Ragnor I walked into the hall, my head high, my hand brushing against Valkyrie’s back protectively as we entered the lions’ den together. The council chamber was a sea of wolves in their shifted forms—a deliberate insult to me and my mate. Wolves snarled and growled, their glowing eyes reflecting disdain and judgment. My grip on Valkyrie tightened. My mate may have been wolfless, but her worth was far greater than these creatures could comprehend. If they thought they could intimidate her—or me—with this display, they were sorely mistaken. Tasya stood at the center, draped in pale silk that contrasted with her teary eyes. Beside her was my mother, the Luna Dowager, wearing an expression of composed sorrow. It was a lie, every bit of it, but I had no doubt most of the council would lap it up like starving pups. “Ragnor,” my mother began, her voice carrying the weight of judgment. “We’ve gathered to discuss the future of this pack.” “By whose authority?” I asked coldly, my v
Ragnor The rogues' attack wasn’t as deadly as before, but our warriors were still exhausted from the sudden intrusion. “All done?” I asked, wiping the blood from the corner of my mouth. It had been an easy fight, yet my focus was far from sharp. Valkyrie was still in my chamber, guarded by my trusted enforcers. I hadn’t allowed anyone to approach her—not even my mother. "All done, Alpha." I nodded and finally felt relieved. The metallic tang of blood lingered in the air, the remnants of the skirmish staining the clearing. Lifeless bodies lay scattered everywhere, and the sight disgusted me. After ensuring everything was under control, I returned to the hall. The wolves had already shifted back to their human forms, their eyes flicking to me as I entered. “Escort Valkyrie here safely,” I commanded Gamma Dwayne. He nodded and left without hesitation. The hall was silent save for the murmurs of the council seated at the long table at the front. The Luna Dowager—my mother—s
Valkyrie “What’s happening?” I stepped toward the door, where Ragnor and Gamma Dwayne stood, their faces shadowed by the dim torchlight. Ragnor’s body was tense, every muscle coiled as if bracing for impact. Something was wrong—terribly wrong. “Val... that’s…” Ragnor rubbed his temple, hesitating. His hesitation only heightened the unease in my chest. “Go on,” I urged, my voice steady despite the growing dread. “What is it?” “The trial…” My eyes widened in disbelief. I swallowed hard, waiting for him to finish. “What about it?” “It’s starting tonight.” The words hit me like a blow. My heart raced. “Tonight? Are you sure?” Ragnor nodded weakly, his fear and worry evident. The weight of the task hung heavy in the air. But I couldn’t show weakness—not now. I forced a smile, masking my own frustration. “Don’t worry, Alpha. I’m ready.” My words were steady, a promise I wasn’t sure I could keep. But I wouldn’t back down. Never. If this test had to be done, then so
Valkyrie The light faded, and for a moment, I felt weightless, caught in a void where time seemed to stand still. When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Ragnor—his piercing gaze burning with a mixture of anger, worry, and relief. “Valkyrie,” he breathed, his voice rough and trembling as he knelt beside me. I blinked, disoriented, realizing I was lying on the forest’s edge. The murmurs of the council echoed in the background, distant but judgmental. My hand instinctively tightened around the pendant, its solid weight anchoring me to the moment. “You did it,” Ragnor said, his fingers brushing damp strands of hair from my face. I tried to sit up, but the sharp ache in my ribs forced a wince from my lips. His hand shot out to steady me, his grip firm but careful. “Don’t push yourself,” he muttered, his jaw tight with suppressed frustration. “I’m fine,” I rasped, though every inch of my body screamed otherwise. “No, you’re not.” His tone was clipped, his emotions
Valkyrie The circle felt like a cage. The council stood at its edges, their stares piercing and judgmental. Ragnor’s gaze burned into my back, an unspoken plea to stop this madness, but I didn’t dare turn around. My pride wouldn’t allow it—not after everything I’d already endured. The elder, a wiry man with streaks of silver in his hair, stepped forward. His expression was cold, unreadable, as he began to shift. Bones cracked, skin stretched, and fur sprouted in a grotesque yet mesmerizing transformation. The elder stood before me, a massive wolf with fur as gray as storm clouds. His yellow eyes glowed with ancient power, locking onto mine. “This is your last chance to back out,” another council member warned, her voice sharp. “I won’t,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. The wolf stepped closer, his massive paws sinking into the dirt. My instincts screamed at me to run, to flee from the predator bearing down on me, but I held my ground. “Valkyrie, kneel,” the council
Valkyrie The winds howled as I stood at the edge of the Lunar Cliff, the sacred ground bathed in the cold, silver glow of the full moon. Below me, the pack waited in tense silence, their murmurs carried on the icy breeze. My shoulder throbbed from the Bite of Truth, but I held my head high. This was my moment—not just to prove myself to them, but to prove I belonged. “Valkyrie,” the youngest council member called, his voice sharp and unwavering. “Welcome to your final trial.” Every trial had brought a new face to deliver their decrees, but their tone was always the same: cold, impartial, and merciless. The rest of the council watched from below, their expressions hard with skepticism. Among them, Ragnor’s eyes burned into mine, steady and unwavering. His silent plea was clear: Don’t do this. Don’t risk yourself for them. But I couldn’t back down. This wasn’t just about the pack—it was about me. “I’m ready,” I said, forcing my voice steady. “The Luna Rite requires yo
Valkyrie The winds howled, carrying the councilwoman’s venomous words across the cliff. My heart stuttered in my chest, and for a moment, the glow around me seemed to dim. Another challenge? After everything? My body ached, my limbs trembling beneath the weight of exhaustion. Yet their doubt persisted. “The Alpha’s Challenge remains,” the councilwoman repeated, her voice as sharp as broken glass. “Valkyrie must fight to solidify her claim.” “No!" Ragnor’s voice boomed through the stillness. It was a growl, low and dangerous, vibrating through the air like thunder before a storm. The council turned toward him in unison, their faces a mix of surprise and calculation. The pack murmured below, the tension climbing like an approaching tempest. Ragnor stepped forward, his eyes glowing with the amber light of his wolf. “She’s proven herself. The Moon Goddess acknowledged her. What more do you want?” The councilwoman smirked. “Tradition demands—” “Enough!” Ragnor roared, his
Valkyrie: Last night’s battle still lingered vividly in my mind, yet I couldn’t remember how I ended up on this massive, plush bed, surrounded by the familiar scent of oud wood. “Ragnor’s chambers?” When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a room bathed in the amber hues of twilight. The soft light filtered through the curtains, casting long, golden shadows across the lavish furnishings. For a moment, I didn’t recognize where I was. But the scent—intimate and familiar—stirred my memories. This wasn’t the cold, cramped maid’s quarters I was used to. This was his room. “Ragnor’s...” I whispered, the realization sinking in. And then I felt it—strong arms wrapped around me, holding me close. His warmth was a barrier against the lingering chill of the night before. “Valkyrie,” Ragnor’s deep voice rumbled softly in my ear. I turned my head slightly, my gaze meeting his intense gray eyes. His face was etched with concern, the sharp lines of his jaw softened by an unm
ValkyrieEverything resumed.The wind sighed through the trees. Torches flickered. The warriors murmured among themselves, undisturbed.Nothing had changed.I stared at the ground where the drop had vanished into the dirt, my breath caught in my throat. No shift. No surge of power. No time stopping.Just… nothing.A slow, creeping sensation crawled up my spine. I turned the vial over in my hand, gripping it tighter.No. That couldn’t be right.“She said…” My voice came out hoarse. “She said it would work.”Grandfather sighed, his gaze heavy with something I couldn’t quite name—pity, perhaps. Or regret.“Luna,” he said softly, “you’ve been deceived.”The words struck like a slap. Cold. Sharp.I shook my head. “No,” I bit out. “She wouldn’t lie to me. Not about something like this.”Grandfather’s gaze didn’t waver, but there was undeniable sadness behind it.“Wouldn’t she?” he asked again.And this time, I didn’t know how to answer.I wanted to argue, to deny it, but doubt dug its claws
ValkyrieThe courtyard hummed with quiet activity.Warriors secured their packs, checked their weapons, and exchanged murmured farewells. The scent of damp earth and morning dew clung to the air, mingling with the distant smoke curling from the torches lining the walls."Everything ready?" I asked, spotting Dwayne near the front.He turned at the sound of my voice, nodding once. "Ready, Luna.""Good," I said. "We leave soon."He didn’t question me, didn’t linger. That was the way of our kind—efficient, focused. No wasted words. No hesitations.And yet, as I scanned the faces around me, my chest tightened.Where was Phanos?I told myself I wasn’t looking for him. That it didn’t matter. But I knew better.He should have been here.At least… to wave a final goodbye.I exhaled sharply, shaking my head. Damn, what am I thinking?"Pathetic," Genna’s voice growled in my mind, sharp and unrelenting. "You’re acting like a lost pup."I clenched my jaw, keeping my expression neutral. "I’m not."
ValkyrieI woke up the next morning with an ache—not in my body, but in my heart.For a moment, I lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting the weight of my decision settle over me like a thick fog.The room felt colder, emptier, as if something vital had been stripped away overnight.Outside, the pack was stirring. The sounds of warriors readying themselves for departure filtered through the stone walls—footsteps, murmured orders, the occasional clatter of weapons.But none of it mattered.Not yet.Because the only thing I could think about was the conversation from the night before—The way Phanos had looked at me and the unspoken words that lingered between us.I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the memory away.It didn’t matter now.I had made my choice."You made the wrong choice."Genna’s voice slithered into my mind before I even had the chance to sit up.I let out a slow breath, pressing my palms against my temples. “Not now, Genna.”“Yes, now,” she snapped. “Because I refuse
ValkyrieI felt… different.Not just in my body, but in my very soul.And I could feel how they watched me—all of them. Their gazes heavy with uncertainty, trying to decide whether I was something to be feared or revered.The golden markings on my skin still pulsed faintly, fading but never truly gone. Remnants of the power that had surged through me in the cavern.It had changed me.All of me.The magic hummed beneath my skin, restless and untamed, coiling like a living storm waiting to be unleashed. But beneath that power—beneath the awe and whispers—was something deeper.A weight.A burden."You feel it, Genna?" I whispered internally to my wolf.Genna purred in response, her voice laced with something akin to satisfaction. "Of course, I do. This is what we were always meant to become."Destiny.The word should have made me feel stronger, but instead, it pressed down on me like an iron chain."Prepare to face a more difficult task, Luna," Genna warned.I swallowed. Right.Power nev
Phanos The moment the word left Valkyrie’s lips, the air shifted. The shadows, once writhing and hungry, stilled. The suffocating weight of the Queen’s presence no longer pressed against my ribs like an iron cage. The cavern groaned, but the collapse halted, as if the world itself had been caught between destruction and something else. Silence settled, thick and charged. Then, the Queen of Darkness tilted her head ever so slightly, studying Valkyrie with an amused sort of curiosity. “How fascinating,” she murmured. “You strike a bargain, yet you do not ask for terms that serve you. Only them.” Her eyes flickered to me and the warriors still frozen in place. “Such a foolish, Little Heiress.” Valkyrie didn’t so much as flinch. “Then I suppose that makes us both fools. You need my power, don’t you?” The Queen’s smile was slow, curling like ink spilling through water. “So bold. You will learn, Child, that debts to me are not so easily forgotten.” With a flick of her wrist
PhanosThe roar didn’t just shake the cavern—it tore through it like the wrath of an ancient god.The ground trembled beneath my feet, fissures splintering across the rocky floor. Dust rained from the cracked ceiling, and the cavern walls groaned as if they, too, feared what was coming.My warriors stiffened, their instincts screaming at them to fight. But I knew—no steel, no fang, no strength of our own would be enough.A violent pulse rippled through the cavern.A tremor of pure, undiluted power."Alpha! What was that?!" Gamma Finn shot into the cavern, warriors trailing behind him, their weapons drawn."I don’t know!" I barked, tension coiling in my gut. "Stay alert!"Then, all at once, the answer revealed itself.At the center of the cavern, Valkyrie stood—glowing, trembling, alive with something beyond comprehension.Golden light pulsed from her in waves, her violet eyes burning like twin flames against the darkness. The mark on her skin shimmered, shifting, alive.Then—A tear s
PhanosI had never known fear like this.Valkyrie had been unconscious for too long. Too still. Too silent. It was unnatural—like she had been ripped from this world entirely.She lay motionless on the cavern’s cold stone floor, her hand outstretched toward the crystal—the same crystal that had burst with energy the moment she touched it. That force had knocked me back, sent waves of power crashing through the cavern, and now… she wouldn’t wake up."Valkyrie." My voice was tight with urgency, but she didn’t stir.I moved closer, kneeling beside her, pressing my fingers to her wrist. Her pulse was faint but steady. Still alive. Still breathing.But something was wrong.The air around her crackled, charged with an energy I couldn’t name. A shiver raced down my spine, and my wolf growled inside me, uneasy. The cavern itself seemed to react to her presence—the shadows stretching toward her, drawn to something unseen.Something had changed.And I had no idea how to bring her back."Come
ValkyrieThe energy surged through me like wildfire, setting every nerve ablaze. My feet lifted from the ground, drawn toward the floating crystal as if the very air had turned to liquid, pulling me deeper, closer.My wolf howled inside me, torn between instinctive fear and the irresistible call of something ancient—something meant for me."Valkyrie!" Phanos' voice rang through the chaos, but it was distant, muffled, as though I were submerged in another world entirely.The crystal pulsed, its glow intensifying, flooding my vision with violet light. The whispers morphed into voices—layered, echoing, a chorus of countless beings speaking as one.'Chosen. Claimed. Fated.'A sharp pain lanced through my chest, and suddenly, I was no longer in the cavern.Darkness engulfed me.Then—stars.Not the stars of the night sky, but brilliant, burning constellations spiraling in an endless abyss. I was floating in a void, weightless, untethered.And then, she appeared.A woman cloaked in shadow a
ValkyrieThe moment my foot crossed the threshold, the weight of something unseen pressed against my chest. It wasn’t just the drop in temperature—it was the undeniable sensation of something watching, waiting."Dwayne, do you sense it?" I asked, glancing at him.He nodded. "The power is immense, Luna.""Stay alert," I instructed."Always do."Dwayne moved closer as Grandfather led the way down the spiraling stone steps. The torches lining the walls flickered wildly as if protesting our presence. But we needed to stay focused."Afraid, Little Luna?" Phanos teased, but I didn’t respond.There was nothing I feared—except losing Ragnor and my pack. If this crystal could cure Ragnor and bring him back to me, I would be forever grateful."This is not a child’s game," Phanos whispered.I halted abruptly. "Enough, Alpha. Don’t make unnecessary noise," I snapped.But he only laughed, flashing a careless smile. How reckless can this Alpha be?"We’re almost there," Grandfather announced as we p