Later that evening, Lira sat in the pack house, exhausted from the day's training. The cracklingfire in the hearth provided a bit of warmth against the chill that still clung to her bones. Sheleaned back in her chair, savoring the quiet, a rare moment of peace amid the chaos that hadbecome her life.Then, it hit her.A scent, rich and familiar, so strong that it sent a rush of emotion through her chest. It wasunmistakable.Her heart stopped.No. It couldn’t be...Footsteps echoed down the hall, getting closer, until they stopped right outside the door.“Did you miss me, or did you forget about me completely?”Lira’s breath caught in her throat, and she turned sharply, her eyes widening in pure shock.“Kora?” she gasped.The blonde-haired, hazel-eyed she-wolf stood in the doorway, a grin spreading across her face,radiating the same confidence and energy that Lira had missed so much.“Oh my Moon Goddess,” Lira exclaimed, her voice cracking slightly as she surged forward. Shethrew
Lira stood in the middle of the training grounds, arms crossed tightly over her chest, watching asCaius and Ronan sparred. Their movements were a blur of speed and strength, fists connectingwith precision, growls echoing in the crisp air. The power behind each strike resonated throughthe ground, the thud of their feet against the earth punctuating their ongoing battle fordominance.Normally, Lira would have been fully immersed in their movements, analyzing each of theirtechniques, mentally planning her own training sessions, and preparing for the future. Buttoday?Today, she couldn’t focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to the way Caius had kissed her lastnight—no, the night before that, too. She could still feel the heat of his lips against hers, the wayhis hands had pulled her closer, his touch igniting something deep inside her. Her bodyresponded to him in ways she couldn’t ignore. The warmth of his hands on her skin, the fire thatburned between them every time their ga
*WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS R-18 SCENES*Lira was exhausted.The past few days had been a blur of non-stop training—magic training, combat training,strategy sessions. It was more than she could keep up with, especially with Caius constantlypushing her limits in ways she never thought possible. He was relentless, and while the resultswere impressive, she was starting to feel the weight of it all.Her muscles ached with every step, her mind heavy with exhaustion. All she wanted—no,needed—was a long, uninterrupted sleep. It had been days since she’d truly rested, and herbody was screaming at her for a break.She shuffled toward her room in the guest house, dragging her feet, rubbing at the tension inher shoulders. The cold air from outside nipped at her skin, but she didn’t care. She just neededto get inside, strip down to her pajamas, and crawl into bed.As she reached for the door handle, she heard it.A sound so wrong, so utterly nightmare-inducing that her soul nearly left
Lira sat on the log, staring blankly into the crackling fire before her. The flames danced in frontof her eyes, but she saw nothing. Her mind was a void, her thoughts nothing more than atangled mess of confusion, exhaustion, and pure embarrassment.She was numb. Emotionally, spiritually, mentally scarred.Her eyes were glazed, as though nothing in the world could pierce through the haze that hadsettled over her like a heavy fog. Last night’s events replayed in her mind over and over like anightmare she couldn’t escape.Caius sat beside her, an amused glint in his eyes. He wasn’t one to shy away from trouble—hewas the source of much of it, after all. His deep chuckle vibrated through his chest as hewatched her, obviously trying to suppress the amusement bubbling inside him. “You alright,love?”Lira slowly turned her head toward him. Her face was blank—empty, devoid of the usual spark.“I need therapy,” she muttered, her voice flat and devoid of any life.Caius raised an eyebrow,
Lira stood at the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, as shewatched the warriors spar. The icy wind of winter nipped at her skin, but it was nothingcompared to the tension that was coiling tighter and tighter inside her chest. She could feel thepressure, the expectation, and it had been growing stronger every day. Only a week remainedbefore her birthday, and with it, the moment she had both dreaded and anticipated her entirelife.Her first shift.And four days after that—the full moon.Lira’s fingers clenched into fists at her sides as she thought about it. It had been a constantworry in the back of her mind for as long as she could remember. There was so much she hadto prepare for. The full moon would be the moment when everything changed. She would stepinto the world as a fully realized wolf, something she’d been dreaming about for years, but alsosomething she was terrified of. What if she wasn’t ready? What if she failed? There was no way
Lira barely had a moment of peace before Kora barged into her room, her usual energetic self,arms crossed and dark curls bouncing with every step."LIRA!" Kora practically shouted, making Lira jolt in surprise. She blinked at the suddenintrusion, her heart racing for a moment before she realized it was just Kora being Kora."You are officially few days away from your birthday!" Kora’s voice was loud enough to shakethe walls, her eyes sparkling with mischief.Lira stared at her, still processing the words, a frown forming on her face. “Uh… yes?”Kora’s grin grew wider, and she threw herself onto Lira's bed dramatically, landing with a bouncethat made the entire mattress shift. "Do you realize what that means?"Lira gave her a blank look. "That I’ll shift for the first time?" she asked cautiously, unsure if thiswas leading to something she wasn’t ready for.Kora rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t pop out. "That too, but also…" Shesat up with exaggerated excitemen
Lira woke up to the softest kiss on her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open, and sheimmediately felt the warmth of Caius beside her."Caius?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, her mind still tangled in the hazy remnantsof dreams."Wake up, love," he whispered, his voice low and warm. "I have something planned for youtoday."Lira blinked, the sleepiness clinging to her like a blanket. "What...?" Her voice was slow,reluctant to shake off the drowsiness."You’ll see," Caius replied with a teasing smile that she could feel even though her eyes werestill half-closed.Later That Evening…Lira walked into the main hall, her steps slow as she took in the space around her. There wassomething off about the atmosphere. It was too quiet. Too still.Then, suddenly—"SURPRISE!"The doors swung open with a dramatic flourish, revealing a breathtaking sight. The entireballroom sparkled, glittering with gold and silver decorations that shimmered under the soft glowof fairy lights strun
The night air was crisp, the sky stretching vast and endless, illuminated by countless stars. Agentle breeze whispered through the towering pines surrounding Grimhowl’s training grounds,carrying with it the electric anticipation of the wolves gathered. Tonight was the night.Lira stood at the center of the clearing, barefoot on the frozen earth, feeling the energy pulsingaround her. The pack was silent, their collective presence a quiet yet steady supportsurrounding her like an invisible shield. Each breath she took seemed to magnify the moment,the weight of everything leading up to this night pressing down on her shoulders. But there wassomething else that grounded her, something more solid and real than anything else—Caius,standing beside her, his presence like an anchor. His steady gaze never wavered from her, andthe strength in his eyes made her heart hammer in her chest.“You’re ready,” he murmured softly, his golden eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that madeher p
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of snow as the sun shone over the training grounds. Despite the lingering winter chill, heat radiated from the gathered group as they stretched and prepared for another rigorous session.Lira adjusted her stance, rolling her shoulders as she faced Caius, Ronan, Elias, and—unexpectedly—Kora, who had decided to join the sparring.“I figured it was about time I learned how to properly fight,” Kora said, smirking as she tied her hair back. “I can’t let my best friend be the only badass around here.”Ronan, standing beside her with his arms crossed, scowled. “You don’t need to train, Kora.”Kora shot him a glare. “Oh, so I should just sit back and let you protect me while I do nothing? Yeah, not happening.”Elias chuckled. “You walked right into that one, Ronan.”Caius smirked. “Alright, let’s see what you’ve got.”The session was intense. Lira sparred with Caius first, testing her speed and strength against his sheer power. The bond betw
The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and freshly fallen snow. Lira stirred in the warm embrace of Caius, her body still humming with the aftermath of their night together. She had never felt so… whole. It was as if something deep within her had finally aligned, like a missing piece had clicked into place.As she stretched, she noticed how heightened her senses felt—every sound crisper, every scent sharper. Even the energy within her felt stronger, no longer something she had to strain to reach but something that now pulsed effortlessly beneath her skin.Caius stirred beside her, golden eyes meeting hers with a lazy smirk. “You feel it, don’t you?” he murmured, his voice husky from sleep.Lira nodded, pressing a hand to her chest. “It’s like my body has fully awakened. I feel… powerful.”Caius hummed, reaching out to brush his fingers along her arm. “I feel it too. My strength, my reflexes… everything is enhanced. Even Fenrir feels it.” He turned his gaze to the window
Lira couldn’t sleep.The moonlight spilled softly through the curtains, silver beams washing across the room in gentle strokes, but nothing about the night felt peaceful. Her skin still tingled from the shift. Her wolf stirred restlessly beneath the surface, alert, alive.But that wasn’t the reason she was still awake.It was him.Caius lay beside her, too still, too silent. His breathing was even, but not the steady rhythm of sleep—no, this was control. Restraint.She turned toward him, and sure enough, his eyes opened to meet hers—golden and glowing faintly in the dark.“You’re thinking too much,” he murmured.“So are you.”A faint smirk curved his lips, but his gaze stayed serious. “What’s on your mind?”Lira hesitated, then whispered, “The bond feels… different now.”Caius nodded. “Because it is. Your wolf is awake now. She recognizes what’s hers.”A shiver danced down her spine.“What about you?” she asked.His smirk faded, the heat in his gaze deepening. “I’ve always recognized
Lira had never felt this alive.She raced through the forest, the cool night air rushing past her, her paws barely making asound against the frozen ground. Each step was effortless, her body moving with a fluid gracethat felt almost otherworldly. Her senses were heightened beyond anything she could haveimagined—every smell, every sound, every shift in the wind was as clear to her as though itwere happening inside her own body.Beside her, Fenrir ran with equal speed and precision, his powerful form flowing through thetrees like a shadow. His dark fur contrasted beautifully with her radiant white coat, and hisgolden eyes glinted in the moonlight, watching her with an intensity that made her heart race."You’re incredible," his deep voice rumbled through the bond between them, the words vibratingthrough her as if they were spoken directly into her chest.She shot him a playful glance. "You’re just saying that because I’m your mate," she teased, hertail swishing behind her as she
The night air was crisp, the sky stretching vast and endless, illuminated by countless stars. Agentle breeze whispered through the towering pines surrounding Grimhowl’s training grounds,carrying with it the electric anticipation of the wolves gathered. Tonight was the night.Lira stood at the center of the clearing, barefoot on the frozen earth, feeling the energy pulsingaround her. The pack was silent, their collective presence a quiet yet steady supportsurrounding her like an invisible shield. Each breath she took seemed to magnify the moment,the weight of everything leading up to this night pressing down on her shoulders. But there wassomething else that grounded her, something more solid and real than anything else—Caius,standing beside her, his presence like an anchor. His steady gaze never wavered from her, andthe strength in his eyes made her heart hammer in her chest.“You’re ready,” he murmured softly, his golden eyes locked onto hers with an intensity that madeher p
Lira woke up to the softest kiss on her forehead. Her eyelids fluttered open, and sheimmediately felt the warmth of Caius beside her."Caius?" she murmured, her voice thick with sleep, her mind still tangled in the hazy remnantsof dreams."Wake up, love," he whispered, his voice low and warm. "I have something planned for youtoday."Lira blinked, the sleepiness clinging to her like a blanket. "What...?" Her voice was slow,reluctant to shake off the drowsiness."You’ll see," Caius replied with a teasing smile that she could feel even though her eyes werestill half-closed.Later That Evening…Lira walked into the main hall, her steps slow as she took in the space around her. There wassomething off about the atmosphere. It was too quiet. Too still.Then, suddenly—"SURPRISE!"The doors swung open with a dramatic flourish, revealing a breathtaking sight. The entireballroom sparkled, glittering with gold and silver decorations that shimmered under the soft glowof fairy lights strun
Lira barely had a moment of peace before Kora barged into her room, her usual energetic self,arms crossed and dark curls bouncing with every step."LIRA!" Kora practically shouted, making Lira jolt in surprise. She blinked at the suddenintrusion, her heart racing for a moment before she realized it was just Kora being Kora."You are officially few days away from your birthday!" Kora’s voice was loud enough to shakethe walls, her eyes sparkling with mischief.Lira stared at her, still processing the words, a frown forming on her face. “Uh… yes?”Kora’s grin grew wider, and she threw herself onto Lira's bed dramatically, landing with a bouncethat made the entire mattress shift. "Do you realize what that means?"Lira gave her a blank look. "That I’ll shift for the first time?" she asked cautiously, unsure if thiswas leading to something she wasn’t ready for.Kora rolled her eyes so hard it was a miracle they didn’t pop out. "That too, but also…" Shesat up with exaggerated excitemen
Lira stood at the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, as shewatched the warriors spar. The icy wind of winter nipped at her skin, but it was nothingcompared to the tension that was coiling tighter and tighter inside her chest. She could feel thepressure, the expectation, and it had been growing stronger every day. Only a week remainedbefore her birthday, and with it, the moment she had both dreaded and anticipated her entirelife.Her first shift.And four days after that—the full moon.Lira’s fingers clenched into fists at her sides as she thought about it. It had been a constantworry in the back of her mind for as long as she could remember. There was so much she hadto prepare for. The full moon would be the moment when everything changed. She would stepinto the world as a fully realized wolf, something she’d been dreaming about for years, but alsosomething she was terrified of. What if she wasn’t ready? What if she failed? There was no way
Lira sat on the log, staring blankly into the crackling fire before her. The flames danced in frontof her eyes, but she saw nothing. Her mind was a void, her thoughts nothing more than atangled mess of confusion, exhaustion, and pure embarrassment.She was numb. Emotionally, spiritually, mentally scarred.Her eyes were glazed, as though nothing in the world could pierce through the haze that hadsettled over her like a heavy fog. Last night’s events replayed in her mind over and over like anightmare she couldn’t escape.Caius sat beside her, an amused glint in his eyes. He wasn’t one to shy away from trouble—hewas the source of much of it, after all. His deep chuckle vibrated through his chest as hewatched her, obviously trying to suppress the amusement bubbling inside him. “You alright,love?”Lira slowly turned her head toward him. Her face was blank—empty, devoid of the usual spark.“I need therapy,” she muttered, her voice flat and devoid of any life.Caius raised an eyebrow,