As I walked toward the bathroom, a faint dripping sound echoed through the room. The cold air brushed against my skin, making the silence feel even more unsettling. I pushed the door open slowly, holding my breath as if expecting something—or someone—to leap out at me. But there was nothing. Only the steady drip of water from the faucet, each drop hitting the porcelain sink in rhythmic beats.I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. "Never mind, Luca. It's nothing," I called out, shaking my head as I turned back toward the room.Luca was sitting on the edge of the bed, his eyes downcast, clearly weighed down by something. As I began pulling on my shirt, his voice broke the silence."I'm... I'm sorry, Cathrine. I got out of control," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.I stared at him for a moment, seeing the tension in his posture, the regret in his eyes. "It's alright," I said softly, trying to reassure him. "Don't beat yourself up too much."I moved across the ro
"Hello, Cathrin."His voice slithered through the air like poison, sending an icy chill down my spine. He stood across from us, his form cloaked in shadows, but his presence felt like a tangible weight pressing against me. "What do you want?" I shot back, forcing myself to meet his gaze. My heart pounded in my chest, the blood rushing to my ears so loudly I could barely hear my own words. But I couldn't show fear. Not now. Not with Luca beside me, too weak to fight.The man laughed, his voice dripping with cold amusement. The sound was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "Nothing much," he said, his lips curling into a cruel grin that sent a shudder down my spine. "Just your life."The words hung in the air, sinking deep into my chest. My life.Luca, who had been beside me, stirred. His breathing was labored, and I could feel his body trembling from exhaustion. He shouldn’t have been standing, let alone preparing to fight. Still, he pushed himself up, using every last bit o
I launched at Damian with all the strength I could muster. My muscles coiled, and in one swift movement, my foot connected with his face. The impact sent a shockwave up my leg, and the satisfying crunch of bone echoed in my ears. Damian stumbled back, his body jerking as he struggled to maintain his balance. For a moment, I thought he might fall. But no—his strength was impressive. He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at me with a twisted smile.“You little null wolf… want to fight, huh?” His voice was like gravel, each word dripping with disdain. “You may have killed our priest with that power you possess, but not me. I’m more powerful than you could ever imagine.”His words struck a nerve, but I pushed the fear aside. There was no time for weakness. Not now. Not with Luca lying injured behind me, barely clinging to life. Damian’s smile deepened, his eyes glowing with malicious intent. Without warning, he lunged at me.We collided, the force of the i
Crack! The sound echoed through the clearing as Luca’s bones snapped and reshaped, forcing him back into his human form. His transformation complete, he collapsed to the ground, his body trembling, drained of strength. The sight was gut-wrenching—his once powerful form now reduced to weakness.Damian, however, stood tall. The air around him thickened with menace as he rose to his full height, towering over me with that same malicious grin stretching across his face. He had always looked at me this way, like a predator who enjoyed toying with his prey."Surprised?" His voice dripped with mockery. "I guess you’re not the only Null Wolf around here, huh?" His words hung in the air, taunting me, daring me to react.I clenched my fists at my sides, every muscle in my body tensing with fury. My vision blurred at the edges as anger surged through me. I had no words, only rage—pure, seething rage. Without thinking, I began walking toward him, each step deliberate, each movement a promise of v
Cathrine stared at Dennis, her body trembling, weak from the sight of his actions. Every part of her screamed in disbelief, her heart pounding in her chest as she sank to her knees. The weight of everything crushed her, forcing her down. Her claws dug into the dirt, sharp tips breaking through the earth, grounding her when everything else felt like it was slipping away."Why?" she asked softly, her voice barely audible, lost in the night.But Dennis didn’t answer. He didn’t even look back. Instead, he rushed towards Damian, his movements quick, purposeful. Cathrine could only watch, powerless, as he bent down to help Damian up from the ground. And then—without warning—boom! They both vanished, leaving nothing but the silence of the night behind.Cathrine remained still for a moment, her mind struggling to process what had just happened. Dennis was gone. Damian was gone. She was alone, kneeling in the dirt, her heart aching. Slowly, weakly, she forced herself to her feet. Every muscle
"Luca! Oh my word, I thought you were dead!" Catherine's voice trembled, filled with a mixture of relief and fear as she knelt beside him. Her hands shook as she reached for his face, her fingers brushing lightly against his cold skin. It was hard to believe he was still alive after everything that had happened."I thought I was dead too," Luca whispered, his voice weak and raspy. He tried to sit up, but his body protested with waves of pain. "I was so weak… Dennis' betrayal made me weaker. I couldn't fight back… I couldn’t do anything." He shook his head, his expression clouded with anger and confusion. "I was in shock, Catherine. My uncle… my father's friend… he stabbed me." His words came out slowly, as if he were still processing the events, the disbelief etched on his face.Catherine’s heart ached for him. She had seen betrayal before, but not like this. Not someone as close as family. "I was shocked too," she said quietly, her eyes flickering with a mix of sympathy and regret. "
"What's the problem, Luca?" I asked, clearly intrigued by his sudden mood."In that village, werewolves are forbidden. If you're caught shifting... or discovered to be a werewolf... you'll be beheaded.""Whoa, whoa, whoa... beheaded?" I gasped."But I still need more training! How am I supposed to train when I can't use my powers?""That's the problem. It means we'll have to pause your training for now, until we've found a safe place for you.""For now, that village is the safest place. Damian won't find us there," Luca said.Cathrine's face quickly changed. "Fine, if you say so," she muttered."I'm sorry, Cathrine. I know your training means a lot... you haven't even been able to shift yet. But this is for our safety.""No, it's fine. Let's pause everything until we find a safe place. Especially with your condition, it's not good to go around fighting.""I'm glad you understand," Luca said softly."Okay, now rest," Cathrine whispered, laying him down and gently tapping his head.Once
“Lower, lower, lower,” Luca commanded, his voice firm, echoing slightly in the open space of the training ground. The early morning air was cool, but beads of sweat dripped from Cathrine’s brow as she strained to maintain the awkward position Luca had her in.“How much lower do you want me to go, Luca?” she groaned, her legs shaking under the strain. “I can’t squat any lower than this! It feels so strange.”Luca chuckled, amused by her discomfort. “Strange but helpful,” he said, circling her like a predator observing its prey. “This will help increase your stamina.”Cathrine’s thighs burned, her muscles screaming for relief. She had been holding the squat for what felt like hours. Exhaustion weighed on her, and the burning sensation in her legs was becoming unbearable. “I think my stamina is strong enough,” she panted. “Please, Luca… Can I stand up now?” Her voice was laced with desperation.Luca smirked, shaking his head slightly. He enjoyed pushing her to her limits. “Alright, lazy
A howl erupted, echoing in the distance. My chest pushed forward involuntarily, and I felt my bones shatter into a million pieces.Pain radiated through me as my hands twisted unnaturally, bones protruding through my skin. A scream escaped my lips as my structure began to change."It's going to be okay," I heard Luca’s voice behind me, but it sounded distant and muffled.Hairs sprouted from my skin, and before I could process it, everything changed. I stood shakily on my feet, feeling a strange, primal energy coursing through me.I glanced at the priest, noticing the fear in his eyes. Why was he so scared? Turning around, I faced Luca, and even he looked shocked.Why were they all staring like that? Confused, I stepped toward the mirror with trembling legs. What I saw made my heart pound.Standing before me was a massive, furry wolf. Its presence sent chills through me—until I realized it was me. My wolf.Its eyes glowed red, and its fur was a striking mixture of black and brown. I to
My eyes widened in shock, heart pounding as I saw Kieran lift his hand, aiming for Luca’s neck. I’d always known Kieran was a man without dignity or integrity, but to stoop so low? This was beyond anything I could have imagined.Adrenaline surged through me as I launched myself at him. My shoulder collided with his side just as his hand began its descent. The impact sent both of us crashing to the ground, a sharp gasp escaping my lips. The metallic scent of dirt and sweat filled the air as I scrambled to regain my footing.The heavy thud of our fall drew Luca's attention. He turned toward us, his face frozen in shock. For a moment, the battleground fell silent. The crowd that had been roaring moments before now held their breaths, their collective tension thick in the air.I glanced up at Luca and saw the disbelief in his eyes. It was as if he couldn’t reconcile the betrayal he had just witnessed—the man he had spared trying to stab him in the back.I pushed myself off the ground, bru
Luca raised the sword high, his muscles taut with tension. The crowd held its breath, the arena falling deathly silent. All eyes were on him as the blade glinted in the moonlight.With a guttural roar, Luca brought the sword down.Gasps rippled through the crowd. But instead of piercing Kieran, the blade slammed into the dirt, embedding itself mere inches from his face.Kieran froze. His heart thundered in his chest as the dust from the impact clouded the air around him. Slowly, his trembling body gave way, and he collapsed backward, his arms weak beneath him.A moment passed before Kieran squeezed his eyes shut, his breath coming in rapid, shallow bursts. His body shook uncontrollably, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop the tremors. Fear gripped him, cold and unrelenting, like chains pulling him down into the abyss.The metallic tang of sweat filled his mouth as he forced himself to open his eyes. His gaze landed on the sword, its edge still gleaming dangerously close
Bang! The swords met with a deafening clash, sparks flying as the blades collided. Luca’s arms trembled from the force of the strike, his body slick with sweat. He had been fighting Kieran for over an hour, yet the man showed no sign of tiring. This can’t be right, Luca thought, his muscles screaming, but Kieran still fought with the same unyielding strength.Luca’s legs wobbled as he dodged another strike, the weight of his sword growing heavier with each swing. His breathing was labored, his chest rising and falling in quick bursts, yet Kieran didn’t seem to be slowing down. The smirk on Kieran’s face only seemed to grow, his eyes gleaming with an intensity that sent a chill down Luca’s spine. He shouldn’t be able to do this. I’m stronger than him. But something was wrong. Something Luca couldn’t explain.Cathrine watched from the sidelines, her eyes narrowed in disbelief. Her heart pounded in her chest, but it wasn’t just from the intensity of the fight. It was Kieran. His energy w
"Fine, it’s a deal. If you accept it, then I’ll give you the support you need," Maximoff said firmly, his voice echoing across the tense room."Dad, how can you? You’re practically sending people to die!" Kieran cut in, his tone sharp with disbelief."He’s someone with sense, Kieran," Luca replied before Maximoff could respond. "He’s not like you. He pictures a better future, not one destroyed by Damian’s chaos.""Shut up, Luca! You’re nothing. You have no right to decide what happens here," Kieran shot back, his eyes blazing with anger. "You’re not even worthy of the position given to you. That’s why I, Kieran Maximoff, challenge you to a showdown at sunset. A battle to the death. The winner keeps the throne.""Kieran, are you out of your mind?" Maximoff exclaimed, his face tightening in shock.Before he could say more, Luca raised a hand, signaling him to stop. "You want to fight, huh?" Luca said, his voice calm yet menacing. "Fine. I accept your challenge. If you’re man enough to f
Luca Maximoff.The atmosphere of the pack shifted as Maximoff announced his decision. A murmur rippled through the crowd, spreading like wildfire, voices hushed but thick with shock. No one had expected this—least of all the people who had devoted their lives to Kieran, believing he would be Maximoff’s successor.Kieran’s expression was unreadable at first, but his eyes soon betrayed him. Shock, anger, and disbelief flashed across his face, each emotion sharper than the last. He had grown up his whole life believing this role would one day be his. Now, to hear that the title would go to someone else—someone he barely knew as a brother—was a blow he could hardly comprehend.Even Cathrine, standing off to the side, was stunned. She could hardly believe it. Luca is Maximoff’s son? she thought, her heart pounding as her mind raced through the implications. She hadn’t known. None of them had.Kieran’s eyes burned as he stared at Luca, his once-familiar gaze turning hostile and venomous. Th
Luca stared at Maximoff for a moment, letting the silence linger between them. He finally cracked a smile, though there was no humor in it. Shaking his head, he muttered, “That’s a really nice coincidence.”“I’m not sure that’s a coincidence, Luca,” Maximoff replied, his voice unusually serious. “What if—”“It can’t be,” Luca snapped, cutting him off, a defensive edge creeping into his voice.“You have to face the truth, Luca. I’m your father.” Maximoff’s tone was steady but filled with something deeper, something almost…regretful.“No.” Luca’s voice was barely a whisper, but each word carried an undeniable force. “You’re not. You’re Kieran’s father. My real father…he died a long time ago. He fell in a battle I led.” The memory of that day flickered in Luca’s mind—a day filled with blood, loss, and the pride of knowing he’d avenged his fallen father.Maximoff shook his head slowly, his gaze unwavering. “He wasn’t your real father, Luca. I am. The man you called ‘father’…he only took
“Answer me, Luca. Did you look her in the eye?” the priest yelled, his voice echoing sharply against the chamber walls. The room was tense, shadows flickering in the dim candlelight that seemed to dance in his eyes.“Yes, I did,” Luca shot back, his tone laced with a mix of defiance and regret. “There was no other way! She told me that if I wanted to save Cathrine, I’d have to lose my wolf.”His fists clenched as he took a steadying breath, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “I did it. I did it for Cath… for everyone. Cathrine is the only one who can stop Damian. She can’t die, not now—not when we need her the most.”The priest’s face softened, his anger fading into something like sympathy. He let out a long, heavy sigh, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t have done that, Luca. That’s a heavy price to pay. You should have tried to convince her, or looked for another way.”Luca’s face twisted with frustration, his voice breaking slightly as he spoke. “I tried. She was persistent, a
“What brings you before the Moon Goddess?” The voice echoed through the dark void, deep and calm yet carrying a strange weight that pressed against Luca’s chest.Luca, on his knees with his head bowed, felt the pull of her presence and took a steadying breath. He had prepared himself for this moment, yet now that he was here, his voice wavered. “Dear Goddess of the Moon,” he began, forcing himself to speak clearly, “I have come to ask something of you.”Silence stretched, thick and tense. Then, after a pause that seemed to last forever, the voice answered, cool and almost amused, “And what is that?”Luca’s throat tightened as he fought to keep his composure. “I have come to plead… to save the one I care about.”A low, mocking hum filled the air, almost like a bitter laugh. “Ooh, I see. So, you’re here to save your love. But what makes you think you’ll convince me to spare her when you are not worthy of her?”The accusation stung. Luca flinched, and his heart ached as her words landed