The gifts of the Moon Goddess

Lena hesitated and then took a small sip. The warmth spread through her softening the rigor of her nerves in her chest. She set the mug down and looked at Luna Celeste "You said I have power, what do you mean?"Luna Celeste sat down in the chair across from her, and her face turned solemn. "The gifts of the Moon Goddess are rare, but she never bestows them, much like her gifts, for no reason. You were born during a blood moon, was it not?"Lena’s eyes widened. “How do you know that?”"Because it's a mark of the chosen," said Luna Celeste. "You have a connection to the Moon Goddess that hardly anyone else can claim. That's why Kade's rejection didn't totally break your connection. It's still there, right?"Lena's breath hitched. She had felt it, a faint but unbroken thread of the mate bond. "Yes," she admitted. "But what does that mean?""That means you're not just any wolf," Luna Celeste said, with a determined voice. "You are destined for something greater. But destiny does not wait.

The arrival of Elias Voss had sent a chill through her core. His reputation preceded him: a rogue Alpha with an army of wolves loyal to his every command. His silver hair flashed in the moonlight as he stood before her, and his bright eyes did not meet hers but just looked at her with mockery."So," Elias drew out, his voice a silk over steel. "This is the infamous Lena Hart, the rejected mate who thinks she can gather the lost and broken."Lena's jaw tightened. She stepped forward, holding his gaze. "Let me guess, you're the little coward who needs to prey on the weak to build your army? What do you want from me, Elias?"Elias laughed, a soft but sinister sound. "I want to see for myself if the tales are true. It's said that you have been gathering rogues and encouraging them. It is also said that you are destined for greatness. All I see is a little girl pretending to be brave."The crowd murmured, the tension thick in the air. Lena felt the weight of their doubts pressing down on h

The Enemy’s ShadowThe battlefield simmered with tension even after the last blow was struck. Wolves from both sides nursed wounds, growls lingering in the air like static. Lena shifted back into her human form, chest rising and falling, anger pulsing with every breath.Kade’s warriors formed a wary semi-circle behind him, while the rogues gathered close around Lena. No one seemed willing to look away from the treeline where Elias Voss had disappeared moments earlier after taunting them with the promise of more bloodshed.Garrick wiped blood from his jaw and muttered, “That bastard was testing our defense. He wanted to see how fast we respond.”“Yes,” Lena said sharply. “And he got exactly what he came for.”Kade glanced at her, but she didn’t acknowledge him. Her eyes stayed on the dark path Elias had retreated into.“We need to move,” she announced. “This place is compromised. He knows our formation now.”Kade stepped forward. “We can regroup and fortify it.”“No,” Lena cou

The Hostage at the GateThe courtyard buzzed with tension. Warriors moved fast, forming defensive lines, whispering orders, checking weapons. Lena pushed through them, her steps rigid and quick. Jade and Garrick flanked her while Kade, still injured, limped stubbornly behind despite every healer shouting at him to stop.“Slow down,” Kade said.“No,” Lena replied without turning. “I am not giving Elias a reason to hurt her.”“Lena,” Jade tried, “you do not even know if it is really her.”“I know,” Lena said sharply. “Elias would not risk a bluff that big.”Garrick grunted. “He would if he thought it would rattle you.”“He succeeded,” Lena said. “Do you want honesty or comfort?”Jade sighed. “Honesty. Always honesty.”They reached the outer gates. Warriors stood on the walls, bows drawn. The watch captain hurried toward them.“He is waiting outside,” she said. “He has not moved in the last three minutes.”Kade tried to step ahead of Lena, but she placed a hand on his chest. “Do not even

Lena shoved the door open and stepped into the council hall with a storm already brewing in her eyes. Half the council members stiffened. The other half stared with a mixture of confusion and open fear. Kade entered behind her, silent but impossible to ignore. His presence filled the room like a second gravity.Garrick stood at the far end of the table. “You made it,” he said, sounding relieved. “Good. We have a problem.”“We always do,” Lena replied as she slid into her seat. “Which one is it this time?”Garrick exchanged a troubled look with Mara, the oldest council member. Mara cleared her throat. “It concerns the prisoners you captured yesterday.”Lena leaned forward. “The ones we interrogated?”“Yes,” Mara said. “Two of them survived long enough to talk.”Kade’s eyes narrowed with interest. “And what exactly did they say?”“That Elias is moving again,” Garrick said. “And he is not coming alone.”A murmur broke out, chairs scraping, whispers rising. Lena held up a hand. “Quiet. Wh