Erika had gone through a rigorous week of advanced drills with Alessandro, and today, she must pass the final test.
She stood at the edge of the training grounds, her breath curling in the crisp air as she surveyed the lush forest before her. The obstacle course lay beyond the tree line and stretched into the wooded hills, its beginning deceptively straightforward— but Alessandro’s briefing made it clear— looks were deceiving.
Alessandro stood beside her, his demeanor serious but encouraging. “Remember,” he said, his voice steady, “this isn’t about how fast you complete it. It’s about strategy, endurance, and your ability to think on your feet. The path isn’t straight or obvious. You’ll need to find the markers to guide you.”
Erika nodded, her hands curling into fists at her sides. Her body still hummed with soreness from days of grueling training, but she pushed the discomfort aside.
The forest path leading back to the pack house blurred before Erika’s eyes, not from exhaustion but from the hot sting of unshed tears. Diego’s cutting words rang in her ears, drowning out the cheerful voices of the pack members trailing behind her.Her chest ached, not from the physical strain of the obstacle course but from the weight of Diego’s furious stare. The exhilaration of her hard-earned victory had been short-lived, stolen by his cryptic anger.“Luna?” Sofia’s soft voice broke through her thoughts. Erika blinked and glanced to her side, where the petite but sharp-eyed pack member had appeared. Sofia’s brow furrowed as she studied Erika’s face. “Are you alright? You seem… off.”Erika hesitated, her instinct to confide warring with the need to keep her private pain hidden. “I’m fine,” she replied, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace.Sofia tilted her he
Erika paused at the threshold of her chambers, her eyes falling on the delicate night robes draped neatly across her bed. The soft fabric shimmered in the light, a pale, gossamer thing that seemed too fragile for the weight of her current turmoil.As she stepped inside, the faint scent of lavender and chamomile hit her. The bath was ready, steam curling lazily into the air, with petals of red and white roses floating on the surface. She touched the water hesitantly, warmth greeting her fingertips.Her first thought was of Dunia, but then doubt crept in. Could this be Diego’s doing? The thought sent an unexpected shiver down her spine. It was thoughtful, almost tender—but instead of comfort, it only heightened her nerves.What does he want from me tonight?She stripped off her training clothes and sank into the bath, her muscles sighing in relief even as her mind remained restless. She closed her eyes, trying to let the soothing water
The morning sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains of Diego’s chambers, casting a golden glow over the couch where Erika slept. Diego stood a few paces away, arms crossed, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest.Her face was soft in sleep, the tension that so often gripped her features dissolved in the quiet stillness of the morning. The night robe clung to her as she shifted slightly, one hand resting near her face. A pang struck Diego’s chest, sharp and unexpected.Why does she have to look so innocent, so… breakable?He exhaled quietly, his jaw tightening. She had betrayed him, and yet here she was, defenseless and vulnerable in his chambers—by his own demand. He hated himself for it, for the way it felt like chaining a bird mid-flight. But it was necessary.I can’t lose control again.He turned his gaze away from her, fixing it on the dark wood of his desk. His thoughts swirled ba
“An Alpha must always be seen with his Luna. It’s powerful. It’s practical…” Diego’s words echoed in her mind.He cared for his image as Alpha. That was all.Erika stared at her reflection in the mirror, trying to make peace with the hollow ache in her chest. I don’t matter to him as I hoped I would. But I owe him a debt I have to pay.Her resolve hardened. She vowed to do her best as his Luna, to stand beside him with dignity and strength, even if she could never win his heart. And somehow, to her surprise, it pleased her to try.If this is my fate, I will make the best of it. I’ll make him proud, and maybe I’ll learn to be proud of myself too.Astrid had chosen the outfit—a tailored suit in muted pastel pink paired with a white lace blouse that subtly emphasized her figure. The matching skirt hugged her curves without being revealing, giving her an air of understated s
The ride to Arco was tense with unspoken words. Diego sat beside Erika in the sleek black SUV, his gaze fixed on the road ahead as their driver navigated the winding streets leading to the city. Erika clasped her hands in her lap, her nerves fraying with every mile. The faint praise from the council meeting still lingered, but the weight of Diego’s silence pressed heavier.The city’s commercial hub burst into view as they arrived. Arco thrived with life—its main streets a kaleidoscope of color and motion. Narrow cobblestone alleys threaded between tall, centuries-old stone buildings, interspersed with modern glass storefronts that gleamed in the afternoon sun.Diego stepped out first, his presence immediately drawing glances from the crowd. The way he carried himself—a mixture of effortless authority and restrained power—seemed to command attention even when he wasn’t trying.Er
The council chamber felt heavier than usual, the air thick with tension. Erika sat at the far end of the long oak table, her presence largely ignored except for the occasional curious glance from Aristide, the most level-headed of the council members.Diego stood at the head of the table, his commanding presence impossible to overlook. The light from the chandelier above cast sharp angles across his face, making him seem more unyielding than ever.“We have no choice but to lead,” Diego announced, his voice steady but weighted. “The Board has tasked us with eradicating the rogue threat. This is no longer a matter of border disputes or petty crimes. Lycans—our people—have been killed in their own homes. This cannot stand.”“The Board should be handling this,” growled Leandro, his youthful arrogance apparent. “Why must it always fall to us? Rogues are their creation, a problem of their failed governance.”
The training field was alive with the clamor of steel and the sharp crack of dummies breaking apart. The pack’s warriors took turns demonstrating their mastery of the special blades, each strike a testament to their skill and strength. The warm sun cast long shadows across the field as sweat glistened on brows and muscles strained in calculated movements.Erika stood on the sidelines, observing as Alessandro stepped forward, the crowd murmuring with anticipation.“Let’s see if our Beta still has his touch,” Pippo quipped, folding his arms as he leaned casually against a fence post.Alessandro smirked, twirling the blade in his hand before settling into a ready stance. “Watch and learn,” he retorted.The dummy in front of him didn’t stand a chance. Alessandro’s movements were sharp and precise, his blade slicing through the air with fluid grace. A quick feint to the left, followed by a pivot and an upward sla
The moon hung high in the sky, waxing its way toward fullness, casting its subtle pull over every Lycan in the mansion. Dinner was a lively affair, the dining hall echoing with laughter, the clink of silverware, and the faint hum of tension.Erika sat at the long oak table beside Alessandro, who had taken it upon himself to be her conversational anchor for the evening. Across the table, Diego was seated at the head, a natural position of authority that suited him effortlessly.It started innocently enough—a soft laugh from Lucia, seated to Diego’s right, followed by a shared glance between the two. Diego leaned closer to her as she whispered something into his ear. Whatever she said earned a faint smile from him, and Erika’s chest tightened as though an invisible cord had constricted around her heart.Her fork hovered over her plate, her appetite disappearing as she watched the easy exchange. The sharp pang of jealousy was foreign to her, and s
The night was a cloak of darkness as Diego’s group pressed toward the palace gates. Cloaked in heavy, dark fabrics that hid their gleaming armor and weapons, Diego led his pack through the throng of angry citizens gathering outside the Citadel. The crowd’s chant—“We want justice! No more deaths! We want justice!”—swept around them like a rising tide, a volatile mixture of hope and rage.As they moved with practiced stealth, Diego’s sharp eyes caught movement among the people. Emerging from the crowd, a familiar face stepped forward— Tristan. His expression was a mix of concern and disbelief, and he glanced around nervously.“Diego! What are you doing here, man?”He leaned in close, ensuring no one else overheard. “It’s brave of you to show up, but it’s not wise. You must get out of here before the guards see you.”Diego’s jaw tightened. His voice dropped to
Back at the safe house—a dilapidated stone building hidden deep within the forest—Diego and his pack finally found a moment of respite. The adrenaline of the Citadel assault still pulsed in their veins, and exhaustion mingled with the bitter taste of blood and uncertainty. In a sparsely lit common room, the survivors huddled around a scarred wooden table, patches of moonlight seeping through the narrow windows.Diego sat heavily in a rickety chair, his mind a jumble of victorious flashes and looming dread. He rubbed a hand over his bruised face, trying to reconcile the chaos of the previous night with the silent calm that now enveloped them.Alessandro broke the heavy silence, his voice low and resolute. “Alpha, we did what we could. But this was only the first blow.”Diego’s eyes flicked over the faces of his pack—Pippo’s steady gaze, Aristide’s determined frown, Sofia’s quiet assurance, and Lucia’s al
Across the sprawling city, the revelation of damning evidence displayed on every screen sent shockwaves through the hearts of Lycans and humans alike. In bustling marketplaces, somber faces turned toward flickering displays, while loyalists of The Board exchanged horrified glances as records of corruption, bribery, and clandestine orders—painfully detailed in ink and parchment—unfurled before them.Deep within the inner sanctum of The Board’s Citadel, chaos reigned. In a vast council chamber adorned with opulent tapestries and gilded accents, high-ranking officials scrambled in frantic whispers and hurried footsteps. The polished marble floor, once a symbol of order and power, now echoed with the panicked clatter of advisors desperate to scrub away the truth.At the head of the chamber, seated upon an imposing throne of darkened iron and gold, the Lycan King glared at a massive screen where the evidence continued to scroll relentlessly. His eyes, burn
The evidence lay before them— a damning collection of ledgers, secret communications, and unspeakable transactions that painted The Board as the true architects of their oppression. For weeks after escaping Blackthorn, sleepless hours had been spent poring over these documents. Now, as dawn broke over the Citadel, the weight of truth charged the air like electricity.In a concealed antechamber near the Citadel’s heart— a labyrinth of twisting corridors and shadowed betrayals—the group gathered around a battered wooden table. Malrik presided over the meeting as they reviewed their next move.Their objective was clear: infiltrate the central communications hub of The Board and release the evidence for all to see. It was a plan born of desperation and hope— a final blow meant to shatter the foundation of the corrupt regime.Diego’s gaze was resolute as he scanned the map spread out
The Citadel’s inner corridors stretched out before them, a labyrinth of cold stone and whispered secrets. In the aftermath of the fierce battle outside, every step now was heavy with both hope and danger. As she led the small team deeper into the fortress, Erika could feel the pulse of history in the very walls, and with it, the weight of a future she had vowed to reclaim.Even in the tense silence of those shadowed passageways, the sounds of the ongoing struggle echoed in the distance—shouts, clashing steel, and the rhythmic thud of determined feet. Diego’s pack was with them. The faces of Alessandro, Pippo, Aristide, Sofia, and Lucia were etched with resolve despite fresh wounds from Blackthorn. Their presence bolstered her spirit, a reminder that she was not alone in this fight.They emerged into a wide antechamber where dim torchlight danced across rows of ancient ledgers and scattered parchments. The walls, heavy with the scent of dust and time,
The night was near absolute darkness as Erika crept along the outer perimeter of the Citadel. Every step was measured and silent, her heartbeat the only sound in the void. The Citadel—an imposing fortress of cold stone and iron—loomed ahead, its high walls nearly blending with the starless sky. She clutched her dagger tightly, her senses heightened not just by adrenaline but by a deep, unyielding resolve.Inside her mind, memories of the rebellion’s cause stirred: the harsh truths Malrik had revealed, the corruption of The Board, and the painful loss of her family. Though she fought for justice, a part of her still ached with longing for the life she’d once known—a life now replaced by duty and the weight of a new life growing inside her.From the shadows, she saw movement—a group of guards, patrolling the wall like silent wraiths. She pressed herself against the cold stone and drew a slow breath. If we’re going to infiltra
The battlefield was no longer just a stretch of land soaked in blood—it was the precipice of history. Their war was reaching its breaking point, and with it, so were they.Diego stood atop the ridge, surveying the battlefield with Gabriel and Hugo at his side. The remnants of Malrik’s rebellion were preparing for the final offensive against the King’s forces, and the air was thick with tension.The soldiers below moved with quiet determination, securing weapons, reinforcing defenses, and bracing themselves for what was to come. Beyond them, in the valley, the Lycan King’s army gathered, their banners rippling like shadows in the wind.Erika was somewhere in the settlement, rallying the civilians, ensuring the wounded were tended to, preparing for the worst.Diego still hadn’t fully processed the revelation from the night before. A child. His child. Their child.It changed everything.And yet, here he was, still marching toward war."They’ll strike at dawn," Gabriel said, drawing Diego
The stench of scorched earth and blood clung to the air, thick and suffocating. The battle had quieted, but the tension was far from over.Diego stood at the edge of the ruined courtyard, his body aching from the sorcerer’s last attack. Blackthorn’s fortress loomed before them, its ancient stone walls now cracked and marred by battle.They had taken Blackthorn.But the victory felt hollow.Malrik sat on a broken column, still regaining his strength. Erika stood nearby, silent, staring into the shadows where the sorcerer had disappeared.Diego wiped the sweat and blood from his brow. "We need to regroup," he said. "Now."Malrik let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "You think?"Diego ignored him, turning to Erika. "What was that back there? That magic—I've never seen anything like it."Erika didn’t answer right away. When she finally did, her voice was quiet but certain. "He wasn’t fighting to wi
The night howled with the promise of war.Diego’s boots pressed into the damp earth as he moved through the underbrush, his senses sharpened by the pulse of approaching violence. The air carried the metallic scent of sharpened steel, the musk of Lycans shifting into their true forms. In the distance, beyond the hills that sloped toward Blackthorn’s walls, torchlight flickered—a fortress on the brink of being torn apart.Behind him, Malrik’s warriors crept like living shadows, their eyes gleaming in the dark. Gabriel stood to Diego’s right, fingers twitching, ready to weave sorcery into the battlefield. Erika was just behind them, poised yet unshaken, her dagger glinting under the pale moon.Diego exhaled, steadying himself. "We do this fast and hard. No second chances."Malrik, crouched beside him, smirked. "You sound like you’re giving orders, Alpha."Diego didn’t rise to the bait. "You brought me here for a reason. Let’s get it done."A low growl rumbled through Malrik’s chest, but