“Well, your wolf is locked,” Luca said, his voice calm but firm, as if he was revealing a truth that she wasn’t yet prepared to accept.“Whoa…” Catherine gasped, her heart skipping a beat. Her face flushed with surprise as the weight of Luca’s words settled in. This wasn’t what she had expected to hear. Not today, not ever. She blinked, trying to clear her thoughts, but the panic bubbling inside her only grew stronger. “How do you know that?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly, betraying the anxiety that was creeping up on her.Luca didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stared at her, a small, almost cryptic smile playing at the corners of his lips. “You really have a lot to learn,” he said, his tone soft yet tinged with something else—mystery, perhaps. “By the way, I won’t tell you how I know. Not yet. But you need to understand something important.” Catherine’s breath caught in her throat as she listened, her heart pounding harder with each word. “When you see your wolf,” Lu
It felt like she was now inside an ocean. The cold water pressed in on her from every side, thick and suffocating. Everywhere was dark and isolated, an endless expanse with no beginning or end. There was no creature in sight, no fish, no life—just a vast, eerie emptiness that swallowed everything.The silence was deafening, broken only by the sound of her own breathing, uneven and panicked. She couldn’t see where she was going, but something deep inside her told her to swim upward. Her arms pushed through the water, slow and heavy, every stroke a struggle against the suffocating stillness.She swam for what felt like hours, her muscles aching, until finally, she broke through the surface. The air hit her face like a rush of reality. She gasped, drawing in a deep breath. But as she looked around, her heart sank. This wasn’t the world she knew.The surface was still—too still. The sky above was a strange, muted color, neither day nor night, but something in between. The landscape around
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
Each step Luca and I took closer felt like a challenge, the kind that could only end in blood—or submission.“This would be a good time to bring out your wolf,” Luca said, his voice steady but his fingers flexing, ready for a fight.I shook my head. “No.” My tone left no room for argument. “We’re here to talk to their Alpha, not destroy everything in our path. My wolf…” My gaze flickered to the wolves ahead, their snarls growing louder. “...would do more damage than we need.”“They’re not giving us a choice,” Luca muttered, his jaw tightening.I squared my shoulders, my voice firm. “Then we won’t give them one either. We’ll speak to their Alpha—peacefully if they allow it, or forcefully if we must.”A wry grin tugged at Luca’s lips. “Well, I’m ready whenever you are.”The wolves surged forward, their snarls erupting into full-throated roars. My heart thudded in my chest, but I didn’t flinch. Raising my hand, I let the power simmering beneath my skin rise to the surface. A faint glow s
The man stared at me, his expression wary. He wasn’t entirely convinced by my words, but I could see the hesitation in his eyes. I knew he’d be tough to sway, but I had my ways of persuasion if he chose to refuse.Just as I braced myself for his rejection, his answer took me by surprise.“Fine, I’ll become your ally and join in the war.”I blinked, caught off guard. My eyes widened for a split second before I masked my surprise. That was… easy. Too easy. Shaking off the thought, I gave him a curt nod.“Well, it’s settled then,” I said, standing up. My voice was firm, my confidence unshaken. As I turned to leave, heading for the door, a voice stopped me in my tracks.“Wait.”It was Calvin. I glanced back over my shoulder. “What is it?”“When is the war?” he asked, his tone sharp but curious.A smirk tugged at my lips. “You’ll know when the time comes. I’ll send a message when the time is near.” Without waiting for a reply, I turned on my heel and walked out, Luca falling into step besi
With my eyes narrowed, I scanned my surroundings, trying to pinpoint where the spear had come from. My gaze followed its trajectory, and then I saw them—a line of guards standing atop the walls of the Ivory Kingdom. They weren’t alone. More guards filled the walls, their sheer number exceeding anything I had imagined.“Impressive,” I muttered to myself, though I couldn’t ignore the faint smirk tugging at my lips.The guards shouted down, their voices sharp and clear: “Intruder!”“Intruder?” I thought, bemused. That’s not the warmest way to introduce someone like me.Before I could respond, the massive gates of the kingdom began to shift, their mechanisms groaning under their weight. The sound reverberated through the air as the gates opened with a heavy thud. From within, a man emerged, flanked by an intimidating number of guards. His golden armor gleamed under the sunlight, a clear mark of authority.He strode toward us with confidence, his gaze sharp and calculating as it flicked be
Time flew, and before I knew it, the meeting was over. The council had come to a decision: Luca and I would visit three kingdoms to convince them to become our allies and assist in the impending war. Two of these kingdoms were ruled by humans, and the third belonged to a rival wolf pack.As much as it pained us to approach the rival pack, we had no choice. "An enemy of my enemy is a friend," the elders had reminded us. The rest of the kingdoms would be handled by other pack leaders.After the meeting, Luca and I stepped out of the grand hall, both of us burdened by the weight of our mission. Yet, before leaving, we went to see our children, holding them close as if this would be the last time we’d feel their warmth.Kissing their foreheads, I whispered, “We’ll be back soon.”Luca’s voice was steady as he promised them, “Stay strong for us.”Once our farewells were over, we mounted our horses and began our journey. The first destination was the kingdom of the common villagers. It took
TWO DAYS LATERMy babies had grown faster than I thought possible. Their tiny hands, once clumsy, now confidently gripped mine as we walked down the corridor. Their steps were unsteady but determined, a testament to their rapidly developing skills. Though they were still small, their energy made them seem bigger.They looked up at me with wide, curious eyes, babbling in their adorable language. It was a mix of barely formed words and sounds only they could decipher. Each giggle, each stumble tugged at my heart. It was moments like these that made me wish I didn’t have to leave them behind.We reached Maximoff’s room, and I knocked softly. The door swung open, revealing him with his usual smirk plastered across his face. His relaxed posture and slightly raised brow told me he was already curious about my visit.“What brings you here, Cath?” he asked, his voice teasing. His gaze shifted to the two little ones clutching my legs. “And I see you’ve brought your little damsels, too.”The tw
I crumbled to my knees, clutching one of my babies to my chest. My voice trembled as I pleaded, my eyes fixed on Drake’s cold, unyielding face.“Drake, don’t do this! My child has nothing to do with this. Please, I beg you—spare its life. Don’t hurt my child!”Drake tilted his head, a mocking smile playing on his lips. “Oh, so you care about your child now?” His voice was sharp, each word cutting deep. “But you didn’t think twice before taking someone else’s life.”Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head desperately. “Please, Drake. Spare my child’s life.” My arms tightened around the baby, as though I could shield it from his wrath with sheer willpower.From behind, Luca’s voice broke through the tension. “Drake, listen to me,” he said, his tone firm but calm. “This child has nothing to do with your feud. Don’t kill it.”Drake turned slightly, his smirk fading into something darker. “Oh, I won’t kill it, Luca,” he said with a sneer. “I just wanted to prove a point. You think you’r
I shook off the thought. Maybe Luca's just playing a silly prank on me.But the look in his eyes told me otherwise."Luca," I said, my voice trembling, "this is not a good time to play games with me. Please, tell me what you just said isn't true. Tell me Paige isn't dead. Tell me all of this is just a silly play.""I'm afraid I can't, Cath," Luca replied, his voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled up in his eyes, threatening to spill over. "Everything I just said... it's true."The words hit me like a punch to the chest. My knees felt weak, and my breath hitched as I tried to process what I had just heard.I couldn’t hold myself anymore. Tears streamed down my face, hot and uncontrollable. I covered my face with my hands, trying to stifle the sobs, but they broke free anyway."This is all my fault," I whispered hoarsely. "I'm responsible." My voice cracked as I repeated the words like a mantra. "I’m responsible.""Hey, hey, hey," Luca said softly, walking toward me. "No, it's not
My screams echoed in the dimly lit room, bouncing off the walls like a haunting melody. I clutched my swollen stomach, writhing in agony. “Oh gosh, I think it’s coming! Priest!” I managed to shout, my voice raw and trembling. The priest stood beside me, his face pale but determined.“It’s okay, Cathrine,” he said, his voice steady. “You’re strong. You can do this.”The memory of Luca’s push flashed in my mind, his force sending me spiraling into labor. Now, the pain was unbearable, clawing at every fiber of my being. My body trembled as another wave of agony surged through me. “Ahh!” The sound ripped from my throat, raw and unrestrained.The priest knelt and checked beneath me, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he stood and met my desperate gaze. “The baby’s head is in place,” he announced firmly. “Cathrine, you need to push. Summon all the strength you have.”I nodded weakly. Strength? Where was I supposed to find that? Every part of me was begging for this torment to end. M
We had long arrived at our territory, and I sat on my bed, staring blankly at the wall. The silence around me was heavy, yet my mind roared with noise. Just then, the door creaked open, and Luca stepped into my room. I didn’t flinch. I didn’t even spare him a glance.“Cath,” he called softly, his voice hesitant, almost pleading. I pretended not to hear him, keeping my gaze fixed on the same spot as though it would anchor my spiraling thoughts.I heard his footsteps, slow and deliberate, echoing in the stillness as he approached. He stopped a few steps away. “Cath,” he said again, closer this time. His hand landed gently on my shoulder, but I shrugged it off, the contact feeling like a betrayal.“Don’t,” I said sharply, my voice cold. The word sliced through the silence like a blade.But Luca didn’t give up. He leaned in, his face too close, his intent unmistakable. He tried to kiss me. Anger flared in my chest, and I pushed him away with more force than I intended. “Can’t you see I’m