My plan was set for tonight. I'm assuming it won't be difficult to get in, if it's anything like my sects residence. By the first hour of morning, everyone is in the room should be asleep, which leaves the perfect time to put my plan into fruition. Luckily, I was able to sneak the kids - whose name I learned was Jake - room number thanks to a very impressionable girl hanging around the library. Tonight, I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to find out, but hopefully it will keep me in this competition. He seems to always be hiding something, and I'm hoping it's dark and intriguing. Sneaking around the side of the building, I approach the kitchen window. As I expected, after walking past it casually today, it is slightly ajar. Perfect. It doesn't creak nor protest when I prop it open large enough for me to slip through, and onto the sleek linoleum floor. It's perfect for swallowing most of the sound of my footsteps as I step out of the kitchen and into the eating area. And much to
The moment he opens the door I regret everything. What am I thinking? Alpha Thorran trains Silent's, and here I am, trying to distract him with cupcakes while Jake sneaks in. There is no way this is going to work. Not when he in no way wants to see me, and I've snuck out. No matter how I rationalised this in my mind, seeing him makes this all seem incredibly foolish. He appears at the door himself, not having anyone else to do his bidding. Either he doesn't have staff here during the night, or at all. He seems to prefer solitude, and with all his secrets, it makes sense. At the sight of me, he looks visibly startled. Either I woke him, or he was about to sleep, with his shirtless torso and loose pants. Even his hair is mussed. As much as the sight of him elicits some feeling within me I refuse to dwell on, I know I need to appear cool and calm, the script I created still prevalent in my mind. "Hello Alpha," I say quickly, interrupting him before he can question me, or perhaps send
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
As dawn’s first light crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the Stonevale forest, an unearthly silence settled over the camp. Rayka and Sylvester could feel the weight of Bael’s betrayal bearing down on them. Their alliance with Stonevale was more fragile than ever, and the threat of the Steelclaws loomed dangerously close. Just as they were about to join Thorne for a strategy meeting, an elder wolf, bent and cloaked in heavy robes, shuffled into their path. “Alpha Rayka, Alpha Sylvester,” the elder rasped, her voice as brittle as dry leaves. Rayka blinked, taken aback. She hadn’t seen this wolf before; her fur was a grizzled silver, and her eyes were clouded with age. She leaned heavily on a twisted cane, her steps slow but deliberate. Sylvester tensed, recognizing her as a seer—a figure of reverence and mystery among the packs, rumored to carry glimpses of the past and future. The elder’s gaze fixed on them, though her eyes seemed to look beyond, as if she saw things
The atmosphere in the Stonevale territory was tense, the air filled with the weight of recent battles and hard-won alliances. Rayka and Sylvester had just returned from a skirmish with the Steelclaws, the relief of victory tempered by a newfound alliance with Stonevale. It had taken all their strength and diplomacy to secure this partnership, and now that they had it, they knew the cost of failure was even higher.Rayka sensed the underlying unrest even as they met with Thorne and his senior advisors, sitting around a council fire deep within the Stonevale woods. Stonevale’s warriors watched with wary eyes, their trust in the Moonshadow Pack still fragile, and rightly so. Only days earlier, their neutrality had been threatened, and whispers of betrayal still lingered.As the meeting began, Thorne addressed the tension, his voice somber. “It has come to my attention that some of my own pack members are not entirely pleased with our alliance. Their discontent runs deeper than I realized
As dawn broke over the Moonshadow territory, a renewed sense of purpose filled the air. Rayka and Sylvester had spent the last few days recovering from the battle, but they knew that rest would have to wait. The Steelclaws’ persistent threat lingered, and they had only narrowly managed to hold their ground. Now, they needed something more—a definitive edge that could help them secure the future of their pack.Rayka looked at Sylvester as they stood on a ridge overlooking the northern forest. “We can’t keep fighting like this, Sylvester. We need allies—someone strong enough to counterbalance Mordaen’s forces.”Sylvester nodded, his gaze scanning the horizon. “Agreed. The question is, who can we turn to? Most of the nearby packs have already chosen a side, either with us or the Steelclaws.”Rayka's eyes sharpened with resolve. “Then it’s time we approach a neutral pack.”There was only one group that had the power and resources to truly tip the scales in their favor. Known as the Stonev
The day had dawned with a clarity that brought both hope and trepidation to Rayka and Sylvester. As they prepared to leave for the council meeting with the neighboring packs, the weight of their responsibilities pressed down on them, thicker than ever. The looming threat of the Steelclaws remained, but today was a pivotal moment—one that could shape the future of the Moonshadow Pack and their allies.Rayka paced the small tent that had become a temporary command center for their operations. Maps sprawled across a table, markers indicating pack territories and possible routes of Steelclaw incursions. Sylvester stood by the entrance, scanning the horizon as if anticipating trouble. “We need to ensure that our presence is felt at this council,” Rayka said, her voice steady but charged with urgency. “If we can unite our packs against the Steelclaws, we can show them that they’re outnumbered and outmatched.”Sylvester nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “But
The first light of dawn filtered through the dense forest surrounding the Moonshadow Pack’s territory, casting a soft, golden glow over the settlement. After the tense confrontation with Gareth, Rayka and Sylvester felt the enormity of their responsibilities settle more heavily on their shoulders. The betrayal, while quelled for the moment, had shaken the foundation of trust within the pack. As leaders, they were expected to restore stability and protect the pack’s future, yet they knew it wouldn’t be easy.For days, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. The pack’s loyalty had been tested and reaffirmed, but the whispers of unrest and doubt hadn’t entirely vanished. The Steelclaws, though momentarily pacified by Gareth’s removal, were a looming threat. Everyone sensed that the balance of power was fragile, and one misstep could bring everything crashing down.Rayka awoke that morning with a quiet resolve. She gazed over at Sylvester, who was already awake and watch
The tension following Gareth's bold challenge hadn’t yet dissipated. The air in the Moonshadow Pack's clearing was still charged with the emotions from the confrontation, with every pack member on edge, their loyalty now a silent declaration that spoke volumes. Rayka and Sylvester knew they had to act fast to prevent Gareth’s divisive rhetoric from gaining more traction. But amid the turmoil, an unexpected turn of events brought a ghost from their past back into their lives.That night, as Rayka and Sylvester retired to the strategy room, Calder and Lara followed close behind. The four of them had spent the past few days planning every angle, every possible step they could take to neutralize Gareth’s influence without alienating the pack members who had started listening to his promises. But as they were poring over the details, there was a soft knock at the door, a knock that resonated oddly in the quiet of the stronghold. Rayka exchanged a look with Sylvester be
The cool night air was thick with tension as Rayka and Sylvester paced outside the stronghold, each lost in thought, the echoes of Gareth’s defiance still ringing in their ears. The sparring display was more than a challenge to their authority—it was an open invitation to rebellion. It was only a matter of time before the pack’s younger, more ambitious members began questioning the leadership they had fought so hard to secure. Sylvester clenched his jaw, his hand reaching out instinctively to rest on Rayka’s shoulder. “We can’t let Gareth’s influence spread any further. He’s planting seeds of dissent, and they’re taking root faster than we anticipated.” Rayka nodded, her gaze fixed on the dark expanse of trees stretching beyond their territory. “He’s smart, I’ll give him that. He knows exactly what to say to stir doubts, especially with the younger wolves. They haven’t seen the battles we’ve fought or the sacrifices we’ve made. To them, Gareth’s promise
The sun bathed the vast expanse of the Moonshadow Pack’s territory in a golden glow as Rayka and Sylvester stood on the ridge, overlooking their home. The once-constant tension of leadership and impending danger had subsided for now, replaced with the quiet hum of daily life. It had been months since the final confrontation that secured their leadership and family’s future, yet the journey ahead remained far from simple. Rayka placed a gentle hand on her stomach, where the last remnants of her pregnancy had passed into memories, and now a small, healthy child awaited them at the stronghold. She could hardly believe how much had changed. The responsibilities of parenthood had transformed her, as much as it had strengthened her bond with Sylvester. Together, they had led the pack through political upheaval and personal sacrifice, and now they faced a new era—a balance of power and family, peace and vigilance. “Are you ready for another day of juggling diplomacy and diaper changes?” S
The first rays of dawn broke over the mountains, casting a golden hue across the landscape as the Moonshadow Pack stirred to life. The morning chill hung in the air, but within the stronghold, a different kind of cold had settled in—one borne of uncertainty and lingering tension. Rayka stood at the window of their chambers, watching the sun creep over the horizon, her thoughts a tangled web of worries and plans.In the weeks since the scout had returned with news of a rival pack forming alliances, Rayka and Sylvester had been tireless in their efforts to fortify the pack, both in strength and strategy. Every move they made now was crucial—one misstep, and everything they had fought for could come crashing down. The safety of their child, their leadership, and their future hinged on how they navigated this delicate time.Behind her, Sylvester stirred awake, his arm reaching out instinctively for Rayka before he realized she was already out of bed. "You’re up early,"