LOGINThe courtyard fell strangely quiet. Kellan's eyes remained on Nyssa. Alice noticed the change immediately. She followed his gaze and saw Nyssa standing several steps away. For a moment, none of them moved. Then Nyssa gave a small nod. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." She turned. "Nyssa." Kellan stepped forward. She stopped but didn't look back. "I'll see you later." Her voice was quiet. Then she walked away. Kellan watched her disappear around the corner. Alice lowered her gaze. "You should go after her." Kellen looked at her. "What?" "You heard me." "Alice..." She gave him a small smile. "I think she needs to talk to you." Kellen hesitated. But before he could answer, voices drifted across the courtyard. Two servants were speaking near the kitchen entrance. "Did you hear?" "About Kellan?" Alice's expression changed.The servants hadn't noticed them. "Yes, Alice finally told him. And he asked for a day to think." "Do you think he'll accept?" "I don't know. But everyo
The next morning arrived quietly over Mooncrest. Alice had barely slept. She had spent most of the night thinking about what she wanted to say. Several times, she had convinced herself to forget the whole thing. Then she remembered Kellan's smile, his patience and the way he always treated everyone with kindness.And she knew she couldn't keep pretending her feelings weren't there. She wanted an answer.Even if it wasn't the answer she hoped for. ---Kellen was already at the training grounds with the other boys when Alice arrived. Corvin and Ren were beside him, arranging the practice weapons together while Dax and Eliot were nearby, carrying another rack toward the storage building. Corvin noticed Alice approaching. He looked at Kellen, then at Alice. A knowing smile appeared on his face. "I'll help Dax and Eliot." Ren immediately looked at him. "I'm coming too."Corvin nodded. The two boys followed Dax and Eliot toward the storage building. Kellan watched them leave before tu
The training grounds were already busy when Nyssa arrived the following morning. She slowed when she saw Kellen standing near the practice circle. For a moment, she considered turning around.Then she forced herself to keep walking. Kellan noticed her immediately. "Morning." "Morning." His eyes remained on her. "Did you sleep?" "Yes."He nodded. "Are you feeling better?" "Yes. Kellan sighed quietly. "You're still saying that." Nyssa picked up a wooden sword. "Because I am." Before he could respond, Corvin and Ren approached together. Ren handed Corvin a practice sword. "Ready?" "Always." Dax and Eliot followed behind them. Eliot glanced at Kellen and Nyssa. "Are we training or standing around?" Corvin laughed. "He's right." Ren nodded. "Let's start." The twins moved toward the practice circle together. Dax and Eliot followed. Kellan watched them for a moment before turning back to Nyssa. "Do you want to train?" She nodded. "Yes." They stepped into the circle. But the
The next morning, Nyssa arrived at the training grounds earlier than usual. She told herself it was because she wanted extra time to practice. She placed her sword against the weapon rack and began stretching. A few minutes later, Kellan walked through the gates. He stopped when he saw her. "You’re here early." "That goes to you too." "I usually am." Nyssa nodded. "Then I suppose I’m simply following your example." Kellan smiled. "Want to train?" "Of course." They stepped into the practice circle.For the first few minutes, everything felt normal.Kellan attacked, Nyssa blocked it and countered back. He stepped aside. Nyssa couldn’t stop thinking about the previous afternoon. Alice standing near the training grounds. The way she had watched Kellan. The way she had smiled whenever he spoke. Nyssa tightened her grip on the sword. Her next strike was too strong. Kellan blocked it. "Easy." "I am." "You nearly knocked the sword out of my hand." "Then you should have held it
The morning training bell rang across Mooncrest. Kellan was already on the training grounds when the first warriors arrived. He stood near the weapon racks, checking the practice swords one by one. Corvin approached from behind and tossed a wooden sword toward him. Kellan caught it easily. "You're early." "You too." Corvin shrugged. "I couldn't sleep." "Why?" "Because you beat me yesterday." Kellan laughed. "You've been complaining about that since yesterday." "I haven't forgotten." Before Kellen could respond, Ren walked onto the training grounds. He carried another wooden sword and tossed it toward Corvin. Corvin caught it. "Finally." Ren looked at his twin. "You said you wanted to train early." "Well, I did." "And you came without me?" "I was already here."Ren shook his head. "You know we're supposed to train together." Corvin smiled. "I knew you'd come find me ." Ren rolled his eyes. "You’re a case, Corvin." The two brothers stood side by side.
The afternoon sun hung high above Mooncrest. The training grounds remained lively. Wooden practice swords clashed against one another as warriors paired off for another round of drills. Kellan walked slowly between the practice circles. "Keep your balance." He stopped behind a young Lycan recruit and gently adjusted his footing. "If your feet aren't steady, your sword won't be either." The recruit nodded gratefully. "Thank you." Kellan gave him an encouraging pat on the shoulder before moving toward the next group. A short distance away, Corvin and Ren were training together, as always. The twins had been together for as long as anyone could remember, and neither seemed interested in changing that. Corvin raised his wooden sword. "Again." Ren smirked. "You said that five times already. And you’re still making the same mistake." "I am not." Corvin attacked. Ren blocked the strike before stepping sideways. "See?" Corvin smiled. "Better." Ren lowered his sword. "You
Aria stepped into the grand hall slowly, her breath catching as the massive doors shut behind her with a dull, echoing thud. The scent of polished wood and warm candle wax mingled with the heavy perfumes lingering in the air, creating an intoxicating atmosphere that was both regal and suffocating.
The whispers started early, as they always did, but there was something different about them that morning, something that carried a kind of restless excitement through the pack house.“The ceremony is in a week and I also heard multiple packs are coming.”“Alpha Magnus wants it to be the biggest ga
The pack house felt different that day, louder than usual and filled with excitement that Aria didn’t share. She stood at the top of the stairs, her fingers resting lightly on the railing as wolves moved past her in a hurry, their voices overlapping as they spoke.“They’re here.”“I heard she’s st
The sharp scent of sweat and damp earth clung to the air around the training grounds, pressing heavy on Aria’s skin as she stood at the edge of the field. Her arms were wrapped tightly across her chest, not just to ward off the chill but to cage the tremors of a heart weighed down by years of unspo







