Lyra closed the leather-bound notebook, her eyes gleaming with a sharp glint.
“Whoever’s behind this won’t sit still once they learn we’ve found a way to suppress the toxin,” she said, her voice calm but edged with the quiet authority of a true leader. “We can use that to our advantage, turn the tables, lure them out, and capture them.”Raven crossed his arms, his gaze locked on Lyra’s face, deep and unreadable.“So, what do you propose we do?”Without hesitation, Lyra explained,“We simply spread word that we’ve discovered a cure for thanorite poisoning, and that the cure involves Glacialis Herba. The missing pages from Luna Donna’s journal contained this information, so the culprit is likely aware of its properties.”She lifted her chin, her eyes glowing in the darkness.“Have your people spread rumors that Ivyshade still has a small amount of dried Glacialis Herba stored. Not much, but just enough to halt the spread of the outbreak in Blood Moon.”Lyra closed the leather-bound notebook, her eyes gleaming with a sharp glint.“Whoever’s behind this won’t sit still once they learn we’ve found a way to suppress the toxin,” she said, her voice calm but edged with the quiet authority of a true leader. “We can use that to our advantage, turn the tables, lure them out, and capture them.”Raven crossed his arms, his gaze locked on Lyra’s face, deep and unreadable.“So, what do you propose we do?”Without hesitation, Lyra explained,“We simply spread word that we’ve discovered a cure for thanorite poisoning, and that the cure involves Glacialis Herba. The missing pages from Luna Donna’s journal contained this information, so the culprit is likely aware of its properties.”She lifted her chin, her eyes glowing in the darkness.“Have your people spread rumors that Ivyshade still has a small amount of dried Glacialis Herba stored. Not much, but just enough to halt the spread of the outbreak in Blood Moon.”
After breakfast, Lyra's complexion gradually returned to a healthier hue. The dull ache in her chest that had flared with each deep breath had subsided. Though still a little fatigued, her mind was noticeably clearer.With her body no longer a hindrance, she returned to her work - finding a way to neutralize the poison of thanorite.Throughout the long day, she tirelessly repeated the process of channeling her unique ability. At last, she pierced through the thick fog and glimpsed the radiant light of truth.At that moment, three steady knocks sounded on the door.“Luna, Alpha Raven has arrived,” a servant said softly from outside. “He said he’s here to collect the antidote.”Lyra started slightly, only then realizing night had already fallen.She nodded. “Let him in.”Less than a minute later, Raven stepped inside. He wore a simple black wool cloak, its high collar turned up. His hair, tousled by the wind, fell slightly over his forehead, accentuating hi
Lyra lowered her eyes, her voice tinged with frustration:"I didn’t do it to prove anything. And it wasn’t to make anyone worry."She paused, adjusted her breathing, then continued:"At Vinterfall Spring, I discovered a mineral called Thanorite. That’s what’s contaminating the water."Raven frowned. That name was unfamiliar. “Thanorite?”“It’s an extremely rare mineral, but highly toxic with prolonged exposure, especially in humid environments,” Lyra looked him straight in the eye. “It doesn’t kill immediately. Instead, it silently destroys the nervous system, weakens werewolves, and eventually leads to death through sheer exhaustion. It’s the cause of what you call the Black Marrow Blight.”Raven’s eyes darkened. “Are you sure?”Lyra didn’t answer right away. Instead, she quietly stood up and walked toward the corner of the room, where she had turned a desk and shelves into a makeshift laboratory.But just as she rose, a wave of dizziness hit her. He
But right after that, a wave of intense dizziness hit her. Lyra felt her head spinning, her vision blurring as if shrouded by a thick fog. Her breaths came in short gasps, and her chest felt heavy, as though someone was pressing down on it. Her legs could no longer hold her up, and her entire body swayed like a dry leaf caught in the wind.She collapsed, her hand reaching for the edge of the table but missing it. Just before the impact with the floor, a pair of strong, warm arms caught her.There was no sound of pain, only the familiar scent of pinewood and the calming rhythm of steady breathing.In her haze, Lyra could feel the firmness of a chest beneath her cheek, the steady heartbeat whispering to her: she wasn’t alone.Then the darkness swallowed everything.As for Raven, after leaving the guesthouse, he didn’t return to rest. Instead, he walked alone through the pack’s garden.Every step felt heavy, as though each one dragged along a chain of unsha
Raven led the council of elders to the guesthouse gate. His guards followed silently like shadows, the tense atmosphere freezing the entire courtyard.Lyra stood waiting just inside, as if she had known they would come.Raven stepped forward, lifting his eyes to meet hers. He inclined his body slightly, placing one hand over his heart in the traditional gesture of respect.“Luna Lyra, on behalf of the Blood Moon Pack, I have come to apologize for the previous offense.”Lyra said nothing. Her cold gaze swept over the group behind Raven, then settled on his steady eyes. There was no anger, no resentment, but the distance between them felt like a thick fog veiling everything.Raven extended a rolled parchment.“Luna, this is a token of Blood Moon’s goodwill. I hope you’ll overlook our past misunderstandings.”Lyra took the scroll and calmly unrolled it. Her eyes moved quickly over the bold, decisive handwriting.“The Blood Moon Pack agrees to extend the
Raven led the group back into the meeting hall within the pack house. The wooden doors slammed shut behind him, the deep thud swallowing all surrounding sound.Inside, the elders had just arrived. A few of them immediately stood and approached him with concern.“Alpha, are you alright? You look…”“I’m fine,” Raven cut them off, his voice low but firm. He raised a hand, signaling them to step back. “Don’t worry about my condition. There’s something more urgent we need to address.”Without waiting for any objections, he turned to his guards. “Bring in those involved in the altercation. Now.”One elder frowned. “But they’re elite warriors, perhaps…”“I said now,” Raven snapped. His eyes flashed with cold intensity.Before long, the doors opened again. Five warriors stepped inside, their expressions still tinged with defiance, but none dared to raise their heads under Raven’s gaze.“Look up,” Raven commanded, standing tall like a pillar in the center of t