The weight of Harold’s resentment had hung over the house since the last conversation with him earlier before the hunt. His gaze towards me grew colder, and even his demands became persistent that it was becoming too hard for me to continue enduring to resist him from his relentless desire to have me signed the divorce papers.With each passing day, his words began to sting more like carefully placed weapons than accusations. It’s like a venom that was creeping through me everytime we both talk and it was becoming too hard to counter. Although most of the time, I would often just listen to him and refuse to start an argument. Later that evening after their hunt, the night abruptly was thick with an ominous calm as I rested in bed. I didn’t even bother waiting for them. Usually, Harold wouldn’t even mind if I waited for them or not so might as well spend the rest of the evening resting so that I wouldn’t even have to waist my energy on people who doesn’t even care whether I make an e
The next two days in Dominic's penthouse were a experience unlike anything I had ever known. The silence wrapped around me like a soft blanket, soothing the frayed edges of my mind. The freedom was intoxicating; for the first time, I felt the weight of fear lift off my shoulders, replaced by a profound sense of liberation that was almost surreal. The penthouse, perched high above the city, offered breathtaking views that seemed to stretch into infinity. Vast windows framed the skyline, the twinkling lights below resembling scattered stars, reminding me that I was untethered, floating high above the chaos of my past.In this sanctuary, I could breathe again. I realized that no one would find us here, and with that thought came an overwhelming sense of safety that felt foreign yet deeply welcome.When Dominic returned from his outing, I was taken aback by the sight of him lugging in bags of groceries and supplies. I hadn’t expected such a thoughtful gesture; it was a surprise that set
But every wonderful moment seemed to have an ending. As much as I don’t want to go home yet, Dominic was the one who told me he should send me back a day ahead before Harold comes home.I understand that it would become rather suspicious if I were nowhere to be found when Harold returns. Not that he would care in a sense of jealousy, but I believe it would be because he would rather much want to find out further flaws to use up against me so that he could force me to sign the divorce papers.The drive back to the pack house was filled with a tense silence that hung in the air between Dominic and me. I stared out the window, watching the trees blur into a green haze as we sped down the winding road. I couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that crept in, a reminder of all that was at stake. “You need to head early,” Dominic said, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but I could sense the underlying tension. “We can’t be seen together, Elisse. It’s too risky.”I nodded, my heart h
The tension in the room was suffocating. Harold stood across from me, his face twisted with a mix of anger and something else—was it desperation? My heart pounded in my chest as he shoved the divorce papers toward me, his voice low and threatening. “You will sign these, Elisse. Today. Right now.”“Harold, please,” I pleaded, my voice barely above a whisper. “I can’t just sign away my life like this.”His eyes narrowed, and the cruel smile on his lips sent a chill down my spine. “You think you have a choice? You’re in no position to negotiate.”Just as I prepared to argue further, the door burst open, and in strode Dominic, flanked by the elders from the Alliance Pack. Their presence filled the room with an undeniable authority, and I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. “What’s going on here?” one of the elders, an imposing figure with silver hair, demanded, his gaze shifting between Harold and me. “We were told there was an incident.”Harold’s demeanor shifted in an instant, tra
Days following that incident, Dominic guided me through the bustling streets of the city as he insisted to take me out for a quick breahter. The neon lights flickered like stars in the night sky, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of exhilaration. For the first time in what felt like forever, I was outside the oppressive walls of the pack house, and I could breathe freely.“Where are we going?” I asked, trying to contain my excitement.“I have a little surprise for you,” Dominic replied, a playful smile dancing on his lips. “I noticed you’ve been wearing the same clothes for a while. I thought it was time you treated yourself to something new.”My heart fluttered at the thought. It was sweet of him, but a nagging voice in the back of my mind reminded me of my limited funds and Harold’s tight grip on my finances. “You really don’t have to—”“I want to,” he interrupted, his tone firm yet gentle. “You deserve to feel good about yourself, Elisse. Plus, we can’t have you running around in
The Next Day…I awoke early the next morning, determination surging through me. I had to act quickly. With Dominic’s help, I needed to gather evidence against Harold before he had a chance to strike again. As I made my way to the kitchen, I was surprised to find it empty. The pack house was unusually quiet, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. “Good morning, Luna…” a sarcastic voice called from behind me, and I turned to see Leonor entering the room, her expression deceptively cheerful.“What are you doing here?” I replied cautiously, unsure of her intentions.“Did you sleep well?” she asked, her smile unnervingly bright.“Why do you care?” I shot back, crossing my arms.She laughed lightly, shaking her head. “Oh, I’m just making conversation. You know, as your gammas, it’s my duty to ensure your well-being.”“You’re annoying, Leonor,” I replied, skepticism lacing my words. “Listen, I just wanted to remind you that I am watching your every move with beta Dominic.
Later that day, I met Dominic outside the pack house. He looked concerned as I approached him. “Hey, is everything okay?” he asked, his brow furrowed with worry.“Just another round with Leonor,” I sighed, shaking my head. “She’s relentless.”“Don’t let her get to you. You’ve made a lot of progress, Elisse,” he encouraged. “Have you thought about our next steps?”“I have,” I replied, feeling a surge of determination. “I want to gather more evidence against Harold, but I’m worried about him finding out.”Dominic nodded, his expression serious. “I’ll reach out to my contact. We need to be strategic. The last thing we want is to tip Harold off.”“Can you really trust your contact?” I asked, skepticism creeping in.“I’ve known him for years. He’s reliable. But we still need to be careful. If Harold catches wind of what we’re doing, he’ll retaliate,” Dominic warned.As we discussed our next move, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of camaraderie forming between us. For the first time in a lo
The following morning, I woke up with a renewed sense of resolve. The tension from last night with Harold still lingered, but Dominic’s reassurance echoed in my mind, strengthening my determination. I wasn’t alone in this fight; I had an ally by my side, someone who believed in me. Today, I was ready to take the first steps toward reclaiming my freedom.As I dressed, a knock sounded on my door. I opened it to find Dominic, a solemn expression on his face."Good morning, Elisse. I have news," he began, glancing around to ensure we were alone. "My contact managed to gather some valuable information on Harold's dealings. It’s risky, but this could be the leverage we need to challenge him.”"Really?" I whispered, excitement bubbling up despite the caution in his eyes. "What did you find?"Dominic handed me a folder. "There are records here of underground activities that Alpha Harold would never want anyone to see—deals that go against pack law. But before we do anything, we need to be abso
The oppressive void of the Abyss seemed to pulse with life as I pressed forward. My footsteps echoed in the silence, and the faint glow of the shard in my hand was the only thing keeping the encroaching darkness at bay. The further I ventured, the heavier the air became, as though the Abyss itself were aware of my presence.But then, a sound—a quiet footfall—pierced the silence. I whirled around, my heart pounding. From the shadows emerged a figure I recognized instantly.“Dominic?” I gasped.He stood tall, his sword strapped across his back and his face set with determination. “You didn’t really think I’d let you go through this alone, did you?”I stared at him, disbelief and concern warring within me. “You can’t be here. This place—this realm—breaks the laws of nature for someone like you.”“I know,” he said simply. “But I also know I couldn’t live with myself if I stayed behind while you faced this alone. Whatever consequences there are for me being here, I’ll deal with them. Right
The inside of the hut was far larger than it appeared from the outside. Shadows danced along the walls, their movements synchronized with the flickering blue light emanating from a crystal orb on a pedestal at the center of the room. The figure who had welcomed us threw back her hood, revealing a strikingly pale woman with hair like silver threads and eyes that glowed faintly violet.“I am Seraphine,” she said, her voice like the hum of a distant storm. “You seek to breach the Abyss and recover what was taken. But beware—the Abyss does not give freely.”Her eyes scanned us, lingering on me. “You carry the weight of destruction and creation in your soul, Elise,” she said. “The orb you shattered was not just a prison; it was a tether. Its destruction set forces in motion that even Kieran does not fully comprehend.”Kaela crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “That’s great and all, but we don’t need riddles. We need a way to stop Kieran and save Harold.”Seraphine’s lips curved int
The weight of Kieran's parting words lingered like a curse, wrapping tightly around my thoughts. Harold was gone, and the chilling reality of Kieran’s threat—turning Harold against us—felt like a death sentence waiting to unfold.Kaela paced the chamber, her boots scraping against the stone floor, her frustration bubbling to the surface. Dominic leaned heavily against the wall, his sword still drawn, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt. For once, none of us had a plan, and the absence of action felt suffocating.“We can’t sit here,” Kaela snapped suddenly, her voice cutting through the silence. “He has a head start. Every second we waste is another second Harold gets dragged deeper into Kieran’s madness.”“I know,” Dominic said, his tone strained. “But we don’t even know where Kieran went. Forbidden sorcery doesn’t leave a trail.”Kaela turned on him, her eyes blazing. “So what? We just wait around while he completes whatever twisted plan he’s concocting? That’s not good enough.
The atmosphere around felt lie it was heavy with an eerie silence as I sat on the cold stone floor, catching my breath. My body trembled from the ordeal with the orb, its torment still fresh in my mind. My companions surrounded me, their faces painted with relief and pride. Dominic knelt beside me, his arm steadying my shoulders, his concern etched into his expression.“You did it, Elise,” Kaela said, her voice trembling with awe. “You destroyed its power.”I nodded weakly, the adrenaline waning as exhaustion set in. “It wasn’t just me,” I murmured, glancing at each of them. “I wouldn’t have made it this far without all of you.”Harold stood a few paces away, his gaze fixed on the shattered remnants of the orb. For weeks, his presence had been enigmatic, his loyalty wavering between us and the shadows that sought to consume him. I didn’t trust him entirely, but something in his demeanor suggested he was fighting against whatever had bound him to Kieran.But before I could say anything
“I’ll do it,” I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me.Dominic’s reaction was immediate and fierce. “No, Elise. Absolutely not.”“Dominic, please,” I said, looking up at him. “You’ve protected me so much already. You’ve been my shield, my strength. But this...this is something I have to do. For all of us.”He shook his head, his jaw tightening. “I won’t let you.”“You can’t stop me,” I said gently, though the words broke my heart. “This is my choice. Please, don’t make it harder than it already is.”Kaela stepped closer, her silver eyes meeting mine. “If this is truly your decision, you must prepare yourself. The orb will test you—your will, your body, your very soul. You must not falter, no matter what it shows you.”“What do you mean?” I asked, my throat dry.“The orb feeds on fear, doubt, and pain,” Kaela explained. “It will draw out your worst memories, your deepest regrets, and amplify them. If you give in...it will consume you.”Dominic’s hand shot out, gripping Ka
The room fell into stunned silence. Kaela’s words echoed in the stone chamber, heavy with implications. Dominic’s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword, his eyes narrowing as he moved closer to her, keeping his body positioned protectively in front of me.“You cursed it?” Harold asked, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “Do you have any idea how many lives have been destroyed because of that thing?”Kaela turned to him, her expression filled with regret. “More than you could possibly imagine,” she said quietly. “And I have lived with the weight of that knowledge every day. That’s why I’m here. To fix what I’ve done.”“If you want to fix it,” Dominic said coldly, “then tell us how to destroy it.”Kaela’s silver eyes darkened, the faint glow dimming. “Destroying the orb is not as simple as the Lycan claims. The magic is ancient and deeply entwined with the essence of life itself. A life may stop its power temporarily, but true destruction requires something far greater.”“What do
The room fell silent, the weight of the Lycan’s words pressing down on us like a suffocating fog. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, and the tension in the air was thick enough to cut. Dominic’s jaw tightened, and I noticed Harold’s hand inching toward his sword, his fingers brushing the hilt in an almost unconscious gesture of readiness.“There has to be another way,” I said, my voice betraying the desperation I felt.The Lycan shook his head, his fiery red eyes glowing with an eerie intensity. “Magic like this always comes with a cost. The question is: who among you is willing to pay it?”Before I could even register the words fully, Dominic stepped forward, his posture rigid, his resolve clear. “If it comes to that, I’ll be the one to pay.”“No,” I protested immediately, my heart lurching in my chest. “You can’t.”Dominic turned to face me, and his gaze softened, though it held a deep, unyielding determination. “Elise, this is my responsibility. If anyone should bear the c
The glow of the Life Orb pulsed faintly in the dim light of the war room, its eerie hum filling the air like an unwelcome reminder of the weight pressing down on us. It lay on the table, its surface smooth and unyielding, as if daring us to break it, yet refusing to yield. Dominic was pacing again, his frustration apparent in the way he clenched and unclenched his fists. He was desperate to find a way, but nothing we had tried had worked.“It doesn’t matter how hard we try,” Dominic muttered, frustration lacing his voice. “It won’t break, burn, or even chip.”Harold stood with his arms crossed, looking as though he could stand there in silence for hours, his thoughts heavy but unspoken. “We need another plan. Something definitive.”I watched them, my heart sinking as the burden of this quest weighed on all of us. The orb was a constant reminder that we were running out of time. I hadn’t spoken yet, not wanting to add to the tension in the room, but I couldn’t ignore it anymore.Maelis
The tranquility of the night was short-lived. By dawn, scouts returned with grim news: Kieran’s forces had moved closer, their numbers larger than anticipated. The pack was on edge, and the atmosphere buzzed with tension. Dominic immediately called a council meeting, and the once-calm halls of the meeting house became a hub of hurried whispers and clashing opinions.I stood beside Dominic at the head of the room, my gaze sweeping over the gathered pack leaders. Maelis stood to my right, her arms crossed as she observed silently, and Harold lingered at the back, his presence drawing more than a few uneasy glances. Dominic raised his hand, silencing the murmurs.“Kieran is no longer a distant threat,” he began, his voice commanding the room. “He’s at our doorstep, and he’s not alone. We’ve confirmed at least two dozen wolves—armed and loyal to him. This isn’t just about Harold anymore. Kieran’s building an army, and we need to be ready.”A murmur rippled through the room. One of the eld