LOGINMax's POVSelene captured Monvar once before, yet somehow, he's spent centuries weakening the very connections that give her power.And most of us haven't had a fucking clue.“And now he's using that against you?”“Yes.”She lifts her head, her expression becoming serious again.“With my power weakened, there's much less to stop him from doing what he wants to the world.”I turn towards her sharply.“The world?”Selene meets my eyes. There's no hesitation in her expression now.“Monvar's ambitions extend far beyond the supernatural races, Maxwell. What you see here is only part of the damage he's causing.”The certainty in her voice sends a chill through me.I look back at the blackened trees, remembering how quickly that substance destroyed the root.If this is what his fucking monsters can do to the Moon Goddess's home, what chance would an ordinary pack have against them?“But you can hold them back for now?”“I can,” she says, resting her staff against the ground.She glances towa
Max's POVI'd been aware that things were getting worse, but until now, I'd never considered that any of it might be connected.Selene turns towards me, and the sadness in her expression gives way to anger again.“The drugs they've introduced into your communities, the deliberate disruption of pack hierarchies, the dissolution of entire packs. All of it has contributed to the damage.”She gestures towards the ruined forest, the movement sharp with frustration.“Every pack that falls apart weakens the bonds between its members, and every generation that loses faith in me weakens my connection to your world a little further.”I look at her, struggling to take it all in.So those incidents weren't just separate packs having their own problems. Someone had been deliberately stirring up trouble, exploiting every weakness they could find.The thought makes my blood boil. An Alpha's supposed to protect his pack, not stand by while his wolves are abused or driven from their homes. And now I'm
Max's POVMedus snarls, his massive body tensing beside me. His eyes follow the retreating tendril, and I rest a hand against his shoulder, keeping him close.I stare at the place where it vanished. Whatever that stuff is, it seems to react to Selene's magic as though it's fucking terrified of it.She lowers her staff slowly, watching the darkness retreat beneath the roots. Her expression doesn't soften, and I get the impression she's expecting it to come back.“What is that?”“It's a manifestation of the corruption spreading through my realm,” she explains, her voice heavy with displeasure. “For now, I can prevent it from reaching the lake, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to contain.”I look at the blackened roots and the dying trees beyond them. That stuff is destroying everything it touches, and judging by how much of the forest is already affected, it's been spreading for some time.“What's causing it?”“Monvar. The dark forces he's unleashed.”She practically spits the n
Max's POV“Are you all right?”Selene turns her attention back to me, and I notice the slight hesitation before she answers. Her silver eyes study my face, and for a moment, I get the impression she's deciding how much to tell me.“I've been better, but thank you for asking.”Her voice is gentle, and she gives me a reassuring smile, although I'm not entirely convinced by it. I glance at the staff supporting her, then back at the silvery light surrounding her body.It's strange seeing her like this. The last time we met, her presence seemed to fill the entire clearing. I remember feeling almost overwhelmed by the power radiating from her, yet now I can stand right in front of her without having to narrow my eyes.“You don't look quite like you did last time.”Her lips curve slightly, and she follows my gaze towards the staff in her hand.“No, I suppose I don't.”She doesn't seem particularly surprised by my observation, but I notice the way she shifts some of her weight against the pol
Max's POVI turn in a slow circle, suddenly far more aware of the fact that I'm standing naked and alone in the middle of a place I can't fucking remember coming to. I can't smell anyone nearby, human or wolf. All I can smell is that sickly decay hanging in the air.A low snarl comes from somewhere amongst the trees, and I freeze.Whatever made that noise sounds big, and I have absolutely no desire to meet it while I'm standing here with my cock hanging out.Something brushes against my side, and I spin around, almost stumbling into the enormous jet-black wolf standing beside me.“Medus?”He turns his massive head towards me, his dark eyes meeting mine before he looks back towards the forest. His hackles rise, and a deep rumble vibrates through his chest.Fuck, where did he come from?I reach towards him, sinking my fingers into the thick fur around his neck. He's solid beneath my hand, warm and reassuringly familiar. He's just as enormous as I remember from the last time we stood bef
Max's POVI'm floating through clouds. They're soft and damp as they brush past me, swirling and shifting around my body. I realise I'm naked as moisture beads across my skin, and then I seem to be floating down towards the ground as my consciousness registers sensation and orientation all at once.I have no idea how much time has passed. Actually, I don't know if any time has passed. Passed since what? I frown, trying to remember what I was doing before this, but there's nothing there. I don't remember falling asleep. I don't remember coming here. I don't even know where here is.That should probably bother me, but it doesn't. I just seem to exist in this strange, cloudy place, drifting downwards without any idea where I'm going or why.A light is moving closer. I can't work out if I'm travelling towards it or if it's travelling towards me. I feel spacey and light-headed, and there's something important I'm meant to be doing. I know there is. Something happened. Someone...I try to g







