~RalphThe morning came too quickly, dragging with it the weight of what was to come. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the pale light filtering through the curtains. The warmth pressed against my chest made me hesitate to move. Otsana was still asleep, her head resting on me, her breath soft and steady. Her hair spilled over my skin, and the faint scent of her comforted me in ways I hadn’t realized I needed.I reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. For a moment, I let myself forget the battle waiting outside these walls, focusing instead on the peaceful look on her face. It wouldn’t last long. A loud noise shattered the silence—voices, heavy footsteps, and the distinct clang of weapons. The sound pulled me from the moment, and Otsana stirred, mumbling something incoherent as her brow furrowed. A sharp knock on the door followed, jarring us both fully awake."Who is it?" I called out, my voice gruff with sleep."It’s Callan, Alpha," came the reply, firm and steady."C
~OtsanaThe morning sun slanted through the tall, narrow window, casting thin rays across the ornate room Ralph had given me. It was beautiful, too beautiful, with its rich mahogany furniture and soft, cream-colored drapes that fluttered gently with the breeze. A large bed sat at the center of the room, covered with white linens and dark-blue pillows that matched the carpet. I had never had a space so grand, so... regal. But now, it felt more like a prison.I paced the length of the room, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every few steps, I would pause to peek through the window, straining to see what was happening in the clearing below. The roar of voices and the clash of weapons reached my ears, even from this distance. A chill settled in my chest when I saw Ralph, limping as he fought off a group of Grayson’s men. I sucked in a sharp breath. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the window, willing my mind to slow, to stop spiraling with thoughts of what c
~OtsanaThe sound of shouts and the heavy stomping of boots made my blood run cold. Adrenaline surged through me as I searched for an opening, a way out of this madness. The rogues were closing in, and I knew I needed to move. I pivoted, eyes scanning for an escape route. The window was my best chance, but the rogues were already surrounding me, blocking my every move.“Move, Otsana!” I whispered desperately to myself, but before I could take a step, one of the rogues lunged forward, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. I stumbled, landing hard on the floor, the impact knocking the air out of me. “Got her!” one of them shouted, the edge of his voice sharp with victory.“Take her,” another rogue sneered, the smell of sweat and dirt mingling with the foul scent of blood. I tried to scramble to my feet, but the sharp pain in my side left me gasping. They were too strong, too many. As they pulled me up, I overheard their whispered conversation, low enough that they thought I couldn’t
~RalphThe battlefield was a nightmare. I could barely lift my paws as I limped through the carnage, my wolf form drenched in the blood of both my enemies and my fallen pack. My flank ached with a burning pain where a blade had slashed me earlier. The stench of death and smoke filled my nostrils, and I staggered over the lifeless bodies of men I had fought beside for years. My warriors. My brothers. They were gone. I turned in circles, scanning the ground around me, my chest heaving with exhaustion and anger. Everywhere I looked, my men lay lifeless, their eyes staring blankly at the darkened sky. My pack, my family, reduced to nothing but corpses scattered across the battlefield.A guttural roar escaped my throat. I howled into the night sky, the sound raw and broken, echoing my despair. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. How had we lost? How had I let it come to this? My claws dug into the blood-soaked dirt, my vision swimming with rage and sorrow. My ears twitched at the so
~OtsanaI stirred awake, the cold floor beneath me unforgiving against my skin. My body ached from the restraints, the ropes digging into my wrists and ankles. The room was damp and smelled of mildew, and the faint light filtering through a crack in the door was my only source of hope.A loud clatter startled me, and my head shot up. The door creaked open, and someone tossed a metal plate onto the floor. The food on it was meager—stale bread and a small piece of cheese—but my stomach growled at the sight of it. “Please…” I croaked, my voice hoarse from lack of water and crying. “Please, let me go.” The figure in the doorway didn’t respond immediately. I could barely make out his features, but his silhouette was imposing, his posture rigid. Finally, he stepped forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor. “Shut up,” he snapped, his tone cold and devoid of any empathy. “You don’t even know what’s coming for you yet. That’s why you’re still talking.” My heart skipped a beat
~RalphI sat slumped in my chambers, the faint light of the setting sun filtering through the curtains. A half-empty glass of water sat on the bedside table next to a plate of untouched food. It had been a day since the battle, and I had not moved from this room. The weight of shame and failure pinned me to the chair. The maids had tried to coax me out, but I had sent them all away. I didn't deserve to be tended to.Boris, my wolf, growled softly in my mind. “This is pathetic, Ralph. Get up. You can’t just sit here and waste away.”“Leave me alone,” I muttered aloud. My voice sounded hoarse, foreign even to me.“Leave you alone?” Boris scoffed. “You think wallowing in self-pity will change anything? You have responsibilities. People who depend on you.”“They’re dead because of me,” I snapped, my voice cracking. “How can I face them when I led them to their deaths? How can I face her, Otsana whom I love so much, but have disappointed?”Boris fell silent for a moment, his presence a sim
~RalphThe following morning arrived far too quickly. The sun’s golden rays filtered through the curtains, but they brought no warmth to me. My body felt like a battlefield, aching and bruised from the war I’d fought days before. Yet today, my battle was personal, and I knew I had to face it alone.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the boots I’d discarded the night before. Slowly, I reached for them, my movements stiff and deliberate. Pain shot through my side as I bent down, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to pull the boots on, one at a time. The leather felt heavier than usual, like the weight of my burdens had seeped into them.As I laced them tightly, my mind raced. I couldn’t afford to involve my warriors, or even Callan, in this fight. Too many lives had already been lost because of me. Too many families were mourning their loved ones while I sat here, broken but alive. This fight with Noah? It was mine, and mine alone.Standing, I shrugged on my jacket, the fabri
Otsana I stood at the edge of the forest, the soft earth muffling my footsteps. The shadows of the trees enveloped me, a dark cloak of solitude. The clearing emerged from the undergrowth, and I could see the grave marker of my beloved mother. "Mother," I whispered, my voice faltering. "It's me again." My fingers trailed over the smooth stone, as if trying to recapture a memory long since faded. Grief welled within me, like a tide rising to consume my heart. Tears flowed freely as I gazed at the headstone, longing to see her again, to share my struggles since her passing. My hand reached out, tracing the marble surface as I whispered: "Mom, it's been three years since you left me. Your absence has been incredibly hard. My stepfather, Alpha Grayson, and stepsister, Sophia, have made my life very difficult. They treat me like a servant, and sometimes I feel like joining you would be a release from this pain." My mother's grave has been my sole solace in times of distress. She was my
~RalphThe following morning arrived far too quickly. The sun’s golden rays filtered through the curtains, but they brought no warmth to me. My body felt like a battlefield, aching and bruised from the war I’d fought days before. Yet today, my battle was personal, and I knew I had to face it alone.I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the boots I’d discarded the night before. Slowly, I reached for them, my movements stiff and deliberate. Pain shot through my side as I bent down, but I gritted my teeth and forced myself to pull the boots on, one at a time. The leather felt heavier than usual, like the weight of my burdens had seeped into them.As I laced them tightly, my mind raced. I couldn’t afford to involve my warriors, or even Callan, in this fight. Too many lives had already been lost because of me. Too many families were mourning their loved ones while I sat here, broken but alive. This fight with Noah? It was mine, and mine alone.Standing, I shrugged on my jacket, the fabri
~RalphI sat slumped in my chambers, the faint light of the setting sun filtering through the curtains. A half-empty glass of water sat on the bedside table next to a plate of untouched food. It had been a day since the battle, and I had not moved from this room. The weight of shame and failure pinned me to the chair. The maids had tried to coax me out, but I had sent them all away. I didn't deserve to be tended to.Boris, my wolf, growled softly in my mind. “This is pathetic, Ralph. Get up. You can’t just sit here and waste away.”“Leave me alone,” I muttered aloud. My voice sounded hoarse, foreign even to me.“Leave you alone?” Boris scoffed. “You think wallowing in self-pity will change anything? You have responsibilities. People who depend on you.”“They’re dead because of me,” I snapped, my voice cracking. “How can I face them when I led them to their deaths? How can I face her, Otsana whom I love so much, but have disappointed?”Boris fell silent for a moment, his presence a sim
~OtsanaI stirred awake, the cold floor beneath me unforgiving against my skin. My body ached from the restraints, the ropes digging into my wrists and ankles. The room was damp and smelled of mildew, and the faint light filtering through a crack in the door was my only source of hope.A loud clatter startled me, and my head shot up. The door creaked open, and someone tossed a metal plate onto the floor. The food on it was meager—stale bread and a small piece of cheese—but my stomach growled at the sight of it. “Please…” I croaked, my voice hoarse from lack of water and crying. “Please, let me go.” The figure in the doorway didn’t respond immediately. I could barely make out his features, but his silhouette was imposing, his posture rigid. Finally, he stepped forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor. “Shut up,” he snapped, his tone cold and devoid of any empathy. “You don’t even know what’s coming for you yet. That’s why you’re still talking.” My heart skipped a beat
~RalphThe battlefield was a nightmare. I could barely lift my paws as I limped through the carnage, my wolf form drenched in the blood of both my enemies and my fallen pack. My flank ached with a burning pain where a blade had slashed me earlier. The stench of death and smoke filled my nostrils, and I staggered over the lifeless bodies of men I had fought beside for years. My warriors. My brothers. They were gone. I turned in circles, scanning the ground around me, my chest heaving with exhaustion and anger. Everywhere I looked, my men lay lifeless, their eyes staring blankly at the darkened sky. My pack, my family, reduced to nothing but corpses scattered across the battlefield.A guttural roar escaped my throat. I howled into the night sky, the sound raw and broken, echoing my despair. This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. How had we lost? How had I let it come to this? My claws dug into the blood-soaked dirt, my vision swimming with rage and sorrow. My ears twitched at the so
~OtsanaThe sound of shouts and the heavy stomping of boots made my blood run cold. Adrenaline surged through me as I searched for an opening, a way out of this madness. The rogues were closing in, and I knew I needed to move. I pivoted, eyes scanning for an escape route. The window was my best chance, but the rogues were already surrounding me, blocking my every move.“Move, Otsana!” I whispered desperately to myself, but before I could take a step, one of the rogues lunged forward, grabbing my arm and spinning me around. I stumbled, landing hard on the floor, the impact knocking the air out of me. “Got her!” one of them shouted, the edge of his voice sharp with victory.“Take her,” another rogue sneered, the smell of sweat and dirt mingling with the foul scent of blood. I tried to scramble to my feet, but the sharp pain in my side left me gasping. They were too strong, too many. As they pulled me up, I overheard their whispered conversation, low enough that they thought I couldn’t
~OtsanaThe morning sun slanted through the tall, narrow window, casting thin rays across the ornate room Ralph had given me. It was beautiful, too beautiful, with its rich mahogany furniture and soft, cream-colored drapes that fluttered gently with the breeze. A large bed sat at the center of the room, covered with white linens and dark-blue pillows that matched the carpet. I had never had a space so grand, so... regal. But now, it felt more like a prison.I paced the length of the room, my heart pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears. Every few steps, I would pause to peek through the window, straining to see what was happening in the clearing below. The roar of voices and the clash of weapons reached my ears, even from this distance. A chill settled in my chest when I saw Ralph, limping as he fought off a group of Grayson’s men. I sucked in a sharp breath. My hands trembled as I pressed them against the window, willing my mind to slow, to stop spiraling with thoughts of what c
~RalphThe morning came too quickly, dragging with it the weight of what was to come. My eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the pale light filtering through the curtains. The warmth pressed against my chest made me hesitate to move. Otsana was still asleep, her head resting on me, her breath soft and steady. Her hair spilled over my skin, and the faint scent of her comforted me in ways I hadn’t realized I needed.I reached up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. For a moment, I let myself forget the battle waiting outside these walls, focusing instead on the peaceful look on her face. It wouldn’t last long. A loud noise shattered the silence—voices, heavy footsteps, and the distinct clang of weapons. The sound pulled me from the moment, and Otsana stirred, mumbling something incoherent as her brow furrowed. A sharp knock on the door followed, jarring us both fully awake."Who is it?" I called out, my voice gruff with sleep."It’s Callan, Alpha," came the reply, firm and steady."C
~OtsanaThe small maid quarters felt colder than usual. I sat on the edge of the bed, clutching my knees to my chest, tears streaming down my face. Noah’s words echoed in my mind, each one a blade slicing through my heart. He had left . The mate bond we shared felt like a curse, chaining me to someone who could tear me apart so effortlessly.A soft knock on the door broke my thoughts. Before I could answer, Kate and a few of the other maids bustled in, chatting animatedly.“Did you hear?” one of them began, her voice filled with excitement. “Otsana’s mated to the Lycan King, Noah!”Kate’s face lit up. “Is it true? Are you really mated to him, Otsana?”The other maids chimed in, their voices overlapping with congratulations and hushed awe. But then, they noticed me. Kate’s smile faltered as her eyes fell on the tears staining my cheeks.“Oh, Otsana,” Kate whispered, rushing to sit beside me. “I’m so sorry. We heard… we heard about what happened to Ralph.”The others murmured their agre
~OtsanaAs Noah turned to leave, my gaze fell back to Ralph, his body limp and bleeding in my arms. His usually strong frame was now frail, his breaths shallow and uneven. “Ralph, please,” I begged, my voice breaking with emotion. Tears blurred my vision as I clutched him tighter. “You need help. Let me take you to the physician. Please, Ralph.” He weakly shook his head, his movements barely noticeable. Blood stained his lips as he struggled to speak, each word a painful gasp. “Otsana… don’t… please…” His voice was barely a whisper, fading with every syllable. My chest tightened, panic clawing at my throat. “Callan!” I screamed, my voice slicing through the murmurs of the shocked crowd. Callan appeared, his face pale with horror as he stared at Ralph’s battered body. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. “Help me!” I shouted, my voice shaking with desperation. “We need to get him to the physician! Callan, please!” Snapping out of his daze, Callan knelt bes