NORA POV
I got home, feeling devastated at what happened. I thought he was different from all the others. My heart bleeding in undeniable pain, I dragged my broken soul inside. I was about to push the door open when I heard whispers from my parents. A word penetrated into my ears, my hand on the door growing stiff. “ Do we tell her that she isn't our daughter? She is human. She would never get a wolf. I feel for how she is trying to be what she can never be," that was my dad's voice. “ I forbid it, Nathan. No one will tell my daughter anything. She is my child and I will protect her at all cost," my mother said, with finality in it. I wasn't too sure I heard it right, yet I wasn't ready to let it go. So, I pushed open the door as my heart prayed I heard wrongly. They couldn't be talking about me, right? “ Mum, dad… what's going on?” I asked, my eyes fighting off the wetness around it. As I watched the faces staring at me in shock and guilt, a pang of pain shot through my already damaged heart. I heard it right. “ Nora, when did you get here?" That was my dad's shaky voice, unable to shake off whatever truth they just blurted out. I couldn't speak anymore. I blinked my eyes while biting hard on my lips. I couldn't believe I just had my heart shattered twice tonight. “ Nora…” " I-am I your daughter?” I managed to blurt out. " Nora, you are our precious daughter and-” " Daughter?” I asked, letting out a bitter chuckle. My mom took a step towards me but I shook my head, moving two steps back. " Nora-” " It's no wonder he rejected me. He was right. I was just a pathetic human!” I screamed, bursting into fresh tears. " He rejected you? Who is that bastard that dares hurt my daughter!” My father sprang out. I could feel his protective stance yet I suddenly felt hollow. “ Does it matter, dad? I am never going to be one of you! Never! I will forever remain a lazy, pathetic human. How do I continue living like this?" I was beginning to lose all my bottled up emotions. “ Nora, please-" “ I am not one of you and I can never be!" I needed to leave, away from everyone. I wanted to be gone from the lives of everyone. If I was gone, Carlos would be free of the pain of rejection. My parents would be free from the shame of a disgrace like me. And my brother would stop fighting people who mocked me. Yes, that was the right decision. Without another thought, I ran away from the house as the voices of my parents echoed behind me. I was going to end all of these miseries! *** I found myself running back to the hill, where Carlos rejected me. Maybe I wanted to have a glimpse of him. Or I wished he could just tell me he was joking. Maybe I could stay if he accepts me. I stood at the edge of the cliff, looking around. I hoped I could catch just one glimpse of him. Sadly, the darkness was all I could see and the cold wind rustling over the tree leaves was all I could hear. He wasn't coming. With a resigned heart, I shut my eyes tightly. I think it would be best to just kill myself by jumping off the cliff. Once I was dead, everyone would be at peace. Images of his handsome face kept replaying all over again. I shook away the thought of death. I still have my parents to think about. How heartbroken they would be. Just then I perceived a familiar scent and I became happy. It seems Carlos still cares for me. He was back to accept me. Maybe he was just fighting to accept the truth. “ Carlos, you came back!" Feeling happy, I turned around only to see two guards walking toward my direction. I squinted my eyes. They looked familiar and at a closer look, I recognized them as Carlos personal guards. Where was Carlos? I thought he was here. “ How dare a filthy human like you call our Alpha by his name!" One of the guard bellowed, giving me a disgusting stare while the other spat on the ground. I clenched my fist tightly while my eyes searched for Carlos. I can't believe he sent his guards to insult me. I was sure they were acting on their own will. “ Where is Car-" I couldn't finish my words as I felt a piercing pain on my cheek. “ I warned you, didn't I? A flea like you have no right calling the Alpha's name-" “ Let's not waste time anymore and deal with this bitch as the Alpha instructed," the second guard cuts in, taking slow steps toward me. I took another step backwards, afraid of their advances. What did Carlos tell them to do? “ What are you trying to do?" I asked, trying to calm my frightened mind. “ Get rid of you of course! Alpha Carlos sent us to grant your wish of dying," the first guard responded. Did they say Carlos wants me dead? That was impossible. Even if he doesn't want me as his mate, he would never want me dead! “ Lies! You are lying!" “ Lies? Do you think we would have the guts?" He asked, chuckling. That's true. I have been in this pack for the past years yet no one made an attempt to kill me. Unless they were sent by someone powerful, they would never dare. “ Still in disbelief? What about this?" I raised my head to see the guard holding an emerald pendant. This was the pendant I gave to Carlos on his eighteenth year birthday when he got his wolf. It was truly my mate. He wanted me dead and gone. But I wasn't going to give him that satisfaction, or so I thought. The guards surrounded me as I tried to escape. They suddenly changed into their wolf form and the next thing I know was a sharp pain in my stomach and another tearing in one of my arms as I fell down the cliff. I shut my eyes, welcoming the death that was inevitable. My heart filled with hatred and revenge. If only I was human. If only the goddess could give me a second chance in life! Those were my thoughts as my back hit the hard waters and all consciousness was lost. I wallowed in endless dark abyss, awaiting to meet the Moon goddess.Nora’s POVThe battlefield was chaos.Steel clashed with steel, claws tore into flesh, and sparks of magic lit the sacred courtyard like storms of fire. Screams mingled with growls, and the ground shook under the weight of warriors locked in fury.We were evenly matched—every strike countered, every advantage stolen back. My heart hammered, but I couldn’t falter. Not now. Not when everything rested on this moment.“Hold the line!” Carlos bellowed, his sword flashing as he cut through another of Erebus’s men. Blood sprayed across the stones, but he didn’t slow.I forced myself to stand tall, my voice cutting through the noise. “Do not let fear win! We fight for the realm, for the balance! Hold steady!”The Eagle Pack roared in answer, claws flashing as they pushed forward again. Their strength was raw and unyielding, their loyalty burning like fire in their eyes. My chest swelled with both pride and dread—they were following me, trusting me to lead them through this storm.But Erebus’s
Nora’s POV*The orb’s pulse hammered in my veins, each thud louder than the last. The battlefield blurred around me—claws, steel, shouts, shadows—and all I felt was the searing heat spreading from my chest.I dropped to one knee, clutching the floor, trying to control it. But the power wasn’t calm anymore. It was alive. It surged like a storm that wanted out.“Nora!” August’s voice cut through the chaos. He appeared at my side, his robes torn, blood streaking his face. “Don’t fight it. Channel it. The orb responds to intention, not fear.”“I’m not afraid,” I rasped, though my body trembled. “I’m furious.”His hand gripped my shoulder. “Then focus that fury. Direct it. If you let it spill unchecked, you’ll break the balance—and the realm will pay the price.”The orb’s light flared in my vision, blinding white. My enemies seemed to recoil, shielding their eyes. I rose slowly, the energy burning through me, steadying into something sharper.Across the courtyard, Erebus snarled, sensing t
Nora’s POVThe clash began with a roar. Steel rang against steel, claws against claws, spells shattering like glass in the air. The sacred courtyard no longer looked sacred—it was a storm of fire, smoke, and shadows.Eagle Pack warriors lunged forward, their growls cutting through the chaos. Erebus’s loyalists met them head-on, fueled by rage and dark chants that sent sparks crawling across the stone floor.I fought to steady my breath, but the orb inside me pulsed violently, sensing the corruption pouring into the battle.Carlos was the first to strike, his blade slicing through an enemy’s guard. “Push them back!” he shouted, voice booming over the noise.But before our warriors could gain ground, Griffin raised his hand.The world blurred.Shapes twisted into monsters—friends became foes, shadows took the faces of allies. Warriors stumbled, confused. Some swung at illusions, striking nothing but air. Others hesitated, unable to tell whether the one in front of them was friend or tra
Third POVThe wind swept through the sacred grounds of the Ancient Keepers, carrying the scent of unease and burnt incense. What had once been a sanctuary of peace and power now felt like the quiet before a storm.In the eastern courtyard, Nora stood at the head of her allies—August beside her, Carlos not far behind, and several warriors from the Eagle Pack standing firm. Each person bore the mark of loyalty, a symbol etched in red across their right forearm, drawn during the last moon cycle to signify their commitment to protect the orb.Across the courtyard, the tension was thick. Erebus stood cloaked in shadows, surrounded by his followers. His gaze never left Nora. There was no smugness in his eyes, only cold certainty. His people, once respected keepers of the orb’s secrets, now held themselves with arrogance, puffed up with the promises Erebus had whispered in secret meetings.The courtyard stone felt colder than usual beneath their feet. Dividing them was a shallow crack that h
Nora’s POVI stood at the center of the council chamber, heart pounding but voice steady. The air was thick with tension, and every pair of eyes rested on me. Erebus sat across from me, flanked by his usual followers, stoic, silent, but brimming with defiance. Behind me stood Carlos, August, and the Eagle pack warriors who had pledged their loyalty. The Lycan guard formed a strong line, shoulders squared.I took a deep breath and raised my voice.“You’ve been working against me,” I said, locking my gaze on Erebus. “Sabotaging the orb’s balance. Undermining the keepers. Aligning with Griffin. I won’t stay silent anymore.”A murmur ran through the chamber.Erebus’s lips curled into a cold smile. “You speak boldly, Nora. But accusation without proof is nothing but noise.”“I have proof,” I replied. I pulled out the worn scroll I had found, the one that spoke of the breath between realms. “You and your followers have been plotting to let Griffin gain access to the orb’s core. This scrol,
Nora’s POVThe cold air carried a tension that clung to every breath as I entered the ancient hall. It wasn’t just a place for discussion anymore. It had become a battleground of ideologies. The council chamber, nestled at the heart of the Elder Grove, once felt like a sanctuary of wisdom. Today, it felt like a trap.The long, curved table sat in the center, surrounded by seats carved for each Ancient keeper. As I took my place, I felt dozens of eyes on me — some heavy with support, others laced with suspicion. Erebus sat with his usual calm, arms folded, the corner of his mouth twitching with a smugness I had come to recognize. His allies flanked him like silent shadows.Elder Silvarum cleared his throat, rising to open the meeting. “This gathering,” he said, voice steady, “is in response to growing unrest, and the concern raised by Luna Nora on the presence of traitors among us.”I stood when the attention shifted to me. My heart was steady, but every word I planned to say burned ag