Sunlight streamed through the slightly open window, spilling into the room built from glossy black pinewood, dancing across Lyra’s beautiful, contemplative face.
Meala brought over a cup of floral tea and placed it gently on the table beside her.Lyra offered a gentle smile and nodded in gratitude before raising the cup to her lips. The faint scent of jasmine lingered in her mouth for a few seconds, coaxing her mind to relax under its soothing aroma.“Luna,” Meala stood beside her, slightly bowed, speaking in a warm voice. “What are your plans regarding the Blood Moon pack?”While Lyra was still lost in thought, the older woman continued,“We’ve never interacted with outsiders. For decades, apart from you, no one else has entered the depths of Moonshade Valley. Isn’t your decision this time too risky?”Lyra slowly turned the cup in her hand and replied calmly,“Aunt Meala, the Blood Moon territory contains numerous moonstone mines. I’ve heard they have soThe night at Blood Moon was eerily quiet. Outside the window, a crescent moon hung silently in the deep sky, casting a faint silver glow over the treetops.Raven lay on his bed, eyes half-closed, but he wasn’t asleep. His steady breathing was merely a facade for the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind.Lyra had returned to Blood Moon, the place where all the pain and humiliation she once endured had begun.Perhaps by now, she had remembered everything: how cruel he had been to her, and how vicious the people here had treated her.Did she hate him?He didn’t know how to face her, didn’t know what kind of gaze, what right he had to call her by name.Was she Lyra - the leader of Ivyshade, or Cara - the fated mate who once meant everything to him?The image of Lyra resolutely leaping into the abyss still haunted his dreams every night. He often wondered what she had felt in that moment, was it hatred, resentment, or sheer loathing?Draken had told her
After the grand welcoming ceremony ended, Amanda excused herself early under the pretense of poor health. She walked briskly back to the stone house nestled deep within the southern quarter of the city, her home, shared with her daughter, Evelyn.The moment the door closed behind her, Evelyn flew down the stairs like a storm. As soon as she saw her mother, she grabbed her arm tightly, her voice sharp and frantic like a small animal driven into a corner."Mother, the servants said the Luna of Ivyshade is Cara. That wretched bitch, it's her, isn't it?"Her eyes blazed with unrestrained hatred and fury, burning like a firestorm ready to consume everything in its path.Just earlier, a servant had returned from the ceremony welcoming Alpha and the Ivyshade pack to Blood Moon. She reported that the Luna of Ivyshade looked exactly like Cara, and she was absolutely certain it could only be her, because no one but Cara had ever been allowed to ride on Alpha’s back.Amanda
Dawn had just broken when the sound of footsteps began echoing softly through the mist-covered forest. Against the pale sky, the rising sun glowed a deep crimson, like an unhealed wound, casting the entire group in a muted golden hue.After that long night, even though Lyra had confessed everything openly, Raven still insisted on carrying her on his back that morning. Simply because he couldn’t bear it. Just the sight of her riding on the back of another male wolf stirred a surge of irrational, primal rage in his chest.They continued their journey, treading over rolling hills, passing through silent ancient forests, and walking past shattered villages and the ruins of past wars.Then, one late afternoon, as the last rays of sunlight slipped from the treetops, the group came to a halt on a high slope. Before them, nestled in a vast valley, lay the territory of the Blood Moon pack, a land sprawling at the foot of the mountains, where gray stone houses stood interwoven wit
After the earth-shaking howl, Raven gracefully leapt down from the high cliff. His body slowly shifted back into human form, the crimson light gradually retreating from each strand of wolf fur, returning his sun-kissed skin and powerful build. But the light in his eyes remained, the light of power, and of a heart ablaze with love and gratitude.He donned his armor once more and strode steadily toward where Lyra still stood. When only an arm’s length separated them, Raven stopped. His back was straight, his face calm, but storms raged in his eyes."Lyra," he spoke in a low, steady voice, filled with both gratitude and yearning. "Thank you. For everything."Lyra gave no reply. She stood still, arms relaxed at her sides, her expression as tranquil as an undisturbed lake. She didn’t deny her contribution, but neither did she show any joy over his triumph.Raven stepped forward again, his gaze tender, like a warm blanket offered in the depths of winter."I know… I hur
Raven gently led Lyra out of the cave once more. The moonlight bathed them in a soft glow, gentle as an old memory. Pointing toward the sheer cliff outside, he spoke, his voice tinged with nostalgia,“Do you remember the glittering flower? The one you named yourself. You once climbed up there, just to pick it for me.”Lyra looked up in the direction he pointed. The cliff stood tall and imposing, covered in moss and worn by time. But then, at that exact moment, both of them noticed it: on a protruding ledge near the top, a blood-red flower was in full bloom, brilliant and blazing under the moonlight. Its petals shimmered like stars, glittering magically in the night.Raven’s eyes widened in disbelief. It was a long while before he could speak.“It’s... the third one... It only bloomed now.”And in that moment, as Lyra’s gaze locked onto the glowing crimson flower, a flood of memories burst forth like a broken dam.She remembered clearly, there had been two oth
The journey from Ivyshade back to Blood Moon took nearly half a month. Treacherous terrain, erratic weather, and the countless unforeseen dangers lurking within the Gloomwood Forest posed challenges not easily overcome.The group moved in a tight formation, with Raven leading the way and Lyra seated silently on his back. Following them were warriors from both packs. The presence of Luna Ivyshade among the Blood Moon ranks made the atmosphere awkward at first, but gradually, caution gave way to curiosity and mutual observation.The Ivyshade warriors moved as silently as shadows. They barely made a sound, even while treading across dry branches or uneven gravel paths. The way they scanned the surroundings, set traps against wild beasts… it both astonished and slightly unnerved the Blood Moon fighters.Especially striking were Ivyshade’s long-range weapons. Their crossbow bolts seemed almost cursed, just a small scratch was enough to render prey immobile, making it easy for