“You’re really a selfish being, Kieran,” Cathrine’s voice was low, simmering with a restrained anger that threatened to spill over. She took a step closer, her eyes fixed on him with an intensity he hadn’t seen before. “When you wanted nothing to do with me, you rejected me. You didn’t care how I would feel or the pain I’d go through. But now… now that you need my help, you come back, claiming you have rights over me?”Kieran took a deep breath, visibly affected by her words. The look in her eyes and the bitterness in her tone made him wince. Yet, he forced himself to stand his ground. “Whether you like it or not, Cathrine,” he said, his voice steady, “you’re my mate.” Slowly, he rose from where he’d lying on the ground, dusting off his clothes as he looked at her with a determined gaze. “The Moon Goddess chose you for me.”Cathrine laughed, but there was no humor in it. Her laughter was sharp and cutting, filled with a cold disbelief. “She chose wrong.” Her words sliced through the s
“Huh… huh… huh…” Kieran’s breaths came in ragged gasps, each one louder than the last as he struggled to keep moving. Every muscle in his body was screaming, begging him to stop. His friends were barely holding up either, their faces red, shoulders hunched as they tried to recover. They’d been running for what felt like forever, just over a mile, and it was starting to show. But then he looked ahead, eyes fixed on the two figures who hadn’t even slowed down.Cathrine and Luca.They hadn’t looked back once; they were simply gliding forward, barely breaking a sweat. Kieran’s gaze followed their effortless strides, a pang of both admiration and frustration hitting him. How do they do it? he wondered, watching as they moved with the ease of seasoned runners, untouched by the fatigue gripping him and his friends.Turning to his companions, he noticed their expressions of amazement mirroring his own. They were all captivated by the strength and stamina Luca and Cathrine possessed, pushing b
The growl of the creature lurking in the dark reverberated through the silent night, sending chills down everyone’s spine. Shadows stretched across the campsite, making it hard to see beyond the flickering flames of the campfire. Kieran’s friends glanced nervously at one another, their fear mirrored in their eyes as the creature drew closer, each step amplifying their dread.Kieran’s heart raced, yet he forced himself to stand tall. His fists clenched by his side, he looked to Luca and Cathrine, who seemed steady, waiting for whatever lurked in the darkness. Even though fear crept up his spine, Kieran found a strange sense of courage seeing how they held their ground. They were ready.Abruptly, the growling ceased. The forest fell deathly silent, and the sound of footsteps came to a halt. Cathrine’s shoulders relaxed, and a slight sigh escaped her lips. Relief washed over her face as she began to let her guard down. One by one, they all exhaled, believing the danger had passed.Just a
The whole place felt eerily quiet, the kind of silence that made every instinct scream to be on alert. Shadows from the trees cast dark patches on the ground as Cathrine, Luca, and Kieran’s friends moved carefully through the dense forest. Each footstep was soft, almost calculated. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath, rustling only occasionally through the branches above.Then, in an instant, the silence was shattered. An arrow shot out from nowhere, slicing through the air with deadly precision, aimed straight for Luca. He saw it just in time, ducking low, and the arrow pierced the ground, its pointed end quivering just inches from where he had stood. Luca’s eyes darted around, trying to locate where the attack had come from, and he caught a glimpse of movement high up in one of the trees. But when he looked closer, there was nothing there—no shadow, no face, just leaves swaying gently as if nothing had happened.Another arrow followed, this time aimed directly at Cathrine. With
"You failing to defeat Damian doesn’t mean I won’t be able to kill him. I’m built different," Jerry said, his voice edged with determination."So am I," Cathrine replied, a sharp glint in her eyes. "I’m built in ways you can’t even imagine.""And she’s right," Luca added, stepping in beside Cathrine. "She has powers greater than anyone here.""Damian attacked her countless times, trying to kill her because he knows she’s the only one who can stop him from taking over the world," Luca continued, his voice heavy with concern."You don’t understand, Luca." Jerry’s voice was dark, tinged with a pain that ran deep. "Damian killed the people I called family—right after he killed my real family. He’ll pay for that.""He will, but at the right time," Luca said firmly. "You can’t do it alone, Jerry. You’ll need help. We can help you. Damian’s hurt each of us in one way or another. He killed my father and mother.""He killed my parents too," Cathrine whispered, her voice breaking. She took a sh
“Quickly, come with me!” the priest urged, his voice low but insistent, eyes darting as if time itself were running out.Without hesitation, Luca scooped Cathrine up, cradling her limp form carefully in his arms. He moved swiftly, following the priest down a shadowy hallway, his heart hammering with worry and desperation. Behind him, Kieran and a few others trailed, their faces pale with shared concern. This was a race against time, and every second felt like it could be Cathrine’s last.They soon arrived at the priest’s chamber, a small room with high stone walls and a quiet, almost sacred air. The priest moved purposefully, lighting candles set around a small pool in the center of the room. As each candle flared to life, shadows danced on the walls, creating an eerie but powerful atmosphere.“Place her in the water,” the priest said, his gaze never wavering from Luca’s.Luca didn’t hesitate. He approached the pool, bending down and gently laying Cathrine in the water. As he released
“You’ll need to meet with the Moon Goddess. Are you ready for this?” the priest asked again, his eyes serious, searching Luca’s face for any sign of hesitation. His tone was heavy, as if the weight of what he was about to do had settled deep within him.Luca’s jaw tightened as he squared his shoulders, the tension clear in his stance. “I am ready. I don’t care what I face—just complete the ritual so that she lives,” he replied, each word dripping with determination. The faint flicker of candlelight caught the fierce resolve in his eyes, and the priest could see there would be no stopping him now.The priest gave a slow nod but hesitated for a moment, as if reconsidering. “Alright, but before we start, there are some important things you need to know. These aren’t things to take lightly,” he said, his voice low, a faint tremor hidden within it.“Go on.” Luca’s voice was steady but edged with impatience. “I’m all ears. Be quick.”The priest took a deep breath, pausing to gather his thou
“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
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