Melissa’s POVI sat by myself in my room, the weight of everything pressing down on my chest. Long shadows were created on the walls by the flickering candles, reflecting the uneasiness that was eating away at me. The answers I sought were urgently needed.I could still hear the council member say, "Your bloodline ties you to The Void and its destruction."My wolf shifted. "You must see for yourself, Melissa. Explore the recollections of our predecessors. The truth is waiting there."How can I accomplish that?" I muttered."Close your eyes. Pay attention. "You can rely on me to lead you," she said quietly.I inhaled deeply before closing my eyes and allowing the night's sounds to meld into the distance. As my wolf's presence intensified, an odd feeling crept through me. I was suddenly plummeting, not physically, but through layers of voices, memories, and time.I was outside of my room when I opened my eyes. I was standing in a large, glistening hall. Around me, ghostly forms moved, w
Melissa’s POVThe pieces of the relic glistened dimly in the room's low light, their sharp edges pulsing with unearthly energy. With the largest piece in my shaky hands, I stood in the middle of the group. Dennis, Damon, and the others gathered in a circle around me, their faces displaying a mixture of fear and resolve.Damon broke the stillness by forcefully saying, "This is it." "There is no turning back once we get started."I gave a nod. "There is nothing we can do. Everything for which we have battled will be lost if we do not shut The Void.Dennis took a step forward and spoke more softly. "Are you certain you're prepared for this, Melissa? You might be harmed by the ceremony. Or worse.I looked into his eyes and saw that the remorse was still there. Dennis, I don't have time to question my abilities. We must take action immediately or risk losing everything.Once more, there was silence in the room as everyone felt the impact of what I had said. Like a continuous flame, my wolf
Melissa’s POVThe area was filled with a harsh, otherworldly light as the relic shards' glow grew stronger. I chanted the last lines of the ceremony while standing in the middle of the altar, my voice shaking. The air's force was oppressive, weighing me down like an unseen burden."Remain resilient, Melissa!" With his blade slicing through one of the shadowy creatures that had surfaced from the swirling darkness, Damon yelled from the other side of the chamber.Dennis stood next to him, fighting off another with his daggers flashing. "We've got you covered! Just get this thing done!I ignored the commotion around me and closed my eyes. The energy of the Void flared like a storm on the verge of erupting, loud and ominous.A deep, rich voice roared from the whirling darkness, "You can't stop me."I went cold. The Void itself was now acquiring shape in front of me; it was no longer just energy. An enormous, shadowy apparition appeared, staring into my crimson eyes.It said, "Melissa," as
Melissa’s POVWhen I opened my eyes, I saw a dark, whirling space. I wasn't falling, but there was no earth beneath me. The voices pressed like ghostly fingers against my ears in the heavy, stifling air. As I tried to figure out where I was, my heart raced."Where am I?" As though the darkness itself had eaten my words, my voice sounded odd, almost empty.A chilly voice said, "This is The Void," raising the hairs on the back of my neck.When I turned around, all I could see was the infinite grey and black space. "Who is present?" With a trembling voice, I demanded. "Exhibit yourself!"Out of the darkness, a person appeared. I wasn't, yet it was me. Her eyes were spooky crimson, and this version of myself had a contorted smile. Her presence exuded might and hatred, and her hair sailed as if caught in an invisible wind.The shadowy creature replied, "I am you," in a smooth yet poisonous voice. "Or, more accurately, the potential version of you."I retorted, taking a step back, "That's n
Melissa’s POVIt was difficult for me to breathe in The Void since the air felt like ice against my chest. My dark mirror, the shadowy creature in front of me, grinned with a perverted assurance. As if she could see every secret I attempted to conceal, her bright red eyes stared right into mine.Her words echoed in my mind as she whispered, "You're not ready for this." "You’ve always been weak, Melissa. Always doubting yourself, always afraid."I clenched my hands and stepped forward. "I’m not afraid of you."The sound of the Void Queen's laughter was icy and hollow. "Oh, but you are. I am every doubt you’ve ever had, every mistake you’ve made. Fighting me is fighting yourself. And you know you can’t win."I was shaken by what she said, but I refused to show it to her. "You’re just a shadow. I’m stronger than you think.""Prove it," the woman growled.She sprang at me before I could respond, moving more quickly than I could follow. Her claws brushed my arm, which I just managed to avo
Melissa’s POVStrangely, the air in The Void writhed and twisted around me, shimmering as though it were alive. I knelt on the disintegrating dirt, breathing heavily, my heart thumping. With every second, my legs grew weaker and my arms felt heavy.I strongly convinced myself that this was not how it would end. I'm not going to give up. Not right now."Still fighting, are we? You can't win, Melissa. You're just delaying the inevitable," the Void Queen said, her mocking laughter echoing about me.Anger was rising in my chest as I glanced up at her. She was a perfect, warped replica of me, standing tall with fiery red eyes."You don’t know me," I clenched my teeth and muttered. "And you never will."My mind raced back to my pack's memories: Dennis's steadfast devotion, Damon's determined visage, and how the pack stood by one another during the worst of times. She would never be able to take away my strength, which was my relationship with them.I reached inside myself and closed my eyes
Melissa’s POVBefore me, the portal's whirling light glowed and flickered like an ambiguous flame. In my head, my wolf's voice was keen as she urged prudence."We don't know what's out there, Melissa. You might lose everything, or worse, you might bring something uncontrollable back.I inhaled deeply while gazing into the bright void. "The pack won't survive if I don't do this. Dennis, Damon, and everyone else are currently battling for me. I can't let them down.Dark tendrils clawed closer as The Void rumbled menacingly behind me. It felt as though the air itself was crashing down on me. I looked back, my pulse pounding as the darkness drew closer. Time was of the essence."I must have faith in myself," I said.I took one more, reassuring breath and entered the portal.I felt a searing ache as soon as I stepped inside the door like my entire being was being pulled apart. My body felt both weighty and weightless as colours blended into dazzling light. I could feel my wolf straining to
Melissa’s POVWhen I left the pack house, the temperature was lower than usual. Whispers appeared to infiltrate my head along with the unnatural chill of the wind. In the back of my mind, my wolf growled softly but steadily as she stirred nervously.Her words, "Something isn't right,"Silently, I nodded as the region began to feel the weight of the unease."Melissa!" Emily rushed toward me, her breathing laboured and her face white. "You need to see this."I went to the training fields after her. The once-vibrant area where wolves trained and sparred had devolved into a chaotic spectacle. A strange fog clung to the ground, the grass was wilting, and trees were charred.I questioned sharply, "What happened here?"Damon came over, his face serious. "The Void’s energy is leaking through the crack. It’s infecting the land, Melissa. And it’s not just here."A spine-tingling howl resounded from the trees as if at the same moment. A wolf, its eyes flashing an odd green and its fur matted, st
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