|ASTRAEA|The sound of metal against metal echoed throughout the training grounds as the swords collided. We sparred fiercely, Terielle and I moving with fluid precision and countering each other's strikes quickly.I concentrated on my gait, adjusting deftly to sidestep Terielle's blows while sustaining a constant offensive of my own. The fierceness of the duel strengthened my resolve and inspired me to go above and beyond my comfort zone.My veins pounded with adrenaline with every swiss of our blades, enhancing my senses and focusing my attention. Every action turned into a calculated risk, a calculated move meant to give us the advantage in our never-ending struggle.Terielle showed herself to be a very tough opponent; she was precisely as skilled and agile as I was. However, I resisted giving in and met her blows with unwavering determination, using every ounce of strength and resolve I had.In that moment, nothing else mattered except the exhilarating rush of combat, the thrill of
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE|ASTRAEA|“Very funny,Kallias.”“Do I look like I'm joking?” I stared at him breathless, his azure eyes entrancing me. “I-”“You owe me, little wolf.”I swallowed hard, feeling a knot form in my stomach at his words. "What do you mean?"Kallias stepped closer, his presence overwhelming as he towered over me. "You promised, remember?" His voice was low, sending shivers down my spine.My mind raced as I tried to recall any such promise, but all I could remember was the vague sense of indebtedness I felt towards him. "I... I don't..."He leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Don't play coy, Astraea. You owe me a favor, and now it's time to repay it.""I thought you didn't want me around, so why now?" I questioned, trying to make sense of his sudden change in behavior.Kallias's expression softened slightly, his eyes reflecting a hint of regret. "I didn't get my share of time with you, now..."Before I could fully process his response, he covered my eyes w
|ORION|Feets clacked on the crystal floor as I fumed, trying to rein it all in.I could smell his scent all over her.He touched her, took her and she tried to protect him by hiding it from me.How dare he.“It's not like he abducted her, Orion.”Rehema sighed trying to talk me out of what I planned to do. “You are taking it too far, Brother.”Smoke surrounded the room and a pair of azure eyes met with my obsidian ones. Rehema tried to reason with me, her voice tinged with concern, but I couldn't hear her over the roaring fury coursing through my veins. Kallias stood before me, his expression a mix of surprise and defiance as I advanced towards him, my anger boiling over.Before he could react, my fist connected with his jaw, the impact echoing through the room. He stumbled back, caught off guard by the sudden assault.“How dare you touch my mate!” I seethed, my voice a low growl as I loomed over him, my fists clenched at my sides.Kallias recovered quickly, his own anger flaring as h
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN|ORION|I was back here, in his territory.The flames heated up, hot enough to make my blood boil, to mess with my head but not enough to burn me.Screams echoed as the Onyx eyes appeared crouching beside me, his shirt still stained of blood. It was the ceremonial coronation outfit that gods wore when they were about to be crowned as rulers of their realm.I had never said his name since the last time I saw him, the look of horror in his eyes as his blood splashed on his dark hair was still etched on my mind.“Arien.”He blinked, then burst into laughter, his pearly white teeth stained with blood as he wiped tears from his eyes.“I kept telling myself you were possessed, that you would never raise a sword to me, but…” He paused, staring at his bloody chest.The flames flickered and danced around us, casting eerie shadows that seemed to dance with malevolent intent. I remained rooted to the spot, my gaze locked with Arien's, the memories of our violent confrontatio
|ASTRAEA|“You'll be living with the moon goddess for now,” Rehema had said earlier before dropping us off at the moon goddess’ palace.I had not seen Orion since the day I waved to him from the training grounds.He didn't even say goodbye.As Rehema bid us farewell and departed, leaving Eloise, Terielle, and me alone in the grand halls of the moon goddess's palace, the soft echo of a maid's footsteps filled the air. A gentle voice broke the silence, welcoming us to our new temporary home."We are honored to have you here," the maid said, her voice warm and comforting. "Please, follow me. I will show you to your chambers, where you can rest after your long journey."I exchanged glances with Eloise and Terielle, a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation reflected in their eyes. Together, we followed the maid through the labyrinthine corridors of the palace, marveling at the opulence surrounding us.Eventually, we arrived at our separate chambers, each one adorned with luxurious furnishi
|ASTRAEA|She offered me a warm smile in return, her presence a comforting presence in the midst of uncertainty. "You are welcome, Princess Astraea," she replied. "Rest assured, you are in good hands here."Some guards rushed into the dining hall as they started at the Moon goddess, communicating with their minds."I have to cut our dinner short here, you all can continue without me." We all rose up as she exited the dining hall, before sitting down again.As the moon goddess left the dining hall, there was a sense of calm that settled over us. We exchanged glances, reassured by the peaceful atmosphere that surrounded us."Well, that was unexpected," Eloise remarked, breaking the silence with a chuckle. "I wonder what urgent matter she had to attend to."Terielle nodded in agreement, her expression relaxed. "It must be something important," she mused, reaching for another serving of food. "But I'm sure everything will be fine."Saoirse smiled, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "It's n
|ORION|"Welcome back, sire." Lotar's voice rang through my ears as my eyes snapped open, the ache in my head not going unnoticed."Lotar," I acknowledged, my voice hoarse as I struggled to sit up, the events of the previous day still fresh in my mind. "How many days has it been?""It's been three days, Sire. Longer than before." Isighed,rubbing my temple."What's the situation?""We've received reports of increased activity in the borderlands," Lotar replied, his tone grave. "It seems the enemy forces are preparing for another assault."I grimaced, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me like a heavy burden. "Gather the troops," I instructed, my mind already racing with plans and strategies. "We must be ready to defend our territory at all costs."Lotar nodded, his expression serious. "At once, sire."As Lotar hurried off to carry out my orders, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of my stomach. The looming threat of war hung over us like a dark c
|ASTRAEA| ----I gazed around at the unfamiliar surroundings, and a sense of disorientation washed over me. The palace appeared different, as if frozen in time, its grandeur obscured by layers of dust and neglect.I looked down at my hand, taking in the minute details, the way my fingers curved, the light scars on my skin. It felt like I was seeing them for the first time, yet there was a strange familiarity to it all as if I had done this countless times before.I was lost in my thoughts and found myself meandering through the deserted hallways, the sound of my footsteps resonating through the ages. .And then, as if drawn by an invisible force, I found myself standing before a grand doorway, its ornate carvings weathered by time. With a sense of trepidation, I pushed open the door, revealing a chamber bathed in soft moonlight.Laughter echoed as the moon goddess approached me, I panicked trying to move from her path but she just walked right through me.I gasped, my voice m
|ASTRAEA| In the quiet of the palace chambers, surrounded by the familiar faces of my family, I gathered the courage to speak the words that weighed heavily on my heart. "I'm not here to stay," I whispered softly, my voice barely above a whisper.Their smiles, though weak, spoke volumes of their understanding. "We know," my father replied, his voice filled with a quiet resignation that tugged at my heartstrings.As I gazed at them, taking in their slightly weathered faces and the subtle signs of aging that marked the passage of time, a wave of disbelief washed over me. "How long have I been gone?" I asked, my voice trembling with shock."Two years," my mother's response was barely a whisper, but it hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me reeling from the realization of just how much time had passed in my absence.And then, the question I had been dreading hung heavy in the air, casting a shadow over our reunion. "W-what of Alan?" I ventured, the silence that followed deafening in it
ASTRAEA|I jolted awake, gasping for breath as I found myself in my chamber, disoriented and confused. How did I get here? The last thing I remembered was being with Kallias, his lips on mine, the intensity of his gaze searing through me.My heart raced as I struggled to make sense of what had just happened. Kallias... I couldn't shake the memory of his touch, his scent lingering in the air around me like a haunting whisper.“Asana,” I whispered, seeking solace in the familiar presence in my mind.‘I’m lost for words,’ Asana murmured, her tone reflecting the turmoil within me.Before I could gather my thoughts, the door burst open, and Eloise rushed into the room, her expression a mixture of shock and concern.She wasted no time in crossing the room, her footsteps echoing in the tense silence. With a swift motion, she slapped my back, the sting jolting me into awareness.“Seriously?” Eloise's voice was a mix of disbelief and reproach. “You were with Kallias! Do you know how Orion reac
|ASTRAEA|“You're wasting time.” I gasped as I found myself in a meadow, this time around it wasn't just the veiled goddess.They were three.The first being was a god, with dark hair and onyx eyes. He had a slight resemblance to Orion but a very stark contrast. He was dressed in a nice outfit that seemed like it was meant for a special occasion.The second was a goddess, her hair was blonde and she had grey eyes. Her face looked calm and collected and I stared down at her arms, her protruding belly sticking out.She was pregnant.And the third one, of course, was the veiled goddess. She looked the same as I had always seen her.“You are wasting time.” The god repeated and my attention snapped to him. The goddess stared at him, “Arien, you'll scare her.”Arien. That was his name.He stared at the goddess, who stood on the other side of the veiled goddess away from Arien’s reach. His face contorted to a look of helplessness as if he couldn't reach her.“W-what do you mean?” I finally v
*Meanwhile in her realm*|ORION|I clenched my fists, trying to control my anger as I stared at Astraea’s unconscious body laid out on the bed while the healers treated her. Bruises marred her arms, and her pale skin was a clear sign of how long she had been immersed in water.“What is it? Why isn’t she up yet?” I demanded, my voice tight with frustration and fear.“I’m afraid she’s in a coma, Sire,” one of the healers responded softly.I growled, the sound reverberating through the room as Raeya tried to calm me down. This would have never happened if I didn’t have so much to do. I would have been able to watch her.“She’s fine, she’s safe here with us,” Raeya said soothingly, placing a hand on my arm.“Safe? What do you mean safe? Do you know how much can happen in a coma? She could fucking die, Raeya!” I snapped, my voice rising in anger. Raeya flinched at my aggression, but I wasn’t sorry. I was furious with myself for leaving her unattended and allowing her to get hurt.I stormed
*Meanwhile in her realm*|ORION|I clenched my fists, trying to control my anger as I stared at Astraea’s unconscious body laid out on the bed while the healers treated her. Bruises marred her arms, and her pale skin was a clear sign of how long she had been immersed in water.“What is it? Why isn’t she up yet?” I demanded, my voice tight with frustration and fear.“I’m afraid she’s in a coma, Sire,” one of the healers responded softly.I growled, the sound reverberating through the room as Raeya tried to calm me down. This would have never happened if I didn’t have so much to do. I would have been able to watch her.“She’s fine, she’s safe here with us,” Raeya said soothingly, placing a hand on my arm.“Safe? What do you mean safe? Do you know how much can happen in a coma? She could fucking die, Raeya!” I snapped, my voice rising in anger. Raeya flinched at my aggression, but I wasn’t sorry. I was furious with myself for leaving her unattended and allowing her to get hurt.I stormed
|ORION|I am proud to be a ruler of Zorzaris.As the sun rose on a new day, I found myself caught up in the bustle of preparations within the palace. Unbeknownst to me, the people of Zorzaris had decided to host a party in honor of Astraea, a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and compassion towards them.“Sire, please sign here.” Lotar rushed to me as I skimmed through the documents before signing them.Other workers stood behind him all holding documents they wanted me to review and sign.“Done.”As I moved through the halls, overseeing the final arrangements and ensuring everything was in place, a sense of excitement bubbled within me. I couldn't wait to see the look of joy on Astraea's face when she realized the extent of the Zorzaris' appreciation for her.She made me happy, and excited.She made me forget all the nightmares and all the taunts I suffered from my people and every being around the world.She made me hope.With each passing moment, anticipation grew, and as the g
|ORION|I am proud to be a ruler of Zorzaris.As the sun rose on a new day, I found myself caught up in the bustle of preparations within the palace. Unbeknownst to me, the people of Zorzaris had decided to host a party in honor of Astraea, a gesture of gratitude for her kindness and compassion towards them.“Sire, please sign here.” Lotar rushed to me as I skimmed through the documents before signing them.Other workers stood behind him all holding documents they wanted me to review and sign.“Done.”As I moved through the halls, overseeing the final arrangements and ensuring everything was in place, a sense of excitement bubbled within me. I couldn't wait to see the look of joy on Astraea's face when she realized the extent of the Zorzaris' appreciation for her.She made me happy, and excited.She made me forget all the nightmares and all the taunts I suffered from my people and every being around the world.She made me hope.With each passing moment, anticipation grew, and as the g
|ASTRAEA| Uncle Overus ran into the room and he heaved a sigh of relief as his eyes landed on the boy. “Princess Nadira has saved the royal family. May she forever rest in peace.” The boy kept staring at me, I couldn't believe it. I had a nephew. “What’s the boy's name?” “Princess Nadira named him after you because he reminded her of you so much; his name is Astrion.” I gasped as tears fell from my eyes and I opened my arms widely. “Come on, Astrion, come to Auntie.” He ran over to me and I pulled him into a warm embrace and we both sobbed. “I'm sorry I came too late, I'm sorry.” “Stop crying, mummy doesn't like it when I cwy.” “Oh, baby.” I hugged him tighter. ~~~ We stood in front of the graves of my family. Astrion dropped roses for each of them and stood beside me. “Will mummy ever come back?” “Mummy is with the moon goddess, resting.” “Okay.” If only I had come earlier, I would have been able to at least save my sister. I turned back to Uncle Overus. We had crow
|ASTRAEA| I gasped in shock as my eyes widened. I searched my surroundings, I was no longer in the forest with Raeya rather I was in my bed chamber. N-no I was back. I chuckled as I got off the bed, this- this is my Zorzaris. I stared at myself in the mirror, I was still wearing the fighting outfit I wore in the forest and my mind drifted to what Made me quickly leave. I have to go. With swift determination, I teleported myself to the werewolf kingdom. My hood concealed my features as I moved through the crowd cautiously. I dared not teleport directly into the palace; Alan must not suspect the extent of my powers—it would only worsen an already dire situation. “Did you hear?” voices murmured around me, snippets of conversation that sent a chill down my spine. “The cruel Alpha of the Blue Dawn pack wiped out the entire royal family without mercy.” “The castle is in chaos; he’s slaughtering anyone loyal to the royal bloodline. No one dares to leave their homes.” Time was running