The Moonrise Festival was supposed to be a night of celebration. The entire pack had gathered in the clearing, where the soft glow of the full moon bathed everything in a silvery light. Bonfires crackled and danced, sending sparks up into the star-studded sky. Laughter and music filled the air, blending with the distant howls of wolves. Catherine stood at the edge of the gathering, her heart pounding. Tonight was the night she had dreamed of her entire life — the night she would find her mate. Anticipation thrummed through her veins. Her hands trembled as she smoothed down her simple blue dress, made especially by her mother for this occasion. For years, she had lingered on the periphery of the pack, unnoticed and unremarkable. But tonight, everything was supposed to change. Her eyes scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of him — her mate. She didn’t know who he was, but the moment their eyes met, she would feel it. The bond would pull them together, as her mother had always
As Catherine stumbled through the dense forest, her thoughts consumed by the sting of rejection, she nearly missed the soft rustle of leaves nearby. Her heart raced as she turned, her eyes catching sight of a figure emerging from the shadows. A tall and striking figure with an air of quiet confidence, stepped into view. His eyes, a deep shade of blue, held a mixture of curiosity and concern. He had been wandering the forest, seeking solace in its tranquility, when he heard the faint sounds of distress. “Are you alright?” the man said his voice calm and gentle, a stark contrast to the turmoil Catherine was feeling. Catherine looked up at him, her vision blurred by tears. “I— I didn’t mean to intrude,” she stammered, her voice trembling. The Man took a step closer, his gaze softening. “You’re not intruding. It’s not often I come across someone so distressed in these woods." By the way I'm Luca. " I'm Catherine", she responded with a soft voice. "get up", Luca said. He
As they walked together, Luca made an effort to keep the conversation light, asking about her favorite places in the forest and sharing stories of his own travels. His easy demeanor and genuine interest slowly began to ease Catherine’s anxiety.“So,” Luca said after a while, glancing at her with a thoughtful expression. “What happened at the festival?”Catherine sighed, the weight of her experience pressing down on her. “I thought I had found my mate, but… he rejected me. In front of everyone.”Luca’s expression softened with empathy. “I’m sorry to hear that. It must have been very painful.”“It was,” Catherine admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I felt something, but I guess it wasn’t enough.”Luca nodded, as if deep in thought. “The bond between mates can be complex. Sometimes, what we feel isn’t always reciprocated, or it’s not clear what the other person feels. It doesn’t mean you’re unworthy. It just means that there’s more to your journey.”Catherine looked at him, surp
Unaware of the danger that had befallen her, Catherine kept screaming, "Luca! Luca!" Her voice cracked as she called out persistently, her heart racing with desperation. The woods seemed too silent, too vast, and the thick trees felt as though they were closing in on her. She strained to listen for any sound that might signal Luca's presence, but all she heard was the faint rustle of leaves in the wind and the occasional crack of a twig underfoot.Where was he?Seeing the jaguar lunging toward Catherine, Luca’s body tensed. He couldn’t afford to waste another second. The beast’s eyes glowed with feral hunger, and in that moment, Luca knew there was no time to lose. He bolted forward, his muscles stretching to their limit as he chased after the creature, his only thought being to protect her. The jaguar’s sleek form slithered through the brush like a shadow, but Luca was faster.Catherine had her back to the creature, unaware of the mortal threat closing in. She was still searching for
"Catherine, Catherine, Catherine. Ha ha ha! She's such a loser. How could she think that Kieran is her mate?" "No!" Catherine screamed as she woke up, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Her heart raced, and her skin felt clammy. She had just relived the same nightmare—the one replaying that awful night she was supposed to find her mate. A night she never wanted to remember, yet it haunted her dreams relentlessly. She sat up, wiping the sweat from her forehead. She couldn’t fall back asleep. The fear of being dragged into another nightmare kept her wide awake. Tossing and turning in her sleeping bag, Catherine’s mind raced. After a while, she realized something was wrong. Luca wasn’t in the tent. Her heart pounded faster as anxiety bubbled in her chest. *Where could he have gone?* she wondered, scanning the tent as if expecting to see him hidden in the shadows. Unable to ignore the growing sense of unease, she crawled out of the tent. Her eyes adjusted to the soft glow of th
"Okay, I understand," Catherine said."Get ready. Shifting from human to wolf is quite painful, and that's what stops many from being able to shift," Luca warned."I'm ready. Even if it costs me my life, I'll do it.""Okay," Luca replied. "But for now, we need to arrange everything and continue our journey."As the sun began to rise, its golden rays filled the woods with beauty. The night had long gone, and for Catherine, this felt like a new beginning. Finally, she would become something more. Her pack always looked down on her because she couldn't shift, gossiping behind her back. But today, everything would change. Today marked the start of her training.They both stood up, packing their belongings and cleaning up the mess from the night before."So, Luca, how far is it to your father's hut?" Catherine asked, breaking the silence."Not too far from here. But before we get there, you'll have made significant progress in your training.""Another question," Catherine shot back. "Don’
“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
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