Miyuki doesn’t trust Cole.She’s not entirely sure if it’s because of his overly casual demeanour, the sly way he talks, or the fact that his golden eyes seem to linger on her longer than necessary. The way they analyse her, taking in every one of her features... It sends warning bells in her mind, and leaves her unable to think clearly. The question is why, especially for someone she just met... an enemy for that matter. Whatever it is, it irritates her to no end.She remains alone in the room with Cole after everyone has left, her heart suddenly racing as she keeps her eyes on him. She keeps her arms forward as she stares back at him, watching as he takes a few curious steps towards her.The faintest smirk plays on his lips when he notices her walking toward him, and Miyuki feels her irritation spike. She squares her shoulders, forcing her steps to remain steady and controlled, though she can feel her wolf stirring in the back of her mind.Cole watches her approach, his golden eyes b
For a moment, the world seems to stop.Cole’s eyes snap to hers, wide and unblinking, and for the first time, she sees the cracks in his cocky façade. The smirk is gone, replaced by something raw and vulnerable, something that cuts deeper than she expected. She finds her heart thumping in her chest, anxiety and guilt filling her body... she didn't expect to feel this bad after telling him the truth...“What?” he says, his voice barely audible, bringing her attention back to the present. A small frown slowly forms on his face and his gaze focuses on her.Miyuki hesitates, her chest tightening as she tries to find the right words to say, the best way to say them...“I’m sorry,” Is the first thing she can muster, her voice quiet and steady despite the storm brewing inside her, taking a few careful steps toward Cole. “But it was him. He ordered it...”Cole doesn’t move, doesn’t speak. He just stares at her, his golden eyes searching hers for any hint of a lie. When he finds none, his shou
Miyuki watches him as he paces, his golden eyes clouded with turmoil, and her chest tightens. She’s seen wolves fall apart before; under pressure, under grief... but there’s something about seeing Cole like this, someone who has carried himself with such confidence when they first met, that makes it hit harder. Her instincts scream at her to step in, to do something, anything, to help him. But what could she possibly say to a man whose entire world has just been turned upside down?“Cole, try to calm down,” she says softly, her voice much more stable than she feels. She takes a small step toward him, unsure if she’s even doing the right thing, and it makes him react almost immediately.“How?” he snaps, whirling to face her, his voice cracking with emotion. “How am I supposed to calm down, Miyuki? I worked for the man who killed my family. Who slaughtered my entire pack!” He raises his arm up, pointing it to nothing in particular, as if to signify Lucien is out there, exhaling sharply
The forest stretches out ahead on me, my gaze focused on nothing in front of me, instead, all I can do is allow my thoughts to run rampant, collapsing over eah other as I try to figure out what to do now with all this new information. The late afternoon air is warm against my skin, and a sudden breeze passes through me. I need a moment alone, away from everyone, everything... just for a few minutes, just so I can figure out what the hell I am going to do.I begin to hear the sounds of footsteps crunching behind me, soft and cautious and before I can even turn around, I immediately sense his presence, his powerful scent suddenly filling the air and causing a stir of emotions within me."This is insane... this is all so fucking insane..." Is the first thing tht comes out of my mouth, just as I slowly turn around to face him. Octavius' worried eyes meet mine as he walks towards me, a slow exhale leaving his lips as he watches me, but he doesn't yet say anything..."All of this, it's just
“I don’t want to be a Lycan,” Is the next thing I blurt out, the confession tumbling from my lips before I can stop it. Octavius pauses as he looks at me, slowly letting go of my face but still he remains standing close to me.His brow furrows slightly, keeping his eyes on me “Why?” he asks, his tone soft, lacking judgement and at the sound of that, I know it is safe to tell him what I am feeling."Because it’s not who I am..." I say, my voice shaking. "I don’t want to be from an ancient royal bloodline... I don't want an even bigger target on my back than I already do..."I continue, shaking my head just as I take a step away from him for a moment, finding myself suddenly overwhelmed from being this close to him.I don't know much about Lycans. Except that, that nothing good will come from me being a Lycan. Lycans are considered the purest form of a werewolf, primal, ancient and undiluted with the blood of humans... If I became a Lycan, I don't know if I would be myself anymore... and
The room is quiet except for the faint crackle of the fireplace in the corner. I lean against the desk, my arms crossed, my mind swirling with everything that’s happened. Octavius stands by the window, his broad shoulders stiff, his gaze fixed on something far in the distance. The pack meeting is starting soon, but Octavius thought it best that we keep aware from everyone a while at least before the chaos erupts again. I look over at him and I can immediately tell he’s deep in thought, the lines on his face sharper than usual.“The pack…” I begin hesitantly, breaking the silence. “They’re tense, like they’re holding their breath. Everyone knows what's at stake...” Octavius doesn’t turn right away. His fingers tap lightly on the window frame before he exhales, his shoulders slumping slightly. “Yes,” he says finally, his voice low. “They all know, what Lucien did...” I watch him carefully, and I take this opportunity to ask him... “Octavius... can you tell me what happened that day
The entire packhouse is buzzing with activity, every single person on edge, every single person aware of what's at stake. I can feel it. This history, this pack has with Lucien. The day he turned Rogue, the day he killed Octavius' father...The air is heavy as I walk through the hallways of the packhouse, tailing Octavius as we make our way outside, to where the meeting is to take place. he is silent, but I can feel how tense he is. So am I to be honest, and all I want now is to heart the game plan in stopping Lucien and his people.We finally reach outside where members of the pack have gathered. Highly ranked officials as well as ordinary pack members. I make my way to the front of the group, my steps slowing down as I take notice of Lucas, Rafe, Akando, and Audrey, all standing close to each other. Samson and Miyuki are standing in front of them, every one of them seemingly waiting for Octavius and I to arrive.Octavius takes his place at the head of the group, his broad shoulders
K A I D AThe next few minutes are a blur of movement and preparation. The packhouse comes alive with activity, warriors rushing to their posts and securing the building. The air is thick with anticipation and it's almost suffocating, but I can't lose focus. They're here. They're here for him. Victor... And I can't let have him.The first place we go to is the cells, where he is being kept. Octavius and I move together, a team of warriors behind us as we make our way through the hallways. Outside the cells, in the distance, I pick up peculiars sounds, sounds that put me on edge, more than I already am. Snarls, growls, and the unmistakable sound of wolves running. They're getting closer. So we need to move, fast.When we reach the cells, Samson and Miyuki are already there, along with several other warriors. Victor sits in his cell, looking far too smug for someone in his position.“Well, this is exciting,” he drawls, leaning back against the wall as if he doesn’t have a care in the wo
K O R R AI wake watching the sun rise.Sleep doesn't come easy, not even now, not even when I'm finally in my own room, in my own packhouse. It's too quiet. The silence makes me itch. It leaves room for memory, and that's a dangerous place to linger.I sit on the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, eyes on the shadows crawling across the floorboards. My body aches in ways I can't quite explain. Some of it is physical—damage from captivity that still hasn't fully healed—but most of it lives in my bones. Deep. Carved into muscle memory.Eventually, I stand. I move slowly. I don't like rushing into the day anymore. That used to be Kaida's thing. She was always the first out the door, full of fire and recklessness. I used to pull her back. Now I feel like I'm dragging behind.I cross to the dresser and pull out clean clothes—black shirt, black pants, worn leather jacket. Perfect. At least there's something suitable for me to wear. afterwards I make my way into the shower, washing away t
K A I D AThe silence stretches between us, heavy but not uncomfortable, one where both of us are simply processing everything we’ve shared with each other. Korra hasn't sat down. She's still standing, probably still hearing the words I said—about Admosian, about Lucien, about bloodlines and wars we didn't ask to inherit. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, exhaling deeply as an unsettled frown rests on my face.The adrenaline is starting to wear off, and now I feel tired—not just in my body but deep down, in that place people call soul, though I don't think mine has ever had a chance to breathe."I have to head back now, I’m sure Octavius is worried about me…" I say quietly. Korra turns her head to look at me. No surprise in her face, just a flash of something softer as she exhales. Something close to disappointment, but not quite."Already?" she asks and perhaps she isn’t used to the fact that I won’t be living with her anymore. The two of us grew up close, with a fierce b
K A I D A“What?” I ask, voice low but sharp, like the word cuts on its way out. My heartbeat stutters, then kicks into overdrive. I blink hard. Once. Twice. Like that’ll clear the static building in my head. Like maybe I misheard her. Like maybe she didn’t just say what I think she said.Korra stays calm. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. Her face is serious, grounded. No hesitation in her voice. “I know it sounds crazy… but believe me, it’s true.”I’m watching her carefully now. Reading the tension in her shoulders, the stillness in her stance. She’s not spitballing. She’s not guessing. She’s thought about this—probably over and over again, turning it around in her head until it made enough sense to say out loud.“We’ve been researching,” she continues. “Trying to figure out which of the bloodlines I came from. We came from.”That part catches in my chest.We.“We dug through what we could find—old records, pack stories, bloodline traits. Physical markers. Based on our features,
K A I D AKorra and I are sitting on the edge of the bed in the room they set up for her. She smells clean now—like herself. No more scent of blood, rusted iron, sweat. No more stink of captivity clinging to her skin like a curse. Her hair’s still damp, slicked back and tucked behind her ears. Her face is clearer too. Hollowed out, yeah, but clear. Her eyes... they’re finally awake.I’m still not used to this. Seeing her here. Alive.I glance over at her and my heart lurches in my chest, heavy and full and weirdly tight. She’s here. She’s really here.She nudges her elbow into mine, that little sister-sister thing we used to do when we were younger, before the world split open and swallowed us whole.“Tell me what happened to you now,” she says softly.I inhale, slow and deep, but it does nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. I feel like I’ve been waiting years for someone to ask me that. I also feel like I don’t want to say any of it out loud.But she deserves to know.“Well... It’
Korra sits on the edge of the bed, freshly showered, hair damp, skin free of the dirt and grime from that hellhole.She looks better.Not just physically, but in the way she carries herself now. Her shoulders are no longer hunched, her body no longer weighed down by chains—literal or otherwise.But there’s still something in her eyes.A ghost.Something Lucien left behind.I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest. “Feeling better?”She lets out a slow breath, rolling her shoulders as if testing her body for weakness. “Yeah… a little like myself now.”That’s good.I don’t say it, though. I just nod.Silence stretches between us for a moment, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s the kind of silence that comes with understanding, with years of missing time trying to fill itself in all at once.Korra studies me, her eyes scanning my face like she’s trying to memorize it. Like she still can’t believe I’m standing here.“I can’t believe you’re alive,” she murmurs, shaking he
K A I D AThe drive back to Xarano territory is long and heavy with silence.Though Octavius was opposed to the idea, I managed to convince him to let me head back to the Xarano Pack with my sister. They needed to see that she is alive; they needed to know that both Xarano sisters have returned and are standing strong.I sit beside at the backseat of the car, Jace being the one to drive us while Valerie sits in the front seat. I haven't been able to let go of my sister's hand. Perhaps out of fear that if I somehow do, I will lose her again. But I'll be damned if that ever happens again. Her posture is tense, her gaze locked onto the rolling landscape ahead of us. She hasn’t spoken much since we left the ruins, and I don’t blame her.She’s processing. All of it. Being free. Being alive-- truly alive --and out of captivity, and seeing us all again, and finally coming.I glance at her, my chest tightening. Does she even remember this place as home? I stare down at her tattoos, admiring t
K A I D AKorra’s growl is cold and deadly, silencing the entire forest and everything in it. Everyone is on edge… Jace, Valerie, the others… but no one moves. No one dares to.Because we all feel it.The rage rolling off of her, thick and dangerous, her silver eyes glowing with barely restrained fury.She looks ready to kill him. Fear floods its way into my body. I knew my sister had always been dangerous. What more after all these years in captivity, what more that she is now a Lycan. Who knows the horrors she has been subjected to? Who knows what she’s seen? I no longer know what she is capable of doing, and so no matter what happens, I need to try and keep her calm.“Korra,” I say, carefully, taking a few steps towards her to try and enter her line of vision. “Please calm down…”She doesn’t look at me.She only stares at Octavius, her breathing slow for now but the longer she stares at him, the more it elevates. Her hands are clenched at her sides, shaking slightly as her body vi
K A I D A Kaida walks slowly, her arm wrapped firmly around Korra’s waist, supporting her sister’s weakened frame. So she seems physically strong, Kaida can pick up the faint scent of Wolfsbane off her, it was all over the cell as well and Kaida is certain Lucien had flooded the air with it to keep her abilities suppressed."Are you okay...?" Kaida asks worriedly, being sure to keep her sister steady and maintain her balance."I'm okay... I just need fresh air..." She answers, her voice hoarse as she lets out slow breaths.Korra is strong... stronger than her. Kaida has always known that, but right now, her body trembles with every step, her muscles struggling to carry her after years in captivity. Her once-powerful stance is reduced to unsteady footing, her breathing laboured.Still, she is here. She is alive.That’s all that matters.Kaida tightens her grip, feeling Korra lean into her slightly as they make their way toward the others. Her sister is unbroken, but she is not unscath
K A I D A I don’t stop running. My breath is sharp, my pulse erratic, my mind locked onto a single thought: She’s here. The scent is pulling me forward, leading me deeper into the ruins, past the crumbling stone and the echoes of battle still raging behind me. I know Octavius and the others are fighting, I know we haven’t won yet—but none of that matters right now. Because I can feel it. My sister. Somewhere in this hell, Korra is alive. A snarl rips through the air. Two wolves leap at me from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. I react on instinct. The first one lunges for my throat, but I’m faster. I drop low, twisting under him before grabbing his hind leg mid-air and swinging him into the ruins. His body crashes through the stone, debris collapsing over him. The second wolf is already coming for me. Teeth bared. Claws slashing. I meet him head-on, our bodies colliding in a brutal clash of muscle and rage. He’s strong. But I’m stronger. He slashes at my