The Outland Novels & Stories

Narrator- Ben entered a mud hut covered with bamboo and straw, which served as the local social establishment for the closest hybrid village near the pack. When the elderly wolf entered the dark space lighted only by candles and handmade wax lamps, he still wore his cowboy style hat, which covered his silver white hair, and provided a dark shield for his pupils which carefully looked from left to right while he made his way to the bar.

We were watching TV one day when one of us accidentally changed the channel to an interview with a pilgrim. It was Morgan. He looked like he'd aged decades. He was so worn that I almost couldn't recognize him. The footage showed him chanting while worshiping at the feet of the gods he was praying to. I was taken aback and dazed by this. He'd never believed in these things in the past, even casting aside the protective talisman I'd gotten him. Now, however, he sincerely got on his knees and bowed before the gods.

"Valentina, I'll save the head seat at the table for you this time. As long as you're willing to come back, you'll be the most celebrated daughter in this family." I stared at the screen, finding it nothing short of absurd. "Don't bother. That seat's always been meant for family. An outsider like me who's beneath a rat has no business showing up and being an eyesore." Next, a heavy parcel arrived from Fabio. Inside was the family crest pin, the very one I'd once begged for and never received, the emblem that marked a core member of the Coppola family. The accompanying note merely read, "I'm sorry about everything I did. This should have been yours all along."

The hilltop, once just a place of memories, now stands as the site of my rebirth. I flex my claws, feeling the power surge with each movement. The others gather themselves, some struggling to stay upright, but I stand tall. I am Caden, yes, but I am also the heir, the alpha’s son, the vessel of Fenrir's might. Tonight, I have crossed a threshold. There is no going back.

“Just hold on.” Lilith stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Emily critically. “She needs warmth, stability, and distance from this place.” Emily forced her eyes toward Lilith, her voice barely audible. “What was… that thing…?” Lilith crouched beside them, her expression grave. “A remnant. A fragment of the primordial darkness. An echo of creations older than purebloods.” Her eyes softened slightly—not with affection, but with respect. “And it was drawn to you.”

"It's a hot spring resort! Even if you ignore him, just being seen in a swimsuit is already a treat for him!" "I don't want to use the hot springs outside," Ariana said. "There's one in the room, so I'll just make do with that." "That's right," Boa said. "Don't give those nasty men any favors. Oh, and since you're in Orkney, be wary of Zane. It's practically his territory." Ariana sighed. "I've already seen him." "Damn!" Boa swore. "What happened?" Ariana explained the situation.

The pants clung pathetically to my waist before the water stripped them away, and the shirt slipped off as I propelled myself deeper, feeling the water soothe and heal me in ways I couldn't explain. Reaching the bottom, I desperately searched the trench, my gaze darting over the jagged rock formations until I spotted what I was searching for jammed within a crevice. In the human language, it would be called 'the eye of the gods' but my people called it Verzhof Annhaan. It was a unique type of coral with a silvery-blue light that pulsed like a heart. It looked alive, always, like it was waiting for troubled souls like me who desperately needed the familiarity of home.

I looked at the seagulls soaring freely by the sea and casually replied, "That's not my problem." "Can you stop causing trouble, Heidi? We're all exhausted from the four-hour drive. Just book the dinner already, or I'll really get mad!" Mom said. I chuckled without a care. "Go ahead and get mad then. It'd be best if you throw a tantrum so everyone can see how Mrs. Lewis couldn't even afford a meal." Mom's breathing grew quicker from anger, yet she dared not raise her voice anymore. "I won't argue with you this time. Madie and Fable wanted to try heli-skiing, go and arrange it for them."

~ Caelum ~ I stood on the balcony of the Citadel and looked out over the peaks of the Bloodthorn territory. The cold wind hit my skin, but I didn't move. "The rogues are becoming a problem, Caelum," my father said from the doorway. I didn't turn around. I didn't need to look at him to know his expression. "They're hungry, Father," I said, "and hungry people are always a problem." "They're rats," he countered, and I heard his boots on the stone floor as he walked closer. "There’s a settlement in the Outlands. I want you to go there and end it."

Seeing this, I leave. While walking through the dark hallways, I make my way back to my command center. Walking up the stairs, I stop and stand at the top where I can see all the monitors as they record everything happening in the city. As I check the monitors, I see the ones I have installed in the OutPost. “Strange,” I think, seeing the Outcasts all standing in a circle. They seem to be discussing something. “What’s going on?” I bring up my wrist and press a button on my remote controller. Activating the audio on my spy cameras, I listen in on the OutCasts.