"What's the problem, Luca?" I asked, clearly intrigued by his sudden mood."In that village, werewolves are forbidden. If you're caught shifting... or discovered to be a werewolf... you'll be beheaded.""Whoa, whoa, whoa... beheaded?" I gasped."But I still need more training! How am I supposed to train when I can't use my powers?""That's the problem. It means we'll have to pause your training for now, until we've found a safe place for you.""For now, that village is the safest place. Damian won't find us there," Luca said.Cathrine's face quickly changed. "Fine, if you say so," she muttered."I'm sorry, Cathrine. I know your training means a lot... you haven't even been able to shift yet. But this is for our safety.""No, it's fine. Let's pause everything until we find a safe place. Especially with your condition, it's not good to go around fighting.""I'm glad you understand," Luca said softly."Okay, now rest," Cathrine whispered, laying him down and gently tapping his head.Once
“Lower, lower, lower,” Luca commanded, his voice firm, echoing slightly in the open space of the training ground. The early morning air was cool, but beads of sweat dripped from Cathrine’s brow as she strained to maintain the awkward position Luca had her in.“How much lower do you want me to go, Luca?” she groaned, her legs shaking under the strain. “I can’t squat any lower than this! It feels so strange.”Luca chuckled, amused by her discomfort. “Strange but helpful,” he said, circling her like a predator observing its prey. “This will help increase your stamina.”Cathrine’s thighs burned, her muscles screaming for relief. She had been holding the squat for what felt like hours. Exhaustion weighed on her, and the burning sensation in her legs was becoming unbearable. “I think my stamina is strong enough,” she panted. “Please, Luca… Can I stand up now?” Her voice was laced with desperation.Luca smirked, shaking his head slightly. He enjoyed pushing her to her limits. “Alright, lazy
“Tell me more,” Damian said, his voice low but filled with intensity.The priest before him smirked, his eyes glinting with dark promises. “Well, if you want to have all the power to make you undefeatable, you'll have to join forces with the darkness.”Damian’s jaw clenched as his thoughts churned. He had spent so long trying to find a way to end Cathrine once and for all. If this was what it took, he was ready. “I'll do anything to defeat that Null Wolf, Cathrine.”The priest smile widened, a darkness in his gaze that seemed to consume all light around them. “Then let the darkness consume you.”**********Back at the hut, Cathrine and Luca were locked in combat, their movements fluid and precise. Cathrine threw punches, quick and calculated, but Luca dodged them with practiced ease. Their fight carried on, intense and unrelenting, until both were panting heavily from exertion.Cathrine’s lips curled into a playful smile as she glanced at Luca. She suddenly launched forward again, thr
“There’s no way I’m meeting Cathrine,” Kieran said, his voice sharp as he clenched his fists. The tension in the room was suffocating. His words echoed off the stone walls, and for a moment, silence fell between them like a heavy weight.The priest stared at him with calm, knowing eyes. “I knew you wouldn’t do it,” he said softly, but there was a weight behind his words, as though he had expected this all along. He took a step closer, his gaze never wavering. “But I want you to know this—keep it at the back of your mind. Only Cathrine, the purest of heart, can save your father.”Kieran's jaw tightened. He took a deep breath, trying to push down the anger bubbling up inside him. How could the priest speak with such certainty?. He shook his head, the frustration evident in his voice. “I still don’t get how Cathrine will heal my father. I don’t understand how she’ll help him in any way. I mean, there’s a possibility she’s not even a wolf! She doesn’t have any powers, so tell me—how is s
"Slowly... careful. We don’t want it running," Luca said, his eyes narrowed as he focused on the antelope in the distance. The two of them had been tracking it for nearly an hour now, moving quietly through the forest, making sure to stay downwind so the animal wouldn’t catch their scent.Cathrine crouched beside him, glancing at Luca with an amused expression. His intensity made her smirk. "Come on, quit it already, Luca! I know what I’m doing," she said, a bit louder than she meant to.Luca shot her a warning look, but it was too late. The antelope's ears twitched. It raised its head, eyes wide, and in an instant, it bolted, leaping through the underbrush with surprising speed.Cathrine groaned in frustration, her sharp gaze following the fleeing animal. "You see, Luca? You scared it off.""Me?" Luca straightened, turning to her with a raised eyebrow. "I scared it off?" He pointed at her with an exaggerated motion. "That was all you, Cathrine.""Yeah, right," Cathrine replied, rolli
"What?" Damian exclaimed, his voice echoing off the stone walls. His eyes blazed with fury as he slammed his fist onto the table. "How could you lose her?" His face contorted with rage, and he stood abruptly, glaring at Dennis. His Beta cowered, taking an involuntary step back."I-I'm sorry, Alpha," Dennis stammered, his heart racing in his chest. He wiped his sweaty palms on his trousers, trying to steady himself. "She hasn’t been steady yet. I’ve been tracking her, but she’s unpredictable. I’ll find her, but it will take a week or two," he added, his voice trembling."A week or two?" Damian's eyes narrowed, his hands curling into fists by his sides. "That’s too much time!" he spat, stepping closer to Dennis, who shrunk under the intensity of his Alpha’s gaze. "I have to find that Cathrine, that Null Wolf, and end her before she becomes too powerful and ends me." His voice dripped with malice, and the air around them seemed to grow colder.Dennis gulped, his throat dry. "I’m sorry, A
As Cathrine and Luca entered the village, the world seemed to stretch out before them, completely different from what Cathrine had expected. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she took in the scene. It wasn’t like the quiet, empty places they had passed on their way here. The village was alive—thriving, even.Small houses lined the narrow streets, with thick crowds of people moving in every direction. Children ran around playing, traders shouted their prices, and the clatter of wooden carts against the ground mixed with the sounds of laughter and conversation. It was a lot to take in, and Cathrine had to blink several times to process it all.“How’s this a village, Luca?” she asked, her voice filled with awe.Luca glanced at her with a small smile. “It’s a village,” he said simply. “The safest place for ordinary humans. They’ve called it a village for as long as anyone can remember, and that’s still its name. It’s nothing fancy, but it’s home for these people.”Cathrine’s eyes scan
Just as Cathrine’s unease grew deeper, she felt a sudden, unexpected tap on her back. Her breath caught in her throat as her heart raced, and she spun around, startled. Her mind was already racing with the worst possibilities, wondering who could be behind her in this unfamiliar place. When her eyes finally landed on the person standing there, her shock was undeniable.The King's son."Hi," the man said with a calm, almost casual smile, as if he hadn’t just given her the fright of her life.Cathrine blinked, trying to steady her breathing, her hand pressed to her chest. "Hi," she responded after a beat, her voice shaky as she exhaled slowly, relieved it wasn't anyone dangerous. She couldn’t help the small laugh that escaped her, more from nerves than anything. "You startled me.""Sorry about that," he replied, his tone apologetic but lighthearted. "I'm Dylan. We saw each other earlier."Dylan. The name hit her like a wave as she remembered catching a glimpse of him when they had arriv
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