Valkyrie Ragnor’s intense gaze bore into mine the moment he stepped into the clearing. His gaze burned with an intensity that made everything else disappear. His massive form, muscular and imposing, exuded power and command as he strode forward, each step a reminder that no one dared challenge him. "Damn it!" one of the rogues shouted, momentarily frozen in fear, shifting uneasily. But Ragnor’s gaze never wavered from me, not even for a second. His focus was entirely on me, and something inside me stirred—something dark, something possessive. “You should have stayed inside,” he growled angrily. I flinched, as if I knew I shouldn’t have made this mistake. "I—I’m sorry, Alpha..." I whispered, holding back my tears. I was utterly afraid of the situation, and his scolding only made my heart ache. “And you, all of you... What the hell were you thinking, touching what’s mine?” Ragnor roared, and four of the wolves stepped back, knowing their opponent was the Alpha himself. “She’s al
Valkyrie The world around us seemed to pause, holding its breath in heavy anticipation. The clearing was eerily silent, save for Ragnor’s ragged breathing and the relentless pounding of my heart. The aftermath of his rage lingered in the air, oppressive and heavy, as if even the forest feared to disturb the Alpha in his fury. But the silence shattered with the faint sound of approaching footsteps. Ragnor’s body tensed, his hand tightening possessively on my waist. His head snapped toward the sound, every muscle in his powerful frame coiled and ready for battle. “Stay close,” he commanded, his voice a low rumble that sent a shiver through me. I nodded, instinctively stepping closer, his presence both a shield and a beacon. His grip eased, but his hand remained firm and unyielding on me, a silent declaration that I wasn’t going anywhere. "Who could it be?" I whispered, my voice trembling with lingering fear, though Ragnor’s presence seemed to burn it away. “We’ll know soon enough
Valkyrie The next morning, I woke with an aching body—not from our sexual intercourse, but from the intensity of what had transpired between us. No, Ragnor and I hadn’t crossed that line yet. After a torrent of fiery kisses, he had pulled back, his voice low and steady as he said he wanted to reclaim me fully before taking things further. The thought left me breathless. How deliberate, how thoughtful he was. And in that moment, I couldn’t imagine loving him more. Reclaiming me. The word lingered in my mind, sweet and powerful. ‘I must attend an early meeting with the council. Please understand and make yourself comfortable.’ The note on his desk brought a soft smile to my lips as I clutched it tightly to my chest, the warmth of his words seeping into me. I had never been in love before, not truly. And now, this bittersweet sensation—this fragile, beautiful idea of love—threatened to overwhelm me. Did he love me? Should I even ask? No. I dared not voice such a questio
Valkyrie "What did you just say?" I spun around, my voice like ice, as I fixed my gaze on the maid who had dared to mutter such a thing. The room froze, the tension crackling in the air. Every pair of eyes snapped to me, the words that had just left her lips hanging in the air like smoke, suffocating everything around us. "I—" she stammered, her face paling. "I didn't—" "You didn’t what?" I cut her off, stepping toward her, my voice rising with each word. "Did you just call me a slut?" The words were venomous, and my anger flared. The audacity. The way they thought they could say anything behind my back and I wouldn't hear. She took a step back, her eyes wide with fear. "I didn’t mean—" "No." I took another step closer, my boots clicking against the floor like thunder. "You don’t get to say something like that and then hide behind an apology. You don’t get to call me names and expect me to pretend it didn’t happen." Her eyes flickered toward the others, hoping for some kind of
Valkyrie The moment Ragnor stormed out of my quarters, I couldn’t shake the urgent feeling. The clash was inevitable, and I had to stop it before it was too late. "Alpha! Wait!" I rushed after him, but by the time I reached the hallway, he was already halfway down the corridor, his pace furious, his jaw clenched. Everything seemed to crackle with power. "Ragnor... please... wait...." He didn’t halt even for a second. Suddenly, we arrived at the central hall, where all the high-ranking members of the pack had gathered for the morning meeting. "Beta! Follow me to my office!" he ordered, glaring at Tasya, who was still chatting with her staff and holding documents in her arms. "What is it, Alpha?" she asked, her voice curious. But Ragnor only flicked a tense glance at her—everyone could sense the fury radiating from him. Without another word, Tasya followed Ragnor to his office, the door shutting behind them with a sharp click. The moment they were alone in the office, a chill
Ragnor The way she whispered, "I promise," sent a jolt through my body. Her voice was so intoxicatingly soft, so alluring, that I couldn’t resist leaning in to taste the sweetness of her lips. I caressed her cheek gently before letting my lips claim hers, savoring every second of the kiss. "You know," I rasped against her lips, "you’re even more beautiful when you obey me." Her cheeks flushed a deep red, the heat radiating from her making me crave her even more. My hand slid to her neck, and I inhaled the faint jasmine and rose scent lingering on her skin. "Let’s see what’s on the menu for breakfast," I murmured, my voice husky. I nuzzled her neck, my fingers roaming her body as her soft moan reached my ears. Instead of resisting, Valkyrie pulled me closer, igniting something primal inside me. I smirked against her skin. "So, this really is my lucky day," I teased, leaving a kiss mark just below her collarbone. My hand wandered lower, gently squeezing her breasts.
The grand hall of the packhouse, a place meant to command respect, felt suffocating today. The high, arched ceilings and cold stone walls echoed with the tension hanging between us. My mother, the Luna Dowager, stood at the center of it all, her elegant yet unyielding posture radiating authority. Beside her, as always, was Tasya—the woman she had been forcing into my life since I came of age. From the threshold, I could already feel the storm brewing. My chest tightened with suppressed anger as I stepped into the room, my boots striking the floor with deliberate weight. "Ragnor," my mother said, her voice as sharp as a blade. "We need to settle this matter. Now." Her tone left no room for argument, but I wasn’t about to give in. I crossed my arms and fixed her with a glare. "Settle what, Mother? Let’s not pretend I don’t know where this is heading." She gestured toward Tasya with a graceful wave, her composure brittle with barely contained fury. "This. The pack needs stabilit
Ragnor I stormed out of the office, the note still crumpled in my hand, my heart hammering in my chest. The halls were quiet—too quiet. Every step I took echoed like the pounding of war drums in my ears. "Valkyrie!" I called, my voice breaking through the oppressive silence. Nothing. Panic clawed at my chest like a caged animal desperate to break free. I raced down the corridors, checking every corner, every shadowed alcove where she might have hidden. But she was nowhere to be seen. The morning sunlight streamed through the high windows, casting long streaks of light on the polished floors. Normally, the brightness brought a sense of calm, but now it only amplified the emptiness. The kitchens were bustling, the clatter of pots and chatter of the staff filling the air. I barged in, causing the room to fall silent as all eyes turned to me. "Did anyone see Valkyrie?" I demanded, my voice sharp enough to cut glass. A young maid hesitated before shaking he
Valkyrie One day earlier *** My last cold war with Ragnor left me hollow. The silence between us had stretched like an unspoken goodbye, and now the emptiness echoed in every corner of my being. I sat by the window in my room at the packhouse, the cool moonlight spilling across the floor, bathing me in its indifferent glow. The world outside was restless—wolves patrolling the borders, whispers of rogues in the shadows—but inside, my battle was far more insidious. I pressed a hand to my belly, the faint flutter beneath my palm grounding me. The life growing within me was the only reason I hadn’t shattered completely. But it wasn’t enough to erase the ache of his absence or the sharp pang of uncertainty clawing at my sanity. Nancy entered quietly, her usual energy subdued as she set a steaming cup of herbal tea on the table beside me. “You need to rest, Val,” she urged gently, her eyes filled with concern. “I’m fine,” I murmured, though my hollow tone be
Ragnor The figure outside the packhouse didn’t move. Their glowing violet eyes were locked onto mine, unblinking. My body tensed as the beast inside stirred, its growl low and menacing, like a warning drumbeat reverberating through my chest. “Alpha!” Dwayne called from behind me, his voice sharp. “Who is it?” I didn’t answer, my eyes fixed on the figure. Something about them was wrong—unnatural. The way the shadows seemed to cling to their body, shifting like smoke, set my nerves alight. “I’m going out there,” I said, my voice like gravel. “You’re barely standing,” Dwayne snapped. “If this is another threat, you can’t face it alone.” I turned to glare at him, my claws extending in a show of dominance. “Stay here. Protect the pack.” Dwayne didn’t back down, his green eyes flaring with challenge. “Not this time. If you’re walking into a trap, I’m coming with you.” A low growl escaped my throat, but I knew arguing would waste time. Without another word, I turned and headed for
Ragnor The footsteps were strange—a melody that echoed unnaturally through the ruins of the village. My breath came in ragged bursts, the metallic tang of Garran’s blood still fresh in my mouth. My claws ached from the transformation, and the beast within me stirred with satisfaction, though I felt no relief. The ruins around me were silent, save for that haunting melody. It wasn’t the sound of prey fleeing or the rush of an enemy—it was something else entirely. A song that seemed to reach into the marrow of my bones, pulling me toward it. The beast within me, usually a storm of rage and hunger, hesitated. I froze, my claws curling against the blood-soaked ground as my vision sharpened. The melody wound its way through my mind, soothing and coaxing. My instincts screamed to ignore it, to run, but my body betrayed me. Step by step, I followed the sound, drawn deeper into the crumbling heart of the village. The daylight painted everything in shades of bright yellow, turning th
Ragnor I finally left at dusk as planned, alone. The forest greeted me with a bitter chill, the air heavy with the scent of earth and decay. No warriors trailed behind me, and Dwayne’s objections still echoed in my ears. He had pleaded to accompany me, but I refused. This was my journey. My burden to bear. The beast within me growled low, restless and impatient. It had grown louder these past weeks, a constant presence in my mind, scratching at my sanity. No one knew this, and why should they? I could carry this curse on my own. “Damn… It’s far,” I muttered, the words barely audible in my wolf form. Every step I took into the forest felt like a step closer to the abyss, but I couldn’t turn back now. Not when Valkyrie and the pup depended on me finding a cure. Or so I thought. The trees thinned as I approached the edge of a desolate village, its skeletal remains standing like monuments to a forgotten time. Buildings were weathered, their walls fractured and cr
Valkyrie I could still feel the weight of his gaze as I walked away. My heart thudded painfully against my chest, and there was a crushing disappointment threatening to drown me. He didn’t want me. Not really. Not the way I wanted him. The halls of the mansion felt colder now, the once-familiar stone walls pressing in as though they were trying to squeeze the breath from my lungs. I didn’t know where I was going, only that I needed to escape the suffocating tension in that room. I needed space, distance from him and his unreadable silence. Ragnor said he was handling things, but his words felt hollow. I had waited for him to explain, to open up, to tell me what was wrong. But each time, he shut me out, leaving me with more questions than answers. He had always been distant, but tonight, it felt like an impenetrable wall had gone up between us, one that I couldn’t break through, no matter how hard I tried. "How... could you... Ragnor...." I sobbed, my feet pausing at the end
Ragnor My earlier meeting with Dwayne brought a small sense of relief as I planned to finally talk to Valkyrie. Maybe, just maybe, I had the nerve to confront this fear with her. The fire crackled faintly in the hearth as I sat in the darkened study, my gaze fixed on the documents spread before me. Maps, handwritten notes, and a single bloodstained journal—the remnants of my father’s obsession with the curse—were scattered across the desk. My chest tightened as I traced the faded ink with trembling fingers. This curse had stolen so much already. I wouldn’t let it take Valkyrie or our pup. I was determined to see that promise through, but it meant leaving the pack—and Valkyrie. It was a tough decision, but I couldn’t ignore it. Yet, I believed Dwayne and my warriors were strong enough to protect everyone in the pack while I was away. “I have to do this,” I murmured, so sure I would find a way to make things work. The night was eerily silent, but I could hear the sound
Ragnor The night pressed heavily on my shoulders as I strode through the dense forest surrounding the packhouse, the crisp winter air biting at my skin. I couldn’t go back to the packhouse just yet. I needed to calm my nerves. “Valkyrie…” I whispered her name like a spell, hoping to ease the storm within me. But, of course, I couldn’t. I was too afraid to confront the dark reality of my bloodline—the curse that now ran inside her and the pup she carried. “Damn you, Ragnor.” The words came out as a bitter curse. I felt like a shadow of the man I once was—no longer the commanding Alpha I used to be. The news of Valkyrie’s pregnancy had been both a miracle and a curse. When the doctor had whispered it to me days ago, I should have run to her, held her, and promised her the world. Instead, I had retreated, letting fear and guilt fester. The curse. It was always the curse. It gnawed at my mind, a dark specter that refused to be ignored. The thought of passing that burden to
Tasya I never thought I’d find myself here, leading the filthiest of animals on my own—the rogues. "Who’s taking her head tonight?" I shouted, my anger rising as I referred to Valkyrie, the target of my plans. None of them dared to speak. That’s what made them idiots—disgusting wenches. "You’re all fools!" "Tasya! My daughter..." My father’s voice cut through my frustration. "They need to know their worth! They never succeed, Father! It's been two weeks now, and no results!" "We need to be patient..." Father closed the distance between us. "And watch your words. They may be fools and disgusting, but they're stronger together. We won’t be the prey here, Tasya." I gulped, his words sending chills down my spine. Though we provide everything here in our secret Beta's territory—food, clothes, and shelter—the rogues are still beasts themselves. How could I forget? "Now, what's the plan? I need to get back to Blue Fire and become the Luna, Father! They need to know they're weak wi
Valkyrie “Do you really think Tasya could lead the rogues?” I broke the silence, my voice softer than I intended. “How would she even—why would she betray us like this?” “She has her reasons,” Ragnor answered, his voice sharp, his gaze unfocused as he stared at something far beyond the room. “Her imprisonment… it was a punishment she couldn’t bear. I should have seen this coming.” I frowned, stepping closer to him, trying to catch his eyes. “Her punishment is almost over. Why not wait it out?” Ragnor raked a hand through his hair, the motion tight and frustrated, revealing his exhaustion. “Revenge doesn’t wait, Val. She blames me for everything. And now she’s using the rogues to settle the score.” I studied him, noticing the tension in his face, the way the firelight danced across the hard edges of his features. He looked like a man torn between battlefields—one against the world and the other within himself. “You’re exhausted,” I said softly, stepping closer, drawn to him.