Ashina’s heart plummeted the moment Adolphus’s cold voice echoed through the courtyard, very commanding, “Take her to the cage.” as it rang on her ears.The words felt like chains wrapping around her soul, each syllable tightening her breath. The world blurred around her, the sharp scent of blood mingling with the earthy aroma of the forest, and the flickering torches casting long shadows on the walls around. Her knees buckled slightly, but she forced herself to stay upright, determination flashing briefly in her tear-filled amber eyes.“Please, Lord Adolphus,” she pleaded, her voice trembling as she took a hesitant step forward. “Just give me time. Let me figure this out. Leo is my brother. He is my blood. I can find out why he did this. Please…” Her words trailed off as she searched his stern face for any hint of mercy.Adolphus turned to her, his expression unreadable but cold as ice. His piercing gaze bore into her, as though assessing whether she was worth even a fraction of his
“Do you expect me to go ask your father, Elder Lucian, what Ashina?” Cain’s voice was a razor’s edge, slicing through the oppressive silence of the chamber as he shoved Ashina toward the iron cage. His grip on her wrist was unyielding, his knuckles white against her delicate skin. His expression was a storm of fury and frustration, every sharp feature were etched with tension.Ashina stumbled into the confines of the cage, her breath hitching as the cold, damp air wrapped around her like a shroud. The rough stone walls seemed to close in, amplifying her dread. Her hand shot out through the narrow bars, catching Cain’s wrist just as he prepared to slam the heavy lock into place.“Cain!” she gasped, her voice trembling, tinged with both desperation and defiance. Her eyes, wide and imploring, searched his hardened face. “Whatever you’re planning, do it quickly. We don’t have time, with all this happening Cain. Irwin is still trapped in Shadowfang territory, and Dorian…” Her voice faltere
“You better step out of the way, Leo, and focus on what’s ahead of you,” Valen growled, his voice sharp enough to cut through the tension thickening the air.Leo didn’t flinch. His golden eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his tone was icy. “What’s ahead of me is a throne you’re too distracted to hold, Valen. You’re walking the same path Dorian did even though I never wanted him to lead the shadowclaw because Adolphus is so determined to let his family take everything. But look at you valen, you're letting your emotions blind you. You could have finished him off when you came to Shadowclaw, but you hesitated.”Valen’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. The veins in his neck strained as he fought to control his rising fury. “Enough, Leo!” His voice boomed, reverberating through the stone walls like thunder. He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the floor as his towering frame loomed over Leo. “If Irwin is what I need to feel whole for all the years I thrive to be happy alone,
Irwin stood at the edge of a dense forest, her breaths shallow, and her heart were pounding like a war drum. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and rotting leaves, while the silence was broken only by the faint rustle of unseen creatures. In the distance, shadows coiled and twisted unnaturally, and encircling a lone figure.As she stepped closer, her vision sharpened, and she gasped. The figure was Dorian. His face, pale and etched with agony, came into view as he struggled against the dark tendrils wrapping around him. His movements were frantic, his hands clawing at the shadows as they dragged him deeper into the forest’s depths.“Dorian!” Irwin’s voice cracked as she stepped closer, her feet sinking into the soft, damp earth. The figure turned, and her heart twisted painfully as she recognized his face—Dorian, his features contorted in agony, his hands clawing desperately at the tendrils of darkness that wrapped around him.“Irwin!” Dorian’s voice was raw, laced with pa
“Is that a question from someone who used to cherish isolation before but now thrives on egotistical dreams of power?” Irwin’s voice cut through the silence like a whip, her words were heavy with accusation. She stood her ground, even though her body betrayed her, trembling slightly from the aftershock of her nightmare.Valen’s dark eyes flashed, his jaw tightening at her words. He stepped closer, his presence filling the room with an oppressive energy. “Isolation only taught me clarity, Irwin—clarity you’ll never understand. Power is the only currency in this world, and you know it better than anyone.”“Clarity?” Irwin scoffed, her lips curling into a mocking smile. “Is that what you call abandoning everything and everyone who could have stood by your side? Isolation didn’t make you wise, Valen because you chose to stay there to make your evil plan come to reality. And that has definitely made you weak, and now you’re trying to mask that weakness with delusions of grandeur.”Valen’s
The room fell into a heavy silence, as the implications of Cain’s words were hanging over them like a storm cloud. Adolphus’s expression was unreadable as he wondered and pondered, but his clenched fists betrayed the turmoil within. The steady, crackling of wood in the fire was the only sound, filling the air with an oppressive sense of foreboding.Ulva broke the silence, as she stood from the edge of the bed she was holding Dorian her voice trembling but determined. “Cain, are you certain? Elder Lucian? He’s been like a brother to Adolphus for decades. He would never…” Her words faltered, but her eyes remained fixed on Cain, searching his face for any hint of uncertainty.Cain nodded solemnly. “Ashina wasn’t certain herself with how she said it, but I think she overheard enough to raise questions. She said her father’s behavior has been strange for months, especially around Leo. She believes Lucian might have known more than he let on.”Adolphus’s jaw tightened. His piercing gaze bo
"Elder Thane, Adolphus sent for you elders for a reason best known to him," Cain replied without mincing words, his voice were steady but yet cautious. He stood resolutely in the center of the circle formed by the council of elders, their imposing figures casting long shadows under the dense canopy of the forest. The early morning mist lingered, curling around their boots and amplifying the tension in the air.Elder Lucian, his silver hair gleaming even in the dim light, fixed Cain with a hard, questioning gaze. "Adolphus sent for the council? He has no right. He relinquished his seat long ago. Why not have Dorian summon us himself? What ails our young alpha so gravely that his father must interfere in his trouble?"Cain’s expression remained neutral, though his stomach churned. "Alpha Dorian is unwell, Elder Lucian," he said carefully. "Lord Adolphus deemed it prudent to act swiftly. And the urgency of the matter demanded your immediate action."Elder Magnus, a battle-hardened wolf w
Valen’s footsteps echoed ominously through the dimly lit corridor, the sound was a cruel rhythm that amplified the oppressive silence. Outside the room where Irwin was held captive, guards stood rigid, their expressions were blank, their loyalty to Valen was unquestionable. Valen stopped in front of the heavy iron door, his eyes narrowing at the shimmering runes engraved into the metal, it was a complex spell meant to suppress supernatural abilities. He reached out, his fingers brushing over the cold surface, and felt the faint hum of magic that pulsed beneath his touch.Now Irwin's wrists were bound by glowing spell chains that seared her skin anytime she tried to resist. Valen made it happen because of what she did in her sleep the last time he came. Irwin's eyes, even though it was weary, but it remained fierce, the fire within her refusing to be extinguished despite her circumstances. Now, the spell chains seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of her limitations.The sound of the i
"Where is she!?" Dorian's snarl echoed through the blood-soaked Shadowwood, his massive paws smashing into the ground as his sharp golden eyes scanned the chaos around him. Fury and desperation twisted his features, the wolf within barely held in check as his powerful form rippled with unspent energy. His mate, his Irwin, was somewhere in the fray, held by Valen. He could feel Vendetta's presence—faint, distant—like a whisper carried on the wind. She was toying with him. Yet every direction he turned revealed nothing but shadow and deceit.Adolphus rushed to his son’s side, his own wolf form towering and weathered with years of experience. The older wolf’s voice was a low growl, urgent but steady. "Stay focused, Dorian! This isn’t Vendetta. These are her shadows. She’s playing with your mind. Don’t let them take you."Dorian’s claws raked through the dirt in frustration. "I saw her! I know I did!" His voice broke, teetering between rage and despair. "She was right there! I fought with
Dawn broke over the horizon, casting a pale light over Dorian’s assembled forces. The morning mist clung to the air, muffling sounds as though the world itself braced for the storm ahead. Warriors stood in formation, clad in armor dulled by battle yet unbroken in spirit. The tension was palpable, a weight that settled over them all as they prepared to march into the Shadowwood, a place shrouded in danger and mystery.Dorian stepped forward, his golden eyes scanning the crowd. Each warrior bore the same determined expression, yet he could sense their fear. He couldn’t blame them. The Shadowwood was not just a battlefield; it was alive with darkness, pulsing with the malignant energy of Vendetta’s magic.“We face not just Valen’s forces, but the darkness he’s allied with,” Dorian began, his voice carrying over the crowd. It was steady, commanding, but laced with the gravity of the mission. “Stay close, trust your instincts, and remember what we’re fighting for. Irwin needs us, and we wi
“If you keep fighting, you’ll lose more than your mate. You’ll lose everything.” Dorian’s forces regrouped, their breaths ragged but their resolve unbroken. Yet, amidst the chaos, a heavier weight pressed on Dorian’s shoulders—Leo’s words.The battlefield smoldered with the aftermath of the first skirmish. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, and the scent of blood mingled with the acrid smoke of burning earth. Those words echoed in his mind, gnawing at his focus. As the crescent moon climbed higher into the sky, Dorian retreated to the edge of the encampment. Cain followed close behind, his sharp eyes noticing the tension in Dorian’s movements.“Whatever Leo said to you, it’s meant to throw you off,” Cain said firmly. “You can’t let him get inside your head.”Dorian turned to face his most loyal guard, his expression grim. “He wasn’t lying, Cain. There’s something deeper at play. Valen isn’t just after power; he’s orchestrating something far bigger.”Cain crossed his arms, his jaw t
The battlefield stretched before them, an ominous expanse of shadow and fog. Dorian stood at the front of his forces, his golden eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of Valen’s army. The pain from the poisoned dagger Leo had plunged into his back flared with every breath, but he refused to show weakness. His posture was rigid, his massive frame towering over his warriors as a symbol of unshakable resolve. The crescent moon above cast an eerie glow on the scene, and the air hung heavy with the scent of impending bloodshed.Behind Dorian, Ashina and Cain exchanged uneasy glances. The betrayal of Leo, once their closest ally, weighed heavily on all of them. It wasn’t just the act of treachery; it was the scars left on their trust, the hollow ache of realizing they’d been fooled for so long.“Do you think he’ll be there?” Ashina asked Cain, her voice barely above a whisper.Cain’s jaw clenched as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. “He’ll be your brother Leo doesn’t run from
The air within the Shadowclaw stronghold was thick with tension, so palpable that it seemed to weigh down even the walls. Seeing that majority of the elders has taken sides with elder Lucian which means they are all working for Valen and they all left immediately. Dorian stood at the center of the vast space, his presence magnetic and never unyielding despite the pain throbbing in his back and the pain seeing his trusted elders of the back running towards his rival . His voice rang out, sharp and commanding, cutting through the murmurs of the gathered warriors and allies like a blade. “Valen has taken what is mine, he has taken the dignity of this pack” he declared, his tone steady despite the fury simmering beneath the surface. “My mate. My Irwin. He seeks to not only shatter my spirit but to fracture the unity of this pack. I will not allow it. We will not allow it. We march into Shadowfang territory to bring her back. Who among you will stand with me?”A growl rippled through the
“Adolphus,” Lucian’s voice rang out, calm but cutting, “my old friend, you speak of loyalty as if it’s a virtue. But loyalty to a failing leader is nothing more than folly and you know that.”Adolphus's jaw tightened. His eyes narrowed as he took a step forward, the weight of his emotions pushing through his usually composed demeanor. “You dare speak of failure when you’ve conspired against your own pack? Or is it because I don't want to go deeper into this?” His voice was steady, but the raw edge of anger was undeniable. “How long have you been working with Valen? Lucian”Lucian’s lips curled into a small, almost imperceptible smile, but it was cold, the kind of smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Long enough to know that this pack needs a change,” he said softly. “Dorian’s time is over. He’s too weak to lead us through the challenges that lie ahead. Valen offers something far more valuable—strength, alliances, and power. All things your son is incapable of giving us.”The council mem
The air was thick with tension, as what elder Thane said kept them in disarray,the kind that could crack bones and tear alliances apart as they all mummured between themselves. Dorian stood, his back was straight and his posture commanding despite the lingering effects of his injury. The stab that had nearly claimed his life had healed faster than expected, but the pain remained, a constant reminder of how far he had come and how much further he still had to go. His mother, Ulva, stood beside him, her hands clasped in front of her, her gaze soft but filled with concern. Adolphus, ever the strategist, stood just behind them, his arms crossed over his chest, his face were a mask of contemplation and wariness.Adolphus cleared his throat, his voice cutting through the uneasy murmurs of the council members. "We are at a crossroads," he said, his words laced with the gravity of the situation. "Valen's actions have forced our hand, and we must decide where we stand. Are we loyal to the pa
Dorian sat in his chambers, leaning back in a chair, his body still recovering a little bit. His wound, though it had started to heal rapidly, but it continued to throb with a deep ache. His body’s accelerated healing process was a gift, but it was far from perfect, and the pain served as a constant reminder of how far he had pushed himself. His mother, Ulva, moved around him with grace, tending to the wound, her every motion filled with care and precision.Ulva’s brow furrowed as she applied a salve to the wound, her touch gentle but firm. “You’re pushing yourself too hard, Dorian,” she scolded softly, her voice tinged with both concern and frustration. “Even with your accelerated healing, you’re not invincible. I don’t want to lose you to your own recklessness Dorian.”Dorian flinched at the sting of the salve, but he didn’t pull away. His body was weary, and his mind even more so. “I don’t have time for this, Mother,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “Irwin is in Valen’s hands n
Valen’s footsteps echoed ominously through the dimly lit corridor, the sound was a cruel rhythm that amplified the oppressive silence. Outside the room where Irwin was held captive, guards stood rigid, their expressions were blank, their loyalty to Valen was unquestionable. Valen stopped in front of the heavy iron door, his eyes narrowing at the shimmering runes engraved into the metal, it was a complex spell meant to suppress supernatural abilities. He reached out, his fingers brushing over the cold surface, and felt the faint hum of magic that pulsed beneath his touch.Now Irwin's wrists were bound by glowing spell chains that seared her skin anytime she tried to resist. Valen made it happen because of what she did in her sleep the last time he came. Irwin's eyes, even though it was weary, but it remained fierce, the fire within her refusing to be extinguished despite her circumstances. Now, the spell chains seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of her limitations.The sound of the i