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THE BROKEN HUNT

Author: Ana belle
last update Last Updated: 2025-04-28 03:26:50

The morning sun hung low, spilling gold through the tangled canopy above as Veyra laced her boots. A crisp breeze drifted through the trees, tugging at the edge of her cloak like a whisper, as if the forest itself wanted to speak. She tightened the strap on her quiver and looked toward her brother. Jon Hale, already armed and ready, leaned against a tree, sharpening his blade with quick, precise strokes. His dark hair was tied back, and his sharp jaw was set in concentration—but when he looked up at her, his eyes softened.

"You good, pup?" he asked, voice low and warm.

Veyra gave him a look. "I'm twenty-two, Jon. You've gotta stop calling me that."

He grinned, a rare break in his usual solemn expression. "You'll always be my pup. Now let's move. It's just a training hunt, but I want you sharp."

"Training hunt" was code. They both knew it. Ever since Kael and Lioren, her body had begun to change. Her senses were heightening, her reflexes sharpening. The bonds were awakening something deep within her. Jon knew this, though he never said it out loud. Their parents had been tense ever since. Elias kept to the perimeter like a shadow, and Maelin had begun preparing enchantments again, though she didn't explain why.

Jon led her deeper into the woods, and soon they fell into a rhythm. Quiet movement. Listening. Observing. Veyra knelt and brushed her fingers across disturbed leaves—prints. A hare, fresh trail. Her instincts sparked, her wolf rising.

"I'm taking left," she whispered.

Jon nodded, melting into the trees.

She moved silently, tracking the scent, her body low and steady. She heard the crackle of brush ahead and quickened her pace. The hair on her arms prickled. Something felt... off.

A growl tore through the silence—raw and brutal. Veyra's heart slammed against her ribs. A rogue.

A blur of black fur lunged at her from the shadows.

She dove to the side, rolling through dirt and roots. The rogue's claws scraped past her shoulder. She scrambled up, adrenaline burning in her chest.

"Jon!" she yelled, drawing a blade from her belt.

The rogue wolf snapped at her with yellowed teeth, snarling with madness. Its eyes were bloodshot, feral. Not just a rogue—corrupted.

She lunged forward and slashed, catching it across the snout. It howled and lunged again. She stumbled, landing hard, pain blooming in her ribs.

A howl answered hers—but it wasn't Jon.

From the thicket came a blur of movement. A new wolf leapt, sleek and silver, colliding with the rogue. They tumbled together in a savage whirl of teeth and claws.

Veyra crawled backward, heart racing, watching as the newcomer pinned the rogue down and delivered a swift, merciful bite to the throat. Blood soaked into the earth. The rogue stilled.

The silver wolf shifted.

And standing before her was a man she didn't recognize.

He was tall and lean with tousled dark blond hair and striking amber eyes. Dirt streaked his jaw, and a faint scar cut across his cheekbone. His clothes were travel-worn—he looked like a wanderer. But there was something in the way he moved—fluid, confident, dangerous. He was no rogue.

He stepped closer, studying her.

"You okay, moonlight?" His voice was light, teasing.

Veyra blinked. "Who... who are you?"

He crouched beside her, offering a hand. "Name's Zevi. Let's say I was in the right place at the right time."

She hesitated but took his hand. The moment their fingers touched, a jolt ran through her—gentle but unmistakable. Her wolf stirred, not in alarm, but in wonder. Warmth curled low in her belly. It wasn't the blaze of Kael or the icy pull of Lioren. Zevi's bond was different. Calming. Soft.

He didn't react immediately—just helped her to her feet. But then their eyes locked.

And she saw it hit him.

His breath caught. "Whoa..."

"What?" she asked, even though she knew.

He stared at her, stunned. "That was... you felt it too, didn't you?"

She nodded slowly.

Zevi let out a shaky laugh. "Damn. I wasn't expecting that."

"What are you doing this deep in Moonfang territory?"

He smirked. "Just passing through. Or I was. Name's Zevi Korrin, Gamma of Hollowcliff. Traveling under the radar. You're not supposed to know that."

Her eyes widened. Another mate. Another piece of the curse clicking into place.

Before she could speak, a branch snapped behind them.

"Veyra!" Jon's voice rang through the trees.

She turned sharply. "Jon! Over here!"

He rushed into view, sword drawn. His eyes locked on Zevi, and his wolf surged forward in warning.

"Get away from her!" Jon snarled, stepping in front of her.

Zevi raised both hands. "Hey, hey—easy. Not here to hurt anyone. In fact, I just saved your sister from a rabid rogue."

Jon didn't lower his weapon. "And I'm supposed to take your word for it?"

"Look at the body."

Jon's gaze flicked to the corpse behind them. Then to Veyra.

She stepped forward. "He did help. I'd be hurt if he hadn't shown up."

Jon's jaw clenched. "What were you thinking, separating?"

"I didn't mean to," she said, eyes pleading. "It just... happened fast."

Zevi took a step back. "I can go. I didn't come to start trouble."

Veyra turned to Jon. "Don't hurt him. Please."

Jon hesitated. Then nodded once, though his eyes stayed sharp.

Zevi gave a small bow. "Appreciate it. I'll be nearby... if you ever want to talk."

He winked at Veyra, then vanished into the trees.

As they turned to head home, Jon looked at her sideways. "That was the third, wasn't it?"

She didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

He sighed and slung an arm around her shoulders. "This is getting complicated."

She leaned into him, heart aching with the weight of it all. "Tell me about it."

But somewhere deep in her chest, where the bonds curled and pulsed with ancient magic, something whispered: Three have found you. Two remain.

And time was running out.

_______

I believe we all love ourselves a flirty man now, don't we?

Oofs.... Our third Prince Charming finally arrives.

I didn't want to pick a side before guys but I'm sorry I have to say I'm team Zevi>>

He seems like a green flag, no a Green Forest.

Third down, Two to go.

I'm excitedddd to the core guys.

Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments. Don't forget to vote and recommend to your friends and family.

Until next time,

xoxo

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  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   EPILOGUE- BEYOND THE BONDS

    The days that followed were nothing like the ones before.Where once there had been bloodshed and the clash of swords, there was now the soft murmur of rivers winding through fresh green fields. Where once the air had carried the scent of smoke and iron, it now smelled of wildflowers and rain-soaked earth.Veyra stood at the edge of a meadow, the long grass brushing her calves, the summer sun wrapping its golden arms around her. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the simple, perfect peace of it. Children's laughter rang out from beyond the hills where the new city was taking root — not a citadel of power, but a village of unity, a home where wolves, humans, and even those once touched by the Order's darkness could live side by side.The world had changed. They had changed it.A sharp bark of laughter caught her attention, and she turned to see Lioren chasing after a group of pups, feigning clumsiness as he let himself be tackled into the tall grass. The little ones shrieke

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE FIRTH BOND FULFILLED

    The air was thick with anticipation as the sun dipped low beneath the horizon, casting an ethereal glow over the assembled packs. Veyra stood at the heart of a vast gathering, the land now cleansed of the dark remnants of the Order, bathed in the promise of a new dawn. The battlefield, once torn by bloodshed and despair, had given way to a fresh hope.This was not a coronation; it was a rebirth. For Veyra, it was the culmination of her trials, her sacrifices, and the unyielding love that had tied her to her mates and the people she now led. She stood at the center, draped in a shimmering white cloak, its edges gleaming like the moon's own light. Her face, though marked by the hardships of battle, was filled with quiet strength, the weight of leadership not as a burden, but as a duty she embraced with her whole being.Around her, the wolves stood in silence, their eyes fixed on the woman who had brought them through the darkest of times. The scent of earth and fire still lingered in th

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   DAWN OF THE RUINS

    The first light of dawn broke over the ruins of the Black Citadel, its pale rays casting long shadows over the land, where once only darkness had reigned. The ground, still scarred from the battles fought in its name, now began to stir with life. The fires had died, the dust had settled, and where the Citadel had once stood as a symbol of power and fear, now stood a new beginning—something born from the very ashes of its destruction.A new city was taking shape, but not one built on domination or conquest. This city was different. This was a city founded on unity.Veyra stood at the edge of the ruins, looking out over the land that was slowly being transformed. Where the broken stones and shattered walls had once been symbols of the Order's strength, now there was only hope. The survivors, the rebels, the packs—everyone who had fought for freedom and for a better world—were working side by side. There was no division between them now. The wounds of the past were still fresh, but they

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   A KINGDOM OF GRAVES

    The aftermath of the battle was one of devastation, a wasteland of ashes and broken stones, where the echoes of war hung heavy in the air. The Black Citadel had crumbled to dust, but it was not the only ruin left behind. The once-proud armies of the Order, those who had stood as the last bastion of darkness in the world, were now scattered across the battlefield, fallen like shattered fragments of a dream long since corrupted.Veyra stood at the center of it all, the weight of the world pressing down on her shoulders as she surveyed the devastation. The ground beneath her feet was scarred, the earth itself torn apart by the battles fought and won. The stench of death clung to the air, mixing with the faint scent of burnt wood and the faint remnants of magic that still lingered like the last whispers of the Wyrm's dying breath.Around her, the survivors worked in silence. Soldiers and allies alike, their faces grim, their movements mechanical, as they set about the grim task of tending

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   COLLAPSE OF THE CITADEL

    The earth trembled beneath their feet as the Wyrm's body crumbled, its essence unraveling like the last threads of a long-forgotten nightmare. Veyra stood at the heart of it all, breath ragged, her sword, the Moonblade, still glowing with a faint pulse of Zevi's spirit. The battle was over. The ancient monster that had plagued the lands for so long was no more.But the victory came at a cost.The very foundation of the Black Citadel, once a place of death and dark magic, began to shake violently. Stone walls that had withstood centuries of torment cracked and buckled, sending massive chunks of debris falling like boulders. The air was thick with dust and the stench of decay, as if the Citadel itself had been infected with the poison of the Wyrm.Veyra's heart pounded in her chest, but there was no time to savor the victory. They had destroyed the Wyrm, yes, but the Citadel was collapsing, and there were still so many left behind—those who had been enslaved by the Order, those who had

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE SWORD AND THE SOUL

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