MARA For a second, my senses go numb, everything stopped in a twisted moment of time as our traumatizer shot the arrow but it hit the ground a few feet away from where Alpha Kalen is lying. I can’t breathe, can’t think. “Have I been shot?” “Or was it my father?” Everything starts to fade away including the chaos of the battle as the sound of urgent and heavy footsteps reaches me. A figure appears from the dark, surrounded by warriors. It’s Kael. His face is grim, his body soaked in blood, streaks of it across his chest and hands, and the sight pricks something deep inside of me. Do you know why? For a heartbeat, I think it’s him. Kael. I thought he was behind the attack since he is the one I’m rivalling the throne with and it just happened that the attack happened at my coronation eve. I let myself believe the worst, the most terrifying possibility, that it was him who had set everything into motion. But as they draw closer, the truth hits me like a cold wave. “He’s
MARA As I step off the bus in Seattle, the cool night air slaps me awake, and the city's relentless energy pulses through my veins. I wrap my coat tighter, shielding myself from the biting chilly cold. My feet throb from the long journey, and I clutch the crumpled note in my hand like a lifeline. Well, my life actually depends on it. The address scrawled on it seems like my only hope in this unfamiliar city. As I look around, a man catches my eye. He is leaning against a lamppost, his shadow stretching long and thin on the pavement. He is tall, at least six feet, with a rugged, weathered face and a scar above his left eyebrow. His eyes are a deep, rough brown, and they seem to hold a thousand secrets. His hair is dark and unkempt, framing his face with a messy, endearing quality. He wears a faded black leather jacket, ripped jeans, and scuffed boots that look like they've seen better days. As he turns to face me, a whiff of stale cigarettes and last night's beer wafts
MARA The door creaks open, and I am greeted by the warm glow of light spilling into the cool night outside. Mr. Jorge stands in the doorway, tall and slightly hunched with an air of quiet authority. Despite the late hour, he looks composed in a worn but comfortable night robe, the fabric hugging his lean figure and wrapping up his frame. His face is wrinkled and worn from age. His dark hair is thinning and mixed with scattered grey strands, which contrast with his sharp grey eyes. Those eyes show a mix of tiredness and determination. “Come in, come in,” he says with a deep and steady voice laced with the warmth of someone used to making others feel at ease. Stepping aside. He gently takes my bag from me like a grandfather you’d trust to guide you through a storm. My wolf instincts tingle at the new environment, and I hesitate for a heartbeat before I am convinced to accept this warm welcome by how exhausted and hungry I feel. I can smell cedarwood fragrance and a hint
MARA The door creaks open, making a strange and unwelcome sound. My heart jumps as someone steps into the room. “Who’s there?” I sit up, holding the thin blanket tightly like it could actually protect me from whoever or whatever is sneaking into my supposed room in the dead of the night. "It's me, Leona," her familiar voice says softly, but still carrying a creepiness I’ve now come to associate with her. Leona is equal to creepiness, psychopath, witch, anything other awkward name you know. Leona, the Jorge's maid, steps into the faint light, her slender figure outlined sharply in the darkness. “Leona? What are you doing in here?” My voice is sharper than intended, but it’s late, and I’m tired. I just want to sleep! Can’t this girl just fucking mind her business! Leona's eyes scan me with a cold and calculating gaze. Then she tilts her head with a sly smile spreading across her face. "You're in my room," she says. “Didn’t they tell you we will be sharing?” “Sharing?” My
MARA Social and academic life blend seamlessly for Axel. She’s the queen of all-nighters, balancing textbooks and tequila shots like it’s an Olympic sport. Parties, grades, accolades—it’s her domain, and she owns it unapologetically. For me, the story is different. I’m no wallflower, but the human world is a minefield, each step a potential explosion that could reveal what I truly am. So, I steer clear of the parties and wild nights. Not because I can’t keep up, but because I can’t risk the wrong kind of attention. That’s where Axel’s hatred finds its roots. To her, my refusal to join the chaos of college life isn’t discipline—it’s a subtle critique of her choices. The more she sees me excel in class or gracefully fits in a room, the deeper her resentment grows. In her eyes, I’m not just competition; I’m her mirror, reflecting the cracks she’d rather not see. Today, though, Axel isn’t my concern. I’ve decided to visit Clara, Mr Jorge’s daughter. One of the few people here
MARA Jacob’s been a constant shadow since that night when his intentions became clear. Not the creepy kind of shadow, but the thoughtful, steady one that makes you feel like someone’s got your back. He calls, texts, and checks in regularly as his own way of weaving himself into my life. It’s not like I need anything; the black card my father handed me that morning is more than enough to cover all my expenses. Yet Jacob keeps surprising me, showing up with random gifts that make me smile despite everything I’m going through. When classes run long—especially after those brutal pharmacology lab sessions—he waits outside, either ready to walk me home or drive me to the dorm in his beautiful but modest Toyota Corolla. It’s old enough to feel relatable, but well-kept, with a gleaming navy-blue exterior that suits his grounded personality. I think he calls it “Bluebell,” which is honestly adorable. Sometimes, as I watch him, I wonder if Voltex is a university or some odd hybrid b
AXEL The cafeteria confrontation kept replaying in my head like a broken record; every detail kept sharpening so fresh, every humiliation keeps on magnifying. Jeff's words were etched into my memory, cutting deep into them with pain. He’s broken up with me, all thanks to our glorified witch Mara. The way he’d glanced at Mara, like she was the answer to some question I’d never even been asked made my skin crawl and inside filled with wrath towards her. I couldn’t stand the thought of her. The girl who had stolen not just Jeff’s attention but Jacob’s too, as though she was some magnetic force none of them could escape. Who the hell was she? What did she have that I didn’t? I paced my dorm room, my thoughts spiralling almost out of control and my chest keep tightening with frustration. Tears pricked my eyes, hot and unwelcome tears, blurring my vision. “Damn it,” I hissed, scrubbing my face with the back of my hands. I couldn’t let this consume me, but it already had. My
MARA Ria hums in my mind, satisfied but restless. It’s been six months since I’ve shifted, and tonight was when I released her. The cool twilight air still sticks to my skin as a testament to my run which left a trail of euphoria and pleasure in me. The run was like a stolen moment where I could just exist as I am, without the pressure of my disguise or the suffocating rules of this human world. But as I approach the dorm window from the woods, the sharp tang of alcohol and the smear of too-bright makeup meet my senses. It is Axel. Of course, it had to be her. She’s perched at the window, fumbling with the latch, her glittered dress shining bright under the moonlight. She's stumbling, her high heels dangling loosely from one hand. The strong smell of vodka clings to her, making me feel nauseated within seconds. Our eyes meet for a brief moment - hers flashing with drunkenness and accusations, mine wide with fear. I try to move past her without a word, but her voice cuts
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