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EMAL By the time we step into the throne hall, the heavy double doors closing behind us, I already sense the weight of the stares. The grand chamber, with its towering pillars and the ever-present scent of burning cedar, feels more suffocating than usual. Father seats on the large, power exuding throne, his piercing gaze sweeping over us the moment we enter. At his right stands Master Aldrien, his Beta. His arms are crossed, expression unreadable, but there’s no mistaking the sharp edge in his eyes. Asides Father and Master Aldrien, our three older brothers are equally seated on the lined chairs down the throne. "Finally," Shawl drawls. "Norla delivered the message earlier. What took you both so long?" I barely part my lips before Matilda moves slightly forward, ready to respond. But before she can, our father raises a hand. "Let it be, Shawl," he says, firmly. "What matters is that they are here." Matilda spares him a grateful smile. If he notices, he doesn’t react, merely shi
EMAL I can't stop thinking about what Father said in the throne hall. Everyone has dispersed, but I remain outside, waiting for him. I need to talk to him—perhaps he will change his mind. "Don't waste your time, Emal," Matilda advises before leaving. "In times like this, he never goes back on his word." She's right. I know she is. But it's worth a try. Minutes later, Master Aldrien walks out of the throne hall, documents in hand. "What's wrong, Emal?" he asks, concerned. I shake my head. "It's nothing." "You're still here to see the Alpha, aren't you?" "Yes," I answer reluctantly. Talking to him is worth a shot. "Master Aldrien, I know my father listens to you more than anyone. If there's anyone who can talk to him right now, it's you. I can't take up the task he's given me. How does he expect me to go up against strong warriors? Everyone knows how dangerous the Blood Reckoning is." Master Aldrien places a hand on my shoulder. "Calm down, Emal," he says, tilting my face toward
EMALMaster Aldrien intertwines his fingers, resting his hands on the desk. His gaze darts to the book I placed before him, but he says nothing at first."Can you tell me more about power sharing?" I ask.His brows crease, and he leans back in his chair, studying me with curiosity and caution. "Power sharing?" he echoes. "What exactly do you mean by that, Emal?"Wordlessly, I flip open the book, turning to the page that caught my attention earlier. I slide it toward him, tapping the passage with my finger. "This. It talks about someone who used power sharing to win a fight. But it doesn’t explain how."Master Aldrien exhales slowly, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he takes in the words on the page. A long, unreadable silence stretches between us before I break it."So," I press, watching him closely. "Do you know how to take power from your opponent?"His eyes snap to mine, and his expression hardens. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."Liar.I recognize the way his eyes twitc
EMALThe Luna's Birthday.After days of preparation, it is finally the D-day. As scheduled, the events are divided into two major participations. Starting off will be the indoor event taking place in the throne hall which includes prayers, gifting, and small dances from dance troupes. Then, the outdoor event is scheduled for later in the day, in the open field of White Fur Pack. The throne hall is a grand, intimidating place; high ceilings adorned with ravelled carvings, golden chandeliers, and brown banners hanging in deep earth-like colours, bearing the symbol of our pack. The room is filled with the scent of fresh lilies, the Luna’s favorite, arranged meticulously along the walls and on the long banquet table. People from the royal family are around already and also esteemed guests invited for the indoor event.The Luna sits beside the Alpha on the elevated dais, poised and elegant in her embroidered silver gown. Her dark hair is pulled back in a crown of woven braids, and desp
EMALThe outdoor celebration soon begins as ordered by the Alpha.The sun casts a warm, amber glow over the courtyard, where silk banners ripple in the breeze—each one bearing the royal sigil: a silver wolf howling beneath a crescent moon with touch of an irregular design I actually didn't take interest to know what it means.The nobles who are only for the outdoor event are already arriving, dressed in their finest silks and ceremonial armor. Guests are laughing with the distant tune of flutes and lyres, and warriors perform blade dances at the prepared spot for them.At the far end of the courtyard, a raised platform has been arranged for the royal family. Elegant, high-backed chairs are ready for the Alphas and royal figures of our pack and other packs. Just below the platform, the rest of us—royal-borns, nobles, pack warriors of the White Fur Pack—stand in place, waiting to begin the ceremonial rite.Despite the lively atmosphere, I can't shake the chill running down my spine. It i
EMALReturning to the ceremonial courtyard, the ceremonial rite begins. I make sure to evade Shawl or any other sibling of mine as I proceed in coordinating the arrangements for the ceremonial rites.The courtyard is now filled with hushes as the pack’s elite soldiers march out in flawless formation. Their synchronized steps echo against the stones sharply. Each of them carries a ceremonial blade—polished, curved, and ancient-looking. This isn’t a show of power.It’s a dance of legacy.They move with grace, spinning and slashing through the air as drums thrum in the background. It feels like the pulse of the earth itself, like the heartbeat of every Luna that ever ruled before ours.When the final movement of the blade dance concludes, they drop to one knee as one, heads bowed.Then, from the line of soldiers, the lead demonstrating soldier steps forward. He is a tall man with broad shoulders and scars like cracked stone lining his neck. He’s handed a brown-golden container by one of
EMALI expect Father to say something, probably stop the herald from saying anything more about the special request. After all, it is so obvious the Luna staged this. My eyes plead to him, but he shakes his head silently. What was I thinking? We are celebrating the Luna's birthday which gives her such right to call the shots. I just know she wants me dead. She hates me so much.The herald’s voice barely fades before the ground itself seems to hum.A heavy clang echoes through the air as the massive dueling gates creak open. A figure steps out—no, emerges, like a shadow born of war itself.Valerys Winthrope.The crowd draws a collective breath as he appears, and I swear the temperature drops.He's massive—easily thrice my width, and at least a twice taller. His muscles bunch and flex beneath scarred, inked skin that tells stories of every fight he’s ever won. A black tattoo coils around one arm, making him look all the more scary. His eyes are void of mercy, a pale, grey that seem to
EMAL«“What’s wrong? Has he gone crazy?”»«He’s going to end someone at this rate.»Many people are full of concern with fear on their faces as I charge wild, primal and uncontrolled in my wolf. I don't know how to stop it.I've never had to control this part of me before.The primal side of my being surges, making me overwhelmed. I tear through the courtyard, eyes wild, claws digging into the stone before I leap past the dueling grounds, past the walls, out into the open forest that borders the packlands.My father and Master Aldrien end the event without delay. The last howl I let out had already left some spectators injured...tossed backward, stunned, bleeding from their ears. But I don’t look back.I can’t.I’m not me anymore.The forest welcomes me. Branches slap against me, the wind roars in my ears, but nothing slows me. My legs move with blinding speed. I don’t even know what I’m running toward. I just run.“Chase after him,” Father commands behind me.My older siblings shift
EMALMy feet move on instinct, every step fuelled by dread and desperation.She’s not at home. I know that without a doubt. Lilly wouldn’t go back to that house after what happened. Not when she’s still shaking from what she unleashed. That kind of power… it does something to the mind. And to the heart. Especially to someone like her.Oh heavens, she's fucking human. Well...maybe not. I need to find out who exactly she is, and what.The first place I check is the restaurant. It's dim and quiet, almost eerie without her voice ringing through the kitchen or her scent lingering around. The only presence I sense is Old Fogey’s, washing glasses with his usual huffing and puffing.I don’t ask. I don’t need to. She’s not here.I already know where she is.The hut. Our little hideout which is just far enough to be forgotten by the pack but close enough to sneak away when the world became too much. It is our place. The one place where titles doesn’t matter. Where she isn’t a lone human girl a
MATILDA We barely make it five steps out of the throne hall when Father dismisses us before a guard appears, bowing low. “The Luna requests your presence, immediately.”The guard's tone and gestures as he says it indicates that she wants us all—four of us, excluding Emal. Of course she does.She didn’t even step into the throne room earlier despite that Father instructed a messenger to beckon on her. She claimed the moment Emal transformed had ‘overwhelmed her heart’—whatever that means. But I saw the glint in her eyes as she clutched her chest back at the courtyard. It was no breakdown. Just a carefully timed performance to avoid what she already suspected would unfold in that throne hall.She knew it wouldn’t end in her favor.Darius walks ahead, flanked by Shawl and Xander. I trail behind the three of them, as always, like the forgotten whisper in a roaring storm. But I don’t mind. I’ve grown used to being overlooked by them.Sometimes, being invisible is power.When we reach her
EMAL“Who is that girl to you, Emal?” Father asks, his gaze fixed on me with that signature sharpness that always cuts too deep.The throne hall is empty now, except for the three of us; him, Master Aldrien, and me. Everyone else was dismissed the moment he made his declaration. But I know this isn’t over. Not really.I glance at Master Aldrien but his presence here means this conversation was probably planned.“Who do you mean?” I ask, though the name echoes loud and clear in my mind.“Don’t play games with me, boy,” Father snaps calmly in that unsettling, dangerous way of his. “You know exactly who I’m talking about.”I stay silent.I won’t give her name to him. Not when I still don’t know where we stand. Not when I know what he ordered Blake. What he allowed. I can't do well to think everything is going to end well if I give him Lilly's name. I ha e to talk to her myself first before knowing what next.It’s Master Aldrien who breaks the silence. “Her name is Lilly.”Father’s brow c
EMAL«“What’s wrong? Has he gone crazy?”»«He’s going to end someone at this rate.»Many people are full of concern with fear on their faces as I charge wild, primal and uncontrolled in my wolf. I don't know how to stop it.I've never had to control this part of me before.The primal side of my being surges, making me overwhelmed. I tear through the courtyard, eyes wild, claws digging into the stone before I leap past the dueling grounds, past the walls, out into the open forest that borders the packlands.My father and Master Aldrien end the event without delay. The last howl I let out had already left some spectators injured...tossed backward, stunned, bleeding from their ears. But I don’t look back.I can’t.I’m not me anymore.The forest welcomes me. Branches slap against me, the wind roars in my ears, but nothing slows me. My legs move with blinding speed. I don’t even know what I’m running toward. I just run.“Chase after him,” Father commands behind me.My older siblings shift
EMALI expect Father to say something, probably stop the herald from saying anything more about the special request. After all, it is so obvious the Luna staged this. My eyes plead to him, but he shakes his head silently. What was I thinking? We are celebrating the Luna's birthday which gives her such right to call the shots. I just know she wants me dead. She hates me so much.The herald’s voice barely fades before the ground itself seems to hum.A heavy clang echoes through the air as the massive dueling gates creak open. A figure steps out—no, emerges, like a shadow born of war itself.Valerys Winthrope.The crowd draws a collective breath as he appears, and I swear the temperature drops.He's massive—easily thrice my width, and at least a twice taller. His muscles bunch and flex beneath scarred, inked skin that tells stories of every fight he’s ever won. A black tattoo coils around one arm, making him look all the more scary. His eyes are void of mercy, a pale, grey that seem to
EMALReturning to the ceremonial courtyard, the ceremonial rite begins. I make sure to evade Shawl or any other sibling of mine as I proceed in coordinating the arrangements for the ceremonial rites.The courtyard is now filled with hushes as the pack’s elite soldiers march out in flawless formation. Their synchronized steps echo against the stones sharply. Each of them carries a ceremonial blade—polished, curved, and ancient-looking. This isn’t a show of power.It’s a dance of legacy.They move with grace, spinning and slashing through the air as drums thrum in the background. It feels like the pulse of the earth itself, like the heartbeat of every Luna that ever ruled before ours.When the final movement of the blade dance concludes, they drop to one knee as one, heads bowed.Then, from the line of soldiers, the lead demonstrating soldier steps forward. He is a tall man with broad shoulders and scars like cracked stone lining his neck. He’s handed a brown-golden container by one of
EMALThe outdoor celebration soon begins as ordered by the Alpha.The sun casts a warm, amber glow over the courtyard, where silk banners ripple in the breeze—each one bearing the royal sigil: a silver wolf howling beneath a crescent moon with touch of an irregular design I actually didn't take interest to know what it means.The nobles who are only for the outdoor event are already arriving, dressed in their finest silks and ceremonial armor. Guests are laughing with the distant tune of flutes and lyres, and warriors perform blade dances at the prepared spot for them.At the far end of the courtyard, a raised platform has been arranged for the royal family. Elegant, high-backed chairs are ready for the Alphas and royal figures of our pack and other packs. Just below the platform, the rest of us—royal-borns, nobles, pack warriors of the White Fur Pack—stand in place, waiting to begin the ceremonial rite.Despite the lively atmosphere, I can't shake the chill running down my spine. It i
EMALThe Luna's Birthday.After days of preparation, it is finally the D-day. As scheduled, the events are divided into two major participations. Starting off will be the indoor event taking place in the throne hall which includes prayers, gifting, and small dances from dance troupes. Then, the outdoor event is scheduled for later in the day, in the open field of White Fur Pack. The throne hall is a grand, intimidating place; high ceilings adorned with ravelled carvings, golden chandeliers, and brown banners hanging in deep earth-like colours, bearing the symbol of our pack. The room is filled with the scent of fresh lilies, the Luna’s favorite, arranged meticulously along the walls and on the long banquet table. People from the royal family are around already and also esteemed guests invited for the indoor event.The Luna sits beside the Alpha on the elevated dais, poised and elegant in her embroidered silver gown. Her dark hair is pulled back in a crown of woven braids, and desp
EMALMaster Aldrien intertwines his fingers, resting his hands on the desk. His gaze darts to the book I placed before him, but he says nothing at first."Can you tell me more about power sharing?" I ask.His brows crease, and he leans back in his chair, studying me with curiosity and caution. "Power sharing?" he echoes. "What exactly do you mean by that, Emal?"Wordlessly, I flip open the book, turning to the page that caught my attention earlier. I slide it toward him, tapping the passage with my finger. "This. It talks about someone who used power sharing to win a fight. But it doesn’t explain how."Master Aldrien exhales slowly, his shoulders visibly relaxing as he takes in the words on the page. A long, unreadable silence stretches between us before I break it."So," I press, watching him closely. "Do you know how to take power from your opponent?"His eyes snap to mine, and his expression hardens. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."Liar.I recognize the way his eyes twitc