LIRAI wasn’t sure when it happened. Maybe it was the way Caius protected me, even when I didn’t ask for it. Maybe it was the way he treated his pack—not like servants or subordinates, but like family. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, not just like his mate, but like I was something rare, something worth fighting for.I had spent weeks trying to resist this bond, but the truth had been staring me in the face all along. I was falling for him. And I hated it.Not because he wasn’t worthy. But because I wasn’t ready.I sat on the edge of the training grounds, absentmindedly pulling at the strands of grass between my fingers. The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the dirt, painting the sky in warm hues of orange and violet. The air smelled of pine and earth, with a crisp chill hinting at the coming night.Caius sat beside me, his posture relaxed, though I could tell by the way his fingers tapped against his knee that he was waiting for me to say something. He had
CAIUSMy wolf,Fenrir, had known it before I did.'You are in love with her.' Fenrir had growled.'She’s our mate.''It is more than that.'I had denied it at first. I had told myself that my protectiveness was because of the bond. That my fascination was because she was different. That the ache in my chest when she looked away was because I wanted her to accept us.But it wasn’t.It was her.It had always been her.Now, sitting beside her, hearing the words I never thought I’d hear from her lips, I felt something settle deep in my chest. A finality. A peace.She was mine. And she was finally starting to realize that."Lira…" I murmured, my fingers tightening around hers.She swallowed, but she didn’t pull away.My wolf stirred, his growl of satisfaction echoing in my mind.'Kiss her.''Not yet, Fenrir. Not yet.''Coward.'I lifted a hand to cup her cheek, brushing my thumb over the soft curve of her jaw. Her breath hitched.Slowly, giving her time to stop me, I leaned in.She didn’t mo
LIRAFalling for Caius came with consequences.One: His pack finally stopped looking at me like I was the enemy. Two: Elias and Ronan now smirked at me whenever I was near Caius, as if they had been expecting this all along. And three? I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.Which is exactly why I found myself in the training fields at dawn, stretching my arms over my head as the morning chill settled into my bones. The sky was streaked with hues of pink and orange, the sun slowly rising over the treetops as the pack gathered for their daily training.I had been training with the general pack for a while now, and while it had been helpful in rebuilding my strength, I was growing restless. The sessions were structured, repetitive, and focused more on endurance and discipline than actual combat. While the other wolves seemed content, I found myself wanting more.Today's session started with a long run through the forest. The cold air burned my lungs as my feet pounded against the
LIRA I had sparred with some of the best warriors in Duskborne. I had beaten them all. But here, in the Northern Territory, I wasn’t fighting just any warrior. I was fighting Caius. The Alpha. The man who had single-handedly taken down a rogue army without breaking a sweat. The man who now stood before me, arms crossed, silver eyes gleaming with amusement.This is a terrible idea, I thought to myself.This is the best idea, my pride countered.Elias and Ronan stood at the edge of the sparring ring, leaning against the wooden fence. They looked way too entertained."Alright, lovebirds," Elias called out, smirking. "Give us a good show."Caius shot him a glare. "You can run laps after this, Elias."Elias just grinned. "Worth it."I rolled my shoulders and assumed my stance. Balanced. Ready.Caius tilted his head. "You’re serious about this?"I smirked. "What, scared?"A low growl rumbled in his chest. "Not even a little.""Then let’s begin."We circled each other.I was fast. I had alw
CAIUSI led her out of the training hall, the warmth of the stone corridor a welcome relief after the icy chill of the training room. The dining hall wasn’t far, and it didn’t take long to reach the long wooden table where the evening meal had already been laid out. The fire crackled in the hearth, casting a soft glow over the room. The aroma of roast meat and freshly baked bread filled the air, making my stomach growl in anticipation.“After that workout, I could eat a whole feast,” Lira said as she sat down, rubbing her hands together in front of the warmth of the fire.I grabbed two plates, piling them high with food before sliding one toward her. “I think you’ve earned it,” I said, smiling.We ate in a comfortable silence, the occasional clink of utensils punctuating the otherwise quiet morning. I watched as Lira tucked into her meal, her appetite as sharp as her swordplay.“So,” I said after a while, setting my fork down and leaning back in my chair, “I’m taking you somewhere tod
LIRAWe stayed there for hours.And as I watched Caius, the way the light reflected in his eyes, the way he looked at this place like it was a secret he had finally shared with someone, I knew.This wasn’t just about the mate bond.This was him.I had fallen for Caius.Completely.When he turned to me, his expression soft, I knew he saw it too.He lifted a hand to tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. "Lira."I swallowed. "Yes?"His gaze flickered down to my lips for just a moment, and my breath caught in my throat. The way his eyes darkened, the intensity that simmered beneath the surface of that gaze—it was like he was unraveling me. My heart raced even faster."Do you regret it?" he asked, his voice a low murmur, as if the question had been sitting on his tongue for far too long.I furrowed my brow in confusion. "Regret what?"He took a step closer, and the air between us seemed to crackle with something unspoken, something heavy. He didn’t need to say it for me to understand. He wa
LIRAI was not used to being the center of attention.But it was impossible to ignore the way the entire Grimhowl Pack was staring at us right now.Or rather—staring at Caius.Because their Alpha, their fierce, brooding, terrifying Alpha, was grinning like an idiot.And that grin was directed at me.We had just returned from the hot springs, the steam still clinging to our skin despite the cold bite of the mountain air. The moment we stepped onto the training grounds, Caius didn’t let go of my hand. His grip was warm, possessive, unyielding. Like he was making a silent declaration.Worse?He kept doing little things—tucking my hair behind my ear, pulling me into his side, pressing random kisses to my forehead.I was dying.The warriors of the pack tried to act like they weren’t watching. They swung their swords, flexed their muscles, and practiced their footwork with an intensity that screamed forced distraction. But the omegas? They weren’t even pretending.They whispered and giggled
CAIUSTwo days.That was all the time we had before meeting Elder Aldric.The oldest and most powerful of the Elders.And the only one who could answer the questions that had been plaguing me ever since I met Lira.She should have had her wolf by now.But she didn’t.And yet—she was stronger than any unshifted wolf I had ever seen.I knew there was something about her.Something more.And soon, we would find out what.The thought unsettled me, a deep, gnawing sensation in my gut. I was not a man prone to fear, but uncertainty had a way of burrowing deep, needling at the edges of my resolve. And Lira—Lira was the one thing I couldn’t afford to be uncertain about.I watched her now, standing by the balcony of my office, staring at the moonlit snow that blanketed the mountains. The cold wind ruffled her dark hair, strands dancing across her face, but she didn’t seem to notice. There was something different about her since our return from the hot springs. A softness in the way she held her
TOBIASThe atmosphere in Grimhowl was tense, a constant hum of alertness. After the news of strange occurrences in the surrounding lands, security had been heightened. Every patrol, every guard, every shadow in the forest was now something to watch closely. The last thing we needed was an unexpected threat.Dain had volunteered to patrol the northeastern gate. I trusted him with my life, but I still felt the need to check in, especially now. I found him standing by the entrance, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, his posture that of a seasoned warrior ready for anything."You good?" I asked as I approached him, stepping into his line of sight.He turned, giving me a nod. "I’m good. Nothing to report yet. But we both know that can change in an instant.""You need anything? Extra reinforcements? Supplies?" I offered, glancing at his weapons and the space around him.Dain shook his head. "I’m fine for now. Just keeping watch. We need to be prepared, but we’re not going to let our
SERAPHINASixteen years.It felt surreal, standing here now, breathing in the air of freedom after so many years spent behind cold, stone walls. I could hardly believe it. The chains, the darkness, the suffocating loneliness—those memories seemed so distant now, as if they belonged to someone else. But they didn’t. I had lived it, endured it, and now, I was free.I took a deep breath, letting the scent of fresh earth and the cool breeze that swept through the trees fill my lungs. The prison walls, those oppressive structures that had confined me, felt like a lifetime away. I had no idea what awaited me in Grimhowl, but right now, none of that mattered.What mattered was Tobias. My Tobias. And my baby, Lira. She was just five years old when I had been taken, and I had missed everything—her first steps, her first words, her growth. I had missed her entire childhood. I had no idea what she was like now. Was she still my sweet little girl? Or had she changed into someone unrecognizable, h
CELESTEThe moment Lucien spoke the words that I had hoped for, the words that cracked open the door to the man I had loved, I didn’t hesitate. Time was of the essence. I could feel the shift in the air, a subtle stirring of hope rising amidst the darkness that still clung to him. But that hope needed action.Without a word, I turned on my heels, determined to act swiftly. Lucien didn’t want to come with me—he couldn’t face the guilt, the shame of facing his sister, of confronting the wrongs he had committed. I understood that. But the weight of his past wasn’t something he could simply bury. He had to confront it, even if it was just a small part of it. But for now, I couldn’t wait for him to find the courage. I had to do this for him, for us.I made my way to the prison with purpose, my mind racing as I prepared for the task ahead. The walls felt suffocating as I neared the cold, damp cells. I had seen too much suffering here, too much darkness. The air was thick with the remnants o
CELESTEThe weight of the moment settled heavily around me. I could feel the deep ache in Lucien's voice, the rawness in his words. But I also felt something else—a flicker of hope, a spark of the man I had fallen in love with all those years ago.I had always known that the darkness had not completely consumed him. There were flashes of the Lucien I had known—the protector, the fierce leader, the one who had once cared for his pack as much as he cared for me. But somewhere along the way, that man had been buried beneath the shadows, the ambition, the anger. And yet, in this vulnerable moment, it felt like I could almost touch him again.I had hoped for this. I had believed in this. But now that it was real, now that I could feel the faint glimmer of the Lucien I had once known, I had to act quickly. The darkness was still lingering, gnawing at him, waiting for a moment to pull him back in. And that moment was coming soon, especially with Malakar’s influence slowly creeping into every
LUCIENThe black crystal pulsed softly, its shadowed depths revealing fragments of voices and stories I had no business hearing. But I listened anyway, because the truth, no matter how twisted, was all that mattered now.I could hear Morgana’s voice, her words reverberating in my head as she spoke of Malakar’s daughter and the blood that ran through Caius. The realization hit me like a bolt of lightning—Caius was the vessel. He was the one that carried the dark magic, the legacy of Malakar.It made sense. It explained the strange stirrings within me, the shadows that followed me like a distant storm, threatening to engulf everything I touched. I had always known there was something inside me, something dark and ancient. But I had never understood what it was, or how to control it.If Caius was the vessel of Malakar, then… perhaps there was a way to fix this. If Caius could be cleansed, maybe the same could be done for me. But how? How could I rid myself of the darkness that was growin
CAUIS“All this time… I was the endgame.”I didn’t know how long the silence lasted after I said it. Maybe seconds. Maybe years. My voice echoed in my head, hollow and damning, like it belonged to someone else.I stared at the floor, hands clenched at my sides, my chest rising and falling too fast. My lungs couldn’t seem to hold enough air. Because now I knew.The shadow that moved when I marked Lira.The whispers I tried to ignore.The coldness that clung to my bones like frost…It was never outside of me.It was me.Or at least a part of me. A part I never asked for.“Malakar…” I whispered, the name burning my tongue like poison. “He’s been inside me this whole time.”Morgana stepped forward. Her eyes—gods, they were endless. Deep wells of sorrow and fury and love. She looked at me like she was seeing more than just a young Alpha.“When I met you,” she said softly, “I felt something. A pull. A bond.” She placed a hand over her heart. “I thought it was because of Xander… that maybe y
ALDRICMorgana’s words hit like a tempest—each syllable peeling back the layers of silence I’d carried for two centuries.Sacrifice. Heart. Xander. Mina.I stood motionless, her voice fading into the thundering in my ears as something deep inside me stirred. A flicker of something I hadn’t felt in ages. A memory long buried… by magic.Then it cracked—like ice under pressure—and the dam broke.It came rushing in.A face. A sound. The coppery scent of blood.And a child screaming.I staggered back a step, gripping the edge of the table.“I… I remember something,” I rasped. “Gods—how could I have forgotten this?”Morgana looked up, startled. Her tear-streaked face locked onto mine, and I could feel the hope—and the terror—rising in her chest.“What do you mean?” she whispered.“I followed him,” I said, breathless. “That night. I followed Xander… into the basement.”Her brows knitted. “You what?”“I don’t know why,” I continued, piecing it together, “Maybe I was suspicious. Or maybe somet
MORGANAI was in the garden, teaching Mina how to coax a bloom from a wilting bud when Xander came to me.“There’s trouble in the village,” he said, voice urgent but composed. “A witch has been spotted casting curses—terrifying the villagers. They need you.”I looked up, wiping my dirt-smudged hands on my apron. “Are you sure? I haven’t sensed anything.”He nodded. “They’re hiding her, out of fear. They sent word to us this morning. Please, Morgana. Only you can deal with this kind of threat.”He looked so sincere. I trusted him. Of course I did. He was my mate, the man who once swore he would stand against the darkness with me.I kissed Mina’s curls and whispered, “Be good for Papa,” before mounting my horse and riding out.The trip to the village took hours. By the time I arrived, the sun was past its peak, dipping into the haze of afternoon. I dismounted at the edge of the quiet settlement and walked its cobbled paths. But there were no cries for help. No signs of chaos. No trace o
MORGANAThe past clung to me like the scent of old spell smoke. I didn’t need to close my eyes to see it—the memory surged forward, vivid and raw, as if time itself folded and brought me back two centuries.Two hundred years ago, the Grimhowl Pack mansion was the heart of a thriving, unbreakable community. Nestled in the cradle of the forest, it stood proud and regal, its stone walls covered in flowering ivy and thick vines that shimmered in the morning dew. Tall arched windows caught every sliver of light, casting gold across the polished floors. The scent of pine and wild jasmine drifted in through open balconies. It wasn’t just a mansion. It was a home—a living, breathing sanctuary of pack unity, echoing with laughter, footsteps, and the howls of celebration.Xander Vexmoor, younger brother to Alpha Lance Vexmoor, and I lived in a cozy side wing of the estate. While Lance oversaw the affairs of the pack, Xander dedicated himself to study, exploration, and eventually, me. We were yo