The silence stretched for several moments as Lira processed everything Dain had just revealed. The weight of it settled on her shoulders, pressing down with the heaviness of a thousand unspoken truths. Her mind spun as she grappled with the implications of what she had just learned. She had always known there were gaps in her mother’s story, but she never expected those gaps to be so vast, so tangled in the shadows of betrayal and lost legacies.Caius was the first to break the silence, his voice steady but edged with disbelief. “You’re saying that Valenwood really still exists. That Alpha Theron, Lira’s grandfather, is still leading the survivors.”Dain’s amber eyes met Caius’s, unwavering. “Yes,” he confirmed with a nod, his voice thick with both reverence and sorrow. “And he would want to see his granddaughter.” His gaze flickered toward Lira, his next words meant only for her. “You carry his blood. Even after all these years, you belong to Valenwood.”Lira wasn’t sure what to say.
The air was crisp as they set out before dawn, the distant mountains silhouetted against the dim glow of the fading moon. The night’s lingering chill clung to Lira’s skin, but she barely noticed. Her mind was too preoccupied with the weight of the journey ahead.They were heading into the unknown—into Valenwood, a place shrouded in secrecy for over half a century.Tobias rode beside her, his presence grounding yet heavy with unspoken thoughts. To his left, Dain remained stoic, his expression unreadable as his sharp eyes scanned their surroundings. Caius, ever the silent guardian, positioned himself protectively near Lira, while Ronan and the other warriors flanked them at a distance.As they rode, Lira found her gaze drifting to Dain. His story had lingered in her mind ever since his reveal. A man who had spent his life protecting a land few believed existed. A man who had lost everything to Malakar’s forces.She broke the silence. Lira took a deep breath, her hands tightening around t
The further south they traveled, the denser the forests became. The air was thick, not just with the scent of damp earth but with something else—something unseen.Magic.Caius was the first to voice what they were all thinking. “Something is different here.”Dain, riding ahead, nodded. “This is the magic of Valenwood. It has kept us hidden for decades.”Elias frowned. “If it’s magic, then who cast it?”Dain’s expression darkened, his brow furrowing as though the question had dug into an old wound. “A witch named Morgana Blackthorne.”Lira straightened in her saddle, her eyes narrowing. “The same witch who helped my parents?”“The very same,” Dain confirmed. “She was an ally, but she was also secretive. She never revealed the true extent of her abilities, only that she had sworn to protect Valenwood.”Ronan whistled low, impressed. “A witch who can hide an entire pack for years? That’s powerful magic.”Dain nodded grimly, a haunted look crossing his face. “It is. And I learned a fracti
Night fell faster than expected, and the group quickly set up camp in a clearing surrounded by towering pines, their tall trunks casting long shadows in the dimming light. The campfire crackled, sending orange sparks into the air, as the wind whispered through the branches above.Lira sat by the fire, the warmth from the flames doing little to chase the cold that settled deep in her bones. Her thoughts swirled—Morgana’s magic, the prophecy, and now, Dain’s unexpected revelation about his bloodline. The pieces of the puzzle were slowly coming together, but she felt no closer to understanding the full picture. She glanced at Dain, who stood at the edge of the camp, his back turned to the fire. He was staring into the darkness of the forest, his posture rigid, as though he was waiting for something—or someone.Unable to let the silence linger, Lira stood and moved toward him, her steps soft on the forest floor. She paused when she was close enough to speak without disturbing the quiet of
The journey had been long and arduous, winding through dense forests and treacherous terrain. Yet, as they neared the heart of the hidden pack, something shifted.Lira felt it first—a subtle, almost imperceptible energy brushing against her skin, humming in the very air they breathed. It was unlike anything she had ever experienced. The air seemed charged with a quiet power, as though the land itself was alive, watching them. It thrummed beneath the surface of everything—the trees, the earth, the wind.Her heartbeat quickened as the sensation deepened, an instinctual pull urging her forward. She could sense something ancient here, something familiar and comforting, yet foreign, like the stirring of a long-forgotten memory.Then, through the towering trees, a village emerged. But it was not like any other.Valenwood was breathtaking.The settlement lay nestled within a vast, enchanted clearing, where nature and magic intertwined seamlessly. The trees were ancient, their trunks thick wi
The inside of Alpha Thoren’s home was even more mesmerizing.The walls were crafted from a dark, polished wood that seemed to shimmer under the lantern light. Silver filigree markings ran along the beams, forming intricate symbols that pulsed faintly. The air carried a scent of fresh earth, herbs, and something Lira couldn’t quite place—magic.Carved stone hearths lined the hall, where fires crackled with warmth. Long tables filled the open space, with wooden benches arranged neatly, likely for gatherings or feasts.As they walked deeper into the home, the pack members moved around them with familiarity, but also reverence. Some whispered among themselves, their gazes lingering on Lira.She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.But then, something—or rather, someone—caught her attention.At the far side of the hall, seven individuals stood waiting.The witches.Three men and four women. Each with a different presence, a different aura.The oldest of them was a tall man with silver-strea
Caius must have sensed her unease, because without a word, he reached for her hand.His warmth grounded her. His golden eyes met hers, steady and sure. “Are you alright?”Lira swallowed hard. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “I feel… watched.”Caius’s lips twitched. “Because you are.”She huffed a quiet laugh. “That doesn’t make me feel better.”He tugged her a little closer, lowering his voice. “They’re looking at you because they believe in you.”Lira exhaled sharply. “That’s what scares me.”Caius studied her, his thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. “Why?”Lira hesitated. “Because I don’t know if I can be what they need me to be.”A moment of silence stretched between them. Then, Caius leaned in just enough that his breath brushed against her temple.“You already are.”His words sent a warmth through her chest, a quiet strength settling in her bones.She wasn’t sure if he was right. But for now, she let herself believe it.A History Woven in SecretsTheir group had been given a
The Prophecy of Selene, the Mother of NightIn the days of old, when the world was young and the wolves roamed free beneath the gaze of the Mother of Night, Selene, she beheld her children—the wolves who walked beneath the silver glow of her eternal light. She saw their strength, their unity, and the harmony of the packs. But she also saw the darkness creeping at the edges of their realm, the shadow that slithered close to their hearts, waiting to strike. And so, Selene, with the voice of a thousand winds, did speak unto her children in a tongue as ancient as the stars:“A time shall come, my children, when the Dark One shall rise. His hunger shall be boundless, and his fury unrelenting. The packs shall be torn asunder, their bones broken by his mighty hand. Rivers shall run red with the blood of my own, and the strongest among you shall fall first. The weak shall be devoured, scattered to the winds. The earth shall weep, and the moon shall mourn for the souls lost to the darkness.”“
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