and elegant, connected by elevated walkways and narrow ston
Estelle remembered that day. Her mother had come to her in the dead of night during a storm. With her whole body covered with injuries, her clothes torn, her eyes puffy from crying. Estelle couldn't remember what she had said, nor could she really remember her features. But she couldn't forget th
' Ah...' Estelle couldn't describe what she was feeling right now. For several seconds she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t think, she couldn’t do anything except but feel. To feel the warmth. She was in a catatonic state. Her brain was going through a meltdown. And for a moment, she forgot that
Estelle sat alone in the huge dining hall. Each bite felt mechanical. Her eyes were slightly unfocused as if her mind was elsewhere. And it was. Despite her attempts not to think of it, what happened this morning kept appearing in her head. The memory of his fingers tenderly caressing her
His left hand came to rest against the wall beside her head, sealing her last path of escape. Slowly, his thumb brushed her lower lip. Not rough. Not hurried. Just deliberate enough to make her skin burn. “Don’t touch me, Adrian!” She snarled. The corner of his mouth lifted. However it wasn’t







