"Stop moving. I'm fine."
"But you're sweating. Your forehead and neck are hot. Are you sure this isn't dangerous?""Lyara..."Alpha King's voice sounded calm and unperturbed, but I continued to stare at him without blinking from the side of the bed. The sunlight slowly faded, and the light from the crystal lantern in the corner of the room reflected the silhouette of his half-reclining body on the large bed covered in clean white linen. Only a thin shirt covered his chest, and his eyes gazed at me gently from behind half-closed eyelids.I sat on the side of the bed, my knees up on the sheets, my hands busy flipping the collar of his shirt, tracing the surface of his skin, searching for any sign that he was hiding something from me. But there was nothing—his skin wasn’t hot, his breathing wasn’t short, his heartbeat was normal.And that only made me more worried.“Aric, you really don’t feel anything?Lyara Wolfborne's POVMorning crept slowly across the sky, not with the noisy chirping of birds, but with the soft hiss of the remaining night breeze carrying the scent of medicine and laundry soap evaporating from the palace corridors. This room—my room—still bore the traces of last week’s battle: a flower pot moved to the windowsill because the moonlight was said to soothe wounds, a blanket neatly folded on a rattan chair because I had insisted on sitting rather than sleeping the night before, and report documents placed askew on a small table, sandwiched between a pen and silver thread left over from a protection ritual.I stand before the tall mirror, gazing at the figure greeting me from behind the glass surface. The dark circles under my eyes haven’t fully faded, but their color isn’t as sharp as it was a few days ago. My skin is still pale, but a healthy glow is slowly returning. A dark blue formal gown hangs on my shoulders, the fabric falling gra
Author POVTwo days after the uncompromising interrogation, the isolation building in the Gravepine pack palace became the heart of everything fragile and dangerous at the same time. The once-sturdy stone walls were now shrouded in the pale glow of white magic lamps. The scent of neutralizing herbs—dried sage, moon salt, and root decoction—mingled with the bitter smell of dried blood. On the floor, the protective rune lines etched by Lysander still reflected light, forming a security circle that made the air tremble softly.Alpha Kaelen sat in an iron chair, his hands and feet bound by magic-dampening chains. His once-clear eyes were now clouded, staring blankly as if a mist lay behind his eyelids. His lips moved softly, pumping out words that were neither prayer nor oath; more like the mutterings of a shattered dream. Names occasionally slipped out—Lyara… Seraphyne… Alpha Aric—each like a stone thrown into calm water, creating small ripples of disturbanc
Aric Thane Wolfborne's POVThe convoy of armored vehicles moved slowly along the rocky road toward the Gravepine pack's territory. The large tires ground through the thick layer of ash covering the ground, producing a long, piercing screech in the silence. The vibrations from the engines and wheels traveled up my legs, while my eyes darted around, taking in every corner of our surroundings.The forest along the road was no longer a forest—it was a living graveyard. The leaves were withered and black, the tree trunks like brittle, dry skeletons, and the cold wind crept through the gaps, carrying a piercing scent that made my chest feel tight: a mix of dried blood, charred flesh, and the remnants of black magic so thick it felt like it was sticking to my skin.My fingers tapped the hilt of the Silver Veil resting on my lap, not out of nervousness, but because an instinct kept whispering: something was wrong.As the vehicle came to a stop at the main
Lyara Wolfborne's POVConsciousness came like snowflakes falling one by one—almost inaudible, but the cold crept in steadily. The soft, repetitive sound of tick… tick… tick… from the monitor placed beside the bed. Then the sharp scent of antiseptic and herbal remedies pierced my nose, mingling faintly with the lavender scent of the cloth covering my body. My eyelids felt heavy, as if there were stones weighing them down. When I finally opened them, the world greeted me with pale light reflecting off the walls, thin curtains swaying gently, and the silhouette of someone leaning over—Nyra."Luna?" Her voice cracked—between surprise and relief—and in an instant, she had intertwined her fingers with mine. Warm. A warmth that felt oddly distant, as my own skin was as cold as the edge of winter.I tried to respond, merely mumbling 'yes', but my throat was dry and my lips refused to move. All that came out was a raspy breath. Pain radiated from my
Three days have passed since that bloody night. The air in Silvergrove pack is still thick with the smell of medicine, traces of soot, and faint traces of magic floating in the air. Although the battle is over, the tension has not completely subsided. In Alpha King's office, the atmosphere was somber. The crystal chandeliers on the ceiling cast a soft glow, but they couldn't erase the tense expressions on everyone's faces. The large black wooden table was piled high with documents, maps, and scrolls of reports. Several chairs around it were occupied by envoys from other packs—trusted individuals who had come bearing evidence of crimes, investigation results, and news from their territories. The sound of paper being flipped and pens scribbling notes occasionally echoed, but no one spoke without cause.“All this evidence… none of it can be denied,” said one of the envoys, his voice heavy, staring at Alpha King with a steady gaze. “Traces of magic, secret t
Author POV Alpha King ran as fast as lightning, his breath racing, his eyes focused on only one thing—Lyara's body falling forward, blood gushing profusely from her stomach. His hands managed to catch her body before it hit the ground, but the weight of Lyara's body in his arms made his entire soul feel like it was collapsing. The wound in her abdomen gaped open, its edges blackened by the black magic poison seeping in. “No… no, Lyara… hold on,” his voice raspy, trembling between anger and fear. “Moon Goddess… don’t take her from me. I can’t go through this again. I’ve just found her again…” Alpha King thought to himself. Tavien, who was behind him, let out a furious howl, his eyes blazing with anger. “You’ll pay for this!” he roared before charging toward the black wizard who had orchestrated the attack. A fierce chase ensued between them, the wizard darting through the ruins w