{Ryanna’s POV}“Before we go ahead with this, I need to be sure everyone is on the same page. You all understand what we stand to lose. One wrong move, one miscalculation is all it will take. Even if we're on the attack.”I let the silence settle.With a grim expression, I added; “To Silver Haven we march. Winning means life and losing, death. Remember that. Remember why you put yourself through all this. For friends, family, and everyone in between. Even if it's just for yourself, or simply for revenge. Don't forget why you do it.”“For our hearth and home.” I completed.×××The great hall of Silver Haven was dressed in ceremonial colours.A chandelier lined with candles and crystals hung above. Music drifted from beyond the walls. Wolves in embroidered robes and even armour lined the walls like silent observers of an ancient play. The walls glowed with warmth, but every smile I saw had teeth.We were already inside when I saw the Alphas.Seven great houses made up the core of Moonsk
{Ryanna’s POV}I held the invitation long after the envoy had gone.Aurelius wanted us at Silver Haven.Part of me screamed Trap. Another part whispered opportunity. And as always, instinct won out.We would go. With eyes open.I turned to my gathered Council, their expressions tight but trusting. "We attend. As invited."There were no objections. Only nods.They expected this, only I picked it up of course. This is what we had been planning for in secret. Our different plans and growth have been leading up to this.The ambassadors bowed again before they disappeared beyond the camp walls, their shiny robes glowing in the morning sun, as if they were made from steel threads.I stood there a bit longer before finally heading back to my quarters.The sky had started to grow cloudy when I arrived at my door. I rested my hand on the frame, watching the path the envoys had taken through the window across the room.That’s when I felt him.I didn’t flinch, he had pulled this stunt far too ma
{Ryanna’s POV}It started the way most days did lately — with birdsong instead of battle cries.For a long time, I didn't even realize how rare that had become. Waking up not because something was on fire or someone was bleeding, but because the sun rose warm and lazy.It had been four months since Moongrave.Four months since the Snow Pack was named.And somehow, against everything we'd known of the world, we thrived.Today would make it the sixth month since the rogues and I returned to the Moonskin pack.The camp was no longer a scattering of patched huts and makeshift tents. We'd built solid walls, homes, and houses for everyone. We had livestock, small fields, and forges. There was trade now too. Partnerships with the main pack and neutral families. We were ‘rogues’ no more. We were a community, one recognized by the main pack.And I — well, I was finally sleeping.I have time now. Time to breathe. To think. To feel. I'd been fighting for so long, it felt unnatural at first, to s
{Ryanna’s POV}By the time I returned to the camp, the moon was already climbing.The stars looked different. They carried an almost holy light. Maybe because tonight wasn’t just any night — it was the Night of the Clear Moon. A celebration as old as Moonskin's history itself.A sacred night dedicated to the patron deity of the Moonskin pack. The Moon Goddess.Tonight would be filled with laughter. Drinks and prayer.I didn’t have time to brief everyone on what had happened all this time in Moongrave. Ophelia and the rest just told me I was back on time.Now I was in a circle of heavily adorned women. Some of the prettiest from each family within Moonskin.‘Oh well…’I'd cleaned up before coming. A requisite to attend the celebration. Despite their evil acts, the people of Moonskin were deeply religious. Extremely ironic in more ways than one. Which was why it was weird to come across people like Nox who didn't revere the gods.Regardless. They had prepared a garment for me — a tribut
{Ryanna’s POV}We were already moving.The forest blurred past in streaks of green and bone colored trees. My heart beating fast in my chest, every step I took made my spine tremble. I couldn't tell if we were running toward safety or just away from destruction. We didn't have any maps after all.All I knew was that the bags against my back held everything we came for. Another goal was checked off the long list of things the rogues needed to overcome Alpha Aurelius.“One step closer,” I muttered.Nox groaned in pain with each stride behind me, still battered, but never did he falter.It was hard to explain, but suddenly it felt like a hurricane had passed by. The earth was mostly dry, yet it felt soaked. All wet, and slippery. Escaping even harder. Branches clawed at my cheeks, failing to draw blood, but I didn’t stop.And just when escape seemed likely…The ground trembled beneath us.Initially, I thought maybe it was just my legs shaking. Then Nox cursed, nearly stumbling. "Earthqu
{Ryanna’s POV}“You may speak.” It said, and suddenly the pressure on me reduced. My mind wasn't as sluggish anymore, yet my breath caught in my throat.Its voice wasn’t loud. It didn’t echo or shake the ground. It simply… was all around me, inside me. Resounding everywhere like a thousand hopeless prayers. I shivered with every word.“Pelasgus.”It didn’t address me by name. It did so with my bloodline.I turned slowly, the space around me shimmering like heat waves off desert stone. The forest I’d wandered had vanished, the strange, nightmare landscape replaced by this — whatever this was.“Who… are you?” I asked, my voice like a child's in comparison.“Where is this?”“This place is not real. So why must you know?”“And who I am is unimportant. What I am… is memory. History.”I blinked, heart pounding. “You called me Pelasgus. What do you know about my bloodline?”“Nothing you should concern yourself with.”Its three eyes seemed to regard me with respect as it continued. “Impressiv