LOGINSelina's POV.
I have never felt this way before. The sharp shred of loneliness and deep pain. I walked through the shadows of darkness on the wet grasses, heading to nowhere because my mind was blank. It was already late, aside from the pack members, I knew nobody and had no external relationship. I clenched my hands on my arms, pressing the cloak on my body as the cold was unbearable. "You keep walking like there's a destination in mind." Cora's voice came up and I cleared my throat, closing my eyes briefly. What does she expect from me? Stop walking and let the warriors of Blue Moon pack get a hold of me again and decide that banishment was a swift and painless punishment? I'd rather walk until I'm numb. "There's no destination, as a matter of fact Cora, I'll keep walking until Blue Moon pack is a million steps behind," I mumbled. I continued to drag my legs heavily through the woods, my eyes heavy and my head throbbing painfully but then I had no choice but to keep moving, straining my eyes to see through the dark alley. I was extremely tired following the thousand miles I've covered. I was making sure to go as far away from the Blue Moon pack as possible. At least I feel a lot better than where I was thrown off from, the ugly ordeal that no one deserved. But then yes, it's behind me now, I'm glad to call it my past. Walking on, I suddenly felt a shadow looming over me, I felt eyes on me, like I was being watched or something. I knew I wasn't hallucinating, the feeling was there, and it was so strong, I felt the presence became more pronounced as the second ticked by. I panicked and increased my steps, my heart beating hard in my chest. "Arhhh!" A sharp scream flew out my mouth as I sighted a huge figure, right there in the middle of the road, few feet away from me. A huge wolf stood with it's four legs apart from each other, its furs very dark, in fact black in color yet shining under the merciful moon, its teeth gritting as it gazed intently at me. It was so huge, almost as big as Malik, but not quite. Why am I even thinking of him? Or comparing them? I gulped down nervously, rooted in my spot and gazed back at it. I felt my fears totally disappear as it now faced me completely, its maroon eyes were fixed on me, it didn't howl, it didn't fight, it didn't pounce on me, it just stood there, staring at me, At a time I thought I could see it's human form through it's furs but before I could blink, it was already on it's way out, disappearing into the woods in a flash. For several seconds, I was lost standing there staring into space. "Did that just happen?" I muttered. Just as I had coupled myself together and sauntered forward, another shocking sight glued me back to my spot. I sighted a tall muscular young man walking out through the path that the huge wolf had disappeared into, he looked quite elegant and pleasing to the eyes, despite the roughness of both his hair and clothes. It suddenly struck me. His rough hair... His eyes... Coming out through the path that the huge wolf had crawled into. I froze as it suddenly hit me, he might be the.... My breath hooked up on my throat, the fear that had disappeared from my system rushed back in multiple folds. He doesn't look like a rogue, and I really hoped he doesn't turn out to be one. I can't lose my life few hours after being casted away from my pack. "Please, don't hurt me, I'm only passing by," I muttered with my head hung low, avoiding eye contact with him. The last thing I needed at this moment was to get into any more troubles. All I need is to get to a safe place, stay far away from everyone and be my own person, I've had enough issues already. "Why do you look pale?" His voice came out as a howl in my ears, he sounded as though he was still in his wolf form, fierce and cold. "I don't like it when I repeat myself lady," he growled and I flinched back in fright. "Sorry.. Uhm.. I.. It's just.. I.." I found myself stuttering sheepishly, I had totally forgotten the alphabet used to form words. I stared at him with pleading eyes, wishing he could read meaning into them. Surprisingly, he seemed to understand, I watched in relief as his eyes softened and he walked slowly towards me. "No one passes this route at this time except they went hunting, you don't seem to have gone hunting," he said softly. "Uhm.. I.." "Don't be scared, I won't hurt you, now stop stuttering and speak," he said. I breathed in deeply trying desperately to relax, he didn't look like he was going to hurt me. "I'm just passing by, I have to get to somewhere real quick," I finally managed to speak up. He scoffed as though he knew I was lying. "You know, surprisingly, I feel like you don't even have anywhere to go, are you lying to me?" I dragged my gaze to the floor in guilt. "Is everything okay with you? You seem really really off," he said. "I will be okay," I sniffed. "I can tell you are one of us, I don't mean from my pack but one of us." He said staring intently at me. I stared back at him without uttering a word. "What's your name?" He asked. "Selina," I muttered. "Selina, I'm going to ask for the last time, do you really have anywhere to go?" He asked again. I breathed out heavily. "No, I have nowhere to go, it's a long story, but I can't go back to where I'm coming from, I will just keep moving till I get to a safe place? Thanks for not hurting me," He stared at me for a while and breathed out. "What if I tell you that you are in a safe place now Selina?" He said. "What?" "Come with me," he said turning around and started walking away. I stood back and watched him walk away, I couldn't take even a step forward, how would I be dumb enough to follow a total stranger to wherever it is he was taking me? But then a deep corner in my system kept impelling me to go with him, after all he didn't hurt me when he was supposed to anyway. I couldn't fight off the urge to not follow him no matter how hard I tried. Dragging in a deep breath, I dragged myself towards him.Eva's POV.By the time the sound of the council bell faded, the sky had already turned the colour of deep iron. From the balcony outside my rooms I could see the torches being lit along the palace wall, one after another, small blooms of fire pushing back the dusk. I knew where he was. The elders’ chamber always left the same look on his face when he returned... like a man who had been staring at the heart of a storm too long.I stayed near the window until I heard the door open.Nicklaus came in without a word, closing the door behind him with a slow click. His cloak was damp at the hem and the air around him still carried the chill of his usual state after each meeting with the elders.“Did they listen?” I asked softly.He gave a small, humorless laugh and started unfastening the clasps of his cloak. “They listened. Whether they understood, that’s another matter.”He hung the cloak on the stand by the fire and stood for a moment, staring into the flames. The golden light traced the
The doors of the council chamber creaked open on their ancient hinges, and a gust of cold air swept through the room. Nicklaus entered alone. His cloak of deep black brushed the floor; he did not glance left or right as he walked the long aisle toward the dais; the twelve elders were already seated, their gray eyes following him like wary owls. He stopped at the base of the dais, folding his hands behind his back. For a long moment he said nothing. Only the low crackle of torch-flame and the faint rustle of robes disturbed the stillness.When he finally spoke, his voice was quiet but filled the hall. “You’ve all been waiting for this summons. You’ve all had questions about my child. Tonight you’ll have your answers.”Elder Kruger cleared his throat and leaned on his cane. “Your Majesty,” he said, his tone absolutely carefully, “the pack speaks only from concern. We have seen… signs; the people are only uneasy.”“Uneasy,” Nicklaus repeated. He let the word sit between them, his amber
Eva's POV.A full year had passed, yet sometimes I still woke in the middle of the night half expecting to find Nicklaus hunched by the window again, whispering his wild promises to the moon. But he hadn’t broken another promise since that night. Somehow, impossibly, he had done it.The school stood now on the eastern ridge of the pack lands, from the castle balcony I could see its spires glinting in the sun, Valmor rippled proudly in the wind, and beyond them stretched the crowd: parents, travelers, and children of every shape and gift, all gathered for this day.I still could hardly believe he’d done it.Nicklaus had vanished for months at a time during that year, crossing mountains, deserts, and corners I’d only heard of in stories. Each time he returned, there was a new scar on his hand, but in exchange he always got what and who he'd gone after. Whether it's an ancient seer, a forgotten warlock, or a moon-priestess, a scholar from the ruins of the west. One by one, they had foll
Eva's POV.I don’t know what woke me, maybe the cold, or maybe the silence that had settled too perfectly over the room. For a long moment, I lay still, staring at the ceiling above.Then I turned my head and found his side of the bed empty.Nicklaus sat by the window, his robe half undone, his hair disheveled, and yet he looked more regal in that quiet than he ever did on the throne.Something about the way he sat, elbows on his knees, fingers interlaced, head bowed slightly told me that his mind was far away.I pushed the blanket aside and stood. The floor was cold beneath my feet, I wrapped my shawl around my shoulders and walked softly toward him.“Nicklaus,” I said gently.He didn’t turn immediately. His gaze stayed fixed outside, on the moonlit courtyard below. Only when I touched his shoulder did he glance at me, and even then, his eyes looked distant, as if they’d been somewhere far, far away.“Couldn’t sleep?” I asked softly.He shook his head. “No.” His voice was rough, carr
Eva's POV.Nicklaus sat by the window, elbows resting on his knees, his eyes fixed on the fading moon. He hadn’t spoken much since the morning council. I didn’t need to ask why. The whispers about our child had reached the outer courts now, spreading like wildfire.But at that moment, all I could think of was the faint hum that pulsed through the room, It came from the cradle beside my bed. My baby... our miracle, slept so peacefully, unaware of the fear her existence was stirring outside these walls.Then came the knock.It didn't sound like that of a servant. I turned, heart tightening even before I opened the door.Renna stood there, her cloak dark with travel dust, and her eyes glinting with something I couldn’t read.“Renna,” I whispered, relief washing over me for a heartbeat. She looked weary, but she managed a faint smile.“Your Majesty,” she said softly, bowing her head before glancing past me toward the cradle. “May I come in?”Nicklaus rose immediately. “You came sooner tha
The council chamber was colder than usual.Not because of anything, but because of the weight of the eyes fixed on Nicklaus. Nicklaus stood at the head of the long obsidian table, arms crossed, every muscle tight with patience he didn’t truly feel.The elders had been whispering for weeks. He’d heard it in the corridors, caught glimpses of their anxious faces, the way their conversation always hushed when he entered a room. But today, they weren’t hiding it.Elder Kruger, the oldest among them, leaned forward first. “My King,” he began, his tone careful, “forgive our intrusion into personal matters… but the council needs clarity.”Nicklaus didn’t respond. He simply looked at him, the kind of look that had once made grown men fall silent on battlefields.Kruger cleared his throat. “There have been sightings. Disturbances, they say, and all near the palace grounds.”Nicklaus arched an eyebrow. “You believe the forest misbehaves because of my daughter?”Another elder, newly elected coun







