Mag-log inElaraThe implication hung thick in the air. Draven let out a short, humorless breath, “It’s why the both of you suit each other.”That landed and I saw Zuri’s hurt face. But Volkava’s smile thinned, “He wasn’t even sorry. I confronted him and he said he’d loved her the moment he saw her hanging in that tree," his words dripping with venom now. “But he didn’t want to tell me about it and justified stealing her by saying the moon goddess had favored them and made them for each other,” he laughed bitterly. “The bastard.”“Watch your tongue, Uncle Erik.” Draven said, but one of the creatures hit him hard, he coughs a little.“Stop it!” I yelled. “I watched them,” he said. “I watched them fall in love.” His voice grew quieter, “watched them build a life together. For nine years, I carried my brother’s betrayal and watched him have a perfect family with the woman I loved.” He paused, “And then… they had you…”Draven didn’t react or move. “I couldn’t take it anymore. At one point, when y
ElaraRethan—The Devourer Alpha. That was what this man who we knew as Volkava who turns out to be Draven’s uncle called him.What is happening right now?Silence didn’t fall. It crashed over us. Draven couldn’t move or breathe. He didn’t even blink. It was like the world had stopped—and he had been left behind in it.“…Uncle Erik.” The name barely left his lips.I felt it through the bond—he was in shock. The kind that hollowed you out from the inside. He staggered a lithe and one of his knees hit the ground—hard. “Draven—“ He couldn’t hear me. His eyes were locked on the man in red standing in front of us. A man that both he and Kael said was supposed to be dead.I have never seen Draven so heartbroken. “How…” his voice came out rough. “How are you alive?” "This man is related to you?" I asked in disbelief . This man who has terrified people for years is related to him?"Erik Blackthorn," Kael answered. "He's Draven's father younger brother."Volkava said nothing. Draven whisper
DravenFor 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
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







