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 sight of Justine's figure in the open doorway made Lylah's heart sink, her alarm turning into terror as she realized that with this intrusion all her effort to convince Kael and make him see reason - which seemed to be working - might just be washed down the drain with Justine's sudden appearance. Justine took a few steps inside, his eyes scanning the room with an air of authority. Lylah stood up abruptly, a cold sweat breaking out on her forehead as Justine's gaze settled on her."What have you two been discussing?" Justine asked, his voice cold and detached.Lylah tried to brace herself, her voice firm despite the fear that threatened to overwhelm her. "What I discuss with my son is none of your business, Justine."Justine's smile was a thin, cruel line. "As long as you're in my house, it's very much my business.""Ha!" Lylah exclaimed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Your house?" She shrieked. "Like I asked to be locked up in this glorified prison! Why don't you call your guards
The boardroom of the JANEERAD Foundation was situated on the first floor. It was a sleek, high-ceilinged space with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a stunning view of the New York skyline. The walls were adorned with polished wood panels, and the floor was covered in plush, dark gray carpeting. A large, elliptical table dominated the room, its surface made of gleaming silver-gray glass that reflected the light from the overhead LED fixtures.Around the table were about a dozen chairs, almost all of them occupied by people whose faces bore a mix of anticipation and professionalism. Among them was Dr. Peterson Ganner, tapping away on the apple laptop in front of him. The others, mostly fellow researchers and scientists, nodded quietly to one another as they conversed in quiet tones, glancing every now and then at the entrance door. The door swung open, and Justine strode in, his eyes flashing with a mix of irritation and determination. Kael followed closely behind, his gaze fixed on
Kael trailed behind Justine, his eyes fixed on the broad shoulders and the tense posture that seemed to radiate an aura of irritation. They walked down the hallway, the soft hum of conversation from the other offices fading into the background as they approached Justine's office. The door swung open, and Justine strode in, his movements economical and controlled. Kael followed, his heart sinking as he anticipated the confrontation that was to come.Justine settled behind his desk, his face a mask of displeasure. "Close the door behind you," he said, his voice low and even, but with an undercurrent of annoyance.Kael pushed the door shut, the soft click of the latch echoing through the room. He took a seat in one of the chairs facing Justine's desk, his eyes on the desk, avoiding Justine's.Justine looked at him calculatively for a while, then asked, "What was that about?" His voice was tight, controlled, but the anger simmering beneath the surface was palpable. Kael shifted uncomfort
Kael sat in the dim stillness of his room, hunched forward on the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, hands clasped tightly as if trying to hold himself together. The quiet buzz of the bedside lamp was the only sound in the room, but inside his mind, it was chaos. Thoughts darted like startled birds, refusing to settle. His jaw was clenched, and his chest rose and fell in uneven rhythm. He had stood in the boardroom with fire in his voice, resolve in his posture. He had assured Justine of his unwavering conviction—or so he’d tried to convince himself.But now… here, alone… it didn’t feel so resolute.Dr. Ganner... Uncle Peter.The image of him being dragged out of the boardroom flashed in Kael’s mind again and again like a film reel on repeat. His silence, and the resigned look in his eyes, and Justine’s words. “He lost heart. Betrayed the mission.”But Kael knew Dr. Ganner. Knew the steadiness of his judgment, the quiet force behind his ideas. He had always been Justine’s most tru
Kael stood frozen in the hallway, his mind a storm of disbelief. The sight of Dr. Ganner dragged from the floor and escorted out like a criminal, had lodged itself in his chest like a blade. What on earth was going on? “Come in, Kael,” Justine said firmly, as though he had read Kael's confused thoughts. Kael stepped inside, his eyes wide with confusion. “What's happening?” he asked, his voice low but trembling. “Why did you let them treat uncle Peter like that?”Justine let out a slow breath, not looking at Kael at first. “He betrayed me.”“Betrayed you?” Kael echoed, stunned. “What are you talking about? You two have been friends since even before I was born! He practically raised me with you.”Justine turned to face him. His eyes were dark, steady. “That doesn’t change what he did.”Kael stepped closer, struggling to understand. “What did he do? What could he possibly have done that made you punch him and call security on him?”“We’ve come too far, Kael,” Justine said, looking Kae
Justine stared at him, incredulous. “Abort?” he asked. “What on earth are you talking about?” Dr. Ganner didn’t look away. His voice was steady, not pleading—just firm. “This sounds stupid, especially coming me, I know. But we have no choice, we have to abort.”Justine stared at him, unblinking. “Is this your idea of a joke, Peter? Because if it is, you should know better.”Dr. Ganner swallowed, evidently looking for the right words. “We need to abort. I wouldn't be saying this if I wasn't absolutely sure there was no other way.”“And why do we need to do that?” Justine fired, visibly getting annoyed at this new, unexpected development. “Can you even hear yourself? What sort of talk is this?” Dr. Ganner stood up slowly, pushing his chair away as he did. “I've been running some more tests on the Kyrexin-X, Justine, I found out some things, we need to work more on it.”Justine’s jaw tightened. “The Kyrexin-X is ready. Tested. Perfected. You’re the one who helped create it. You approve
NEW YORKThe boardroom lights cast a sterile white sheen across the long transparent table. Around it sat the core of the operation: Commander Harris resplendent in uniform, flanked by his top lieutenants; logistics and transport heads; medical coordinators; and Dr. Ganner, seated near the far end with his tablet idle before him.At the head of the table, Justine stood tall, sharp in a dark tailored suit, a digital schematic glowing behind him.“In five days,” Justine was saying, voice clear and commanding, “we launch the final phase of this mission.”Silence reigned as all eyes locked onto him.“The Kyrexin-X dispersal device is now fully functional. We've confirmed its efficacy across every tested sample. One release—just one—is potent enough to wipe out ten thousand werewolves. We’ve engineered ten additional refills, each safely contained and shielded until needed.”He tapped the screen, cycling through projected maps of the werewolf realm.“Deployment will be centered in the Heart
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