LOGINThe 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
The training grounds gradually emptied. The Mooncrest warriors returned to their duties.The Lycan recruits followed Commander Varos to begin the afternoon drills.Finn and Taren walked away side by side, already discussing techniques as though they hadn't nearly come to blows only minutes earlier.Rowan watched them disappear before turning back to the messenger. "You said the reconstruction team found something beneath the palace." "Yes, Alpha." The young messenger nodded. "The foreman ordered all work to stop immediately. He said no one should touch it until you and Lady Aria arrived." Commander Varos frowned. "What exactly did they find?" The messenger shook his head. "I don't know. I wasn't allowed near it. The only thing I heard was..." He hesitated. "...there's a staircase beneath the old throne room." Varos' expression immediately changed. "A staircase?" "Yes." "That's impossible." Lois looked at him. "You sound certain." "I am." Commander Varos folded his arms. "I se
Morning sunlight spilled across Mooncrest Pack. It’s being months since the alarm bells had been runged. Instead, the sounds of hammers striking wood and cheerful conversations filled the air. Life was returning. Aria stood on the balcony outside her chambers, a warm cup of tea resting between her hands. Below, the courtyard was already alive. Mooncrest warriors trained near the eastern grounds. Lycan craftsmen worked alongside Mooncrest builders repairing damaged storehouses. Children darted between them, laughing as though the war had been nothing more than a distant nightmare. “This... is so satisfying.“ Nova sighed contently. A gentle knock sounded behind her. "Luna?" "Come in." The door opened, revealing Liana. Little Caelan held tightly to her hand while balancing a small basket in the other. "We brought breakfast." Caelan beamed. "Gretta said if you skipped another meal, she'd come herself." Aria laughed. "I suppose I don't have much choice then." "You re
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
The carriage rolled to a stop in the courtyard of Mooncrest. Lina felt the jolt through her bones, or perhaps it was only her nerves, wound tight as bowstrings since the moment Beta Morris had appeared at her cottage door. Outside, she could hear the stamp of hooves on cobblestone, the low murmu
"This isn't finished," Alpha Magnus said quietly."The meeting chamber," “Now.” He commanded.The remaining few fell into step behind him,Elder Aldric, his weathered face heavy with trouble; Elder Helena, sharp-eyed and watchful; Luna Lydia with her hand resting possessively on Selene's shoulder; B







