Standing before me were men and beasts—archers, swordsmen, and those who fought with their bare hands. Their faces, a mix of determination and fear, reflected the gravity of the moment.I stood on the raised platform, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn’t just a crowd; it was an army prepared to risk everything. They were looking to me, their leader, for guidance and hope. I couldn’t let them down.I took a deep breath and glanced at the banners fluttering in the wind, each bearing the mark of a united force. The air smelled of leather, sweat, and the faint tang of iron from polished weapons.Despite my nerves clawing at me, I shook them off, breathing deeply to steady myself. No time for doubt now, I told myself. They need strength, not hesitation.With one last look at the chamber behind me, I stepped forward. The murmurs of the crowd fell silent. Even the wind seemed to pause, as if waiting for me to speak.The silence stretched, heavier with every second. A ripple of uncertai
There were five men posted in this corner instead of ten, and I knew this was where we would strike first. The air was tense, filled with the faint scent of damp earth and pine. Shadows danced under the dim moonlight, masking our movements as we crouched low, preparing to attack.I lunged at them without hesitation, with Luca and Kieran close behind me. The men were sluggish, their exhaustion evident in their slumped postures and dull gazes. They barely had time to react. We moved quickly, each strike precise and deliberate. This position was perfect—hidden from prying eyes, we couldn’t be easily spotted.We crept closer with every step, each movement calculated and silent. The cool night air brushed against my skin, sharpening my senses. By the time the men realized something was wrong, we were already within striking distance. Panic flashed in their eyes as they attempted to shift, but I felt my power surge, suppressing their wolves.Not tonight.Without giving them a chance to reco
I stood frozen, unable to move, as I stared at the figure before me.This isn’t possible, I thought, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. How can she be alive?Paige.My mate, Paige, was alive. I thought she was long gone, lost to the cruel twists of fate. But now, this—her presence here, breathing, speaking—proved me wrong.I stumbled back a step, my knees threatening to give way.“This isn’t possible,” I muttered, gripping my head as confusion engulfed me. The world spun. My mind raced with a thousand questions, each one louder than the last.Then, her voice broke through the fog clouding my thoughts.“Luca, help me! They plan on taking me away. Please, help me! I beg you, Luca!”Her words shattered whatever composure I had left. She took a hesitant step forward, her trembling voice echoing through the eerily quiet room.I looked up at her, my vision blurred by unshed tears. Was this real? Was she truly here?Before I could answer my own question, a shadow moved behind her. Dennis
I walked closer to Damian, my boots echoing against the stone floor of his throne room. He didn’t flinch, not even a little. Instead, he sat there, calm and composed, as though my presence amused him."I must say, you're pretty strong," he said smoothly, his lips curling into a grin. His words were meant to flatter, but his tone dripped with mockery.I didn’t respond. My glare was the only answer he’d get."I'm not here to chit-chat or play games with you, Damian," I said, my voice sharp as a blade. "I'm here to end you for good."He leaned back on his throne, unbothered. "Oh, come on, darling, don’t be too serious," he replied with an infuriating smirk. "You’re one of the most powerful people on this planet. Don’t you want to know why?"My glare deepened, but he chuckled softly, the sound echoing in the dark chamber."Look around you, Cath," he said, gesturing with his hand. "This whole place has been cast with the darkest of magic. No Null Wolf can use their power here. But you can.
Slowly, I stood up from the floor and walked outside the chamber. My eyes were still red from crying. The cold air hit my face as I stepped out, but it didn’t do much to calm the storm inside me.Once I was outside, I froze. The sight before me was overwhelming. Dead bodies littered the ground, their lifeless eyes staring up at the sky. Blood had stained the floor, pooling around the fallen like a grim reminder of what had just taken place. Some of our men were lying motionless, while others, though battered and bleeding, stood tall. They had survived, but their injuries showed the cost of the battle.The men who had fought for Damian were all dead. But in the end, the victory didn’t feel like one. It felt empty. Worthless.Suddenly, the cheers and shouts of my men broke through my thoughts. They were celebrating, hailing themselves as if they had won something grand. But I stood there, quiet, unmoving.I could feel Kieran walking toward me, his footsteps slow and cautious. But I didn
Just then, Kieran walked in front of me and stretched his hands to his sides, trying to stop me."I'm sorry, Cath, but I can't let you go. It's too dangerous.""Move!" I thundered, but he remained persistent."I'm afraid Kieran is right this time, Cath," the priest said. "We live to fight again. We don't know if it's a trap. We'll need to come prepared. Even if you are indeed the Wolf Queen, you must have a well-trained and strong army. Right now, your army is exhausted. They can't fight again. I can see ahead, and I tell you, if you go, you won't make it back. Luca won't die, okay?"I turned and stared at the priest. "I hope you're right," I said. I then turned back to Kieran. "This is all your fault. I would have saved Luca before leaving. Just know if anything happens to Luca, I'll make sure I rip your head right off your skull."After speaking to Kieran, I turned, shifting back. I began running back to our territory, and the rest of the pack followed behind me.************LUCA'S
My eyes darted open. "Pregnant?" I asked, and the priest nodded his head."Yes, Cath, you're pregnant with Luca’s child."I was caught up with two emotions at the same time. I was happy that I was pregnant, but I was also in shock."How I wish Luca were here to find out I'm pregnant."I quickly cleaned my mouth and held my stomach. For Luca, I have to go save him."You're free, go save him. Give him the good news, Cath. He's going to be a father soon."My heart was filled with joy. I turned around and leaped over the fence.***********LUCA'S POVI stared at Dennis in shock. He had set me free.Dennis had been acting all this time. He actually does not support Damian; he's only planning his revenge and needs to gain Damian's trust for that, Paige said."Then what about the time he stabbed me and almost killed me?"Dennis chuckled. "I knew you wouldn't have died, Luca. The first time I stabbed you, you survived. I actually thought you were going to die, and I regretted it, but I had to
Cath, I can explain," Luca said, his voice low and urgent. "I'll explain everything later, but for now, we have to move. It's not safe here. They’ll realize we’re gone by now and will be on our trail."I nodded, not trusting my voice, and turned to follow him. The morning was quiet, too quiet, as if the forest itself was holding its breath.Just as we began to move, a rustling sound came from the bushes ahead. We both froze, our senses on high alert.“They’re here,” Drake whispered, his voice barely audible.A figure stepped out from the bushes—a woman dressed in a pantyhose and a long jacket that flowed like a dark tide to her feet. She moved with an eerie grace, and behind her were three massive wolves. Their snarls sent chills down my spine, their glowing eyes promising violence.“What do you want?” Luca demanded, his tone sharp.The woman’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Oh, darling, Alpha Damian sends his best.”For a moment, I saw fear flicker in Luca’s eyes, but he quickly
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