Tristan had told Isabella that he had fought Victor and gave up because his people had betrayed him, but what he didn't tell her was that there was another reason why he had chosen to leave. That night when Tristan had run away from the pack, from Victor and all that they represented. He had gone straight to a place where no man dared to camp. He had gone to the burial ground, a place where the first Alpha of his bloodline had been buried. That night he had been afraid of the ghosts, not the ones buried in the burial ground but the ones that were deep inside of him.He had gone straight to the tomb stone that was the largest among all the others, there was a symbol carved on the stone and he carried the same symbol on his chest, it had been there as long as he could remember. It was the mark of the curse, and his father had told him all about the mark. Tristan had laid down on the stone as he remembered it all, the pack's betrayal, the shame even the look in Leandros eyes.He had run
They both turned to find Lydia the Lunaris pack healer, staring at the both of them. She walked up to them as she said,“Thank the Gods for finally sending you back home.” Isabella and Tristan were hit with the biggest shock of their lives as each of them was wondering why she was happy that Isabella had returned.“Lydia,” Isabella said. “I never thought I was going to see you again.” “I have missed home and everything about it” she said as she gave Lydia a hug. “What have you been doing with yourself?” Lydia asked “Fighting and running from enemies” Isabella replied smiling. “What has been happening here?” Isabella asked.“A lot” Lydia replied with a sadness in her voice that didn't go unnoticed by Isabella. “I can see your baby is growing really fast. How far gone are you now?”Isabella looked at her and said “I don't even know, been too busy running from enemies that I haven't even bothered to find out”“Oh Isabella” Lydia exclaimed smiling, “You are still so much the war
Alpha Leclair was shocked to hear her voice. She was the last person he expected to see even though he had prayed on this sick bed everyday that she would come home before he went to join his ancestors. He immediately struggled to get up with Lydia's help and he realized it was actually Isabella and that he wasn't dreaming.He smiled as Isabella walked up to him in three long steps to get to his side. Lydia was smiling seeing father and daughter reunite. Isabella hugged her father. She had missed him so much and just then all the emotions she had been holding inside of her melted and she began to cry. The tears ran down her face but she didn't mind as she was happy to see him again after everything. Her father was just okay holding her in his embrace. “Oh father, I'm sorry I disappointed you” Isabella cried. “I didn't mean for it to have happened that way.”“No my child, I should be sorry. I was too hard on you and I shouldn't have been.” Isabella's father said. “I looked everywher
Lydia and Isabella got to her place to find Tristan very restless. They both wanted to laugh but held themselves from laughing.“I can see the both of you trying so hard to hold your laughter, you can't blame me I was worried,” He said and the ladies couldn't hold it anymore and began to laugh at him.“You should have seen the look on your face,” Isabella said. Tristan crossed his arms watching them as they both laughed to their satisfaction. “When you are done with the laughing you can tell me how it went.” He said with a smile on his face as he finally relaxed.“Everything went well, only I fear that my father may not survive this illness” she said with a sadness to her voice. “He wants to meet with you” Isabella said Tristan was shocked. “Meet me?” He asked. “I was surprised too,” Isabella answered. “He also spoke about calling a meeting and announcing me as the new leader of the pack.” “That's good then, you don't need to run from the enemies anymore as you will have the
When Isabella had left her father's presence after the meeting with the elders, she went to meet Tristan to tell him how everything had gone. Tristan was happy for her but there was a look in his eyes that Isabella saw before Tristan had quickly hidden it.That look… Isabella understood it. Now that she had been given the responsibility to lead her people, it made his mind go back to his own pack and the thought of how he had left his pack in the hands of a traitor because he felt that his people had betrayed him.“Tristan, Isabella said, “I know you are thinking about your pack and how this, my being an Alpha changes everything.”“No Isabella,” he said. "There's something I didn't tell you, there's a curse that runs in my bloodline, it's the curse of madness from too much power. I saw it take my grandfather as he allowed the power to control and consume him and that's why I ran”Isabella was just hearing this secret for the first time and she didn't know how to take it, but she coul
Ever since Tristan had run away from the pack, things had not been the same anymore. Leandro sat in a corner as he was having his breakfast, he had thought that by staying back he would be able to make a difference but it didn't go as he thought. Victor's men were everywhere, moving and ordering members like they owned them. He had just sat back and allowed Victor take the Alpha title, he didn't do or say anything about it. He remembered his words that night “I'll stay for the people.”“Did I really stay because of them?” He thought, or was it out of fear of the unknown or the fear of being branded a traitor. He felt he had betrayed his alpha by choosing to stay back. The look in Tristan's eyes when he was leaving that day has haunted him everyday since he left.“You aren't eating your food.” He looked up and saw her, Maya.She was a single mother, who lost her husband in one of the wars and children to feed but she had the heart of a warrior. She doesn't like Victor at all and was
On his way back, Tristan could not get his discussion with Isabella out of his head. “What if she was right and he needed to go back and take his rightful position,” he thought. But he was scared, how would he know who will still be loyal, what if his people now saw him as a weakling. They might not understand why he left. Tristan at the end decided to go back and hide to look around and know what was going on at the pack.Leandro went in search of Tristan, his mind filled with different thoughts. What had Tristan been thinking that night? Had he truly left to protect them?, or had it been the only way out?He told himself all those questions weren't necessary now, all he needed to do was to find his Alpha. After walking for hours in the woods, his instincts sharp as he moved. Suddenly he heard a sound like someone was moving through the trees. He instinctively lay low, his senses alert as he brought out his dagger. He heard a faint sound like a twig cracking, he waited patiently an
Just then Leandro looked and saw Victor. A smirk on his face with so much confidence. He had ordered the wolf beast to hold back as if it was some kind of trained ferocious dog. Leandro could see that Victor only wanted to show them that he was in control. Leandro didn't have the time for Victor's drama, they needed to get out of here quickly. He gave Tristan a look which was a sign that only the both of them understood and in three quick strides he had slashed the ropes and freed Tristan and they broke into a run.On seeing that they had been outsmarted, Victor sent the beast after them. Its growl could be heard through the woods as they ran. Leandro and Tristan knew that they needed a level playing ground if they were going to defeat this monster and they didn't have that opportunity here and now.“Leandro! Tristan! This way” Seraphina called out to them. They quickly looked in the direction of her voice and saw her standing close to a passageway. She urged them quickly as she cou
Three days later, Tristan was awake and he felt as good as new. He was so happy to see that Lyon was awake. Isabella was by his side.“Lyon has to take his rightful place as the Alpha, he's meant to lead and we are to follow.” He said to Isabella Isabella nodded in understanding.“She came to you again.”“Yes,” she did. “She says for Lyon to attain his full powers, I have to hand over the mantle of leadership to him as the new Alpha.”Isabella was quiet. She didn't say anything immediately.Just as they were speaking Leandro walked in.“Glad to see you back on your feet again my man,” he said beaming with smiles.“Gather the council, it's time for the True Alpha to lead and begin the fulfillment of his destiny.”“Right away, Tristan,” Leandro answered, turning around immediately to go carry out his orders.“Tristan,” Isabella began.“I fear that Lyon is too young for such a burden to be placed on his shoulders.”“Have no fear my love, I know that he's still a child and that's why he
Everyone had been silent after the battle. The wolves all moved about with a new kind of respect for their Alpha while they all wondered if he was going to make it.Tristan lay still inside the high chamber. Isabella was at his side as he was hanging onto life by a thread. Sleep had disappeared from her eyes. She couldn't cry anymore, she held on willing herself to not break under the weight of the fear for his life as she watched her husband.She heard the door behind her open and shut and heard his voice before she saw him.“They are gathered, waiting,” he said.“Let them wait,” she said as she turned to look at him.“Izzy..” Leandro called to her as he saw the sad look in her eyes.”“He'll make it. Tristan has never been one to give up so easily.”“Thank you,” she said as she got up slowly, kissed his forehead as she said.“I'll make your sacrifice worth it.”“Let's go,” she said with a nod as she turned to Leandro.The hall was filled when she entered with Alphas from every corner
The fires that surrounded the stronghold had never burned as bright as they did that night. But inside the stone walls, there was only cold. And deep beneath the temple, where the ground trembled with the weight of ancient magic, Lyon slept. Unchanged, untouched by the years that had passed. Preserved by magic so old, it seemed to exist outside of time itself.Isabella went to him every morning. Sometimes she smiled, remembering the joy in his laughter. Other times, her eyes would fill with tears as she spoke of things that no longer seemed possible. But there was never any pleading in her voice. No desperate calls for him to wake.She only waited.But while Isabella kept vigil, Tristan did not wait. He worked every day, he moved with purpose. He gathered the leaders, called forth those who would listen to him, and those who would fear what might happen if they didn’t. The packs came together slowly, some out of respect, others out of pure survival. They knew the stakes. They had seen
Days after Lyon fell into sleep, the wolves were gathered around the fire all waiting and watching. Waiting for him to wake up. Ena had recovered from the wounds she sustained during the battle of the Hollowed. Her pups were gathered with her when the eldest of them asked.“Mama, why is everyone saying the Pure Alpha is to heal the land? Isabella the land cursed?”Enas' heart skipped a beat as she looked at her son's face and then decided that it was time he knew how they got to where they are today. “I'll tell you all about it my child,” she said.“Decades ago, the werewolf kingdom had enjoyed great unity and they had all been under one banner, and the sacred stones altar. The reign of the first Alpha had been a great one. He was a great leader who was seen as a king, even a god among the wolves. It was said that he had the strength of the earth under his feet and that the fire of the stars ran in his blood.The first Alpha was highly respected and adored among his people. His golde
The night was a dark and lonely one. Tristan was standing outside the chamber. He tested on the stone walls as he looked at his son sleeping. According to Seraphina, he was in a trance of Deep Sleep.He hated this kind of helplessness he was feeling now. Lyon had always been difficult to understand. If not for Seraphina who had been helping to guide him. This new silence of sleep was way too heavy for both Tristan and Isabella.No one knew what to do, even the wolves that were sworn to protect him were all helpless. As Tristan was Deep in thoughts, the air around him changed. He didn't need to guess as he already sensed the presence of the Moon Goddess Her voice was soft as always but firmer this time.“You’ve been waiting a long time, Tristan.”He couldn't respond. Her presence already signifies that whatever the child was going through was tied to his destiny. The Moon Goddess had always been revered by them for years. “You are here again?”Tristan asked her, his voice was tired f
The boy was changing.Not slowly, like the seasons that crept in unnoticed, but with the kind of sudden violence only a storm could bring. A force that moved through the calm, ripping apart everything it touched. It began quietly, almost imperceptibly, with dreams.It was never clear where they came from. Whispers in languages Lioran had never been taught. Visions of forests burning, wolves howling at shattered moons, mountains splitting open like the skin of an ancient beast. At first, Isabella thought it was nothing but nightmares. The child was young, too young to be burdened by the weight of visions. And yet, every morning he woke, silent and distant. His eyes weren’t wide with fear, though. They never were.He woke still, watching something only he could hear.Something that made him different.Tristan noticed it too. Lyon’s eyes had changed. They were no longer those of a child, full of innocence and wonder. They had become something else, heavy. A depth that Tristan had only se
Leandros arms were hurting him already by the time they got to the pack's stronghold. But he didn't dare put her down nor did he let anyone take her from him. His shirt was soaked with her blood. His eyes never left her face for a second. He was very afraid, he didn't want to lose her.They had lost Malik to this terrible evil battle, Ena though alive limped throughout their journey back to the camp. The death of Malik, a painful reminder of what they had been through. As they approached the pack grounds, every step felt heavier than the last. Seraphina was still breathing, but barely.That small, fragile breath was all that mattered now.The healer’s den was in sight. The scent of herbs and old wood filled the air as they crossed the threshold, and Isabella and Lydia were already there, waiting. Isabella's hands moved with purpose, sweeping through the door before Leandro even had a chance to speak, already reaching for Seraphina with the efficiency of someone who had done this too
“You always know how to find me,” she said, smiling brightly as she saw him.“I wanted to see you,” Leandro replied as he walked closer.Leandro had been watching her for sometime now as she was playing with the water. He just stood watching, marvelling at how she was skillfully controlling her magic. Each time he saw her, all he wanted to do was to mark her as his mate. She made him always want to lose control of himself but he held himself. He wanted her to be readyIt was the first time he was seeing her alone after the binding ritual with Tristan. She had changed in so many ways. She seemed to carry herself better now, like she was in total control of who she is and had accepted her fate and powers.“Come she said,” holding out her hands to him.He saw her eyes then, there was a certain beautiful glow to them, not of enchantment but they seemed to have so much awareness in them.He walked towards her with confidence all the while looking at her. As he dipped his boots in the water
The camp smelled of iron and fire. Tristan was standing alone in the central circle, he was sweating profusely. The darkness within him seemed to return and he was trying seriously to fight it. His breathing was heavy; he had to support himself with his sword as the force was so strong he could barely stand on his own.He saw shadows, and at the same time he was hearing voices telling him to burn everything down and run. The madness was returning, it was the voice of the first Alpha.At that point he realized that the curse had not ended, it was still there somewhere waiting to come out.He held tightly to the blade of his sword as he tried to steady himself. He had to fight this, there was no way he was letting this madness take over him again. Especially not now that they have been through a lot.He thought the curse had been broken, but it was clear to him now that the power was s there. Probably hidden or buried as he could feel the rage and hunger that came with it.Isabella had