I jolted awake, my entire body drenched in sweat as though I had been submerged in water. My hands trembled uncontrollably, and vivid flashes of the dream I'd had moments before relentlessly replayed in my mind. Each scene clung to my consciousness, haunting me until, at last, it faded away. The fever that had gripped me was gone, the trembling ceased, and the disturbing flashes stilled. It was then that I noticed my surroundings. I was no longer in the woods."Where am I?" I whispered, my voice barely audible as panic gnawed at the edges of my thoughts.I slowly rose from the mat beneath me, and to my surprise, I felt stronger and better than I had in a long time. The weakness that had weighed me down was gone, and with a newfound sense of clarity, I stepped outside, hoping to find Luca.But he wasn’t there."Where would Luca be?" I murmured, scanning the surroundings for any sign of him.Panic gnawed at me as I rushed back inside, calling his name. "Luca!" My voice echoed off the w
“You, you monster,” Cathrine said, her voice trembling with rage. “You killed my mom.”“Ooh, someone is angry,” the man replied, smirking. “Yes, I killed your mom,” he continued, his tone dripping with malice. “And I’ll do the same with you.”Cathrine's eyes glowed brighter as she shot back, “I’d like to see you try.” This time, she was no longer the meek mommy's girl he had encountered years ago; she was something else—something he would regret challenging.No longer acting on her own accord, it was her powers that surged within her. The man smiled, leaning into the tension. “I won’t fight you first,” he said. “Your boyfriend will.”She turned to Luca, who stood frozen in shock. His beautiful green eyes suddenly turned red, mirroring hers as he morphed into the terrifying werewolf he had become. It was as if he were charmed, and he lunged at her with a ferocity that sent chills down her spine.He charged toward her, leaping to strike, but she dodged the first attack. “Luca, don’t do
"You don't understand, Catherine! You can't take them all alone. They're too strong," Luca said, his voice laced with frustration. "I once thought I could, but it turns out I couldn't. What I'm saying is in your best interest.""I do understand, Luca, but there's no harm in trying," Cathrine replied, her voice steady but determined.Luca heaved a heavy sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. After a brief pause, he finally said, "Okay, but if you're going to face them, you need to train to your fullest potential. And you won’t do it alone.""Fine. I’m ready. Let’s begin," she said without hesitation."It’s too late. We’ll start tomorrow morning," Luca said, turning his back on her as he began to walk away.Cathrine stood there for a moment, her mind drifting back to what the creature had told her earlier. The words echoed in her thoughts, chilling her to the bone. She quickly pushed those thoughts aside and hurried to catch up with Luca. Together, they entered the small, worn-out hut."Ge
"Who's this Luca?" Catherine asked, her mind swirling with worry.Luca smiled, a knowing grin that softened the tension in the room. "You won't believe this, Catherine," he said, his voice light and teasing.I felt a surge of curiosity and nervousness. Luca was always calm, but this...this felt different."It's my father's friend," he began, his voice taking on a serious tone. "Since I was little, both he and my dad taught me everything I know. They raised me, made me who I am today."I watched as Luca’s eyes grew misty, emotion tugging at the edges of his usually controlled demeanor. He pulled the man standing before us into a warm embrace, holding him like he hadn’t seen him in years. My own unease began to dissipate, but a question lingered in the back of my mind: Why now?The man had a presence that was hard to describe. He radiated authority, and yet there was something guarded, even suspicious, about him. His sharp gaze flicked to me. I didn't know what to do, so I managed a sma
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
Two days had passed since the battle, but the grief in my heart felt as raw as the moment Kieran fell into the chasm. The sky was a muted gray, the sun hidden behind heavy clouds, as if mourning alongside us. We gathered in the heart of the Moon Shadow pack's territory, wolves and humans standing side by side in solemn silence. It wasn’t just a memorial—it was a moment to honor a hero, a leader, and a brother. As I stood beside Luca, my heart ached for him. Kieran wasn’t just the previous Alpha; he was his brother, his blood. The loss had carved a wound so deep it would take a lifetime to heal. Luca stepped forward, his face a mask of stoic determination, though I could see the pain in his eyes. His voice carried over the crowd, firm yet tinged with sorrow. “Kieran was more than a brother to me,” he began, his words measured. “He was my challenger and although he did wrong in the past, he proved himself worthy of being called an alpha. And though he’s no longer with us, his spirit
Damian stretched his hands forward without a word, and his army surged toward us like a relentless tide.Ahead of my army, Luca and I didn’t hesitate. With a shared glance, we charged into the fray, breaking through Damian’s men with swift, brutal efficiency. The sounds of battle roared around us—clashing blades, howling wolves, and cries of pain—but none of it mattered. My focus was singular: Damian.His soldiers came at us from all sides, but we carved a path through them, our movements a deadly dance. My claws slashed through flesh and bone, my senses heightened as the red energy burned through me. Beside me, Luca fought with unmatched ferocity, his strikes precise and lethal.Damian stood in the distance, unmoving, his eyes cold and calculating. Flanking him were his two dark priests, their presence radiating a dark, oppressive energy. He didn’t flinch as we cut through his wolves, his confidence unshaken.The ground beneath us trembled as the battle raged on. My army clashed with
I stood frozen, my knees weak and my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. Tears blurred my vision as the weight of Damian’s words settled over me.“I can’t go against them,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Even as I spoke, I hated myself for saying it.Damian’s sharp eyes locked onto mine, and his lips twisted into a cruel smile. He didn’t need to hear me—he had read my lips. That wicked grin of his made my stomach churn.He turned and strode toward my mother, who was bound and broken in those heavy chains. The sound of them scraping against the cold, hard ground sent shivers down my spine.“You give me no choice, Cathrine,” he said, his voice loud enough to cut through the silence.I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body refused to move. I could only stand there, trembling, as Damian grabbed my mother’s chin with his hand.“Out of my generosity,” he said with a mocking smile, “I’ll offer you one last chance to speak. Any final words?”My mother, he
I stood frozen, my knees weak and my heart pounding so hard I thought it would burst out of my chest. Tears blurred my vision as the weight of Damian’s words settled over me.“I can’t go against them,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. Even as I spoke, I hated myself for saying it.Damian’s sharp eyes locked onto mine, and his lips twisted into a cruel smile. He didn’t need to hear me—he had read my lips. That wicked grin of his made my stomach churn.He turned and strode toward my mother, who was bound and broken in those heavy chains. The sound of them scraping against the cold, hard ground sent shivers down my spine.“You give me no choice, Cathrine,” he said, his voice loud enough to cut through the silence.I wanted to scream, to fight, but my body refused to move. I could only stand there, trembling, as Damian grabbed my mother’s chin with his hand.“Out of my generosity,” he said with a mocking smile, “I’ll offer you one last chance to speak. Any final words?”My mother, he
I took a cautious step forward, my army moving as one behind me. The earth beneath my boots seemed to pulse with the weight of the moment. The tension was suffocating, the distance between us and Damian’s army feeling like a fragile thread ready to snap. My gaze never left Damian’s face, though my peripheral vision picked up the shifting forms of his wolves. They were restless, teeth bared, waiting for the command to strike.But then, Damian raised a hand, and his wolves parted once again. This time, another figure emerged from their ranks—a man I knew all too well.“Dennis,” I whispered, my chest tightening.He walked with measured steps, his head bowed slightly, a gleaming sword clutched in his hand. His shoulders were stiff, and his movements lacked the usual confidence I remembered. My heart ached as I saw him stop just a few paces from Damian, the blade in his grip trembling ever so slightly. He turned his head just enough for me to see his face—teary-eyed, conflicted, and filled
After days of relentless marching, we arrived at the border of Damian’s territory. The dense forest seemed darker here, the trees more twisted and suffocating. Each breath felt heavier, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and something foul I couldn’t place. My heart pounded, though I kept my expression cold, my head held high. I couldn’t let the others see even a flicker of doubt.But when we broke through the tree line, I froze. Damian was already there.He stood at the head of his army, a wall of snarling wolves behind him. His presence was as commanding as ever, broad shoulders squared, his eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. Beside him, his generals stood tense, their claws glinting in the faint light. Every one of them was poised to strike.For a brief moment, I questioned everything. How had he known we were coming? Had someone betrayed us? Or was Damian just that arrogant, so confident in his rule that he expected us to challenge him eventually? It didn’t matter now.I
The air was crisp, filled with the scent of damp earth and anticipation as we assembled for the battle that would change everything. I stood at the forefront, my horse shifting beneath me, its energy mirroring my own. To my left and right stood the leaders of the allied packs and kingdoms, their faces set in grim determination. Behind us stretched an army of thousands—wolves, warriors, and mages united under one cause. I turned slightly, catching the gaze of each leader beside me. No words were exchanged, but the weight of their nods was louder than any speech. They were ready. Drawing in a deep breath, I raised my arm, signaling the march forward. The first step was mine to take. My horse moved, and as I rode forward, the thunder of hooves and the rhythmic beat of footsteps followed behind me. We were a single force, moving as one, ready to meet our destiny. ************* Meanwhile… Damian stood atop a high stone platform, overlooking the sea of his men. The dark fortress loomed
I walked into the grand hall, the echo of my footsteps bouncing off the towering marble walls. The air buzzed with a tension so thick it felt almost alive. Around the long, ornate table sat kings, alphas, and leaders from every corner of the lands I had visited. Their faces bore the weight of the decision we were about to make—a decision that could either unite us or spell our doom. Taking my seat at the head of the table, I felt the gravity of my position settle over me. This wasn’t just about leading; it was about ensuring survival. I exhaled slowly, allowing a moment of silence to gather everyone’s attention. “This war isn’t one we sought,” I began, my voice steady yet commanding. “But it is one we must win. Today, we finalize our strategy and set the course for victory.” I gestured for the maps to be unfurled. The intricate details of the enemy’s strongholds, their troop placements, and the surrounding terrain were laid bare before us. My finger traced the map as I spoke. “Our
Now that I had forged an alliance with all the kingdoms, I carried their hopes and fears with me as I led them to the Shadow Pack’s territory. This was where we would prepare for the battle of our lives.The journey took two days. Each step felt heavier than the last, not because of the distance, but because of the responsibility pressing on my shoulders. I was no longer walking alone; I was leading an army of strangers bound together by a fragile trust and a shared goal.It was only when we paused for a break that I realized how far we’d come. The trees and skies were different here, unfamiliar yet oddly welcoming. I had never ventured this far in my entire life.At night, we camped in the woods. The fire crackled softly, throwing shadows on the faces of humans and werewolves sitting together. For the first time, they laughed, shared stories, and passed around food like old friends. I stayed on the edge, watching them. This was the future I dreamed of—a world where the past didn’t ma