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The last stand
Last Updated:
2024-11-25 20:36:46
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Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The Repercussions
Melissa’s POVNow that there was quietness on the battlefield, it wasn't reassuring. It weighted an impending storm. As the first rays of morning peaked through the clouds, I stood at the edge of the clearing, gazing at the horizon. The pack started reassembling, but their eyes were tired and their actions slow.Damon's voice broke through my mental fog and said, "Melissa." He came over to me with his customary assurance mixed with worry. "We must get together and speak to everyone. You must speak with them.I swallowed hard and nodded. Raven's remarks were still causing my head to spin. You'll ruin them all. I was plagued by his voice, and his final admission about my past made my chest turn like a knife.With their faces etched with terror and fatigue, the pack formed a semicircle. I inhaled deeply before moving forward."We've won this battle," I said, maintaining my composure despite my internal conflict. The war hasn't ended, though. We must remain alert and unified.There were w
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The start of the adventure
Melissa’s POVAlthough the morning air was clear, there was a lot of tension between us. Dennis and Damon were waiting for me to lead the way at the forest's edge. With solemn expressions, they were both armed.Damon stated firmly, "You don't have to do this."I gave a headshake. "Yes, I do." We cannot afford to ignore the temple if it has the answers we seek.Dennis gave Damon a stern look while crossing his arms. And you believe it's a good idea to go without backup? She isn't travelling alone.With a chilly tone, Damon answered, "I didn't say she was."I stepped in between them and yelled, "Enough." We're squandering time. Let's leave.Ahead, the dark, ominous jungle loomed. The weight of my mother's journal, which was safely inside my bag, served as a continual reminder of the danger.Damon fell into stride next to me as we ventured farther into the woods. "Melissa, I still think this is a trap," he said. Raven desires that you go there."I acknowledge that," I said. "However, I m
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Discovering the reality
Melissa’s POVWith its small halls carved into the stone, the temple appeared darker the further we went within. Our route was illuminated only by the dim glow of the engravings on the walls. Dennis led the way with a torch, while Damon strolled quietly next to me."This location feels... Dennis whispered, "Alive," his voice echoing off the old walls.I held the journal in my palm and nodded. "It seems to be observing us."A crystal hovered over a pedestal in the middle of the larger room we entered. A gentle, golden light surged through it, sending shivers down my spine."Is that it? With a quiet voice, Damon inquired."It must be," I murmured, taking a step forward.The air became heavy, practically humming with power as I got closer to the crystal. The crystal's brightness appeared to brighten in response to my presence.Damon cautioned Melissa to exercise caution.Dennis gave a nod. "Yeah, we could blow this place up if we touch that thing."I turned to look at them again. "I must
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Drawing boundaries
Melissa’s POVNow that I was back in the pack's domain, I could sense the tension building everywhere. There was a pervasive sense of dread in the air that would not leave. Despite his wounds, Damon's face was peaceful and pallid as he lay on a mattress. I cleaned the gash on his side with care while kneeling next to him.I tried to maintain my composure as I said, "You should have been more careful."Damon flinched but forced a tiny smile. "You have Dennis's voice."I tensed at the sound of his name. "Well, perhaps Dennis is right. You nearly lost your life back there.Dennis burst into the room, his face black with annoyance, before Damon could reply."Melissa," he angrily said. "We must speak."I looked from Dennis to Damon and back again. Is it possible to wait? Damon is still—"No," Dennis cut in, his tone icy. "It cannot."I got up reluctantly and followed him into the corridor. Dennis turned to me, wrath flaring in his eyes.He insisted, "What is this, Melissa?" "You rush to Da
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Deceit and betrayal
Melissa’s POVIn the dim darkness, the trees in front of us seemed dark and unwelcoming. As I guided the party farther into the forest, my heart raced. The weight of what we were undertaking overshadowed Damon's normally confident demeanour as he strolled beside me. The others trailed closely after, walking carefully.Damon indicated thin tracks in the soil and stated, "We're getting close." "They're new."I nodded while firmly holding my dagger's hilt. My chest constricted with anxiety, and each stride felt heavier.Dennis. He couldn't have deceived us, could he?One of the scouts cried out, "Melissa." "This way."I rushed over to kneel next to him. He had discovered a tiny, well-kept path that led to a cabin that had been abandoned."This was not previously present," the scout stated.Damon scowled. "It appears that someone has been using it as a gathering place."I inhaled deeply. "Let's go. Remain silent and near.The cabin appeared a dilapidated, dark building that seemed to have
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The Darker force
Melissa’s POVThe chilly night air was heavy with unsaid words, and the clearing was tight. Dennis's face was praying as he gazed at me. Damon was still snarling close by, staring at Dennis. Torn between confusion, anxiety, and wrath, my heart was racing."You must comprehend," Dennis urged urgently. "This goes beyond Raven and the pack. Something much worse is on the horizon. Melissa, something connected to you."What are you discussing? " I crossed my arms and ordered, "Stop using riddles and start giving explanations!"With a pale face in the moonlight, Dennis nodded. "Something ancient is a shadow being. We refer to it as "The Void." It is a force that thrives on power, particularly like yours.I blinked as I tried to take in what he had said. "Feeds on me? Even so, what does that mean?""The prophecy," said Dennis. It's not only about your ancestry bringing the pack together or breaking them up. You are the kind of person the Void has been waiting for aeons. You will become the k
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The partnership
Melissa’s POVAs I stood confronting Raven, the air was heavy with tension. His expression was unreadable as his piercing eyes met mine. I could feel the pack's eyes on me as they awaited my choice, and Damon growled softly next to me.I inhaled deeply while speaking steadily but doubtfully. "All right. A ceasefire. However, only until The Void is halted and the weapon is destroyed.A sneer formed on Raven's lips. "Good decision, Melissa. You'd see reason, I knew.With his hands clenched, Damon took a step forward. "You won't live to regret anything you try at all."Raven, obviously displeased by Damon's warning, raised an eyebrow. "Calm down, puppy. I am not here to play games; I am here to help.Behind me, the pack burst into whispers, their voices piercing with incredulity and rage.Thorne, one of the elders, said, "Melissa." "You're siding with our adversary? Given what he has done, how can we have faith in him?"With a heavy heart, I turned to face them. "I have no faith in him.
Last Updated : 2024-11-29Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The Awakening of the void
Melissa’s POVI realized there was a problem as soon as we got back to the pack's territory. The once-bright, verdant woodland was now covered in a strange, unnatural blackness, and the air seemed heavy. The trees appeared to be sagging under the weight of an invisible force, and the ground was chilly beneath my feet."What is this, exactly? With a trembling voice, I whispered.Damon, who was standing next to me, looked around grimly. It is the weapon's evil energy. It is spreading.Members of the pack came out of their houses, their faces white and terrified. I overheard mutterings of uncertainty and concern.Melissa, what's going on? With a stern yet worried tone, Thorne demanded.I took a deep breath to regain my composure. "This darkness was released by the destruction of the weapon. The Void is connected to it. I swear I'll fix this, even though I don't fully grasp it yet."Repair it? One of the younger wolves let out a cry. "Our country is dying! How do we combat this?"Damon mo
Last Updated : 2024-11-29
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Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Ultimatum of the void
Melissa’s POVThe clearing's air felt heavy as if the entire world had paused to listen. With their eyes focused on the unfamiliar man in front of them, the pack formed a tense circle. The presence of the messenger sent by the Void was poisonous.It was only partially human. Its eyes were two black pits that appeared to stare straight through me, and its grey skin was pulled taut over jagged bones. Its voice, like a serpent creeping into my ears, was frigid as it spoke.The emissary's tiny lips curled into a sort of smile as it said, "I come with an offer." "Your bundle is of no interest to the Void. It solely looks for the girl.A shiver went through my body. Everyone was aware of "the girl."Melissa? Gregor stepped forward and inquired, his voice a little shaky.The emissary turned to face me with a hollow expression and murmured, "Yes." The Void will spare the rest of you if you give her up. The army of the Void will destroy everything if you don't resist.There was a ripple of mur
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The rebellion of the park
Melissa’s POVThe rumours were already spreading before I even went into the conference chamber. All heads turned to me as I pushed open the heavy wooden doors. I could feel the weight of their looks and the oppressive tension in the room.Someone whispered, "She's here."My legs felt heavy, but I forced myself to move forward. With his steady and comforting presence, Damon was at my side. However, he was powerless to stop what was about to happen.Gregor, an elder wolf, came forward. His eyes were as hard as stone, and his arm was bandaged from the training mishap. "Melissa," he stated in a firm, loud voice. "We must speak."I nodded and swallowed hard. "All right."Gregor started by saying, "You've guided us through some difficult times." But this—this is something else. The episode from yesterday demonstrated your loss of control. You pose a threat to us.A wave of murmuring went across the room, and I felt my heart drop.I trembled as I said, "I didn't mean to hurt anyone." "I'm e
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate A dangerous transportation
Melissa’s POVThe first thing I noticed when I woke up was the silence. It wasn’t the calm, peaceful sort. No, it felt thick, and tense, like the air was holding its breath. I blinked, peering up at the wooden beams of the ceiling. My body felt strange—light and heavy all at once.Melissa?” Damon’s voice broke through my haze. I turned my head to see him seated next to me, his face pallid and tight with worry.“I’m… I’m fine,” I whispered, though I wasn’t sure whether it was true. I pulled myself up, but a rush of disorientation made me falter. Damon was there in an instant, steadying me.“You collapsed during the ritual,” he added, his voice low. "Everyone was scared of you."I spoke slowly as if I were dragging my words through molasses, "I had to finish it."Damon looked at my face for a moment before answering. "You seem different in some way.""What are you saying?"Kael and Liora showed up at the doorway before he could respond. Kael seemed suspicious, his eyes narrowing as he g
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The cost domination
Melissa’s POVWith the amulet glowing dimly in my hands, I sat on the edge of my bed. I was still troubled by the vision from earlier—the power, the darkness, the warped me. I kept worrying that this artefact—the very item we had put our lives in danger to recover—might prove to be my downfall.I was startled out of my reverie by a gentle knock on my door. Melissa? Damon spoke in a soft but tentative tone.I said, my voice just above a whisper, "Come in."With an anxious look on his face, he entered. You haven't said anything since we returned. What's happening?"I looked down at the amulet and hesitated. "I noticed something, Damon. I got a glimpse of the future when I touched this. A terrible future.”His brow furrowed, and he sat beside me. “What kind of vision?"I took a deep breath. “I saw myself… consumed by the Void. It was like I wasn’t me anymore. I was… something else. Something dark.”Damon reached out and placed a hand over mine, steadying me. “Melissa, it was just a visio
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate A surprise attack
Melissa’s POVThe red eyes of the shadows glowed like embers as they raced toward us. They surrounded us, their claws tearing at the air, and their growls sent chills down my spine.“Behind you, Melissa! I whirled just in time to avoid a creature's strike as Damon's voice erupted. I tightened my hold on the shimmering amulet, feeling its warmth pulse in my hand, my heart racing.As a wolf, Kael growled and lunged toward the closest shadow. The thing dissipated into mist and reformed seconds after his claws ripped through it."They simply never stop coming! Damon yelled as he swung his blade in broad arcs to block another wave.Liora shouted, "Keep moving!" in a steady, crisp voice. They cannot ensnare us here! She moved quickly and precisely as she stabbed one of the beasts with her blade.But despite our best efforts, the shadows persisted. They went on and on."To your left, Kael!It was already too late when I screamed. He was attacked by a shadow that scoured his side with its claw
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The prohibited custom
Melissa’s POVI sat on the edge of my bed and gazed at the moonlit sky outside my window. I had a heavy heart, but I was determined. Even though the ritual was risky, it was my best chance to free myself and everyone I cared about from the Void's hold.I was startled by a gentle knock on my door. Liora was sneaking inside, her dark cloak blending with the darkness, when I turned around.I said in a low voice so no one could hear, "You came."With her sharp green eyes meeting mine, she answered, "I don't have much time." "You must realize what is at stake if we are to proceed."With a dry throat, I nodded. "Explain the ritual to me."Liora, whose voice was hardly more than a whisper, came across the room and sat across from me. “The ritual requires an artefact powerful amulet hidden deep within the Forbidden Woods. It’s the only thing that can sever the Void’s connection to you. But retrieving it won’t be easy.”“The Forbidden Woods…” I shivered at the name. Everyone in the pack knew i
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate The surprising friend
Melissa’s POVWith my arms folded tightly across my chest, I stood close to the meeting room. The air was nearly oppressively tense. I didn't want another surprise after everything that transpired last night. However, Kael had precisely that in mind for us.As he entered the hall with a woman by his side, Kael declared, "She's here to help."I had never seen a stranger like this before. Tall and slender, she had piercing green eyes that seemed to be able to see every secret we were keeping. She had short black hair, and the pack shift felt uneasy around her because of the danger she exuded.“This is Liora, everyone,” Kael added. Despite being a rogue wolf, she is knowledgeable about the Void that we are not. She is, in my opinion, the secret to beating it."A rebel? From the rear of the room, someone whispered."We cannot rely on her!” another voice called out.“She’s here to help,” Kael continued, his tone stern. “We don’t have the luxury of turning away allies right now.”Liora step
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate Fractured trust
Melissa’s POV“Kael, we need to talk. Now!” I snapped, storming toward him.Kael looked up from the circle of sigils he had been studying, his face calm but his eyes heavy with unspoken words. “What is it, Melissa?”“What is it?” I said, my voice rising. “You knew, didn’t you? You knew something about my family and the Void. You knew this curse was tied to my bloodline, and you didn’t tell me!”He groaned, massaging the back of his neck. “Melissa, I didn’t know for sure. I had suspicions, yes, but I didn’t want to burden you with something I couldn’t prove.”“Suspicions?!” My voice shook with rage. “You let me walk into this blind! You let me believe these sigils were just marks of power when all along they were a curse, binding me to that... that thing!”Kael walked nearer, his demeanour softening. “I was trying to protect you. You’ve already been through so much, Melissa. I didn’t want to add to your pain unless I was certain.”I took a step back, folding my arms tightly over my che
Bound by faith : the rise of a rejected mate A linage of betrayal
Melissa’s POVThe air around me crackled with dark energy as the Void’s voice slithered into my mind.“See your legacy, Melissa. Witness the truth your bloodline has hidden for generations.”Before I could react, my vision blurred, and the world around me shifted. I stood in an ancient clearing surrounded by towering trees, their twisted branches clawing at the sky. Shadows flickered like living things, and in the centre of the clearing, two figures knelt before a swirling black vortex.One of them, a woman with the same fiery hair as mine, clutched a small child to her chest.“Please,” she begged, her voice trembling. “Spare my pack. I’ll give you anything.”The vortex’s voice bellowed, dark and booming. “Anything, you say? Then I will claim your bloodline. Your descendants will carry my mark and fulfil my purpose.”“No!” I cried, but my voice was drowned out by the woman’s cries as she bowed in acquiescence.The Void pushed forward, surrounding the lady and her child in tendrils of
