Valkyrie The quiet of the evening had settled over the house, but inside, my mind churned with unease. I sank deeper into the plush armchair by the window, trying to find comfort in the familiar surroundings, but the weight of everything pressing in on me made it impossible to relax. The dark woods stretched before me, endless and foreboding. Somewhere out there, rogues lingered—waiting, watching. And now Elder Orion’s warning about a greater danger had added a layer of tension that I couldn't shake. But it wasn’t just the rogues, or the looming threat of vengeance, that had my heart racing. It was something else—something I couldn’t name. A strange feeling, a flickering suspicion that something inside me had changed. Before I could unravel the thoughts swirling in my head, Nancy entered, her presence a welcome distraction. She bustled into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits, her usual cheeriness offering a sense of normalcy that I desperately needed. “You didn’t eat
Valkyrie The rogue’s wild eyes darted erratically around the room, yet they always returned to me. His gaze seemed to pierce through my very soul, as though he could see something hidden from others. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm, stepping instinctively in front of Nancy. “Nancy,” I said, my voice steady but low, “go get help. Now.” “But Val—” “Now!” I snapped, sharper this time. I was too afraid of losing her and... myself. Nancy hesitated, her eyes wide with fear, but she obeyed, darting out of the room. The rogue’s lips curled into a twisted smile as he watched her leave, his expression filled with a disturbing mix of triumph and mockery. “You’re brave,” he sneered, taking a deliberate step forward. “Braver than I expected for someone like you.” My fists clenched at my sides, nails biting into my palms. “Who sent you?” He chuckled, his grin widening to reveal crooked, yellowed teeth. "Oh, you’ll find out soon enough.
Valkyrie The howl outside faded into the distance, but its lingering chill remained, seeping into my bones. Ragnor’s hand on mine was a firm anchor, but his silence felt heavier than the night itself. Dr. Ellison stepped forward, her expression softened. "We’ve completed the tests and confirmed something significant, Madam. Congratulations! You’re... expecting a pup.” My world tilted, the weight of her words sinking in like a stone in deep water. I opened my mouth to speak, but no sound came out. A pup? Our pup? I instinctively placed a trembling hand on my abdomen, the rogue’s cryptic words echoing in my mind. So, did he know this too? I glanced at Ragnor, searching his face for a reaction, a glimmer of shared emotion. But instead of joy, relief, or even surprise, I saw something that made my heart falter—conflict. His jaw was tight, his eyes dark with an emotion I couldn’t place. Ragnor didn’t speak. He didn’t move. “Congratulations,” Dr. Harper said gently,
Ragnor The amber glow of the whiskey mocked me, catching the moonlight filtering through the window. I tipped the bottle back, letting the burn sear my throat, but no amount of alcohol could drown out the torment clawing at my sanity. Valkyrie's words lingered—relentless, accusing—as if the walls themselves whispered her pain back to me. I had walked away from her tonight, leaving behind not just the woman I swore to protect, but also the fragile hope of a future—the pup she carried. A curse. The word echoed in my mind like a taunt, twisting the whiskey in my stomach into a hollow ache. I slammed the bottle onto the desk, the glass rattling ominously against the wood. My chest tightened, the weight of inherited madness pressing down like an iron vice. The curse etched into my bloodline had stolen my father’s mind, leaving him a broken shell before his death. Now, it lingered in me, a beast clawing at the edges of my sanity, waiting for a moment of weakness. And now,
Valkyrie The moon hung heavy in the sky, its silvery glow spilling across the quiet forest outside my window. I stared at it, my hands pressed protectively against my belly, as if that alone could shield the life growing within me. Ragnor didn’t want us. The thought sliced through me like a dagger, its jagged edges reopening wounds I had tried to stitch together with hope. Ragnor’s rejection wasn’t just a refusal—it was a weight that settled deep in my chest, suffocating and relentless. I closed my eyes, willing away the sting of tears. Crying wouldn’t change anything. It wouldn’t make Ragnor stay. “I don’t need him,” I whispered, the words trembling as they left my lips. But even as I said it, my heart betrayed me. The truth was, I had always needed him—his strength, his warmth, the way his presence made me feel like I belonged, even when I was certain I didn’t. And yet, when I needed him the most, he had turned his back on me. On us. I glanced down at my belly,
Valkyrie Anna’s smile softened as she stepped closer, her voice adopting a syrupy sweetness. “You’re so brave, Madam Valkyrie,” she cooed, her tone dripping with false admiration. “To carry this burden alone—it’s admirable. Truly.” Her words were meant to comfort, but they carried an odd undertone I couldn’t quite identify. Still, I was too wrapped up in my own turmoil to notice the shift in her demeanor. “I don’t feel brave,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “I feel... lost.” Anna tilted her head, her dark eyes glinting in the dim light. “Sometimes, being lost is the first step to finding your true path.” Something about her tone made me glance at her sharply, but her expression remained carefully composed. She reached out as if to touch my arm, but I stepped back instinctively, clutching the journal tighter to my chest. Before Anna could say anything more, the door swung open abruptly. “Valkyrie,” Nancy’s familiar voice cut through the tension, tinged with s
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.
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
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