Willow had always loved the forest.
The way the wind moved through the trees, rustling the leaves with soft whispers. The way the scent of pine and damp earth curled around her, grounding her in something older than time itself. She had grown up in a good pack. Strong. Stable. Loyal. But it had never felt like home. Not truly. She didn’t know why. She couldn’t explain it. She was happy. She was safe. But somewhere deep inside her, something was missing. A piece of herself that had never quite fit. And then she met him. The first time Willow saw Theo, she felt it. A pull so strong, so sudden, she had nearly stumbled. It had been a routine pack meeting. A diplomatic visit from the Onyx Pack to discuss border agreements. She had been standing with her father, listening half-heartedly to the discussion, when he arrived. Theo stepped into the room like he owned the ground beneath his feet. Tall, powerful, every inch the Alpha he was born to be. But it wasn’t his strength that caught her breath. It was his eyes. Striking blue, piercing, unrelenting. The moment they met hers, she knew. And from the way his entire body went still, she knew he felt it too. The mate bond snapped into place between them, invisible but undeniable. A connection that had always existed, waiting. She inhaled sharply. Theo’s lips parted, his nostrils flaring slightly as he took a step forward. Her father’s voice faded into the background. The murmuring of the gathered wolves blurred into nothing. Because there was only him. And there was only this. “Theo,” she breathed before she could stop herself. He didn’t speak. Didn’t blink. He only reached out. Her fingers twitched before she met him halfway, their hands locking together. A rush of warmth slammed through her. A spark that set her entire body on edge, burning through her veins like wildfire. She gasped. Theo let out a low growl, stepping closer. His free hand lifted, fingers brushing lightly, reverently against her jaw, tilting her face up to his. “Mate,” he murmured. The word sent a shudder through her. She should have felt nervous. Overwhelmed. Cautious. But she didn’t. Because he was hers. And she was his. Everything moved quickly after that. Because when a wolf found their mate, there was no waiting. There was no doubt, no hesitation. Willow left her pack, joining Theo in Onyx Territory, stepping into a new life with him. And gods, it was bliss. Theo loved her fiercely. Protectively. Possessively. He wasn’t suffocating, wasn’t controlling—but he was always aware of her. Every room she entered, his eyes found her first. Every meeting he led, his hand brushed hers beneath the table. Every night, he pulled her into his arms as if he couldn’t stand to be apart from her, even in sleep. And she loved it. Loved him. Every part of him. But sometimes… When the world was quiet, when the fire crackled low and the night stretched long— She felt it. That missing piece. Like an echo of something just out of reach. Something deeper. Something… sinister. —— It had been a long day. Theo was tense. Agitated. A diplomatic meeting had gone sideways, and it had put him in a mood that even she struggled to break through. Willow watched him from across their room, the way his hands curled into fists at his sides, his shoulders tight with frustration. She knew what he needed. He needed her. She stood slowly, padding across the wooden floor until she was in front of him. Theo didn’t move, but his sharp blue eyes flickered to hers. She reached for his hand, prying his fingers apart before linking them with hers. He exhaled, his head dipping slightly forward, resting against her shoulder. “I don’t deserve you,” he murmured. She frowned, tilting his face up with gentle fingers. “Yes, you do.” His jaw clenched. She leaned in, brushing her lips over his—once, twice, soft and teasing. Theo shuddered. Then, as if something inside him snapped, he pulled her against him. Hard. Desperate. Needing. His lips crashed into hers, stealing her breath, claiming her completely. She melted into him, her arms sliding around his neck, fingers tangling in his hair. His hands roamed—gripping, exploring, consuming. He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to the bed before lowering her onto the mattress with a reverence that made her ache. There was nothing slow about the way he touched her. Nothing hesitant about the way he undressed her, kissed her, pulled her apart piece by piece. And she gave him everything. Because he was hers. And she was his. And that was all that mattered. —— Hours later, wrapped in Theo’s arms, Willow felt it again. That unshakable sensation. Like something was missing. Like something was watching. She pressed closer to him, burying her face against his chest. His arms tightened around her instantly, pulling her beneath him, tucking her against him as if to shield her from something he couldn’t see. His lips brushed her forehead. “Sleep, love.” She closed her eyes, but she knew sleep wouldn’t come easily. Because no matter how whole Theo made her feel— No matter how much love, how much passion, how much fire burned between them— Something still wasn’t right. Something darker lurked beneath the surface. Waiting. Watching. And soon, they would understand why.The Montana wilderness stretched endlessly in every direction, a vast expanse of towering pines and tangled underbrush. Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting shifting patterns on the forest floor. The crisp morning air carried the scent of damp earth, pine, and the faint, familiar musk of her pack. Willow inhaled deeply, letting the scent ground her. She wasn’t just human. She wasn’t just a wolf. She was both. Werewolves weren’t two separate beings forced into one body. They were a single soul—half human, half wolf, one whole entity. The human side had thoughts, emotions, memories, and logic. The wolf carried instincts, power, and magic. The magic belonged only to the wolf. A human without their wolf was just that—human. They could not heal faster, they could not shift, they could not feel the presence of the pack through the bond that tied them together. But when the wolf lent its magic, the body became stronger, faster. Wounds closed quickly, bones knit back toget
Willow walked through the village with purpose, her steps steady, her posture unshaken. To anyone watching, she looked strong—calm, even. Just another day as Luna, overseeing the pack, ensuring everything was in order. But inside, her mind was in turmoil. The rogue attack wasn’t sitting right. Rogues didn’t just attack like that—not in numbers, not with coordination. And they certainly didn’t retreat after delivering a message. “They knew my name,” she reminded Nova, as if she hadn’t replayed those words a hundred times already. Nova was silent for a moment before murmuring, “I know.” Willow exhaled slowly, schooling her features as she passed a group of pack members tending to repairs near the training grounds. A few of the warriors nodded respectfully. Others gave her a reassuring glance, as if they were the ones trying to keep her from worrying. She managed a small smile in return before continuing on. “You’re overthinking,” Nova said. “We don’t know enough yet to start spir
The walk back to their house was quiet. The village had settled in for the night, the warm glow of lanterns flickering in windows, casting long shadows across the forest path. The crisp Montana air carried the scent of pine and damp earth, but underneath it all, Willow still smelled blood. The rogue attack lingered in her mind like a dull ache. Nova had retreated, slipping into the back of her consciousness to give her space. Atlas had done the same for Theo. It was just them now. Theo walked beside her, his blue eyes sharp even in the dim light. He hadn’t said much since they left the warriors, but Willow felt him—felt his concern pressing against the bond they shared. They reached their cabin a few minutes later, the cozy wooden structure nestled among the trees. Inside, the scent of cedar and leather greeted her, grounding in its familiarity. Theo shut the door behind them, locking it out of habit. Willow exhaled. “I’ll make dinner.” Theo smirked. “You’re actually going to
Theo woke to silence. A cold, unnatural silence. His body was warm, the scent of pine and wildflowers lingering in the air—Willow’s scent. But something was wrong. His arm stretched across the bed, fingers searching for her familiar warmth. Nothing. Theo’s eyes snapped open. The room was dimly lit, the early morning light barely creeping through the window. The space beside him was empty. Panic surged through him, sharp and sudden. He reached for the bond. Nothing. His chest tightened, breath catching in his throat. The bond was there—but faint, distant. It was like trying to hear a whisper through a storm. Then, the mind-link slammed into him. “Alpha!” Luka’s voice, sharp and urgent. “It’s Luna! The rogues—she’s gone!” The world stopped. Atlas snapped inside him, rage and panic crashing together in a violent storm. Theo was out of bed before the words fully registered, his bare feet hitting the wooden floor hard. Gone? Theo’s mind barely formed the thought before his
Willow woke to pain. A dull, aching weight pressed against her body, making every movement feel sluggish and heavy. The air was thick and damp, carrying the scent of stone, rot, and wolves—too many wolves. She inhaled slowly, trying to clear the haze from her mind. Something was wrong. She blinked against the dim light, her vision swimming as she took in her surroundings. Rough stone walls. A single flickering lantern casting weak shadows across the floor. Cold air brushing against her bare arms. Her wrists— A burning sensation sizzled against her skin. She looked down and found thick, silver-lined shackles clasped around her wrists, attached to a chain bolted into the wall. Not enough to sear through her skin, but enough to sap her strength—enough to keep her from shifting. Willow clenched her jaw. “Nova?” Silence. Panic flared, but then, just barely, she felt her wolf stir—weak, distant. “I’m here,” Nova whispered, her voice strained. “But I feel… drained.” So it wasn’t
Theo ran. The night was thick around him, the forest stretching endlessly in every direction. His paws tore into the earth, muscles coiled tight with every bound. The warriors followed, their dark forms weaving like shadows through the trees. But Theo didn’t hear them. Didn’t see them. All he could feel was the mate bond—thin, weak, unnatural. Willow was out there. Somewhere. Alive, but distant. Something was cutting through the bond, muffling it. That was the only reason he wasn’t ripping through the forest, following the connection straight to her. And that was what terrified him the most. They had done something to her. To his mate. Atlas snarled inside him, so violent, so furious, that Theo’s vision blurred with it. His wolf was on the verge of snapping free, no longer willing to be leashed by reason. He needed her. He needed her now. “Hold on, Willow,” he thought fiercely. “I’m coming.” The air was heavy with tension, the warriors silent as they ran.
Theo stood frozen, his breath coming in sharp, uneven pulls. The message burned in his mind, the words seared into his mind like a brand.“The fire-haired one belongs to us now. She will forget you. And when she does, she will destroy you.”The paper crumpled in his fist.The forest was deathly silent.His warriors watched him carefully, their bodies still, their ears perked, waiting for a reaction. Waiting for their Alpha’s next command.But Theo couldn’t speak.He couldn’t breathe.“She will forget you.”The words rattled inside his chest like a cage, tightening, constricting, pressing down until it felt like his ribs might crack under the weight of it.Atlas howled, his anguish ripping through their shared mind like a blade.No.No, she won’t. She can’t.The mate bond was faint, but it was still there.Wasn’t it?He reached for it again, stretching his mind, trying to grasp onto anything.Nothing.A hollow emptiness.Theo’s knees nearly buckled. His hands shook as he squeezed them
Theo barely felt the shift.Atlas exploded forward.But something was different.The change was instantaneous—too fast, too smooth. Even for him.There was no slow breaking of bones, no painful rearranging of his body. Just a pulse of something deep, something raw, something ancient—And then he was running.Faster than he ever had before.Luka and Darius were only a second behind him, shifting into their wolves to follow. But they were slower. Too slow.Because Theo was moving like something else entirely.He didn’t think about it.He couldn’t.His paws slammed into the earth, his breath came in ragged bursts, and Atlas was a storm of fury and agony.He didn’t know where they were going.Didn’t know where the trail would lead.It didn’t matter.They would find someone.And they would make them talk.The scent of a rogue drifted through the trees.Theo veered left without hesitation, his body a shadow in the dark.The rogue never saw him coming.One moment, he was standing there, adju
The woods were still this time of day. The kind of stillness that came not from silence, but from peace. Not the tense hush before a storm—but the exhale that follows one. Two wolves darted between the trees, pelts flashing silver white and black as they raced toward the river. Nova and Atlas—Selene and Theoden. They weren’t chasing anything anymore. Just the wind. Just the freedom they’d fought so hard to earn. They reached the river at the same time, skidding down the bank and crashing into the water with a roar of splashes and barked laughter. A few moments later, two smaller wolves barreled out of the woods, one dark gray with white paws, the other reddish-gold with eyes too clever for her age. Their children. Kael and Lyra. They tumbled into the shallows, wrestling their parents with soaked fur and wagging tails, before the whole family finally shifted back to human form, dripping and breathless. Selene grinned as she squeezed water from her hair. Theoden pulled her close, p
The earth felt still again. Not dead. Not dormant. Just… still. Like the world had exhaled for the first time in centuries and was finally resting. Selene stood at the crest of a hill just outside Silvercrest, the wind brushing through her hair. The sky was soft, the clouds drifting like whispers. Below her, warriors were gathering. Onyx wolves, Silvercrest wolves, and the remnants of what had once been scattered. Now, they were united. Whole. Behind her, Theoden walked up the hill, his steps quiet. He wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “Ready?” he asked softly. Selene leaned back against him. “I think… I’ve been ready for this more than anything else.” He kissed her temple, slow and lingering. “Then let’s go home.” They returned to Silvercrest first, gathering their things, tending wounds, thanking those who had fought beside them. Cassiel had moved in with the pack. It seemed fitting for the last Elder to be with the pack that guarded t
Theoden stood at the base of the archway, staring up at the massive stone door. It towered above them, ancient and unmoving, but alive in a way that made his skin crawl. The markings etched into its surface pulsed faintly, like the thrum of a heartbeat buried in rock. This wasn’t just a door—it was a wound in the fabric of the world. And they were finally going to seal it. Selene stepped beside him, her fingers brushing against his. “I remember,” she whispered, her voice steady. “I remember the words. The symbols. The rhythm.” “So do I,” Theoden replied. The last time these words had been spoken, it was by a circle of Elders. But instead of sealing the door, they’d used the ritual to erase Selene and Theoden—trapping their souls outside of time, tearing them from the world. The Elders had feared the door, but more than that, they feared the ones born to protect it. This time, the ritual would not erase them. This time, it would fulfill its purpose. Selene turned to Luka and Da
Theoden sat beneath the silver light of twilight, his back resting against the base of a cracked pillar. Smoke still curled through the trees from what was left of the battlefield, and the earth beneath him was scorched, still warm to the touch. But the worst of the fire had passed. The world was still standing. He was still breathing. He closed his eyes, inhaling slowly as he pressed a hand over his chest, where the embers of Atlas’s flame had entered him. The skin there still burned faintly—not in pain, but with something deeper. Something sacred. “You should be resting.” Atlas’s voice drifted into his mind again. Still present. Still alive. Theoden smiled faintly. “I am.” “No, you’re brooding.” A breath of laughter escaped him, but it came out soft. Fragile. “Maybe.” A long silence passed between them. “You weren’t supposed to come back,” Theoden said finally. Atlas’s voice was steady, almost too calm. “Neither were you.” Theoden let his head fall back against the ston
Aylexelen shattered into light. It wasn’t like before—no scream of rage, no final attempt at vengeance. Just one long, drawn-out silence as Selene, Nova, and Atlas poured every last ounce of their power into him. The golden light from Selene’s chest merged with Nova’s brilliance and Atlas’ fire, converging like the universe itself had been holding its breath for this moment. And then—he was gone. Ash. Dust. Nothing. The silence that followed felt too heavy to be real. Selene stood there, barely breathing, her power still pulsing at her fingertips. Nova hovered beside her, glowing in her own separate form, but Selene didn’t feel triumphant. She didn’t feel relief. She felt…something. Wrong. Her chest twisted. She turned. And her world collapsed. Theoden was lying in the dirt. Not moving. Not breathing. “No—” His skin was pale. His lips parted just slightly. His beautiful blue eyes—those eyes that had stared into hers with fire and love and life—were closed. And the b
The battlefield was glowing. Golden light and blazing fire twisted through the smoke, dancing across the scarred earth like twin storms. Nova and Atlas moved as if they had always existed separate from their hosts, as if their power had always belonged to this plane. They were magnificent—unstoppable. One, a shimmering beacon of celestial light, the other a relentless inferno tearing through darkness. Selene and Theoden stood at the center of it all, the door looming behind them. A structure ancient beyond measure. Carved from obsidian stone, humming with quiet power. And standing before them—Aylexelen. His silver eyes shone with amusement. And beneath it, something else. Hunger. He raised a hand, and the corrupted creatures that slithered and crawled behind him surged forward. But they didn’t reach Selene or Theoden. Atlas shot through the front line, a living flame ripping into the monstrous shapes, burning them into nothing. Nova followed a second later, glowing so brightl
The world tilted sideways.Selene sucked in a ragged breath, blinking through the haze clinging to her eyes. Her ears rang with silence—not peace, but a high, slicing stillness that felt like it might shatter under its own weight. Every nerve in her body screamed from the inside out, but she was alive. She was whole. Somehow.Beside her, Theoden stirred with a sharp groan, his face twisted in confusion, pain etched into every line. His chest rose in heaving, uneven gasps as he dragged himself upright, eyes wide and searching.They were alive.But the world around them didn’t feel like the one they’d left behind.The sky above rippled with the dying light of the eclipse, pale gold bleeding into deep blue like the horizon hadn’t yet decided what time it was. The ground beneath them was scorched, cracked open in jagged veins of heat, still pulsing with something that didn’t belong. Something other.Selene tried to stand, but her legs shook beneath her. Theoden steadied her instinctively
“Watch out!” Selene barely had time to dodge. A rogue lunged at her from the right—jaws wide, eyes feral—but Theoden was already there, fire lashing from his hand in a controlled arc. It caught the rogue midair, burning him to ash before he hit the ground. “Two more incoming!” Theoden shouted. Selene pivoted, golden light already pulsing at her fingertips. She sent a wave of power crashing into the approaching wolves, flinging them backward like broken dolls. The ground was slick now. Mud and blood mixed beneath her boots. War was no longer a word. It was a smell. A sound. A rhythm in her bones. “Fall back!” Luka’s voice roared through the smoke. “Darius, come on!” The two warriors appeared out of the chaos, bloodied but still fighting, retreating toward Selene and Theoden’s position. Luka skidded to a halt beside her, panting, blood dripping from a gash above his eye. “We can’t hold the line.” Darius crashed in a second later, barely on his feet. “This is insane! They just
It began with screaming. Selene jolted upright, heart hammering, as a deafening howl ripped through the trees. Theoden was already on his feet, eyes glowing, pulling her up beside him before the echo faded. They weren’t at the front. Not this time. They were at the back—the last line of defense. The door rose behind them, carved into the cliff, ancient and closed. For now. Its weight pressed against their minds, humming with silent, dormant power. War had come. They turned. The clearing ahead was already chaos. Rogues flooded from the trees like a tidal wave—snarling, clawing, feral. Selene could barely count how many. Dozens. Hundreds. Too many. Onyx and Silvercrest warriors met them with a battle cry, forming a wall of teeth and steel. Luka and Darius were there—at the center of the line, side by side, holding firm. But already, the field was slick with blood. Selene’s eyes tracked a young warrior—barely out of his teens—slashing with trembling hands before being tackled