LOGINThe day moved on, but the patrol incident lingered like a quiet hum through the pack grounds. Whispers followed Veyra as she walked some curious, some wary, some slowly tipping into something like respect. Saving one of their own spoke louder than any excuse she had given before.
But not everyone was ready to soften.
Later that afternoon, Damien called Korven to his office. Papers were scattered across his desk border maps, reports of rogue movement, and a few notes from the sco
Selene was standing by the window when it hit her.One moment, she was watching the last traces of sunset bleed beyond the treeline. The next, a blade of pure agony sliced through her abdomen so sudden, so sharp, that her breath caught and her knees buckled.She caught herself on the windowsill, knuckles white against the stone.The pain flared for only a heartbeat. Maybe two. Then it receded, leaving behind a strange, hollow warmth that pulsed low in her belly.But before she could even process what had happened, the energy came.It erupted from somewhere deep inside her ancient, vast, and entirely beyond her control. A shockwave of raw power exploded outward, tearing through the walls of the pack house, across the training grounds, into the forest beyond. It didn't crash like thunder. It swept silent, absolute, and suffocating.Across Shadowfang territory, wolves stopped mid-stride.A young warrior collapsed to his knees, gasping as the pressure pressed down on his chest like a moun
The shift in the atmosphere was not a sudden storm, but a slow, encroaching fog.By morning, the everywhere felt different. Selene stood on the balcony of her chambers, watching the changing of the guard. Usually, it was a quiet. Now, the warriors moved with a stiffness. There were more of them. Many more.A soft knock at the door pulled her from her observations. Liora slipped inside, carrying a tray of honeyed tea and sliced fruit, but her usual bright chatter was replaced by a strained smile.“You’re up early,” Liora noted, setting the tray down.“Hard not to be,” Selene replied, gesturing toward the courtyard. “It looks like we’re preparing for an invasion. Did something happen at the borders last night? Damien mentioned some rogue activity.”Liora hesitated, her fingers fumbling with the edge of her tunic. “Just precautions, Selene”Selene watched her friend closely. Liora was a terrible liar; she had a habit of looking at her boots when she was holding back. “Liora, look at me.”
The heavy oak door clicked shut, the sound echoing like a gavel in the silence of the office. Korven stood by the entrance, his intuition already screaming. He had seen Damien in every state furious, grieving, triumphant but he had never seen him look this focused.“Sit,” Damien commanded, not looking up from the holographic map flickering on his desk.“Yes sir,” Korven replied, his voice level. “What’s happened?”Damien finally looked up. “What is said in this room does not leave it. Not to the Council, not to the pack, and for now not to Liora. Do I have your word?”Korven stiffened, but he nodded. “Always.”“Veyra confessed,” Damien began, the words dropping like stones. He detailed her admission: the years of jealousy, the secret pacts with the Witch Queen and the Rogue King, and the blood on her hands.Korven’s hand moved instinctively toward the dagger at his belt. “And she’s still breathing? Alpha Damien, she’s a viper. If she’s admitted to treason, the only protocol is executi
The air between them felt heavy and stagnant. Unsaid words hung between them like specters. "I've got something to tell you," they both whispered at the same time. Their sentences crashed against each other in the small space that separated their bodies. Seconds of shocked silence passed before they both stuttered “Wait, you go first.” This time Damien let out a low chuckle and Selene’s lips curved into a tired smile. The tense chill between them finally broke as easily as the dawn had chased away the night."After you, Selene. Ladies first," Damien murmured, his voice dropping to that familiar, comforting rumble. “I’ll wait.” Selene nodded, slowly pulling herself down onto the armchair. Unlike her usual grace, she moved differently. Lifting one hand to her stomach she paused, hesitating for only a moment before pressing her palm firmly against her belly. “Damien remember when we spoke?” she asked slowly, tracing circles over her fingers. “About the future? We said that when
The Shadowfang pack was not doing well at all, people were tired and suspiciousDamien stood by the high window of the war room, a parchment clutched in his hand. His expression was as cold as the stone beneath his boots.Selene approached him, her footsteps silent. “You’ve been staring at that report for ten minutes, Damien.”“I know.” He didn't look at her.“What does it say?”“That Veyra passed through the west passage twice this morning,” he said, his voice a flat monotone. “And my watchers say she lingered near the old storage wing. Again”Selene’s brow furrowed. “That isn't proof of treason. It’s barely proof of curiosity.”“No,” Damien agreed, finally folding the report. “It is not.”“But?”“But she keeps making moves that only make sense if you’re looking for a shadow,” h
Morning broke over Shadowfang in shades of bruised grey, and nothing about the light felt clean.The sky was a pale, sickly wash of color, and the air carried a bite that went deeper than the skin. Wolves moved through the courtyard with hushed steps, their voices low murmurs that seemed to amplify the uneasy silence. Some watched the gates, others watched the treeline. Most were watching each other. The trust that usually bound the pack together had begun to fray at the edges, worn thin by grief and the scent of a hidden enemy.Veyra stood near the mouth of the inner hall, her arms folded tight against her chest. She was trying and failing not to think about the mark on her neck.She could feel it pulsing.It wasn't just a physical sensation; it was an anchor. Every breath she drew reminded her of the silver light and the weight of Malric’s hands. Every time she swallowed, the phantom pressure of his teeth seemed to bloom again. And worst of all, e
The ridge was behind me, but the cold still clung to my bones. My fingers ached, and the ache in my legs was a deep, throbbing thing that promised I’d feel every step tomorrow.We entered the camp just as the sun had cleared the treetops. A few wolves were already up, hauling
The bruises had spread overnight.By morning, my body looked like a canvas painted in shades of violet, blue, and a sickly yellow. My ribs ached with every breath, my arms were stiff, and even the act of lacing my boots was an exercise. I’d slept little sleep neve
Moonlight poured across the stone balconies of silvermoon, painting everything in pale silver and shadow. Guards stood like statues along the perimeter. Torches burned low. Even the wind seemed cautious when passing through these grounds, as if it understood whose territory this was.Inside one of
Shadowfang PackMorning sunlight filtered softly through the canopy of the large ancient tree, creating dappled patterns across the clearing. The air smelled faintly of pine and earth, warm in the sun but still carrying the coolness of the night before. For the first time in weeks, there were no ur







