Melissa’s POVThe atmosphere surrounding the Void was chilly and heavy as if all hope and warmth had been sucked out. I held the relic in my shaking hands as I stood at its brink. There was a slight pulse across its surface as if it could sense the danger.The pack gathered in uncomfortable quiet behind me. None of them dared to speak, but their anxious gazes pierced my back. They were all aware of what I was going to do.Elena begged, "Melissa, you don't have to do this," her voice cracking.My heart felt like it was breaking, but I forced a tiny grin as I turned to face her and the others. "Yes, Elena, I do. There's Damon. And none of us will live if I don't put an end to the Void right away.Marcus, Damon's beta, came forward. Raw terror had taken the place of his normally composed manner. "There must be another way, Melissa. Let's engage in combat!"Holding the artefact closer, I shook my head. "This is not your battle. I'm wanted by the Void. I've always been the one.Elena's eye
Melissa’s POVThe eerie brightness emanated from the misty, shifting form of the Void, which towered over me. Its words reverberated in my thoughts like a chilly whisper.It snarled mockingly, "Melissa, did you think you were meant to stop me?"As the fear clawed at my chest, I clenched my hands. "You won’t win," I whispered, my voice faltering, yet my legs shook, but I firmly planted my feet on the dark, unending surface beneath me. "I’ll find a way to defeat you."The sound of the Void laughing chilled me to my core. "Defeat me? Oh, child of light, you misunderstand. You were never meant to defeat me. You are my key, my vessel."I went cold. As the words set in, my heart pounded in my chest. I said, "What are you talking about?"Dark tendrils reached out and coiled around me like suffocating chains as they moved closer. "Your light is the purest in existence. With it, I will shatter the celestial barrier and bring the mortal realm to its knees."I struggled against the dark force th
Melissa’s POVAs we entered the chamber, the air was dense and heavy with an energy that hummed on my skin. An old blade, set into a column of light that extended to the vaulted ceiling, gleamed brilliantly in the centre. The pulse of its luminosity matched the beat of my heart.Damon said in a scarcely audible whisper, "There it is." "The weapon of heaven."I took a step forward, staring at the blade. It was beautiful, engraved with luminous runes that shimmered and seemed to change. It emanated power, but it also emitted something else, something sinister.A person emerged from the light before I could touch it. With glistening silver eyes and a flowing robe that appeared to be composed of starlight, it was ethereal, nearly human but not quite.The spirit said, "Stop," its voice echoed in my head instead of my ears. This blade is a curse as well as a weapon. To wield it is to completely lose oneself.My fingertips were just inches from the light when I froze. "What are you saying? W
Melissa’s POVIt was quiet and cold in the room, lit only by the dim glow of the relic in my hands. Heart thumping, I walked carefully across the chipped stone floor. A slight hum seemed to emanate from the walls, as though they were alive with some ancient force.Behind me, Damon murmured in a steady, low voice, "Melissa, this place gives me the creeps." What exactly are we searching for?"I looked across the room and mumbled, "I don't know." Then I noticed it: a huge mural that was carved into the distant wall, its surface shimmering dimly as though it were calling to me. I gasped.The elaborate artwork included swirling shadows and characters engaged in combat. A woman in the middle was brandishing a blade that remarkably resembled the one I was carrying. Shadows encircled figures surrounding her, who appeared to be screaming in pain."What is this? Damon inquired as he moved to stand next to me.I traced a shaking finger across the light forms and whispered, "It's my family." "My
Melissa’s POVWe felt as though an unseen weight was pushing down on us from the terrible darkness of the Void. I was having trouble keeping my breathing regular, and my heart was racing. Damon was there, offering consolation, but even he was powerless to protect me from the smothering might of the Void."Melissa," murmured Damon quietly, his voice piercing the quiet like a lifeline. "You're not feeling well."Despite my shaky hands betraying me, I immediately replied, "I'll be fine. We have to keep going."Damon took hold of my arm and turned me to face him. "No, we need to talk." Normally so calm, his blue eyes were filled with dread and something more. Feeling guilty?"Damon, what is it? I asked, sounding sharper than I meant to.He paused, then let out a long sigh. "I've been hiding something, Melissa. I've been losing strength ever since we went into the Void."What? I tightened my chest as I gazed at him. "What weaker do you mean? How come you didn't tell me?"He ran a hand thro
Melissa’s POVI had never seen anything like the heart of the Void, a huge, menacing vortex of pure blackness that stretched into the ruins of an old temple. The electricity in the air caused the hairs on my arms to stand on end."This is it," Damon stated in a steady yet hushed voice. He grasped my hand more tightly. "The origin of all things."My voice was too dry to talk, so I nodded. Surrounding us were crumbling ruins that were alive with odd carvings that glowed dimly in the suffocating darkness. I felt a strange hum beneath one of the engravings as I brushed my fingertips over it.I whispered, "These carvings are... stories."With his blue eyes narrowing at the inscriptions, Damon knelt next to me. With grimness, he uttered, "Stories of the Void." It used to be a celestial entity. Perhaps a guardian.I muttered, "But something changed," as my fingers traced a picture of a glowing person encircled by others before being engulfed by sharp shadows.The deep, mocking voice of the V
Melissa’s POV The wolves circled me as I stood in the middle of the pack's holy place, my heart racing. Their bodies were stiff with resolve, and their eyes burned dimly. An elder wolf named Garrick declared, "We have discovered a method." His voice was full of urgency and wisdom, and his fur was stained with silver. Melissa, we'll give you our energy. Your light will be strengthened by our spirits. Feeling the weight of their trust, I took a deep breath. However, the corruption of the Void is permeating every one of you. Will not this link endanger you?" "We're already in pain," Garrick remarked somberly. "We will all succumb to the darkness of the Void if we do nothing. This is our only chance.” With resolve blazing in their eyes, the pack members nodded in agreement. With his hand on his sword, Damon stood next to me. "Are you certain about this, Melissa?" I inhaled deeply. "I must be. I can't say no if their energy can aid me in my battle against the Void. The wolve
Melissa’s POVI could still hear Damon's cry. I glanced at the place where the shadows had pulled him into the abyss, my hands shaking. Something inside of me stirred, even though my heart hurt and the pain was intolerable.A fire, no, a warmth, flared in my chest. My light wasn't the only one. Something deeper, something more powerful.Then from the item beside me came a hushed voice."The Celestial Flame is being reawakened by you."I let out a gasp. “The Celestial Flame?"The voice hummed quietly. “A power your ancestors never reached. A light that may burn away even the deepest darkness.”Like flickering flames, a golden radiance rose from my fingertips. It was fire, not just light. My veins throbbed with heat, more intense than I had ever experienced.I balled my fists up. "I will use this if it can help me defeat the Void."The voice faltered. "The Flame is not so easy to wield. You have to go through a soul trial to manage it.I scowled. "A trial?""You have to face your demons
Melissa’s POVThe Storm Pack was no longer the same.There was no unity where there had been disagreement. There was strength where there had been dread.I watched the pack as they passed through the village from the balcony of the Alpha's estate. The area was bathed in a golden glow as the sun was just starting to rise. The smell of fresh bread wafted from the kitchens, young pups played by the river, and wolves trained in the fields.There was peace for the first time in a long time.There was a knock behind me."Come in," I said quietly.Damon entered, his piercing golden eyes silently laughing at me. Arms crossed, he leaned against the doorway. "You've spent a lot of time lately gazing at the sunrise."I turned to him and grinned. "Now it feels different. More vivid.He approached me and put an arm around my waist. For that reason, it is. Melissa, you made all the difference.I leaned against him and let out a deep exhale. "Everything was altered by us."Although I still felt the
Melissa’s POVThe conflict was over.The noises of warfare had long filled the battlefield, but now it was oddly quiet. The storm had passed as though it had also been vanquished, and the sky had cleared. But the weight of loss weighed heavily on my chest, and the smell of blood was still there.Dennis had left.The newly turned ground was wet underfoot as I stood at his grave. He was buried by the pack near the top of Storm Pack's property, where the forest's aroma wafted into the air. It was a place for Alphas, for warriors.In the end, for a leader who had saved himself.Tobias firmly touched my shoulder. "The pack shares your grief," he muttered.I gave a nod but remained silent.Behind me, the soldiers stood with their heads bowed in reverence. Some of them had recently sustained wounds and were still wearing bandages from the fight. Although the wounds of war will never truly heal, none were more painful than losing our Alpha.Jacob, the youthful, doomed warrior, appeared in a l
Melissa’s POVAs the storm raged above us, the sky was painted in rich tones of black and red. Although there was silence on the battlefield, the strong smell of magic and blood permeated the air.With her dark cloak flapping in the wind, Raven stood in the middle of the mayhem. Around her, the shadows twisted strangely, as though they were alive. She gazed at me, her eyes blazing with hate.She growled, "You won't stop me this time."I stood with Dennis and Damon, our bodies tight. Although we were weakened by the previous combat, we were still intact.With a firm voice, I said, "We end this now, Raven."She gave a chilly laugh. "Are you still not understanding? Retaliation was never the only goal here. I'll mould the werewolf race to fit my vision. You are all weak and holding onto an outdated system that ought to be abolished.With the Moon Goddess's might still blazing within me, I took a step forward and said, "You're incorrect. Destroying is not what strength is all about. It's
Melissa’s POVThe nightmare had only just begun, but the struggle was finished.Breathing heavily caused my chest to rise and fall as I stood in the middle of the battlefield. The bodies of fallen roguess were strewn all over the area, and the air was heavy with the smell of blood. However, there was a problem.Incorrect.I heard a low, guttural growl that made my ears perk up. When I turned abruptly, I saw Jacob, one of our troops, shivering fiercely. Once a familiar shade of brown, his eyes had turned completely black.Jacob? I moved ahead with caution.His body gave a strange jerk. His breathing became laboured. Then he suddenly launched an attack.With horrifying strength, he sprang at a fighter nearby, sending them to the ground. Like a mad beast, Jacob ripped into his packmate, causing the pack to gasp in fear."No! I shifted in midair as I sprinted at him. The injured warrior was knocked off his feet when my wolf struck his side.Jacob gave me a growl, no, a snarl. Something in
Melissa’s POVThe air was heavy with the smell of conflict, and the battlefield was covered in blood. The night was filled with the snarls of the rogues as they circled us like vultures. However, Raven captured my interest.Her dark eyes gleamed with twisted glee as she stood erect, her black cloak blowing in the breeze."Melissa, do you still not understand?" Her voice was like ice as she spoke.I balled my fists up. "Do you understand?"She tilted her head and grinned. "That I'm to blame for everything you've gone through."A shiver went down my back. "What?"She walked ahead slowly, enjoying the moment. "Selena was merely a pawn." Is Dennis turning you down? I did it. The roguess? My troops. The pack's turmoil? Everything was planned.Behind me, the warriors let out gasps. Dennis tensed up as well.My heart was racing as I swallowed hard. "Why?"Raven's face grew serious. Because mine was damaged by yours. as your lineage ought to have terminated years ago. A snarl curved her lips.
Melissa’s POVThe air still carried the smell of blood. I didn't have time to think about what I had done, even though Selena's body was dead at my feet.The roguess were approaching.From the forest came a howl that was deep and bone-chilling. Another came after it. And yet another.The sound caused the pack to tighten and their ears to twitch. Warriors shifted on their feet, ready to fight, and reached for their weapons.Dennis moved to stand next to me and looked around the trees. He whispered, "They think we're weak." "They believe we'll fall apart now that Selena is gone."I gave a quick breath. "Then we prove they are mistaken."He was about to reply when the first rogues, a huge, scarred wolf with red eyes that glowed, emerged from the darkness.Then another.And yet another.They soon filled the area, their snarls tearing through the darkness.The soldiers of the Storm Pack prepared."Remain on the line!" Tobias yelled. "Avoid breaking formation!"My silver wolf was at the fro
Melissa’s POVWith their gaze fixed on me, the pack became silent. As I stood over Selena's quivering body, I exhaled in calm, controlled breaths. Even though she had already given in, it wasn't enough.I wasn't finished with her yet.With my silver wolf looming over her smaller, vanquished body, I took a step closer. My voice was piercing and authoritative. "Arise."Despite whimpering, Selena remained still. The soil beneath her was stained with blood that spilt from the wounds I had caused to her.I transformed back into a human and stood erect, my body still pulsing with strength. I responded icily, "This isn't over." "You took my spot. You planned to harm me. I was poisoned by you. I stepped forward, staring into her eyes. "You will now be held accountable for it."Selena's gaze flitted about, looking for assistance. However, none arrived. The pack was waiting and observing.Dennis was standing close by, his face unreadable. The elders and Tobias remained silent. Damon, with his a
Melissa’s POVLong shadows were formed across the battlefield by the full moon's strong light over the training grounds. With their faces stiff with expectancy, warriors formed a close circle. Two Alphas, each vicious and resolute, battling for the right to claim me was a conflict the pack had never witnessed before.Dennis straightened up, his tense muscles taut. He turned to confront Damon, his dark eyes blazing with rage. "This concludes tonight."Damon rolled his shoulders and grinned. "At last, we can agree on something."The elder, Tobias, moved forward and held up a hand. "The guidelines are straightforward. This is a struggle for power and control. No meddling. No pity. The victor asserts their entitlement to Melissa.I balled my fists up. I didn't want the decision to be made in this manner. Now, however, neither Damon nor Dennis would listen to me.Tobias took a quick look at both Alphas. "Are you prepared?"Dennis gave a rigid nod. Damon cracked his knuckles and grinned.“S
Melissa’s POVTension began to build as the sun had just begun to rise over the Storm Pack's territory. Whispering among themselves, warriors stood in groups. A few glanced in my direction, their eyes puzzled. Others were standing close to Selena, showing their allegiance.The group was dispersing.My fists were clenched as I stood at the training grounds. This was more than a fight, yet the challenge had been set. It was about who owned the pack, authority, and trust.Dennis stood with his arms folded in the middle. He scanned the assembled gathering with his piercing stare. "Today, we will resolve this," he declared. "Melissa asserted her legitimacy as Luna. Selena has also asserted it. The pack has to make a decision.With a sly smile, Selena moved forward. She flicked her hair and hissed, "The choice is obvious." Dennis, I've been by your side. While she was away, I took the lead.There were murmurs. While some warriors scowled, others nodded.An elder took a step forward. "Meliss