The sun had barely begun to peek through the heavy fog blanketing Howling Cliffs when a rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs shattered the fragile silence."Get up!" a gruff voice barked.Cameron shot up instantly, his hand already on his dagger, heart thudding with adrenaline. He looked around, eyes narrowing at the half-circle of armed werewolves encircling their camp. Each scout stood tall and alert, weapons at the ready, their eyes glowing faintly in the early morning light."What the hell?" DJ cursed under his breath, rubbing his eyes.Theodore, curled beneath his coat, groaned and sat up slowly, his pale face still drawn with exhaustion.Falcon, however, remained sprawled across his pink suitcase, hugging it like a pillow. "Five more minutes," he murmured, eyes still closed. "Beauty sleep is essential."Cameron whipped his head around. "Falcon, it was your turn to be on watch," he growled. "What if they were the enemy?""I'm sorry," Falcon scoffed, finally opening one eye. "
"There's someone sitting up ahead," Cameron announced.Theo squinted through the glare, still shielding himself with the coat. His vision was blurry from both the light and the searing pain dulling his senses. Shapes moved at the edge of his sight. Shadows twisted and darted in unnatural patterns, zigzagging across the dying trees like they had minds of their own."Something's wrong here," he said hoarsely. "This area smells like burnt flesh. Whoever is up there... that's not a man.""So what is he?" DJ asked, his brows furrowed. "He doesn't smell like a shifter or a vampire.""Maybe we should just turn back and find another way to the Vanderwolf mansion. I don't feel like traveling through this place. You see how everywhere else is green and plush, but the spot ahead is dried and desolate?" Falcon pointed out, unease thick in his voice."But I really think we need to check it out," Cameron said, glancing back at them. "Maybe it could give us some clue about what happened to my parent
The jet touched down just shy of the Howling Cliffs airstrip. It was a crooked patch of land that looked like it hadn't seen civilization since witches wore bonnets.Falcon clutched the armrest with a white-knuckled grip. "This place looks like a graveyard for joy," he said, glaring out the window. "Why does it smell like mildew and tax evasion?"Theodore was already unbuckling. "Come on. We're here for a mission.""I'm here because I was emotionally manipulated by my feelings for you," Falcon muttered, clutching his faux-fur scarf tighter around his neck. "Also, this place has zero cell reception. I checked. We're officially cut off from civilization. If we die, I won't even get one last selfie."Cameron stepped down onto the cracked tarmac, sniffed the air, and frowned. "It smells like something crawled into a crypt and gave up.""That's the charm of the Cliffs," DJ said dryly, adjusting his sword strap. "Welcome to hell with moss."The group began trekking toward the Winding River,
The morning was quiet as the three men, the Lycan, the werewolf, and the vampire, stood by the vehicle awaiting to take them to the airport."Oh Twinkle, I will miss you so much," Cameron lifted Jessica and twirled her around in his arms."Please put my wife down before you break her," Kanyon instructed.Jessica and Cam parted, and he ran into Kanyon's arms."Don't cry, man. I'll be alright," Cam stated."Take care of yourself," Kanyon whispered into Cam's ear as he hugged him back."I will, don't worry about me. Just take care of my wife.""You don't have to tell me that," Kan chuckled as he pulled away from him and turned to Theo. "I know your father is proud of you. I know I am. You've matured so much since you've been here," he shook the young vampire's hand."Thank you, Your Majesty. This means a lot coming from you."DJ shook the king’s hand next. “Thank you for everything you've done for me and my family.”"You’re welcome. And DJ, don't worry. I'll keep your family safe.”"I kn
Jessica paced the war room like a storm. Her silver robes rustled with each turn, her hand tightly clutching the pendant that now rarely left her neck. The Moon Goddess had given her answers, but not the ones she wanted. And now, there were decisions to make. Awful, impossible decisions.The thick oaken door creaked open, one by one letting in the people she trusted most.King Kanyon, her tall and brooding husband, entered first, his scarred hands folded behind his back.Cameron followed, leather-clad and smug-faced as always. He had a sword strapped to his hip.DJ stepped in behind him, dark circles under his eyes and his jaw clenched tightly.Lucy floated in with that same mystical stillness she always carried, her eyes burning with quiet intellect.And finally, waddling in with her cute baby bump and zero filter, came Princess Reniece."Can someone get me a damn chair before I collapse on this floor?" Ren grumbled, plopping down before anyone could react.Jessica didn't waste time.
Two days had passed since Cory's death, and the Kingdom of Lycania had begun to breathe again.The fires had stopped burning. The cries of the wounded had faded to quiet murmurs. Soldiers stood guard with haunted eyes, and the people walked through the market streets with hushed voices, their joy muted beneath grief and relief. The darkness that had nearly consumed them was gone, but it had left its mark.Queen Jessica wore a smile for the public, but behind closed doors, her grief cut like a jagged blade. She had cried all she could, but not for Cory, at least not just for him, but for the parts of herself she had buried alongside him. For the girl she used to be. For the impossible choice Kanyon had made.She knew it had to be done. She told herself that a hundred times. But that didn't make the ache go away.Luna Ariel rarely left her mate's bedside. Every night, she sat in a wooden chair beside Daniel's broken body, reading old stories to him, sometimes crying, always apologizing.