MasukDravenFor minutes nothing made sense as I stared at Zuri standing a few meters behind this man in front of me…holding Lior while he slept was over her shoulders. My mind refused to catch up, refused to believe and accept what my eyes were seeing.Rein slipped from my grip, stumbling back with a faint smile like none of this concerned him, “My master will be with you shortly.”But I didn’t hear the rest as he walked away. I couldn’t hear or see anything else because I was looking at her…really looking at Zuri.A warrior I’d trusted. One I would send into fire without hesitation because I knew she’d come back. The person other than Kael that had my entire trust. “Is this some sick joke?” I hear Kael. Elara moved beside me, anger spilling from her like I'd never seen before. She could barely restrain it, “Did you put a sleeping spell on my child?” she demanded.Zuri shrugged casually like this was a normal situation, “That was Volkava’s idea. Not mine.”Something inside me snapped ti
ElaraBy the time we reached Blood Moon territory, the world had gone silent. Cold air clung to my skin, sharp and biting as each breath I took burned faintly as frost laced the ground beneath our boots. I thought Ironfang was cold but here it was much colder. Fog rolled low across the earth, thick enough to blur distance but not enough to hide the path ahead.The moon rose high above. No one spoke a word. Only the sound of armor brushing and boots pressing in formation into the earth. I took silent breaths as I tried to focus my mind. As we got closer I could see the entirety of the Bloodmoon pack. It was huge and quiet.Not one warrior or monster creature from Volkava. It was like we were approaching a pack who had no idea we were coming but it was impossible to not see hundreds leaning in thousands of warriors approaching.Draven slowed, then stopped. We stopped at the gates, his voice cutting through the silence, “Stay alert. Eyes everywhere,” he said. He didn’t yell. He didn’t
ElaraThe march began in silence. Armor shifted. Boots pressed into earth in a steady rhythm. Breath hung faintly in the cold air as Ironfang warriors moved as one focused, sharpened, and ready.Wives, mothers and loved ones watched as we departed. I wondered what my mother was doing right now. Half a day’s ride.That’s all that stood between us and Volkava’s impending war.I stayed close to him enough to feel him. He adjusted my fur and held my hands. Even when he didn’t look at me, even when his attention was fixed ahead—I felt him through the bond, through something deeper now… something that pulsed faintly under my skin like a second heartbeat.This feeling was much stronger. And it wasn’t just me.“Where is she?” Draven’s voice cut through the quiet like a blade as warriors lined up in formation ready to set out. “Where is the CSO? Where’s Zuri?” He snapped.Warriors kept looking at themselves then Zuri rushed forward quickly, adjusting her armor and hair.“I’m here, Alpha,” she
ElaraThe castle felt different. Like everything inside Ironfang had narrowed into a single purpose.A pending war with Volkava.Mateo had already left for Thornshade with Anton to prepare the Thornshade forces. Mateo and Draven agreed to meet at the Blood Moon pack border. The air between them had become bearable and a little lighter.Anton roughed my hair before they left. He was proud of me, I knew that. Draven barely rested. The man was all over the place, the war room, the courtyard, the training grounds looking through weapons…basically anywhere plans could be drawn and redrawn.“Where’s Zuri?” Draven yelled. “She’s not here,” one of the men replied.Which reminded me that ever since my Luna ceremony, Zuri is hardly ever around. I know she can’t stand me but she is a war strategist and is very much needed for this meeting “Someone get her,” Draven yelled.“Is he always like this?” I asked Kael who’s no less been up and about following and giving orders.“Yes, he is. He’s abou
DravenI felt… light.It was the only word for it.Not physically light—my body very much ached, every muscle, bruises forming and fading as my wolf worked to heal me.But inside?Something had shifted. Something heavy had finally loosened its grip.Mateo had always been a formidable opponent.That for sure hadn’t changed and If anything, this fight proved it.But this wasn’t about strength. A quiet knock interrupted my thoughts as Elara pokes her head in, stepping in with a damp cloth in hand, her expression calm, focused—but her eyes…there was something in them.Her green eyes were brighter.“Sit still,” she said softly as she approached me. I didn’t argue. She moved closer, lifting the cloth to my face.The first touch stung but I didn’t flinch. I just stared at this amazing woman in front of me.“I’m going to clean this first,” she murmured. “Then… this might hurt.”My brow lifted slightly, “Oh?”She met his gaze briefly and smiled. There was a spark. An excitement.Realization s
ElaraDraven’s fist connected with Mateo’s jaw— BAM.The sound was a sickening crack that echoed through the entire hall.“Fuck!” Anton said. I heard his inner growl. I expected it. It’s hard to watch your Alpha get struck. But I give him a ‘don’t you dare interfere’ look.Mateo’s head snapped to the side, his body staggering from the intensity of the punch but he didn’t fall. He absorbed it.Classic Mateo.Draven didn’t wait. He went in for another punch—fast and brutal. I could literally hear fist and bone connecting.Mateo barely recovered in time, the third blow grazing past his face by an inch as he twisted away. His breath came sharp, controlled and then he struck back.His fist collided with Draven’s ribs—hard. A dull, heavy thud that I felt in my own chest.My wolf winced.But Draven didn’t flinch, he didn’t stop either. He was like an animal possessed. And Mateo knew he was going to have to fight him. They moved like predators…fast, vicious, unrelenting.Another hit. Another
ElaraI hit the ground—hard.Again.For the ninth time.“Ouch!”My back met the earth with a sound that sounded like I’d crack something.“I think I broke a bone.” I grunted as I stared up at the sky, blinking against the sun, and seriously considered staying there forever.“Well, on the bright sid
DravenThe earth closed over me with much violence as fog thickened everywhere.I landed on solid ground, my boots sank slightly into damp soil, the air thick and unmoving. Above me, roots twisted like ribs, arching into a hollow chamber lit by a dim, colorless glow.I straightened slowly, I didn’t
ElaraThe fog moved first, sliding low across the forest floor before coiling around our boots and then rising in thin, before clearing. We were in another part of the vale.The air thickened with a damp, metallic taste that settled on my tongue. Twigs start curling up our hands.These are hollowed
ElaraLior’s screaming tore me out of the deepest parts of my sleep. The red rash on his collarbone was back and worse, it had spread. I pick him up but he’s thrashing about. So, I did the one thing that came to mind— I cast a sleeping spell and he in a few minutes, he’d fallen asleep.I breathed







