Elara’s POVI walked swiftly through the trees, my heart still pounding from my encounter with Luca. His words echoed in my mind, wrapping around me like an unshakable force."Tell me you don’t feel it."I clenched my fists, my breath coming out unevenly. How could he do this to me? How could he make me question everything I had carefully built within myself?Maybe I was being too hard.The river had always been my sanctuary, a place where I could think without disturbance. But today, it was anything but peaceful. Luca had found me, and now, I felt more lost than ever.I sighed, forcing myself to focus on the path ahead. The camp was just beyond the trees. I needed to clear my mind before I faced anyone else—“Elara?”I halted abruptly, almost colliding with my mother. She stood in my path, her sharp eyes scanning my face, immediately sensing that something was off. She always did.“What’s wrong?” she asked, tilting her head slightly.I quickly shook my head. “Nothing, Mother. I was
Elara’s POVThe morning sun hung low in the sky as I made my way toward the Council chamber. The scent of damp earth and pine filled the air, the sounds of the waking forest surrounding me. Birds chirped in the distance, and the rustling leaves whispered secrets I wished I could understand.But my mind was too occupied to notice nature’s serenity.Today, I will face the Council of Elders.I was informed they had a word for me. I was trying my best to find Raven before he found us. Maybe they seeked answers. My mother wasn't even informed of the reason I was being summoned.The thought sent a weight pressing against my chest.I never knew this day would come, the moment when my future—and the future of our people—would be scrutinized by those who had guided our clan for generations.I was ready. At least, I told myself I was.As I approached the path leading to the main grounds, I heard hurried footsteps behind me.“Elara, wait.”I closed my eyes briefly before turning around. I had e
Luca’s POVThe moment Elara said those words, They told me to choose, something inside me snapped.I had always known this day would come.It was tradition.I had always known that as Lunar Alpha, she would have to take a mate.And I had always believed, hoped that it would be me.But now, standing before her, seeing the hesitation in her eyes, I felt something dangerous stirring inside me.It was jealousy and possessiveness.I clenched my fists at my sides, struggling to keep my emotions in check.“What did you tell them?” I asked, my voice carefully controlled.Elara hesitated, her gaze flickering with uncertainty. “That I needed time.”Time.I let out a slow breath, my body tense. Time meant she hadn’t made her choice yet.Which meant there was still a chance.“Elara…” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “You know what we are. We could be together.”She looked away, her lips pressing into a thin line. “Luca, I thought you were leaving, when you nodded and took a few steps backward
Elara’s POVThe moment I saw Luca and Kael fighting, something inside me snapped.It's not like he was certain about us. What could make him react like a beast.My dream was slowly coming to pass.But Kael didn't hesitate to defend Luca.I had not expected tension between them, but this?This was dangerous.Luca’s eyes burned with raw fury, his body coiled with barely restrained aggression. Kael, on the other hand, looked calm—too calm—like he was enjoying pushing Luca to his limits.It infuriated me.I stepped into the training grounds, my voice ringing with authority. “Enough!”The tension in the air was suffocating. Warriors who had gathered to watch the fight quickly backed away, sensing the storm brewing in my gaze.Luca and Kael stood frozen, muscles taut, neither willing to be the first to back down.I clenched my jaw. “I don’t know what kind of display this is, but it ends now.”Luca’s fists remained clenched, his chest rising and falling heavily. Kael wiped the blood from his
Elara’s POVThe morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. I had barely slept. My mother’s words echoed in my mind—Whoever you choose, make sure they are worthy of you.But what if I didn’t want to choose?The weight of duty pressed against my chest as I made my way to the council’s chambers. Luca had been avoiding me since our conversation in the forest, and I hadn’t seen Kael since the fight.I needed space. Clarity.But the universe had other plans.As I stepped into my tent to grab my cloak, I froze.My mother sat there, waiting.She was never one for surprises. If she had come unannounced, it meant one thing—she had something to say, and I wouldn’t leave until she said it.“Elara,” she greeted, her tone composed but sharp.I exhaled, already exhausted. “Mother.”She studied me, her piercing silver eyes scanning for any sign of weakness. “I had to hear just yesternight,” she said, her voice controlled, but I could feel the undercurrent of disapproval. “Kael
Luca’s POVThe tension between Kael and me had been brewing for too long, and I knew it needed to be addressed. It wasn't just about my feelings for Elara anymore—it was about ensuring that we could work together, not against each other. She needed protection, and if I had to swallow my pride to make sure that happened, so be it.So, that morning, I set out to find Kael.I found him near the training grounds, sharpening his dagger against a whetstone. The steady, grating sound filled the quiet space between us as I approached. He must have sensed my presence, but he didn’t acknowledge me right away. His focus remained on the blade in his hands, his expression unreadable.“Kael.”He didn’t pause at work. “Luca.”I exhaled slowly, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I owe you an apology.”That got his attention. He stopped sharpening his sword and finally looked up at me, his brows slightly raised. “An apology?”I nodded. “For how I’ve treated you. For the hostility. I let my emotions ge
Kael's POVElara had made it clear we should have some space.She was right. With everything that happened, even when Luca was not sure of our relationship, it meant it would be worse when they do.I thought of going far away for a few days. It would help me refresh my mind and get relieved from toxicity.Maybe I should let go of this love that can never be accepted. I should let Elara be the Lunar Alpha that she is.She struggled to get here. I shouldn't interfere.I packed up a few things and decided to go to the seventh Clan.I stood at the border of the First Clan, staring into the endless stretch of wilderness ahead. The thought of recent events still pressed against my chest like an iron chain. Although Luca had apologized, something I never expected, it was enough to put my mind at ease. At least for now. For the first time in a while, I felt no immediate threat from him.But that didn’t change the fact that I needed space from Luca, from Elara, from everything.I was only an
Elara’s POVI haven't seen Kael in a while. It was like he just disappeared from my face.I know I told him we should have space. I didn't mean it though.Maybe that was his reason for not showing up at all.I decided to go to his cabin I wasn't sure what I'll say to him. But one thing was clear.I missed him.Getting to his cabin, I couldn't find him.I stood at the entrance of his cabin, staring at the closed door as a strange sense of unease settled in my chest. I hadn’t seen him for days, but I had assumed he was keeping to himself. Now, as I stood here, the silence felt too heavy.I knocked twice. No answer.Frowning, I reached for the handle and pushed the door open. The cabin was dark, the air inside still, untouched. I stepped inside cautiously, my heart thudding softly against my ribs.Everything was in place. The few personal belongings Kael had were still here—his cloak draped over the chair, his boots beside the bed. But there was no sign of him. It was as if he had vanis
Elara's POV Finally, Peace ReignedThe land, once drenched in blood and shadow, now shimmered under the soft light of the moon. The scent of fresh earth filled the air, and the trees, once whispering with fear, stood tall, their branches rustling with a sense of peace. The howls of war had faded into the night, replaced by the steady rhythm of nature reclaiming what had been stolen.I stood at the river’s edge, watching the water ripple gently under the silver glow. My reflection stared back at me—hair loose, face no longer hardened by battle, but not quite softened yet either.The weight of vengeance, of loss, of relentless struggle—it had lifted.I was free.And I was finally mated to the one I loved.A presence stirred beside me, familiar and grounding. His scent—warm cedar and something unmistakably him—wrapped around me like a tether, steady and real.“Lost in thought?” His voice was quiet, careful, as if he knew I still carried the weight of everything we had endured. Of everyt
Elara’s POVThe morning sun bathed the land in golden light, illuminating the Lunar territory that had once been ravaged by war. Now, peace had settled over the werewolf clans, the air thick with the scent of fresh earth, blooming flowers, and the lingering energy of victory.I stood on the stone platform at the heart of the sacred grounds, my chest rising and falling as I took in the sight before me. The once-divided werewolves now stood united, their heads bowed in reverence. They weren’t just looking at me. They were acknowledging me.The weight of it all settled on my shoulders.I, Elara, the outcast who had been shunned and betrayed, was now standing at the pinnacle of power. The Moon Spirit had guided me through darkness, and now, I stood in the light.But before my ordination as Lunar Alpha, there was one last piece of unfinished business.Footsteps echoed behind me, hesitant yet steady. I turned to find Luca approaching, his head lowered, his expression riddled with guilt. His
Rowan’s POVThe battlefield was silent.For the first time in decades, there were no screams of agony, no clash of steel, no howls of war. Only the whisper of the wind as it carried the scent of blood and ash through the ruined land.I stood at the edge of what remained of our once-proud territory, his aged eyes scanning the remnants of a battle that had reshaped the very foundation of their world.Bodies of Shadowborn creatures lay scattered across the field, their twisted forms dissolving into nothingness under the first light of dawn. The ground beneath them, once tainted by darkness, now pulsed with the energy of renewal. The war was over.And Elara had won.I exhaled deeply, my breath shaky. I had lived through many wars, many rulers, and many sacrifices. But never had i6 witnessed something like this.The werewolves, the scattered Clans, the warriors who had once been divided—now knelt in reverence before the silver-haired woman who stood at the center of it all.Elara.The girl
Elara’s POVThe battlefield was drenched in blood and moonlight, the air thick with the scent of ash and death. Shadows twisted and curled like dying serpents, their inky tendrils dissipating into the night as I stood amidst the carnage. My body ached, my muscles screamed, but I didn’t stop.I couldn’t stop.The Shadowborn had plagued our kind for too long. They had taken too much—our homes, our people, our future. I had vowed to end them, and now, that promise would be fulfilled.A low growl echoed through the ruined valley as the last of Raven’s creatures lunged toward me. Its soulless black eyes glowed with malice, its twisted form shifting between smoke and flesh. But I did not flinch.I raised my hand, feeling the power of the moon surge through me. My veins pulsed with silver fire, my claws shimmering as I met the creature head-on. With one swift movement, I tore through it, my energy colliding with its essence. It shrieked, writhing as its form shattered into nothingness.Silen
Elara’s POV The wind howled outside the encampment, whispering secrets through the trees. The fire before me flickered as I sat cross-legged, my fingers pressed against the cool stone at my chest. The night stretched endlessly, but my mind wasn’t in the physical realm—it was drifting beyond, into the veil of the spirit world.A dark force tugged at me, a pull I couldn’t ignore. I closed my eyes, breathing in deeply. The air in the spirit realm was thick, charged with an unnatural energy. Shadows twisted around me, curling like serpents.And then, I saw him.Raven.He stood before me, his form hazy yet unmistakable, shrouded in the dark mist of his power. His silver eyes glowed, filled with a cold amusement.“I wondered when you’d come,” he drawled, his voice echoing unnaturally.I clenched my fists. “You called me here. What do you want?”His smirk deepened. “To end this foolish war. You and I both know this cannot last forever, Elara. Come to me—face me at the Black Hollow. We will
Elara’s POVThe night air was thick with tension as Kael and I moved swiftly through the dense forests surrounding the First Clan’s stronghold. The tall spires of the stone fortress loomed ahead, dark and imposing against the moonlit sky. My heart pounded in my chest, not from fear, but from the anticipation of what was to come.Luca.Once my closest friend, now a prisoner of his own choices. He had betrayed me because of his emotions, which gave Raven a chance, stood against me when I needed him most. And yet, despite everything, we were here to save him.Kael moved beside me, silent but alert. His presence was a steady force, grounding me in the chaos that brewed inside me. “Are you ready for this?” he murmured.I exhaled, gripping the daggers at my belt. “I don’t know. But I have to be.”We crept toward the fortress, using the cover of darkness to slip past the outer guards. The First Clan had once been a proud force, but since Raven’s rise, they had become nothing more than a sha
Elara's POV The night air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and healing herbs. The soft glow of the moon bathed the clearing where we had stopped, and all was still except for the slow, labored breathing of the woman lying before me.I knelt beside her, my hands trembling as I traced the bruises on her wrists—remnants of the shackles that had bound her for far too long. My mother—who had once been so strong, so fearless—now lay before me, fragile and exhausted. Yet, even in her weakened state, her silver eyes, identical to mine, held warmth, relief, and something else.Love.A lump formed in my throat. I had dreamt of this moment for months, of the day I would see her again, but not like this—not broken and battered.Taking a shaky breath, I placed my hands gently over her wounds. A soft silver glow radiated from my fingertips, warm and soothing. The power of the moon surged through me, flowing into her, knitting torn flesh, dissolving bruises, easing pain.She gasped as the
Raven’s POVThe room was suffocating with silence. Not the kind that brought peace, but the kind that smothered, thick with unspoken rage. The moment I sensed it—felt the severance of my connection to the Shadowborn—I knew.Elara had escaped.A single word echoed in my mind, ringing like a war drum.Unacceptable.My fingers clenched around the arms of my throne, dark power crackling through my veins. The flickering torches along the chamber walls burned lower, their flames bending unnaturally under the force of my fury.I turned my gaze to the trembling guard kneeling before me. He had dared to deliver the news.“They... they are gone, My Lord,” he stammered, his forehead pressed against the cold stone floor. “We lost them in the trees.”Lost them?I let the words settle, my grip tightening. The shadows around the room thickened, curling like serpents waiting to strike.The guard swallowed hard. “The Shadowborn—”“They failed.”My voice cut through the air, cold and lethal.The man f
Elara’s POVThe night stretched before us like a never-ending abyss, filled with uncertainty and the weight of what we were about to do. The Lunar Territory was where Raven conquered. It has turned into dangerous places in the realm, and it was where Raven had taken Lyanna.She was trapped there, locked away in a prison built for those who dared to defy him.We couldn’t leave her behind.Sitting by the dim fire in our temporary hideout, Kael and I studied the map spread between us, the lines and markings glowing faintly under the flickering flame. The stronghold was heavily guarded, its towering walls nearly impenetrable. Getting inside wouldn’t be easy—but it wasn’t impossible.Kael exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “Even if we do get past the outer walls, we’ll still have to face the elite guards inside. They won’t hesitate to kill us.”I traced the path on the map with my fingers, calculating the risks. “We can’t go in with brute force. It would be suicide. But if we move like