Survivors of the fallen packs.These words continue to hover in Rhea's mind, taking her attention for the rest of the morning, to the point that she's completely oblivious to her surroundings. Since Rhea discovered that there were many children living in that orphanage, and that many others had lost their lives for being children of fallen alphas… A persistent knot has been in her throat.Is there something I can do to change this…?Rhea wrinkles her lips and a sigh escapes through them… But before any whimper becomes audible, she notices a sudden movement on the horizon, several men carrying timbers and setting up some sort of platform that took shape quickly, as she's sure that the day before there wasn't something like this.“Atria?” She calls to the nearest Lycan, without taking her eyes off those men who seem engaged to building.“Yes, my Queen?”“Is there something going on that I'm not aware of?”Atria stops beside Rhea, following the Queen's eyes that are beyond the horizon….
I can't believe it… I can't believe it — Rhea tries to find the reason, tries to understand why her fingertips are bloody… How did she hurt him like that? Where did it come from… that growl?Her heel screws into a hole, and she goes down, scratching her knees on the stone floor, which she finally notices that doesn't belong to the palace surroundings… She's in the city, on the streets away from the Main Avenue.How the hell did I get here? She thinks, in despair, looking around, trying to appease the heart that's beating desperately in her chest, so hard that it seems about to tear through her chest.Rhea looks down at her hands open on the floor, at Callisto's blood that’s still on her skin, staining her fingers, under the nails that have become sharp like a wolf's.A wolf.She feels the cry loose from her throat, as well as a tear trickling from the corner of her eye, quickly losing itself down her contorted face.It doesn't make sense...... It doesn't make any sense! I shouldn't ha
Rhea's heart beats so hard, she fears that the seemingly blind creature might hear it and feel even more spurred to attack. But even if she could stop the vicious beating, it wouldn't help because the smell of her blood is tempting the beast. She tries to drag herself across the sandy ground, doing her best to make sure no desperate grunts, no sounds escape through her lips, even if she's hurting herself by brushing her fragile skin against stones. Her eyes are wet, but she refuses to cry out for the mercy of the Moon Goddess, who has laid such a horrible curse on her poor existence. However, when the creature's feet hit the ground hard and kick up more dust, a stubborn tear trickles down her cheek — which she quickly wipes away, dirtying her face. The creature roars loudly, chilling Rhea's skin, causing her to immediately freeze. Her whole body is shaking, and even though her mind is screaming, begging to get on her feet and run, reason is telling her the obvious truth: there's no
Long ago, when the universe was still in its beginning, the Moon Goddess committed the sin of falling in love with a human. Even though she was betrothed to the God of Beasts, she couldn't stop her feelings from taking root, strong as those of the Tree of Life. She was willing to give up her divinity to stand by her beloved… However, the Beast God felt betrayed and humiliated.In order to punish them, the Beast God cast a curse on the man and made him become a beast. That way, whenever night came and the Moon Goddess went to visit him, the man would become a bloodthirsty beast that wouldn't recognize anyone until dawn rose. However, true love cannot be destroyed by evil deeds. The man's feelings weren't broken, even if he transformed into a wolf against his will, every night for the rest of his miserable life.The Moon Goddess's love for her beloved was not weakened either. Quite the opposite. The beauty and persistence of her love were transformative. Even though things were tough, t
“The Oracle of the Goddess made the decision and chose the next mate for the new Lycan King, Callisto del Amathea.” The Priestess' voice echoes stately and graceful through the High Dome, decreeing the fate of one of the fifty mateless young wolves.Ever since the new Lycan King ascended the throne and bloodily took the crown from his father's head, all mateless young wolves, nobles or commoners, have been summoned to the High Dome. And just like the other times, one of them will be chosen to be the new Lycan's Queen.However, despite the flashy title, this one can be considered a death sentence — that's because the hatred that Lycans have for Werewolves is well known. The hostility between the races is sung even in lullabies. For a wolf to abandon its customs and beliefs like this… to leave their home and move to a completely hostile place, where their suffering is most likely craved… It's frightening. Unfortunately, even if these wolves’ rebel against the decree and try to escape… t
The carriage swung over a root of an old, centuries-old oak tree, making Rhea jump uncomfortably inside. It's been a few hours since she left the High Dome, which is in the center of the Sacred Forest, considered neutral territory.The south beyond the Sacred Forest is called the Bestiary Continent — where all the most feared creatures exist. And after the War, when the Lycans were banished to the south because of their extremely violent behavior and for denying their origins, they had to rebuild their territory in those arid lands, almost abandoned by the Goddess.Now, Rhea is passing through the Sacred Forest, heading south, where she will live for the rest of her days. She has never visited the Bestiary Continent because the rumors about it are terrifying. In fact, Rhea was barely able to visit her own land, as she was locked in her chambers most of her life. She's a cursed child, after all.As the carriage passes past the centuries-old oak trees, an intense sunlight shines through
The palace doors open for Callisto to enter the main hall. Even those who are already used to the sight are surprised to see it that way. His abs are completely stained with blood, as are his hands. There's even a bloodstain on his face, making those around him even more fearful.Everyone has drooping shoulders and bowed heads because Callisto's eyes alone are extremely terrifying. The yellow that glows in the irises, even when untransformed, is enough to bring nightmares to the most sensitive ones. But the real problem is Callisto's pheromones, which prove that he has been taking lives a while ago.“Callisto… could you stop those pheromones? You're scaring everyone.” Skôll calls out to him, arms crossed. His blue eyes also look as cold as glaciers.Callisto cleans the blood stain on his face and controls the pheromones, eliciting relieved sighs from the others, who quickly leave the room to leave them alone.“So… how are things in the far south?” Skôll studies him attentively, seeing
Two girls who appear to be Rhea's age approach, wearing white dresses that contrast with the beauty of tanned skin; they're also short and with thin straps, with fabrics as light as silk; after all, the sun is intense, and the heat is almost suffocating. Even though Rhea searches for the lightest clothes she's brought in her luggage, they're still too hot.They approach and make a stiff reference, copying the one Rhea made when she first arrived. She suppresses a sweet smile at the girls' efforts to make her feel comfortable. But this is no longer necessary. From the moment Rhea was chosen to be Callisto's Luna, she decided to leave behind her kingdom and her customs.It's not like she cares too much about where she came from too… since the beginning, all those people have caused her is pain. Why would she hold so tight to a rose when the thorns are bleeding her hand? Its beauty does not make up for the wounds made by it.“My Queen, the King ordered us to come and help you get dressed