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 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
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