Valkyrie I stormed through the packhouse corridors, my bare feet slapping against the cold stone floor. Anger boiled hotter with every step, a tempest roaring inside me, threatening to spill over. My wolf, usually quiet and subdued, stirred within me—a wild, unrelenting force that was both unfamiliar and exhilarating. How dare he? The image of Ragnor flashed through my mind: his haunted eyes, the whiskey bottle clutched in his hand, and that broken, tortured expression on his face. It was as if he dared me to walk away. To give up on him. To let him drown in the misery he seemed so determined to embrace. But I wasn’t going to let him. Not because of the mate bond, or because I craved his approval. No, this was something deeper—primal and unyielding. My wolf growled low in my mind, her energy surging like a rising tide. 'We are not weak,' she whispered. 'We are not his prey.' I shoved open the door to Dwayne's office without knocking. The heavy wood slammed
Valkyrie Ragnor’s expression darkened, shifting from confusion to disbelief, and finally to something raw and unguarded. His towering presence filled the room, his aura stifling, as though the air itself grew heavier with every passing moment. “You heard what, Valkyrie?” His voice was dangerously quiet—the calm before the storm. I met his gaze head-on, refusing to cower under his intensity. “Don’t play innocent, Ragnor.” My voice trembled, not with fear but with the rage I had kept bottled for far too long. “The whispers, the rumors—they said she was here. A woman. And she never left. Did you hide her?” His amber eyes widened briefly before narrowing, his jaw tightening as if to bite back words that could wound us both. “You think I would betray you?” His words were clipped, each one cutting like a shard of glass. “You already have!” I shouted, my fists trembling at my sides. “Maybe not with her, but every time you push me away, every time you drown yourself in guilt and self-
Valkyrie The tension between Ragnor and me stretched taut, like a storm waiting to break. The knock at the door shattered what little peace remained. “Come in,” Ragnor commanded. The door creaked open, revealing Dwayne. He stepped inside, his gaze briefly flickering between us before settling on Ragnor. “Apologies for the interruption, Alpha,” Dwayne began, his tone steady despite the weight of his words. “We’ve found traces of the spy—the one who fled earlier. Anna.” I froze, the name sending a chill down my spine. Anna. That woman. “What about her?” Ragnor demanded, his posture rigid, his authority filling the room. “She was sighted near the southern border,” Dwayne reported. “Our scouts picked up her trail, but someone helped her cover her tracks before we could intercept her. There’s more.” He hesitated, glancing at me as if debating whether to continue. “Speak freely,” Ragnor barked, his patience visibly thinning. Dwayne nodded. “The trail didn’t just lead to her escape.
ValkyrieRagnor’s words were fierce, resolute, but there was a shadow of fear in his voice. It wasn’t like him to falter—not even for a moment—and the crack in his composure unsettled me.“I want to believe you, Ragnor,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. “But trust isn’t something that can be given—it has to be proven. If you want me to stand by you, to fight with you, I need more than just promises.”His jaw tightened, and for a fleeting second, a flicker of hurt crossed his face before he masked it with his usual stoicism. “What do you need from me?”I hesitated, my heart hammering in my chest. “The Reclaiming Ceremony.”He stiffened, his eyes narrowing with an edge of apprehension. “Valkyrie—”“No,” I interrupted, cutting him off before he could continue. “No more delays, no more excuses. If you want to prove that you’re committed to me and to our bond, then stand before the pack and claim me as your Luna. Publicly. Without hesitation.”His gaze locked onto mine, the inten
Valkyrie The rest of the ceremony unfolded in a blur. Smiling faces surrounded me, cheering voices filled the air, and Ragnor’s steady hand in mine was a comforting anchor. Yet, beneath the surface, unease gnawed at me, a hidden predator waiting to strike. I forced a smile, nodding and murmuring polite responses as pack members approached to congratulate us. My hands trembled slightly, and the ghost of that haunting voice continued to echo in my ears. “Are you all right?” Ragnor leaned in, his deep voice low enough that only I could hear. “I’m fine,” I lied, the smile on my lips brittle. “Just... overwhelmed.” His sharp eyes studied me, his brow furrowing slightly. For a moment, I thought he might press further, but instead, he nodded. “Let’s enjoy tonight. You deserve this.” “Yes... yes, of course,” I stammered. “You go ahead. I’ll join you in a moment.” Ragnor hesitated but eventually nodded, releasing my hand and stepping away to mingle with the pack. The celebration continu
Ragnor The sudden tension in the air snapped me out of the haze of desire, my chest tightening as the weight of my emotions shifted in an instant. Valkyrie pulled away from me, her brow furrowed, concern lacing her voice. “Ragnor, what’s wrong?” she asked again, her eyes searching mine. I didn’t want to worry her, but I could feel something deep within me stirring—something that wasn’t my own. Something insistent. “I…” I started, but my words faltered. I glanced toward the window, toward the vast expanse of the packlands that lay beyond the walls of the packhouse. My senses stretched, reaching for something I couldn’t quite grasp. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and then I felt it. Her presence. Elyra. The nymph’s call had echoed in my mind like a pulse, sharp and demanding, a beckoning I couldn’t ignore. She had always known how to reach me—how to pull me in with her wiles, her beauty, and the strange, dangerous power she wielded over me. I clenched my j
Ragnor I didn’t return to the packhouse immediately. In the silence that followed Elyra’s departure, I stood at the edge of the clearing, staring into the darkness. The night felt colder now, as though the very air had shifted in response to her presence. Elyra’s touch still lingered on my skin, an oppressive reminder of how easily she could break me down. “Fuck!” I cursed under my breath. No matter how strong her pull, I couldn’t go back to her. I couldn’t—not after everything that had happened. Everything I had fought for. Valkyrie. She was my heart, my future. And Elyra? She was a mistake—one I should never have made in the first place. “What should I do now?” I muttered to myself, but no answer came. “Break the bond, you idiot!” Walden, my wolf, snapped at me. “As if it’s that easy, Walden!” I shot back. “You just don’t want to find another way,” he retorted sharply. “Shut up, Walden!” I yelled, though I knew his words stung because they were true. His bit
Ragnor I clawed at the ground, my breaths ragged and shallow. The beast inside me roared, desperate for freedom, but I held on—barely. Every ounce of willpower I had left was spent clinging to the man I used to be. For Valkyrie. Her face flickered in my mind—a fleeting moment of warmth in the cold, consuming void. But even that thread of hope was slipping through my fingers. Elyra’s laugh echoed through the clearing, sharp and mocking, slicing through my resolve like a blade. “Oh, Ragnor,” she crooned, her voice thick with mockery. “Why fight it? You can’t escape what you are.” I snarled, baring my teeth, but the sound that escaped me wasn’t human. It was raw, guttural—born of rage and pain. “It was a damn mistake to trust you!” I growled, though my voice sounded foreign, warped by the beast clawing its way to the surface. Elyra’s smile widened, satisfaction dancing in her eyes. “Trust? Oh, Ragnor, I never asked for that. I offered help. But perhaps you should surrender no
ValkyrieSeveral months had passed, and the pack had begun to heal. The scars of war, betrayal, and loss remained, but they no longer defined us. Ragnor and I had dedicated ourselves to rebuilding—training warriors, strengthening alliances, and ensuring that no remnants of the darkness' influence remained.Yet, even as we rebuilt, I knew the darkness hadn’t disappeared. It still lingered, waiting for an opportunity to strike back. But I had come to understand something vital. Darkness and light would always exist. The world had never been about one triumphing over the other—it had always been about balance. And we stood in the middle, neither bound by one nor fully belonging to the other.And that… that was our greatest strength.One Year LaterDespite the uncertainties that still loomed, life moved forward.And today, as I held my son in my arms, I knew with every fiber of my being—no darkness, no past, no lingering curse could steal this moment from me.He was beautiful.His t
Valkyrie My voice broke as my wolf stepped forward, her silver fur gleaming under the dim light, eyes glowing with the fire of our shared soul. She let out a soft, knowing whimper before bounding toward me. The moment she pressed against me, I felt whole again, as if a part of me that had been lost was finally back where it belonged. "I thought—I thought I lost you forever." Genna nuzzled against me, her warmth seeping into my skin. 'You fought for me. You never gave up on me.' I swallowed hard, my throat thick with emotion. "Neither did you." Behind me, Ragnor let out a breath of relief, his strong hand resting on my shoulder. "Looks like fate isn’t done with you yet." The Dark Queen crossed her arms, watching us with something unreadable in her expression. "Consider it a parting gift. A second chance, if you will." I stood, wiping at my eyes before turning to her. "Why help me?" Her smirk returned, but there was something almost… fond in the way s
Valkyrie A soft breeze brushed against my skin, warm and comforting, unlike anything I had ever felt before. The scent of wildflowers filled the air, and as I opened my eyes, I was met with an endless expanse of golden light. The sky stretched endlessly above me, not blue, not dark—just a vast, peaceful glow that seemed to pulse with life. I sat up slowly, my body strangely light, as if the crushing weight of pain and exhaustion had been stripped away. My hands roamed over myself, expecting wounds, expecting the lingering sting of death—but there was nothing. No pain. No darkness. Was I… dead? "You finally woke up." "Who… are you?" My own voice sounded distant, fragile. A gentle voice welcomed me, drawing my attention. I turned to find a woman clad in flowing white robes, her presence radiating a soft, ethereal glow that blended seamlessly with the world around us. Her hair shimmered like spun silver, cascading in waves that caught the light, and her eyes—va
Valkyrie "Dark… Queen?" I murmured, barely believing what I was seeing. "Hello again, Little Creature," she mused, her voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed through the vast hall as if the walls themselves whispered her words back. The King’s growl rumbled deep in his chest. His eyes blazed with fury. "Get back to where you belong, or you will regret this!" He lifted a hand, summoning a crackling wave of energy. It surged forward, the force so strong it made the air tremble. But she didn’t flinch. With a flick of her wrist, the shockwave shattered midair, dissolving into nothing. The effortless display of power made my stomach twist. She laughed with a mocking sound. "Weak." The king’s snarl ripped through the space between them. "What have you done?" "Nothing." The queen’s voice was laced with amusement, yet there was something deeper—something cold and calculated. Fury overtook him. His body twisted, bones cracking, shadows surging as he shifted midair. Mu
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