LUNARVILLE CLAN The warm rays of sunlight filtered through the large open windows of the great hall in Lunarville, illuminating the long table and chairs that had been arranged for the Alpha Convention. Thane, the host Alpha, sat at the head of the table, discussing in low tones with Alpha Billam who was sitting beside him, their voices barely audible as they waited for the other Alphas standing around in discussion and personal greetings to take their seats. Alpha Asher of Ravenhurst, much more advanced in age, walked slowly towards the table. His frail body was supported by Cormac, his son and Ravenhurst's next Alpha. His silver hair was thinning, and his eyes didn't appear as sharp as it used to be. He nodded briefly at Thane and Billam, who returned the gesture respectfully. Cormac didn't spare Thane as much as a glance; he just helped his father into a seat, then turned and left the hall. Next to sit was Alpha Walter of Waterville, who, immediately he sat, started asking Alpha
"Roughly eighteen years ago, my brother, Ryker, the Alpha of Lunarville, died." Thane began, his voice echoing through the great hall. "Surely many of you sent your condolences when this happened, and some even came to console me in person. But the fact remains that most of you have been running with the narrative that he died from a horrible accident while hunting." Thane chuckled slightly, a dry, mirthful sound. Then he stretched out his right hand and picked up one of the silver bullets sitting idly in the tray in front of him and held it up. The room was silent, the Alphas' eyes fixed on the bullet as if mesmerized."It was this bullet that killed my brother," he said, his voice low and measured, "Ryker met his death at this hands of this little object in my hand." The room erupted into a cacophony of shocked gasps, horrified whispers, and stunned silence.Alpha Asher's eyes widened in horror, his face pale. "How on earth did someone deep in the werewolf realm come to be shot wi
NEW YORK The large laboratory on the second floor had seen increased activity over the course of the months. It had actually been converted into a state-of-the-art research facility, its sleek workstations and cutting-edge equipment a testament to Justine's commitment to his mission. The soft glow of the overhead lights lit up the place, though it was nothing compared to the brightness of the morning light filtering unobscured through the large large glass windows. Serious-faced technicians in white lab coats moved around the expanse of the room, each focused on his task. At the far end of the room, behind a small table sat Justine, his gaze steady on the laptop in front of him. Beside him sat Kael, eyes glued on the screen as well, taking in all he was doing. Occasionally Justine would explain and point out some things, while Kael would nod, his face set in the most intense concentration. This intense focus, however, was ruffled when towards midday the door opened and a petite-lo
Kael's expression was guarded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he shifted uncomfortably on the bed. The way the visit was unfolding was definitely different from the picture he'd had in his mind all day. He felt like he'd rather not talk about his mother, but Angela's expectant stare and the resolute twist of her lips conveyed to him that he had no choice. He heaved a sigh, and started. "My mom has her issues. Thing is, she can be a bit paranoid sometimes, most of the time, really," he said, his voice low and hesitant.Angela's gaze remained steady, her eyes locked on his. "Paranoid?" she repeated, her voice neutral. "In what way?" Kael looked up at the white ceiling, squinting his eyes at the lights becoming more pronounced in the room now that the rays of the sun was dying away. "Has to do with her history, and the circumstances surrounding my birth, I think. She's always been a bit...overprotective, I guess. And Father...Justine, he's just trying to keep us safe."He looked down t
The heavy rain that had been falling for most of the day had stopped at late afternoon, leaving behind a faint scent of wet earth and a sky that was slowly clearing. A weak sun had appeared in the sky, casting a pale glow over the mansion's lawn, where droplets of water clung to the blades of grass like tiny diamonds. The automated gate swung open to receive Angela as she walked in, stepping gingerly on the gravel path. As she approached the lawn, she spotted Lylah standing at the far end, strands of her long hair being blown into her face by the soft breeze that followed the rain. Lylah was gazing out absent-mindedly at the flowers that bloomed in soft hues of pink and yellow. There was a distant expression on her face as she looked at the flowers, as though she wasn't seeing them at all. Angela's heart swelled with a mix of curiosity and empathy as she drew closer to her. Her thoughts had been reeling from the conversation she had with Kael, all the while contemplating what he sai
The pale sun was now dipping below the horizon, transforming the lawn into a warm, golden oasis. Sharp lights flickered to life all over the mansion, casting a gentle glow over the lush greenery and the delicate flowers waving up into the sky.Lylah stood watching them, her hands folded over her chest, and her eyes fixed on Angela's face as she pondered whether she could trust her. The fading light danced across Angela's features, illuminating her hazel eyes and bold smile. Lylah's heart swelled with a mix of emotions - fear, uncertainty, yet a deep longing for connection."My life has been a series of events that I never could have imagined," she began, blinking at the dahlias which were swaying lightly in the evening breeze. "You must know by now that I grew up among my kin, werewolves, that is?" She asked, turning to look intently at Angela, who nodded vigorously. "Well," she continued, averting her gaze once more, "I had only heard of other humans who weren't werewolves in storie
The sky above had darkened to a deep shade of indigo as Lylah spoke, and stars were beginning to twinkle like diamonds scattered across the canvas of the universe. The air had grown cooler, bringing back the scent of damp earth and the distant hint of rain. Angela stood facing Lylah, taking in the outlines of her face in the bright lights surrounding them, a lot of questions on her mind. She reached out and took Lylah's hand. It was soft and tender. Angela squeezed it gently, as though trying to convey her support and understanding without words."Well, what happened then? How did you manage?" She asked, keeping her voice as soft and encouraging as possible. "It wasn't easy at all," Lylah said, gazing down at her feet which was beginning to hurt. "Naturally my parents were summoned. It was a very uncomfortable scene. My mother was disappointed, yes, but wanted me to just say the truth so that she could find a way to help me. My father on the other hand, well, I think his anger was m
Lylah stood outside Kael's room, her hand hovering over the door handle as she gathered her thoughts. She still felt groggy and tired from the uneasy sleep she'd had the night before, however her conversation with Angela had sparked a determination within her. She took a deep breath, her resolve solidifying, and knocked on the door.The door swung open, and Kael stood before her in a bathrobe, wiping his damp hair with a towel. A warm smile spread across his face as he caught sight of her. "Mom." He beamed, "How are you? I stopped by your room last night to check on you, but there was no answer when I knocked."Lylah forced a smile. "Everything's fine, sweetheart. I was just out for a walk in the yard."Kael's eyes narrowed slightly, his gaze piercing as he searched her face. Despite her reassurance, the tension in her shoulders and the faint crease between her eyebrows betrayed her true emotions. "You look a bit troubled," he said, his voice gentle. "Do you want to come in and sit do
The Living Room was quiet now. The hearth still crackled faintly, the scent of warm bread still lingered in the air, but the room felt hollow—emptied of voices, of presence.Thane stood alone, arms folded behind his back, staring once more through the tall arched window. Outside, the silver dusk had begun to descend over Lunarville, and the faint sounds of training echoed in the far distance—arrows thudding into wood, warriors barking commands, the occasional howl cutting through the wind.But inside him, there was only silence.He no longer had a Luna to speak with since his two mates got lost to fate and the last ran for her life. Drena, too, hadn’t visited in a while. He’d never minded the solitude before. He’d built his rule on decisiveness, not public opinion. And yet, now… he longed for a voice to complement his own. A physical presence. A confidante. And it was in that yearning that his mind drifted, once again, to Lylah.The ache came softly, like fog curling through the crac
The days that followed the quiet meeting in the strategy chamber were anything but quiet.Thane, together with Alpha Billam and Alpha Cochram, wasted no time. With the alliance now formed—small as it was—they began fortifying Lunarville and their own clans. Patrols were doubled. Old signal towers were repaired and rekindled. Hidden caches of silver-resistant armor were dug up from storage, and training resumed with renewed intensity.Archers were drilled from dawn till dusk, their arrows tipped with sharpened obsidian and infused with wolfsbane extracts in case of ambush. Gauntlets—thick, rune-etched iron bracers designed to deflect both blades and bullets—were redistributed to front-line fighters. Trap-masters, a nearly forgotten order from the First Hunt Era, were summoned back into service to lay intricate trigger snares through the outer paths of the Heartwood.Fire pits laced with scented herbs to mask scent trails were dug near every village boundary. Night sentinels were traine
LUNARVILLE The hearth crackled quietly in Lunarville's strategy chamber, its warmth casting shifting amber light across the stone walls. Afternoon sunlight filtered through high windows, illuminating the maps and war tokens spread across the long table.Alpha Thane sat at the head, jaw tight, eyes on the flames rather than the two Alphas seated with him. The silence between them was heavy—not hostile, but thoughtful.It was Alpha Billam who broke it.“I know it felt like last week's convention was a failure,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “But don’t let that deter you. All isn't lost yet.”Thane didn’t respond at once, but his eyes flicked briefly toward Billam.Billam continued, “For what it’s worth, I stand with you. And you know I mean that fully. Unity is the only way forward, and though the others can’t—or won’t—see that yet, some of us do.” He glanced at the other man across the table. “Cochram agrees.”Alpha Cochram gave a short nod. “I do. After I slept on it, I couldn’t
The sterile air in the lab still shimmered faintly with the heat of success. The scientists’ footsteps had barely faded from the corridor, and the applause they had given still rang in Justine's ear. The moment had felt victorious, but Dr. Ganner's last words were now threatening to throw him off balance. He had remained where he stood, his hands behind his back, eyes fixed on the matte-black weapon at the center of the table. Beside him, Dr. Ganner was no longer smiling.“Well?” Justine asked, his voice low. “What kind of problems?”Dr. Ganner didn’t answer immediately. He moved to a nearby screen, fingers tapping with habitual precision until streams of data and gene sequences rolled into view. His expression was taut.“I’ve encountered challenges with developing the antidote,” he said. “Serious challenges.”Justine’s brow furrowed as he turned toward his friend. “Peter, you’ve had weeks. You've had Kael’s blood for ages, full lab access, state of the art equipment, financial suppo
The research lab on the second floor buzzed with quiet urgency. Blueprints were spread across metal tables, glowing monitors tracked chemical reactions, and at the center of the room sat the Kyrexin-X—a matte black, angular device. Its surface was fitted with slim vents and illuminated digital panels that pulsed with soft blue light, casting a faint glow onto the surrounding equipment.A group of white-coated scientists moved with precision around the device, performing final checks and calibrations.In the far corner, Justine stood beside Dr. Ganner, observing the work going on before them. Right behind them, Kael stood in front of a desk, watching them with apprehension.“I believe we should move in a week,” Justine said, his voice calm but resolute. “They’re tightening their patrols. Harris’ intel confirms it. If we wait too long, we lose the element of surprise.”Dr. Ganner stroked his grey-speckled beard thoughtfully. “And I believe a fortnight is more prudent,” he said with gent
Kael closed the door to his room behind him, leaning against it as a long, shaky breath escaped his lungs. The silence was deafening. He pressed his palms into his eyes, trying—and failing—to shut out the memory of Lylah’s anguished cries, the pain in Angela’s eyes, the sound of the tray crashing to the ground.Why did everything feel so wrong?He paced the room, restless, agitated. Losing sight of the fact that he had been preparing to go out earlier, he pick up a book from his nightstand and pried it open, but the words blurred uselessly before him. He turned on his computer, then shut it off almost immediately. His chest felt tight, his mind a whirlwind of guilt, anger, confusion. He couldn't focus, couldn't be himself.Without even consciously deciding, his feet carried him down the hallway. His pulse hammered in his ears. His heart twisted with a feeling he didn't want to name. Before he could second-guess himself, he reached Angela’s door and, without knocking, slid it open.Ang
Lylah’s morning began with silence, save for the occasional sound of the kitchen clock ticking rhythmically in the background. She stood by the stove, preparing a breakfast as if it were any other day, as though her world hadn’t gotten even worse over the last few weeks. The aroma of crispy bacon, sizzling eggs, and freshly brewed coffee filled the kitchen, offering a fleeting comfort in an otherwise bleak atmosphere. But the food wasn’t for her; it was for Kael.She carefully arranged the tray—scrambled eggs, some bacon, a slice of buttered toast, and a cup of coffee—and, once everything was set, carried it from the kitchen with quiet determination. As she passed through the hallway, a security guard, who had been standing outside the door like a silent sentinel, followed her closely. Lylah didn’t mind the guard, though; she had grown used to the twenty-four hour surveillance. What she couldn't get used to was the coldness in Kael’s eyes every time he looked at her, as if she were n
A heavy silence cloaked the Great Hall after Thane's words. For a brief moment, it seemed the weight of truth might bind them.Then Alpha Hijar of Villapaw leaned back, one brow raised, voice laced with pointed skepticism. “You speak of unity as though it’s a simple thing, Thane,” he said. “But the clans are autonomous for a reason. Always have been. Your... noble motive notwithstanding,”—he tilted his head with a wry smirk—“suggesting that we all come together might sound heroic, but it’s just like telling us Alphas to give up our autonomy, and that's not the way of our kind.”Thane’s eyes flared, his patience strained. “This isn’t about anyone giving up his autonomy, Hijar! It’s about survival. About werewolves standing as one realm against a common enemy. Humans don’t care which banner we raise or which clan they attack first, they want us all gone.”Alpha Renosh raised a calming hand, his voice the most level among them. “I understand you, Thane. I truly do. But I also understand
The warm, amber glow of crystal lanterns hung from the high arched ceiling of the Great Hall, casting soft light over the polished timber walls and intricately patterned stone floor. The space was grand yet refined, a testament to Lunarville's blend of tradition and progress. The long council table, carved from a single ancient tree, stretched the length of the hall, surrounded by high-backed chairs marked with the sigils of each clan.Seven Alphas sat in their respective seats, their faces drawn with the gravity of the moment. Though the Great Hall buzzed faintly with the low hum of energy panels lining the edges—hidden cleverly behind natural textures—the air was heavy with silence. Tension rippled beneath the surface.At the head sat Alpha Thane, his expression as resolute as the blade of a warrior who has seen too many battles. His eyes swept the room before settling briefly on the youngest Alpha among them.“I want to acknowledge Alpha Cormac of Ravenhurst,” he began, his voice e