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
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
Valkyrie A sharp pulse of energy surged through my veins, and I gasped, doubling over as an unbearable heat spread beneath my skin. It was awakening against my will. The king watched me with rapt fascination, his golden eyes gleaming like victory has already his by now. "That's, My Dear. The last remnants that inside you." I forced myself upright, my breaths ragged. "I don't care whatever it is. But, one thing for sure... it doesn’t belong to you!" "Oh, but it does." He raised a hand then darkness radiated around like a mist. "You were never meant to keep it, Valkyrie. You were merely a vessel—a temporary holder of something far greater than yourself." I clenched my fists, fighting against the unseen force that pressing down on me. "If... if you think I’m just going to let you take it, then you’re even more delusional than Elyra was!" He chuckled. "Ah, but unlike Elyra, I do not intend to ask for it." A sudden wave of pressure slammed into me, stealing my bre
Valkyrie The darkness which swallowed me before now turned into something solid. The moment my feet touched it, o felt the suffocating presence of dark magic pressing against my skin like an unseen weight. It was everywhere, clinging to the very stones of the palace walls, seeping into the floors, the torches, the very fabric of this cursed place. "What the hell..." I muttered, barely audible. The cold biting into me despite the warmth of the flickering firelight that lined the grand hall. "Shhh... Valkyrie. Just enjoy the very moment." The king’s hand remained firm around my wrist, his grip unyielding, but not cruel. It was a claim. A reminder. "You feel it, don’t you?" His voice was smooth, almost amused, as he watched me take in my surroundings. "What have you done?" I shot back. I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of this strange energy. I remembered something. Back when Elyra has overcome her power and attacked me back then. "It's an art." "No! It's not!
Valkyrie “Ragnor!” I lunged toward him, but the crushing force only grew stronger, pinning me in place. It felt like a thousand invisible hands clawing at my limbs, pressing me down as if I were nothing more than an insect beneath the king’s gaze. Ragnor's body trembled, his hands clawing at the ground as if he were fighting something within himself. His breath came in short, ragged gasps. The king chuckled, stepping closer. “Such resistance. Admirable, really. But pointless.” Ragnor lifted his head, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought his teeth might shatter. "You…” he growled through gritted teeth, “will… never… control me.” The king sighed as if bored. Then, with a mere flick of his hand, an invisible force wrenched Ragnor off his knees, lifting him into the air. "Oh, how easily they break. Even an Alpha." His voice was smooth, taunting, as he watched Ragnor struggle against the invisible force crushing him to the ground. His smirk deepened, enjoying the way Ragnor’s bod
Valkyrie My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else. The worn leather of my sword hilt bit into my palm as I tightened my grip. The Lycan King. For the first time, I stood before him—not as a whisper of prophecy, not as a hunted shadow, but face to face. And I was not ready. Ragnor tensed beside me, his breathing sharp and controlled, but I could feel it—his barely restrained fury. His wolf burned just beneath the surface, clawing to break free. The king’s golden eyes swept over us, calm, assessing, as if he had all the time in the world. His lips curled slightly—not quite a smirk, not quite a sneer. Just the insufferable confidence of someone who had already won. “I must admit,” he mused, his voice smooth as silk. “I expected you to be dead by now.” Ragnor let out a low growl. “Disappointed?” The king chuckled. “Not at all. I do enjoy a challenge.” My throat felt dry. My body screamed for rest, wounds throbbing with every breath, but weakness was
Valkyrie Phanos cursed with a hoarse voice. "Damn it, Ragnor!" But Ragnor didn’t slow. His grip on my wrist was unyielding, his pace relentless as he pulled me away from the slaughter. I twisted back. "Phanos—!" He stood his ground, bloodied and breathing hard, a savage grin splitting his face. "Go!" A wave of corrupted warriors lunged at him. He met them head-on, claws tearing into flesh, his defiance a final, burning ember in the darkness. Ragnor yanked me forward. "We can’t—" "We have to!" His voice was raw. I fought against his grip, against the instinct clawing inside me to turn back, to fight. But there was no fight left to win. The cliff’s edge loomed closer. The moonlight shimmered off the abyss below—a sheer drop into nothingness. I realized what Ragnor intended a second too late. "Ragnor, no!" His arms locked around me, and then— We jumped. The world tilted, the roar of the wind swallowing my scream. The last thing I saw before darkness took us was Phanos—st
Valkyrie Phanos gritted his teeth. “We need to move. Now!” Ragnor didn’t hesitate. He grabbed my wrist, yanking me forward. His grip was firm but careful, guiding me through the maze of ruins. Phanos flanked my other side, his breath ragged but determined as we sprinted. Our boots kicked up dust, the scent of blood and decay really overwhelming.. “We need to shift!” Phanos shouted. “I can’t!” I gasped, frustration burning in my chest. Genna was gone. I could not shift in any other form. “You don’t need to, Honey. I’ve got you.” Before I could protest, Ragnor hoisted me into his arms, his strength effortless, his hold unshakable. Then he surged forward, moving with unnatural speed. Phanos shifted mid-stride, his massive wolf form hitting the ground with a heavy thud before bolting ahead. He tore through fallen stone and debris, carving a path as the ruins trembled behind us. A guttural snarl echoed through the night, followed by the chilling scrape of claws against r
Valkyrie The battlefield was a nightmare. The blood-magic warriors were relentless, their eyes glowing red, their bodies moving with unnatural speed. I had fought beasts before, but these creatures—these corrupted soldiers—were something else entirely. "It's part of the Hollow!" I shouted to Phanos, who rode beside me, his bow drawn. "The Hollow?" He loosed an arrow, piercing one of the warriors through the chest. The creature barely faltered. "Yes! A revelation of dark magic," I panted, parrying a blade aimed at my neck. "They’re dangerous!" Phanos cursed under his breath. "No kidding! These bastards won’t die." Another warrior lunged at me, its dagger coated in a dark, sickly glow. I dodged, slashing at its neck, only to watch in horror as the wound sealed within seconds. "This is impossible!" Phanos growled. "What kind of magic is this?" "A curse," I said, breathless. "One that twists warriors into something… else." "We need to fall back!" But even as he spoke
Valkyrie "Okay, now... let's get some sleep. Tomorrow will be a big day." Phanos turned away, his posture stiff. He didn’t look back, but I heard the crack in his voice. I took a step forward before he could disappear into the shadows. "Phanos." He stopped, his back still facing me. "What?" "You think we’ll survive this?" My voice was steadier than I felt. A heavy silence settled between us. Finally, he exhaled. "We don’t have a choice." I frowned. "That’s not an answer." At last, he turned to face me. His piercing blue eyes gleamed under the moonlight, cold and unreadable. "If you’re looking for reassurance, you won’t find it here, Valkyrie." His lips curled into something that might have been a smirk—if not for the emptiness behind it. "Get some rest. You’ll need it." Then he was gone, swallowed by the darkness. I let out a slow breath, my fingers tightening around the hilt of my sword. Sleep? As if that were possible. The King’s army was vast. Organized. I
ValkyriePhanos exhaled sharply and stepped back.“Enough for tonight. Go rest.”I blinked. “What?”“You heard me.” His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “Tomorrow, we ride to the central camp. We need more warriors.”I hesitated. “Phanos, I—”He turned away before I could finish. “You need to be at full strength.”That wasn’t what I meant, but the exhaustion in his voice told me there was no point in arguing. Still, unease curled in my stomach.“Phanos.”He paused but didn’t look at me.“What if… what if this war isn’t the answer?” My voice was quiet, but the weight of my words hung heavy between us."Then what is?”I opened my mouth, but no words came. Because I didn’t know."Tell me, Valkyrie. What’s the alternative? Let the king rip apart lives? Steal mates? Decide our fates like we’re nothing but pawns?”“No… it’s not necessarily like that—”“There is no other way, Val.”“Yeah… but…” I struggled to imagine how much blood would be spilled in this game of power."And I