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 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
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
There’s something about the smell of old books that I’ve always loved. It’s comforting like a hug you can breathe in. Tonight, I needed that comfort more than ever. The library was quiet, just the way I liked it, with only the sound of my footsteps echoing in the aisles.I ran my fingers along the spines of the books, stopping now and then to read a title. Some of them looked like they hadn’t been touched in years, their covers faded and dusty. That was fine by me. Books didn’t judge or expect things from you. They just… existed.The clock on the wall chimed softly. Almost closing time. I glanced out the tall windows, the moonlight pouring in like silver. Beyond the glass, the woods surrounding Black Hollow stretched endlessly, their dark shapes swaying in the breeze. They were beautiful but eerie, the kind of place you’d hear about in ghost stories.I shouldn’t have stared at the woods for so long.“Elara, you don’t get paid to stare at nothing,” Mrs. Hawthorne’s voice rang out, shar
I squinted, trying to make out the figure stepping through the trees. He moved with the kind of grace you’d expect from a predator, tall and broad-shouldered, his silver eyes glowing faintly in the dark.He stopped a few feet away, his gaze locking on mine.“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, his voice low and steady.“I… I wasn’t trying to…” My words trailed off as I struggled to make sense of what was happening.The man’s expression was unreadable, but there was something in his eyes—something familiar, like I should know him.“Who are you?” I managed to ask.He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, like he was deciding whether or not to tell me.“My name is Kael,” he said finally. “And you’re not safe here.”“I’m not safe?” I repeated, my voice rising slightly. “What does that even mean?”Kael stepped closer, his movements so smooth they barely made a sound. “It means you need to leave. Now.”The heat in my chest flared again, and I stumbled back, my breath
Kael didn’t waste a second after I took his hand. He pulled me to my feet, his grip firm but not harsh, and we started running again. The forest seemed darker now, the air thick with tension. I stumbled, still disoriented by what had just happened, but Kael kept me moving.“Don’t stop,” he said, his voice sharp. “We’re not out of this yet.”“What’s happening to me?” I asked, my voice shaking. My claws—the claws that were somehow mine—gleamed in the moonlight as we ran. “Why do I look like this?”Kael glanced back at me, his expression unreadable. “You’re changing. Your wolf is awakening.”“My wolf?” I echoed, my mind spinning.“There’s no time to explain.” He yanked me to the side just as a shadow darted past us, narrowly missing my shoulder. A low growl followed, and I saw another set of glowing eyes watching us from the trees.Kael growled back, a sound so feral it made my stomach drop.“Stay behind me,” he ordered, his voice a low rumble.“No,” I snapped, surprising even myself. “I
Kael slowed his pace once we reached the clearing, his eyes darting around like he was expecting another attack. The moonlight brightened his features, revealing fresh scratches across his face and arms. Despite the injuries, his focus remained sharp.I, on the other hand, felt like my body was about to give out. My legs trembled, my breath was ragged, and my claws still unfamiliar and terrifying itched with an unnatural energy.“Do they always come after you like that?” I asked, my voice hoarse.“Not me. You,” Kael corrected, turning to face me.I flinched at his bluntness. “Why? I didn’t even know… whatever this is about myself until tonight. How could they know more about me than I do?”Kael’s gaze softened, just a little. “Hunters can sense power. They’ve likely been watching you for some time, waiting for your awakening. Tonight, when your wolf surfaced, it was like sending a beacon into the night.”“A beacon,” I repeated, my stomach twisting. “You mean they’re going to keep com
The forest was darker, quieter. The air was thick with tension as we moved deeper into the woods. Every step I took, I felt like something was watching us, lurking just beyond the trees.Kael led the way, his steps sure and confident. I, on the other hand, was still shaky. My heart hadn’t stopped pounding since the fight. It wasn’t just the adrenaline. It was the fear, the realization that there was no going back. My life had changed in an instant, and now, I was being dragged into a world I didn’t understand.“Where are we going?” I asked, my voice rough.“To the pack,” Kael replied without looking back.The pack. My heart skipped a beat.I wasn’t sure what that even meant. I had heard stories, of course everyone had. Werewolf packs, secretive and dangerous, living under the radar of human society. But those were just stories. I never thought I’d be caught up in one.“How much further?” I asked, hoping he’d say we were almost there.“We’re close,” he said, his voice steady but with a
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