MARA"No, Rolan! Don't listen to him!" I gripped his hand tightly, shaking my head as Doctor Allen's ominous words still rang in my ears. "I’ll fix this. That doctor doesn’t know what he’s talking about."“I’ll fix you, Rolan!” My voice echoed across the room.I could barely hold back the flood of frustration. The moment Doctor Allen had dropped the bombshell about Rolan’s leg, he’d left peacefully as if he had not just painted the world’s grumpiest storm cloud exiting a sky. I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady."Get me a nurse! And where's the radiographer?" Even I was pleasantly surprised by how loud and authoritative my voice was.Soon, Lach, the radiographer, walked in, his face a mix of worry and calm. "You called? My name is Lach and I’m the radiographer here.""Yes, I need you to run the lateral view of his leg," I instructed."I want every angle you have. And any possible fracture details but start with the lateral view," I rattled on, aware of how crucial it
MARAI startled awake with a cold shock, my body pressed against the hard, freezing floor of a place that smelled bad and was totally dark. I blinked quickly and squinted to make sense of what was going on around me, but the room was as dim as void.My head throbbed, and as I struggled to sit up, I felt the cold bite of metal against my wrists and ankles.Chains. I was chained to the floor.“Where am I?” I whispered, my voice barely above a tremble. My eyes instinctively went to my wrist, checking my watch. 8:00 p.m.My chest clenched due to panic when I remembered where I was supposed to be—Rolan's surgery should’ve started an hour ago.Rolan… I imagined him there, helpless, counting on me to save him. And here I was, tied up like a lamb for slaughter.A faint and hoarse chuckle echoed from one corner of the room. “Hello, Mara. Long time no see.”I turned my head towards the voice. A dim yellow bulb dangled from the ceiling, casting a faint shadow and illuminating just enough of the
MARA As I arose from dizziness, the sanitary, cold air slapped me. I blinked, disoriented, at my unfamiliar surroundings. It was an office, but not the kind with cushy chairs and fake plants. This one screamed money, with glass walls, pristine white floors, and medical equipment humming softly in the background. Sweat trickled down my temple as my gaze drifted to the glossy x-rays plastered on the walls, each one showcasing the intricate structure of a spinal system. The whole office reeked of antiseptic and desperation—the kind you can’t scrub away, no matter how hard you try. One particular x-ray caught my eye – the one with the dark, menacing blob looming over the T9 vertebra. That was definitely a tumor. Its presence in that particular area of the spine was a ticking time bomb. And removing the tumor would require a surgical precision that will bank on a miracle. One misstep, one miscalculation, and the consequences would be catastrophic. The patient's spinal
MARA I burst through the double doors of the operating room, my boots squeaking against the polished floor, the sound echoing like my heart pounding in my chest. The bright overhead lights reflect off the steel instruments, too clean for the mess I’m about to handle. My thoughts are a jumbled mess, but I push them aside, focusing on the task at hand. Rolan's life hangs in the balance, and I'm his only hope. The masked man's brutal cut was no accident. It was a deliberate strike, meant to inflict maximum damage. Whoever did this knew exactly where to strike. The artery, severed cleanly, had already bled out enough to make Rolan as white as a paper. My hand trembles as I put on the surgical gloves. But I don't have time for fear. Trembling won’t save him. I steel myself, grabbing the suture kit. "Clamp," I bark, and the nurse snaps to action, handing me the instrument. My hands move on instinct, threading the needle and stitching the lacerated artery with precision.
ROLAN I slowly regain consciousness with a blank mind and weak body. I wake up to the sound of steady beeping. My eyelids are heavy, like someone’s tied weights to them. I try to open my eyes, and when I do, I'm met with empty bags of blood hanging from the drip stand like forgotten ghosts and I know I’m in a hospital and I've lost a lot of blood. My head spins, a dull ache throbbing at the base of my skull as my gaze falls on my bandaged leg, and it all comes rushing back— Memories of the war with Kael's pack, the trap, Mara saving me...it's all still a bit fuzzy, but I remember the pain and the fear. Mara’s determined and gentle face flashes in my mind, as she crouches over me, saving my life. I try to sit up, but the world tilts violently forcing me to lie back. I let out a sharp breath as the dizziness pins me back down. My gaze falls to my leg, now heavily bandaged. The memory of the masked man clawing at my flesh, the artery cut clean through. I felt so embarrasse
MARAI breathe a sigh of relief as Rolan's vitals stabilize. I nodded my head in approval as I checked on him. "He's experiencing a mild hemolytic reaction," I told the nurse standing beside me. "It's a common reaction to blood transfusions, especially for first-time recipients."She nods, taking in the information. “I've heard of hemolytic reactions before, but I've never seen one up close.”She then frowns. “What’s the solution, Doctor?”“I will prescribe a medication to help alleviate the symptoms, and you should make a mental note to monitor Rolan's condition closely.”Rolan stirs, his pale face regaining color under the fluorescent lights. The transfusion did its work, but his sudden reaction to it got me scared. His body stiffens momentarily but he’s much better now.I push past him, grabbing a vial of antihistamine from the counter. “This,” I say, drawing the liquid into a syringe. I turn to Rolan. “This might sting, but it’ll help.”He nods weakly, his lips parting to murmur
MARA My wrists burned against the rough rope, bound tight to the bedposts. I tugged, but all it did was scrape my skin against the twine. My wolf stirred inside me, restless, but useless. She had never surfaced. Not once. "Stop squirming," Lola scoffed. "You're only making it worse for yourself." ~~~~ A year ago, I thought getting my wolf would mean freedom. Everyone said it was the beginning of true strength, a chance to step into the world and finally claim your place. I thought I would find my mate, someone who would protect me and fight for me. But none of that happened. Instead, I wandered aimlessly for hours in endless circles unable to perceive my own mate the entire night until darkness fell. My wolf’s senses didn’t heighten. Unlike other wolves, I was unable to see or smell anything clearly. Ria could only communicate with me. It felt like being lost, blind, and helpless, like being stuck in a fog and I had to return to the palace, Mateless! Hopeless! And exhausted
MARA“Arrgh.” I whimpered.“You think I’d mark a lowly omega like you? A useless thief? No.”I pushed against him, tears stinging my eyes. “You never stop, do you?” I snarled, wiping away the blood from my lip. “Every time you open your mouth, it’s the same thing meanwhile you lost the throne yourself. The Moon Goddess chose me because you’re not fit to lead!”“You, Kael, were too drunk and too busy with your endless parties and Casanova lifestyle while spending the Pack’s money extravagantly to even think of being in control.”“Kael, you can't lead the pack to greatness, so the moon goddess really didn't make a mistake.” I said strongly with all the confidence I had left in me."How dare you!" That was the breaking point. He lunged at me, and started hitting me, landing numerous blows on my face, breaking my nose and matting my face with my own blood. Before I could even react, his hand was around my throat, choking the air from me and for a moment, I truly thought he might kill me
NARRATOR TEN YEARS LATERThe great hall of Ravencrest pulsed with warmth, alive with laughter and the rich scent of roasted meats. Mara leaned against the balcony, the summer wind tugging at the silver streaking her dark hair. Ten years of peace had softened the sharp edges of her once-fierce gaze, but the fire in her soul still burned—just differently now. Not as a wildfire, but as a steady hearth. Below, the celebration unfolded—former slaves and warriors, humans and wolves, all sharing food and drink without hesitation. The sight still took her breath away sometimes. She had spent so long fighting for this moment, she’d almost forgotten how to simply live in it. Her fingers brushed the scars along her ribs, faintly silver in the torchlight. They no longer ached. They were just part of her now, like the stories etched into the walls of Ravencrest. A familiar presence stepped beside her. Zander, his once-brooding features eased by time, slid an arm around her waist. "They’re
NARRATORThe great hall of Ravencrest was alive with anticipation, and the air seemed thick with energy, like the very stones of the building were holding their breath. The banners, draped in silver and blue, hung like silent sentinels, the colors a testament to the old bond between Rolan and Mara. Rolan, gone now, but not forgotten. Silver—the shade of his strength, and blue—Mara’s scars, which had come to define her as much as her resilience. Together, they wove a tapestry that was neither entirely victory nor defeat, but a complex, ever-shifting middle ground.The hall was filled to capacity. Former slaves, who had fought and bled beside Mara, now stood shoulder to shoulder with the warriors of allied packs. The pack of Ashclaw, the remnants of Steelpaw, and the once-proud Ravencrest all united in their shared history. No longer enemies, no longer strangers, but a people bound together by the wars they’d fought and the peace they now sought.Mara stood at the front, her stance unyi
NARRATOR The night was thick with the heavy scent of rain, the wind howling through the trees like a creature on the hunt. Mara felt the storm in her bones. Her labor pains came in sharp, unpredictable waves, each one crashing into her with the force of thunder. The lightning split the sky like a jagged scar, its brilliance painting the walls of the room in a flash of white and blue. Every time the sky rumbled, Mara's body reacted, as if her very soul was syncing with the storm. It was a chaos she couldn’t escape.Elowen was beside her, her hands gripping Mara’s as if her life depended on it, the terror in her eyes barely concealed. "Mara, hold on. Just a little longer," she said, her voice tight with panic. But the truth was, there wasn’t much time left. The storm wasn’t the only threat tonight.Outside, the sound of pounding feet grew louder, the crack of distant gunfire and the howl of wolves cutting through the night air. Mara had no idea how much longer they could keep the door
NARRATORMara woke up with a cold sweat sticking to her skin, her breath shallow, her heart pounding. The night had been long, filled with dreams—visions that felt too real, too heavy. And now, as the first rays of sunlight began to seep through the cracks in the cave walls, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Her hand instinctively went to her stomach, the memory of last night flooding her mind. Rolan. The warmth of his touch, the soft whisper of his breath against her skin, the way he made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t been in years. It was a night she would never forget, their bodies coming together in a moment of shared pain, shared hope. But now, as the memories tugged at her, there was a gnawing sense of loss that made her chest tighten. Rolan was gone. She had to accept that. He had died, had fallen to Braxton’s men, trying to protect everything they had fought for. And yet… Something was different now. She felt something shift inside her.
NARRATORThree weeks. That’s how long Kael had been stewing in his own rage, the wound where Mara had bitten off part of his ear still throbbing under the bandages. Three weeks since that bitch had nearly killed him before collapsing, since he’d left her in that room, limp and lifeless—or so he thought. Three weeks since Rolan and his pack of strays had slipped through his fingers again. And now? Now he was done playing. Braxton stood beside him in the dim light of their makeshift war room, a map of Steelpaw’s territory spread across the table. Pins marked Rolan’s last known locations, traced by their informants. One pin, in particular, was jammed deep into the forest near the eastern border—where Rolan’s car had been found, abandoned but not hidden well enough. "They’re holed up in that cave," Braxton muttered, tapping the spot with a scarred finger. "But we can’t just storm in. Not with all of them together." Kael’s jaw clenched. He knew Braxton was right. Rolan wasn’t just
NARRATORTarice stepped into his path, arms crossed. "You go out there now, you’re walking into a trap. Or your grave. Either way, you’re no good to us dead."“We need to strategize.” Rolan’s jaw clenched. His hands balled into fists at his sides. His breath was heavy, the muscles in his neck straining as he fought against the urge to punch Tarice for stopping him."Think, you bastard! Kael wants you reckless. He wants you to charge in blind—"Mara stood up, Elara still in her arms, the baby’s tiny face pressed into the crook of her neck. She felt the heat of the fire behind her and the cold certainty of the moment ahead of her. She could feel it all—the heaviness of the room, the raw anger in Rolan’s eyes, the fear hanging over them like a storm cloud.Pressing a soft kiss to Elara’s forehead, she gently handed the baby over to Maren, her fingers lingering on the little one’s warmth. “Keep her safe, Maren,” Mara said, her voice a little shaky but strong. She could feel the weight
NARRATORMara should’ve known better than to take walks with Valdis.The man never said anything simply; instead, he spoke in riddles. It was all wrapped in layers of cryptic warnings and half-truths that wormed their way into your head and wouldn't leave.He had trapped her as if he had some sinister secret to reveal after just two days in this godforsaken cave."The bloodline of your anointed one is... impure. Cursed by the sins of those who came before him. The Moon Goddess demands balance. Some lines must end," he had muttered, his eyes far away, nearly lost in the sway of the trees surrounding them.Mara had crossed her arms and scowled. "You talking about Rolan’s family?"The only thing Valdis had said was, "The wolf does not choose the poison in its veins," with that knowing, angry smirk of his.How could that possibly imply anything?She dismissed it with a flick of her eyes. But as she paced the cave's boundaries, her heart tense, the words stuck to her like thorns, scraping
NARRATORMara moved, bringing herself gently to her feet. She moved rigidly, as if her body was still attempting to process what she was thinking.She glanced around the room, stopping at every face. Valdis, Isolde, and Rolan. Even though they were all present, her gaze remained confused. She seemed to be trying to interpret what she was seeing by blinking.Her fingers brushed the steady beat of her heart as she stroked her chest. It was authentic. It seems.... "alive" Her words was hardly audible above a whisper as she scowled. "How long was I gone?"Mara's eyes briefly lingered on Valdis and Elowen's parents before darting to the other people in the room. Even while it didn't stop the weird sensation churning inside her, something about seeing them alive grounded her somewhat because they had survived the chaos at the Blackfang hideout.The hush was broken by Valdis, whose steady voice carried the weight of unspoken words. He said, "We’ve met before," as he observed her with a knowi
NARRATORShe whispered, "The baby... it knows Mara," with an odd weight to her words. Knowing that she would also be here, that is why the Moon Goddess guided us here. Everything links together.As if responding to her prophecy, the air itself seemed to vibrate as the ground underneath them seemed to throb with her words.However, the room was suddenly shocked just as the tension peaked. Still motionless and cold, Mara's body started to shake. She appeared to be about to wake up for a moment as her eyelids twitched.And then, suddenly, her eyes opened—*black solid*All of them held their breath. Suddenly there was a heavy hush in the room.She then said, "You shouldn't have brought me back," in a voice that was not her own but rather a chorus of several whispers that echoed uncannily across the room.The words made everyone in the room shiver. And the earth itself seemed to be reacting to the evil magic at work, for the storm outside raged again.Something changed as soon as Mara's wo