I couldn't move. In sheer shock, I'm left staring at Alpha Thorran's unconscious body slumped backward on the couch. His eyes are rolled back, his mouth parted, hopefully still taking in air. I'm unsure what to do, my entire body shaking in pure fear. What just happened? Is he still alive? I can see his chest moving slightly, but I'm not sure how long that is going to last. Standing up, my legs feel as if they are going to collapse at any moment. If someone walks in, they are going to see my Alpha, looking as if I've injured him myself. A Silent would surely kill me in this moment. I lean my ear over his mouth, hoping to hear his breathing. He still is, but barely, the sound low and soft. Reaching out, I go to check for his pulse. "Don't touch him," a sharp voice utters from the door. I whirl around, and Jake stands there, glaring at me. "If you leave any trace of yourself on him, people will catch you. The Silent's will. They have technology." I place my hand over my heart, sta
I was extremely afraid of where this was going to end. Thorran didn’t turn around to look at me as he was simply leading me away and out of the gym. I stared at his back for the longest time, wishing I could turn and escape from the situation I was being lead into. I was so afraid he was going to drag me into a dark room and force me to admit that I had snuck into his room a few nights ago. Each muscle under his shirt seemed to shift and move under his unreasonably tight shirt, like some kind of taunt. I had no clue what we were doing, all I know, was that I had to get through it. I came here to win, and as much as I had been lead off track knowing Thorran was busy trying to find his lost mother, I wanted to get through this. I want to be an Assassin. Thorran led me into a corridor off the side of the gym. Still, he didn’t utter a single words, not even checking to see if I was following him. Of course, I indeed followed him because what was the other choice. We went into relativ
Brutal.Brutal was the first word that came to mind once those words left his mouth. Initially, there was no way I was about to believe him. As far as I was aware, we weren't even halfway through the competition, so with him saying that I assumed immediately this was some kind of test to gauge my reaction.As serious as Thorran was, I wouldn't put it past him to use this as a test against us all. Swallowing uncomfortably, I lean back in my chair, refusing to look affected by this. I couldn't believe him, and I wouldn't believe him.When I don't react, a small smile comes across Thorran's features, and I'm sure in that moment that I've cracked him. He can't convince me of something too ridiculous."You don't believe me, do you?"Crossing my arms over my chest, I look at him as if he's crazy. He is foolish for thinking he could trick me, considering how many are left in the competition. There is no way each one of us will be offered a position as a Silent. And after what has happened re
I seriously hated the idea of being alone with Blue. With Thorran gone, quiet has fallen over the group. The look in Blue's eyes is so intense, I have to look anywhere but him. Out of all these Silent's, it's surprisingly the one I know who frightens me the most. Now that Thorran has left, most of them turn to each other to mutter under their breath, whereas Blue concentrates on only me. "Come outside with me," Blue says in a way that is less of an offering and more of a demand. I bristle, however, I don't react with anything other than a nod. "I want to test your skills to see what we have to work with." I'm not sure if he has the authority to make me do this, however, no one else seems to be questioning him. In fact, no one else wants any part of it. So I have no other choice. Wordlessly I follow him out of the building, glaring at his back. He takes me to the back field of the institute where the old buildings I occupied just last night stand. Strangely, everything is dead qui
The night came by quickly. Thorran went back to his own manor, leaving us in temporary housing for the night before we would be shipped off elsewhere in the morning. Drayton and I returned to our rooms after we were fed dinner in the Assassin's building which had once been where the trainers resided. It was beyond awkward sitting with them all. They talked between themselves about things I wasn't clued in on. Drayton kept to himself on the other end of the table and I did the same. I kept my head down, eating my dinner quickly before running back to my room. Looke, or Blue wasn't at dinner. Naturally, I'm assuming Thorran has found out and is sending him into the depths of prison right now. Or something like that. I really really hope that's not the case. Once I made it back to my room, I closed my door and fell onto my bed. Today has been a long day. I found out I won this entire competition right next to Drayton, and that an old friend of mine is here for me. Why exactly, I sti
I didn't have time to question my dreams the next day. A Assassin whose name I don't know knocked on my door and demanded I get up and met everyone on the front field. I barely had time to get myself together, throw my hair into a ponytail before I grabbed my things and left. Once I closed the door to my room, I realise this is the last time I'll be here. The last time I'll know what is coming next. I didn't see Drayton on my way there, which is a small mercy. Now I'm assuming he's going to try stay far away from me after I tried to find out more about his past. I'm going to take a step back now. He's not the important one. As I walk down the hallway, Thorran lingering on my mind, I can almost feel myself being watched. Not in person though, but something beyond, watching my every move and waiting for me to make a mistake. It was no coincidence that Shinee haunted my dreams last night. All the Assassin's stood in a group when I made it to the field. They all turned to look at me
I couldn't get to Looke from here. Everyone crowded around him, asking him where he has been. He must be fairly popular if everyone is so interested in where he has been. Of course, they refer to him as Blue, the name he has gone by thus far as a Assassin. It reminds me to keep my mouth shut on what I know and others don't. So without anyone noticing me, I back away from the group and slink back to my tent. When I glance over my shoulder Thorran is watching me, but luckily he doesn't question it, most likely assuming I'm just tired. As I zip up my tent and crawl under my blankets, I plot my plan within my head. There is no way I'm sleeping through the night without finding out where Looke has been. So I wait. With time, I can hear everyone else getting into their tents, conversations outside starting to cease. When all is quiet, I slowly sneak out, the grass slick with dew wetting my hands and knees before I get to my feet. Looking around the campsite, I see an unfamiliar tent t
Looke paid me no mind the next morning.We packed up all our belongings and started our walk again. Looke didn't come near me, and I didn't come near him. He walked at the front of the group and I stuck to the back, trying to think of how to deal with this. Should I tell someone and get him removed from the Assassins, or should I keep it to myself?It doesn't seem right to tell Thorran about it. He sacrificed everything for me. I might not agree with why he did it, and how he feels now about me, but I can't have his entire career taken from me because of a crush.I look at him up front as we walk. His head is down, staring at his feet. Everyone around us is oblivious to what happened last night. It's decided.I'll just avoid him.We were walking through the brush, pushing it out of our faces when suddenly something hit my ankle from behind, making me stumble forward and nearly fall. I managed to catch myself on the bough of a tree last minute.
The council chamber buzzed with tension as the pack leaders gathered for an emergency meeting. The news of the skirmish between Moonshadow and Nightwalker wolves had sent shockwaves through the packs, threatening to undo the fragile progress they had made.Rayka stood at the head of the room, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Sylvester was by her side, his presence a steady reminder of the unity they were fighting to preserve.“All right,” Rayka began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “I want a full report. Who was involved, and how did this happen?”A scout stepped forward, his expression grim. “The incident occurred near the southern border. A Moonshadow patrol and a Nightwalker patrol crossed paths during their rounds. They accused each other of trespassing, and things escalated into a fight. No serious injuries, but tempers flared on both sides.”“Names,” Sylvester demanded. “Who led the patrols?”The scout hesitated. “Daren for the Moonshadow patrol. Talia for the Nightwalker p
The forest was alive with the sounds of pack life as Rayka walked through the stronghold. Wolves bustled about, carrying supplies, sparring on the training grounds, or chatting in small groups. To the untrained eye, everything appeared harmonious, but Rayka’s instincts told her otherwise. There was a tension in the air, subtle yet unmistakable—a quiet unease rippling through her people. Sylvester met her at the edge of the training field, his brow furrowed. “Do you feel it too?” he asked without preamble. Rayka nodded, her gaze sweeping over the busy grounds. “Something’s off. I’ve heard murmurs—discontent, whispers of doubt. It’s not open rebellion, but it’s there.” Sylvester’s jaw tightened. “Any idea where it’s coming from?” “Not yet,” Rayka admitted. “But I’m going to find out.”
The morning sunlight spilled across the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, bathing the forest in golden light. The sounds of nature surrounded the settlement—chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the soft murmurs of pack life. For once, there were no urgent meetings, no strategies to plan, and no enemies at the border. It was a rare day of peace, and Rayka intended to savor every second of it.Rayka stood in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves as she examined the collection of ingredients in front of her. Cooking wasn’t something she often had time for, but today she decided to indulge herself. Kael’s soft coos echoed from his crib in the corner of the room, bringing a smile to her face.“Are you sure you remember how to do this?” Sylvester teased from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.Rayka shot him a mock glare. “I might not be a master chef, but I can manage breakfast without setting the place on fire.”
The air in the Moonshadow Pack’s territory carried a quiet peace that felt foreign after so much conflict. For the first time in years, Rayka allowed herself a moment to breathe, her shoulders no longer heavy with the constant weight of impending battles. Yet the scars of their struggles remained etched into the land, their people, and her heart.Sylvester leaned against the doorway of their shared quarters, the healing wound on his side a stark reminder of how close they had come to losing everything. His presence was a quiet reassurance, a steady force beside her as they faced this new chapter together.“Morning already?” he asked, his voice low but warm.Rayka nodded, glancing at the horizon where the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the dense forest. “A new day,” she murmured. “A new era.”Sylvester stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. “And what kind of leaders will we be in this era, Rayka?”“The kind who learn from the past but don’t let it define us,” she replied without
The prophecy had haunted Rayka since the moment it had been uttered. The old seer’s voice echoed in her mind, a chilling combination of truth and warning: “Under the blood moon’s shadow, a bond shall be tested, a leader shall fall, and a child’s cry shall signal the dawn of a new fate." For weeks, the pack had lived in the shadow of these words, their meaning elusive yet ever-present. Rayka tried to convince herself that they were mere ramblings, but as the pieces of their world began to align in ways she couldn’t ignore, she feared that fate was finally calling its due.The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, jagged shadows across the forest. Rayka stood on the high balcony of the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Sylvester joined her, his steps silent but his presence unmistakable. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm despite the chill in the air.“The scouts reported movements near the western border,” Sylvester said, his voice h
The dawn broke over the forest, a hesitant light filtering through the trees as if wary of what it might find below. Rayka stood on the balcony of their stronghold, the cool morning breeze brushing her face. From her vantage point, she observed the daily bustle of the pack below. Yet, a gnawing unease had taken root in her heart, one that Sylvester had voiced just the night before.“You feel it too, don’t you?” Sylvester’s voice cut through the quiet. He approached from behind, his presence grounding yet tinged with the same worry that plagued her.“Yes,” Rayka admitted, her gaze fixed on the training grounds where warriors sparred. “Something’s not right. There’s a disconnect, a tension I can’t quite place.”Sylvester leaned against the railing, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. “We’ve been so focused on external threats, perhaps we’ve neglected what’s been festering within.”Their suspicions were confirmed later that day during a council meeting. The room was filled with voices, som
The air was heavy with tension as Rayka and Sylvester arrived at the neutral territory where the meeting was set to take place. This stretch of forest, untouched by either pack or faction, had served as a sanctuary for those unwilling to take sides in the recent conflict. The trees stood tall and ancient, their intertwined branches creating a canopy that muted the afternoon light. It was a place steeped in history, where deals had been struck and truces forged over centuries.Sylvester stepped ahead, his eyes scanning the dense underbrush for signs of movement. "I don’t like this," he murmured, his voice low enough for only Rayka to hear."I don’t either," Rayka replied, her gaze fixed on the clearing ahead. "But if there’s a chance to secure their support, we have to take it."The "they" in question were the Silver Veil, a reclusive and enigmatic group that had always remained on the periphery of pack politics. Neither fully aligned with the dominant factions nor entirely independent
The battle's aftermath left a silence that felt foreign, almost unnerving. Rayka stood atop a ridge overlooking the main settlement of their pack, the soft orange hues of dawn casting long shadows over the valley. For years, conflict had been her constant companion—each victory accompanied by loss, each step forward shadowed by doubt. Now, as the dust settled and the echoes of war faded, she realized that peace was an even more daunting challenge.The village below bore the scars of their struggles. Buildings stood in varying states of disrepair, some barely more than skeletons of wood and stone. People moved through the streets, their steps heavy with fatigue but underlined with determination. For every broken window, there was a group working to patch it. For every torn banner, there was someone sewing it anew.Sylvester joined her, his quiet presence a balm to her restless thoughts. "It’s a strange sight, isn’t it?" he murmured, his voice low as if unwilling to disturb the fragile s
The aftermath of battle hung over the battlefield like an oppressive shroud. Smoke coiled into the air, rising from the scorched earth, and the groans of the wounded were muffled by the crunch of boots over broken ground. Rayka and Sylvester stood on a ridge overlooking the smoldering remains of the battlefield, their eyes scanning the horizon for signs of enemy movement.The tension was palpable, the allied forces weary but prepared for another clash.“They’ve gone quiet,” Sylvester remarked, his sharp eyes darting toward the distant enemy camp. “Too quiet.”Rayka nodded, her instincts buzzing with unease. “It’s not like them to retreat without regrouping. Something’s not right.”As if to punctuate her words, a lone figure emerged from the enemy’s camp, holding a white flag high above their head. The sight drew murmurs from the allied forces, the realization spreading through their ranks like wi