MasukThe world slowed to a terrifying stop, and instantly, all sounds became muffled around him as his gaze held the carriage door, unmoving. Behind him, hurried hoof beats shattered the silence, but Regaleon did not hear it. Shane and Garett, who had been following in hot pursuit, emerged through the thinning mist, but the instant the dreadful scene revealed itself to them, the urgency in their voice died before they could even release it. “Alpha…” Shane started to speak but held himself as his eyes caught and narrowed at Regaleon.Neither he nor Garett had expected to see their King frozen before an abandoned carriage despite the devastating sight. Yet, neither dared to disturb him further, especially when Shane caught the black crest on the carriage door. Shane only gestured at Garett, halting him from speaking, but even the movement barely registered with Regaleon as he silently descended from Midnight, his boots meeting the blood-soaked earth without haste.As he walked toward the
The Rogue Lands had always been the personification of danger for all who ventured into it.It was a land untouched by civilization, ruled by rogue clans… outlaws that believed that conquest was the only law worth obeying; that leadership belonged to the strongest, and ruthlessness was mercy for the weak.Kingdoms had attempted to conquer the Rogue Lands for centuries, yet, every campaign ended the same way… with retreat.This was because the outlaws knew the terrain better than any invading army ever could, forcing neighboring kingdoms to abandon the dream altogether.Borders were instead established, guarded day and night by sentinels tasked with ensuring the outlaws remained within their untamed wilderness.But the outlaws had never sought expansion beyond those borders. They relished their freedom too greatly to give it up for greed. Instead, they turned the wilderness into a land where no crown ruled, no laws existed, and survival alone determined a man’s worth.As a result of th
For several moments after Lord Cedric left, no one spoke. It was almost as though he had taken the very air within the meeting chamber with him. Only the first rays of sunlight creeping through the stained-glass windows, washing the mahogany table in streaks of amber and crimson, dared disturb the silence. Soon enough, the sound of food carts slowly broke the silence as maidens trooped into the chamber to serve tea. But the group were still much too stunned to react. The Chief Justice was the first to recover. He pushed up his spectacles before he slowly picked up the porcelain cup to his lips, and when he brought it down, he stood. “Until Veil Night.” He said at last and picked up the parchment. “I will hold this as evidence.” Then, he made his way toward the doors. The High Treasurer followed soon after, straightening the embroidered cuffs of his robes. His emotionless farcade more evident than ever. With just Elder Montclair and Greyson now left, neither spoke immediatel
For one extended heartbeat, no one spoke while Elder Montclair’s words settled slowly over the meeting chamber like an unseen noose, tightening around every throat present.Perhaps… It is time Wolfsbane remembered that no bloodline is irreplaceable. The silence that followed was unlike any that had settled over the room before, even with the Lord Marshal’s icy presence. It had slowed the space to an abrupt stop.Then, all at once, the ice shattered brutally.“What—did you just say?” Despite the sudden raise in his voice, it wavered slightly as his slender fingers instinctively tightened around the bridge of his spectacles, as though he questioned whether his ears had deceived him.“Did you know the implications of what you just said?”Beneath his spectacles, his eyes bulged. Perhaps from shock…
It was Lord Marshal Cedric Mikaelson, military commander of Wolfsbane.The man whose loyalty belonged neither to politics nor ambition; only to the crown, and his presence alone in that meeting chamber was enough to change the atmosphere.The Chief Justice straightened instinctively. Even the High Treasurer’s expression shifted. Neither had expected the fifth person to be none other than the Lord Marshal himself, because Lord Cedric answered to no one but the crown.“You dragged me away from my officers.” His voice was deep with a hostile coldness seeping out of his narrowed gaze. “This had better be true, because if I’ve marched across half the capital because of another rumour…”Cedric let the sentence hang, and his gaze grew piercing. “...someone in this room will regret wasting my time.”For a second, no one moved or said anything. Except for Elder Montclair an
House Montclair stood proud and regal underneath the dawning sky, and within, the meeting chamber remained dim, brightened by the large chandelier of candles that drooped down in the middle of the room, and the sets of candles that were placed in wall sconces.Beneath the chandelier was a pentagon-shaped mahogany table with five seats strategically placed at each side around the polished table, though only four seats were occupied.Among the four occupied seats, Elder Greyson sat smugly, resting one arm against the chair as his fingers drummed an impatient rhythm.Opposite him sat the Chief Justice with spectacles balanced low upon his nose as he re-read the parchment in his hand for what must have been the third time, and beside him, the High Treasurer remained silent, his expression unreadable.At the head of the table, Elder Montclair simply watched. Since his guests had arrived, he hadn’t uttered a word or moved from his
Maera froze as a sharp intake of breath from the other maidens followed. “Forgive me, my lady, but that… that won’t be possible,” She said, carefully choosing her words this time. “You cannot approach his Majesty unless summoned.” Fenris scoffed. He can’t be serious, can he… really? Only one way
Beautiful. She breathed as her face caught the silver glow. The full moon shone brightly at its peak, but like every other full moon, the ache began. It started deep within her bones; a slow, crawling soreness that spread through her body. The dull but consistent pressure in her mind un
The gala dragged on in a blur. By then, the heavy silence had lifted, replaced by lively music that soon filled the hall with laughter, and little by little, the noise grew again. However, it never changed the assessing and scrutinizing eyes fixed on Lillia. After she sat, the herald
The sun had long dipped below the horizon, leaving the castle bathed in the soft, amber glow of lanterns, and Lillia stood before the mirror, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, gleaming like threads of moonlight as she watched her reflection. She was no more the fragile girl who had fal







