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
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’
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
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.
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
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
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
“Cath, are you okay?” Luca called out, his voice edged with concern as he ran toward me. His steps were quick, purposeful, stirring up the dirt beneath him. Without hesitation, he stretched out his hands and pulled me up with ease.“I’m fine,” I said, brushing off the dust clinging to my clothes. My legs wobbled slightly, but I ignored it. “Let’s try again.”“No, Cath. That’s enough for today,” he said, his voice firm but gentle. “You need to rest—you’ll need your strength when the time comes.”I looked up at him, meeting his piercing green eyes, which held equal parts concern and determination. He wasn’t just saying it to be kind; he believed I was pushing myself too hard. With a resigned sigh, I relented. “Fine, Luca. I’ll rest.”He nodded and placed a steadying arm around me as I limped. My body ached from the relentless training, and every step sent a dull throb up my leg. The sound of grunts and clashing weapons filled the air as we passed the fields where the others were still t
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