*Mackenzie*We stood at the tunnel entrance with our foreheads pressed together while our hands interlaced. None of us spoke a word, but the beating of our hearts and the gentle touches of our fingers spoke volumes.“We need to go, Mackenzie.” Maddox urged us to move, but we stayed reluctant, “Please. We don’t have much time to waste. I swear to protect her, Connie. Let her go.” Garret patted Conrad’s shoulder as he grabbed my arm, trying to pry me away from my mate.“Just one second, please,” I begged as I pressed my body to Conrad’s, and our eyes met. “Stay safe. Stick to the plan. Stay with Garret and Caris.” Conrad reminded me as he lifted our hands to graze my cheeks. I nodded, agreeing to his terms. “And no matter what, save yourself. If you have to choose. Chose yourself.” His voice cracked slightly at the end, and I eagerly nodded.“I promise.” I agreed, speaking barely above a whisper as I raised to seal the vow with the kiss.Conrad responded immediately and captured my lip
*Mackenzie*My heart was beating like crazy as we passed the last section of the tunnel. My grip on Garret's arm tightened as we slowly approached the entrance to the cell. My breathing quickened, and everyone noticed my nervousness."I promised you something. And I intend to keep my promise. But you must calm down, or our whole plan won't work." Maddox stopped, turned, and pointed the now barely smoldering torch in my direction."You have the courage and strength to face it. You just have to believe in yourself." He advised me, but I couldn’t find his words encouraging."Easy for you to say. You're not the one who has been serving as her entertainment for many years. I don't know if I can handle it." I doubted myself, remembering the very fear I felt every time she whipped me.Garret hugged me, and Caris patted my head to reassure me. I snuggled into him, trying to absorb every inch of his warmth. Esther terrifies me, and I wasn’t sure if anything would help me stand up to her."Ange
*Mackenzie*I felt dizzy and nauseous, and my legs were shaking like aspen trees, but I didn't give up. I held onto the wall Maddox had slumped against and stood up. Determination was stronger than fear or fatigue. I placed my hands on the wall and rested my forehead against it. I looked down at the miserable but definitely alive Maddox and sighed deeply."Remember what you promised," I mumbled, trying to control my weak body. "I'm going. Give me strength." I said, praying to all the gods possible.I had no time to waste, although my condition did not indicate the slightest chance of winning against the enemy. What happened to Maddox was the determination to end this witch’s rule, and even if I had to die in the process, I didn’t care. Esther had to be gone, no matter the consequences. Not trusting my legs, I left the cell, leaning on the wall. My head slowly cleared, and the dizziness gradually diminished as I shuffled down the hall towards the exit. I heard Roy moaning from behind
*Garrett*I wasn‘t expecting returning to the Green Forest Pack after so many years to make me indifferent. Nothing that previously made it feel like home felt the same. The walls seemed colder, the air thicker, and the smell disgusting. My heart didn‘t skip a beat when I passed the places I had many fond memories of.„Where do you think they live?“ Caris asked, creeping not-so-silently behind me.„Are you sure they are even alive? I mean. After all these years, they could leave or die trying. You know.“ She added, looking around the thick forest.„I‘m sure. And they should be somewhere here.“ I assured her and moved towards the strange-looking bushes wall.Rumors said that a few people stayed in the pack but were made to live like outcasts in unfavorable conditions and cut off from civilization. Living so long on these lands, I knew it like the back of my hand, and only one place came to mind when hearing it: the Rotting Forest.However, it shouldn't even be called a forest because t
*Garrett*„How is it possible? I thought your entire family died in that attack?“ Caris asked from the other side of the office, and I let go of my father and turned to my mate.„Come here.“ I extended my hand, „Honey, this is my father, Gregory Sullivan.“ I wiped the tears-strained cheeks and smiled, „Dad, this is Caris Sullivan, my mate.“ I introduced her while she strolled towards us with her signature firm face.„I‘m honored to meet you, Mr. Sullivan. Garret spoke very highly of you.“ She smiled at my father but kept her distance, „And as much as I‘d like you two to reconcile, we don‘t have time for this.“ She looked at me pleadingly, „We have a mission, baby. They are counting on us.“I nodded and recovered quickly. She was right. The mission is our priority; everything else can wait. I looked at everyone around and addressed the room.„We came here to search for people willing to stand beside us in a battle. We already have people inside the pack starting phase one. Phase two wa
*Mackenzie*The fresh air hit me when I walked out of the entrance door. I was scared that my mission would end when I crossed the threshold, but surprisingly, no guards were stationed outside. Strangely, the dungeons were empty, but I put it down to Esther‘s arrogance rather than an oversight.But now, seeing that the area around the dungeons is untouched and even run down, she probably used her witchcraft rather than walking whenever she came here. I noticed no footsteps or tire tracks, suggesting someone was staying there. That brought only one question to my mind.Was she watching us the entire time, or didn‘t care at all?I hoped for the latter because, in another way, all our work would be gone for nothing. She would have been at least two steps ahead of us if she had already known what we planned. And that was out of option for us.I took a deep breath and walked ahead through the tall grass. The area seemed abandoned and looked suspicious as I hadn‘t gone for long to make natu
*Conrad*„How long?“ I roared, unable to control myself.I paced back and forth, itching to step out of the shadows and join the rebellion. Garrett informed us about finding our rebels about twenty minutes ago. Not more than five minutes ago, he gave us the signal that they had begun their mission. I knew the plan but didn‘t expect the minutes to drag so long.„Conrad, please. Let Garrett and Caris do their part so that we could do ours.“ Mom tried to calm me down, but all she could achieve was another growl from me.She stepped aside with her hands raised and approached the remaining warriors. Each of them was as impatient as I was. There were two hundred of them, and each was eager to fight for their Luna.Rip, unlike me, was surprisingly calm. He lay with his paws stretched out in front and placed his muzzle on them, purring happily. This irritated me, especially the fact that our transformation depended on him. If he wasn't ready, unable, or simply unwilling, all I could count on
*Mackenzie*I flapped my wings, sending another solid breeze toward the approaching wolves, slowing their attack. I didn't know how else to deal with them without hurting them. Esther indeed demonstrated an extremely brilliant battle strategy. Brutal but brilliant.Every member of the Green Forest Pack was obsessively devoted to their Luna, their pack, and their land. They fiercely defended their beneficence, questioning neither their orders, their legitimacy, nor their morality. And the latter was negligible when looking at young people ready to give their lives to defend their pack before reaching maturity.Another ominous growl came from my left, and I flapped my wing again, hitting the young wolf, jumping on me, and punching him in the face with my surprisingly strong feathers. Whimpering from the burn, he rolled over and tried to smother the still-smoldering hairs with his front paws."Sorry," I whispered, even though I knew neither was listening.I didn't want to hurt him, but I
*Mackenzie*Fireball leaped over the log and, with a wild roar, sank her teeth into the native's shoulder, causing him to drop his ax to the ground with a groan. I stepped back, stretching my hands and summoning my flames. The natives also retreated when they saw my powers and the burning lynx, which did not hesitate to tear them to shreds."Holy shit, Starfish. You run from me again, and you won't be able to sit down for a week. Do you understand?" Conrad ran out of breath, tearing up the vines blocking his path."And you, young lady, can forget about scratching behind your ears for a month." He threatened Fireball, who reluctantly released the native and, offended, turned away from Conrad."Don't give me that shit. I'm not joking, little one." Conrad repeated, but Fireball stood unfazed."Honey, maybe it's better to focus on these people than on our punishment, ok? After all, they tried to cut me up with those axes." I pointed at the retreating people, not extinguishing my flames.Co
*Garrett*I wandered the halls, assessing what else was needed before handing the pack to the new Alpha. No one asked me to do this, but I needed to ensure everything was fixed.Caris felt obliged to meet my father and the people I grew up with, so she spent the entire day meeting them. I hope that her temperament and love of alcohol will not be perceived negatively. I love her to death, but even I got fed up with her sometimes. Ansel roared in agreement with me. Tanga could also give him a hard time from time to time.'It's just a pity you can't admit it in front of her, you coward.' I commented, knowing how meek he could be, nodding to Tanga.'It's called pampering your lady.' Ansel took offense, exhaling air through his nostrils.'Yeah, whatever makes you sleep at night, man.' I scoffed, returning to assessing our losses. "Pussy." I muttered under my breath, laughing.Ansel got angry and started growling at me, but I quickly blocked our communication, enjoying the undisturbed silen
*Conrad*I sat on the bed, staring at my bare feet. There was still dark outside; the moon gently peeked into our window, illuminating my face as I slept and waking me up at night. I sighed quietly and turned to look at my peacefully sleeping Starfish, sprawled out on the bed, taking up more than half of the mattress. I laughed under my breath. Her nickname fits her perfectly.I got up from the bed and walked around to cover Mackenzie, who had kicked the blankets out and was snoring adorably. I picked the blanket from the floor and covered her body, watching her sleep soundly, undisturbed by decisions that may affect our future.I brushed her hair out of her face and kissed her head before taking in the delicious scent of blueberry cheesecake she smelt of before I got dressed and quietly left the room for some fresh air.I was putting on a T-shirt when a woman in a messy bun, a loose T-shirt, and jeans came out from the opposite room, yawning. She stopped dead when she saw me, wonderi
*Mackenzie*I stared at Claire with a tornado of thoughts in my head. I was extremely grateful that Garrett was still holding me in his arms cause I didn‘t trust my feet. My knees almost buckled when Claire dropped that bomb suddenly."Fifty years," I mumbled, turning my gaze to Agatha.Agatha Allard. Roy's mother, my grandmother, has been dead for over fifty years.I slowly got out of Garrett's arms and cautiously approached the chest. I knelt next to her and placed my hand on the lid. I felt a strange power of attraction, as if there was something inside that belonged to me."Now, it doesn't matter whether she died half a century ago or half an hour ago. She didn't reveal anything important. Nothing except her last request to destroy that chest." I said, revealing Agatha's last words."If no one wants to take this box outside, we'll have to do it here," I announced as I slowly detached my grandmother's bony hands from the chest.Everyone gathered stared at me, wondering if they shou
*Claire*I didn't know how to feel. After over thirty years, I returned home. And even though it was no longer my home, the sentiment remained. And my heart beat faster every time I walked along a familiar path or passed a place where Levi and I spent our most precious time.Dara was in a dilemma. Although, like me, she was pleased to be back at Green Forest Pack, her heart could not forgive what happened to us here. Here in our home, everything we loved was taken away from us.'You act as if we were going to come back here. But I didn't say anything like that. Not even a thought.' I laughed when she growled at me again when I got too close to the tree swing near the school.'You don't have to say anything; I feel and hear everything. After all, I'm your smarter half.' She countered, reminding me of her importance.'Thanks for reminding me that I'm the stupidest one here. You can always count on smarty-pants.' I rolled my eyes as I left the swing and headed towards the pack house.'Yo
*Mackenzie*The day was ending, and nothing we had set out to do was ready. The wounded were still being treated. The missing people are still searched, and the dead, although there were not many of them, were waiting for their turn. We only managed to organize accommodation for over five hundred people in a banquet hall that had not been used for centuries.People asked about everything. Why did this have to happen to them? Why do they have to suffer for the sins of others, and why can't they return to their homes? I didn't know what to answer them; no one did, especially Claire, who was constantly surrounded by a group of people excited about the return of their real Luna.Even though she had a tired look, she didn't refuse anyone, even those who interrupted her meal. She always greeted everyone with a smile, kindness, and openness. And I will have to learn this from her because I avoided people like the plague.When we left the pack house and Maddox set me on my feet, Conrad relaxe
*Mackenzie*The kiss didn‘t last long, but it felt like forever. I clung to Conrad, not letting him end the kiss or our embrace. My wings fluttered playfully before fully penetrating my back, wrapping me in their soft feathers, clinging to my ribs."I guess it's over," Conrad whispered, combing my hair."I guess it's over," I confirmed, blushing after our sweet yet public display of affection.Around us, people were still confused, not knowing what to do, how to react, or what to say. I'm not surprised. Not every day you get to fight against those who want to free you. It's not every day you find out that the last decades of your life were a lie, and it's not every day you experience a fight between creatures that, according to legend, have long since existed."Why don't we clean up first and then deal with the aftermath?"Someone made a suggestion in the crowd, and hearing the multitude of unanimous cries, it must have been someone who held power."What do you say, Alpha?" The same m
*Melody*I lay semi-conscious on the cold, wet grass, staring into the empty eyes of my lover, Chase. My body wracked with sobs of despair that continued despite the pain of the completely severed bond vanishing. My body had fully processed the pain, but my soul was still mourning. My soul lost its half, my heart fell into pieces, and my mind couldn't cope with the most tremendous loss of my life."Ch-sss." I tried to say his name despite my broken jaw and howls.My poor weak wolf Isola cried mournfully for the Moon Mother to take her and reunite her with Axel. Her sense of life had just vanished, taken from her with the death of her soulmate. I didn't have the strength or desire to comfort her in her sadness because I wondered whether to ask the Moon Goddess to take me too.Despite my broken legs and arms, I tried to get closer to Chase's body and leave this world with him, embracing him until my last breath. Every inch I got closer to him hurt like hell, and every second I spent clo
*Conrad* "Now, I'll show you your failure." Esther chuckled above Mackenzie‘s head, staring intently at me, "Alpha Levi." She addressed me and dragged her nails into Mackenzie‘s neck, piercing her skin. Rip couldn't stand it, and at an alarmingly fast and excruciating pace, he shifted, tearing apart all the clothes I had on. And with a sinister roar vibrating in the air, he stood before the witch in all his glory, ready to tear her to shreds. Esther smiled even wider as if she had been waiting for this very moment. Her eyes lit up when she saw Rip, and I realized where her mad enthusiasm came from. 'She thinks we're Dad. She thinks we are Levi and King.' I noticed, and Rip growled, proud but excited to show Esther who we were. "I didn't think I'd have the opportunity to kill you twice. The first time was a pleasure. Now I'll make it historic." Despite her obviously weak body, Esther snickered, threw Mackenzie aside, and lunged at Rip. All the people gathered moved aside as Rip us