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
Valkyrie The faint voice rippled through my mind like a whisper in the dark, so soft I almost missed it. “Valkyrie…” I froze, my breath catching as I strained to hear it again. But the forest around me was eerily silent, the only sounds the rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets. Was it real? Or just my imagination? “Nancy,” I called, glancing at the maid walking a few paces behind me. She was carrying a lantern, its soft glow casting flickering shadows over the dense woods. “Did you hear that?” “Hear what, My Luna?” Nancy asked, her brow furrowed in concern. “A voice… calling my name.” Nancy’s eyes widened slightly, but she quickly masked her reaction. “Perhaps it’s just the wind,” she offered. “These woods can play tricks on the mind.” But I knew better. Since awakening my wolf, my senses had sharpened in ways I was only beginning to understand. Nancy now called me Luna, and so did everyone else. Since my reclaiming ceremony yesterday, everything
Valkyrie I didn't answer immediately, but I intentionally played a nerve war with her. “You heard me,” I said, stepping closer. My voice was calm but laced with the steel of conviction. “Now, kneel, Dowager. It’s the least you can do for your true Luna.” Her lips parted as though to retort, but no words came out. The commanding aura I now wielded had rendered her speechless. For the first time, the woman who had always loomed over me looked small, vulnerable. "That's.... how's that's possible? After all these years." "The Moon Goddess' blessing, of course." I chuckled darkly. "She finally reward me for my patience." The Luna Dowager stepped back, clutching the edge of the sofa for balance. I could feel that she might never think about my response. And, my awakening wolf? Not everyone knows about that. But, I would declare it soon. "Y—you think awakening your wolf makes you invincible?” she sneered, though her voice wavered, trembling slightly. “No,” I repli
ValkyrieI closed my eyes, surrendering to whatever might come next. Darkness swallowed me whole, and pain lanced through my body, scraping me from the inside out.My strength ebbed away, and the sound of my wolf’s cries faded into the void.Ragnor’s monstrous roar echoed around me, his claws descending with the weight of fury and madness.No. He’s not Ragnor. He’s a total beast now. And yet... my love would never hurt me.I’m going to die soon.As I braced for the impact, a fragile hope formed in my heart."Ragnor, my love."I whispered, praying he would hear me somehow.But it was all in vain.His roar grew louder, and I heard the harsh clank of his metallic claws as they neared.Strangely, the killing blow never came.A sudden burst of light erupted, blinding and searing, forcing the shadows around us to recoil with a shriek.The darkness I felt shattered like fragile glass, and I tumbled to the ground, gasping for breath.When my vision cleared, I saw her.A Nymph.Or perhaps...
ValkyrieI had no choice but to slow my pace and retreat.Stumbling back toward the packhouse, my mind raced with thoughts of Ragnor—no, the beast—and everything I had failed to do.The night air felt colder than usual, its chill biting through my skin. The thought of losing Ragnor was unbearable—the worst thing I had ever experienced.“I wish he’d never vanished that night.”Regret clawed at me, a relentless ache that wouldn’t let go. If only I had followed him, or better yet, kept him from leaving—leashed him to me so he couldn’t have answered Elyra’s call in the woods. Maybe he’d still be here with me now.A sinking feeling told me that Ragnor’s disappearance was tied to the Nymph Queen’s spell, but I needed proof. I had to justify it somehow.The packhouse loomed in the distance, its shadow stretching over the path ahead. Though it once offered comfort, it felt foreign to me now—a hollow monument to what I had lost.It had been a sanctuary, a place where I felt safe and loved und
ValkyrieThe elder’s sharp gaze lingered on me, scrutinizing every flicker of hesitation in my expression."I... I..." I stammered, feeling as if the weight of the ancient secrets within the library was pressing down on me. The flickering candlelight cast ominous shadows, amplifying my unease.“Speak, Luna Valkyrie!" the elder commanded, his voice steady yet heavy with authority. “What has brought you here in such urgency?”"Watch your words, Fanning!" Dwayne growled, his tone sharp as a blade.I raised a hand to stop him. "I'm fine, Dwayne," I reassured, though my voice wavered."Don't raise your voice to her! She’s our Luna!" Dwayne snapped back, his protective instinct flaring.The elder stiffened, his posture rigid. Perhaps he had realized his error, but I didn’t want this tension. Dwayne’s loyalty, though fierce, only added to the burden I already carried.“I apologize for my recklessness, Luna,” Fanning said, bowing his head. His voice was calmer now, but I could feel the unspo
Valkyrie Nancy’s grip on my arm turned bruising. “No!" Orin stepped closer, his eyes wild. “Luna, think this through—” “I have,” I cut in. “If I don’t, he’ll kill you all.” Aetherin smirked. “How refreshingly reasonable.” Nancy shook her head violently. “No! That’s not how this works. You don’t just—” “It’s the only way,” I said, forcing my voice to stay calm. “If we fight now, we lose.” Orin gritted his teeth. “And if you go with him, we still lose you.” I turned to him, pressing my hand to his chest. “Not forever.” I prayed that was true. Aetherin clapped his hands once. “Enough sentimentality. Come, Luna.” Nancy moved in front of me. “You’re not taking her.” Aetherin’s gaze darkened, and with a flick of his wrist, a wave of force slammed into her, sending her skidding back. Orin lunged for him, but the rogues closed in, weapons drawn, stopping him in his tracks. Aetherin sighed. "I grow tired of this. Walk, Valkyrie. Or I’ll make you.” I took a sh
Valkyrie We were ready to strike. Because, ready or not, we had to. Nancy tightened her grip on her dagger, her breath steady despite the chaos unraveling around us. The warrior beside us cursed under his breath, shifting his stance as more glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. A guttural snarl ripped through the air, and then—movement. The first attacker lunged. I barely had time to react before sharp claws slashed through the space where I had been standing just seconds ago. I twisted my body, dodging the blow, and in the same breath, I struck back. My blade sliced through fur and flesh, a sharp yelp following as the creature staggered back. Nancy was already moving, her dagger flashing under the torchlight. She drove it deep into another attacker’s side, using the momentum to kick off a tree and land behind them, positioning herself for another strike. The warrior fought beside us, his sword cutting through the air with precision. But there were too many. For
ValkyrieNancy’s fingers twitched at her sides and I barely breathe normally.We didn’t stand a chance if it came down to a fight.Maybe. The taller of the two guards took another step forward. His eyes narrowed as he studied us. “What do we have here?” His voice was laced with mild amusement, but there was no mistaking the authority in his stance.The second guard scoffed. “A couple of omegas sneaking out to the market?” He folded his arms over his chest. “You do realize there’s a curfew, don’t you?”Nancy stiffened beside me, but I reached out, grabbing her wrist in warning. Not yet.I lowered my head slightly, keeping my hood pulled forward to hide my face. “We—” I hesitated, schooling my voice into something softer, weaker. “We just needed to get some supplies.”The taller guard let out a sharp breath, clearly unimpressed. “The market’s closed. Whatever you think you need, you can get in the morning—with permission.” His gaze flicked between us. “Now, turn around and go back
ValkyrieNancy snapped her fingers in front of my face. “Oh no, don’t you dare let that venomous snake get inside your head.”I blinked, forcing myself to shake off the lingering chill of the Luna Dowager’s words.“I’m fine,” I muttered, though my grip on the chair’s edge said otherwise.Nancy scoffed. “Liar. You’re standing there, brooding, exactly how she wants you to.”I exhaled sharply and turned away, pacing to the other side of the room. “I just—” I shook my head. “She’s trying to get in my head.”“And you’re letting her,” Nancy shot back, hands on her hips. “Come on, Valkyrie, you’re smarter than that.”I dragged my hands through my hair. “She’s Ragnor’s mother, Nancy. She knows him better than anyone.”Nancy rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. “And? That doesn’t mean she knows what’s in his heart. She just knows how to manipulate people.”I sighed, frustration twisting inside me. “I need to go after him. We don’t have time for this.”Nancy perked up. “Final
ValkyrieIt had been three days since Ragnor left for the capital. Three long days of silence. No messages. No news. Nothing.I kept telling myself it was normal—that he was busy, that things were complicated—but deep down, something felt off. A gut-wrenching unease that refused to leave me alone.I stood by the window of my chambers, staring out at the dense forest stretching beyond the pack’s borders. The wind carried the scent of damp earth and pine, but it did nothing to settle my nerves.A knock at the door startled me.Nancy stepped inside. She had been watching me these past few days, no doubt noticing how restless I had become.“You’re brooding again,” she said, crossing her arms. “That’s never a good sign.”I sighed. “I can’t shake this feeling, Nancy. Something’s wrong.”She arched a brow. “You don’t know that.”“I do.” I turned away from the window. “Ragnor should’ve sent word by now. If he were fine, he would have.”Nancy hesitated, then walked over and perched on the edge
Ragnor The guards tensed as I shifted back, their grips tightening on their weapons. My body ached from the wounds Phanos had inflicted, blood dripping down my side, but I kept my posture firm. The captain’s gaze flickered over me, assessing. "Complicated, huh?" His tone was dry, but his wariness was clear. "Explain. Now." Seraphine stepped forward, her crimson eyes flashing with irritation. "We were ambushed, Captain. Do you not see the blood? The arrows?" She gestured at the shattered quiver still lodged in the carriage. "Your enemy is out there, not in here." The captain studied her, then turned his attention back to me. "And you? Who are you?" I smirked, though my ribs protested. "You really don’t know?" Alistair sighed beside me. “Ragnor—” I ignored him and spoke for myself. “I’m the Alpha of the Bluefire Pack. You’ve heard of me.” The captain crossed his arms, unimpressed. “I’ve heard of Alpha Ragnor. But you? You’re just a half-naked man covered in blood,
RagnorI growled as Phanos nocked another arrow, his aim unwavering.I lunged, but his shot was faster."What kind of werewolf fights with a bow?" I barked, dodging to the side.He didn't answer. Another arrow whistled past, grazing my ear. Pain flared, warm blood trickling down my neck.I bared my fangs. "You coward!"Phanos snorted, unimpressed."Coward? No. Just practical. A beast like you isn’t worth wasting my claws on."I narrowed my eyes, assessing him. He was strong, fast—but something was off. His stance, his expression... He didn’t look at me like a rival. He looked at me like I was just another enemy.It clicked.He didn’t know who I was.Phanos thought I was someone else.His next words confirmed it."The King’s dogs are persistent, I’ll give you that," he sneered, lowering his bow slightly. "Tell your master his orders mean nothing here."The King’s dogs.So that’s what this was. He thought I was working for the crown.Amusement flickered beneath my fury."You have no ide
RagnorAlistair’s cryptic remark sent a surge of irritation through me.I clenched my fists around the reins, my wolf stirring uneasily beneath my skin. The smug look on his face made me want to tear into him, to demand answers—but I knew better than to play into his games."Don't be so upset. It’s not that bad," he added, his voice laced with amusement.I shot him a glare. "Shut the fuck up, fat man!"Then, without waiting for a response, I urged my horse forward, widening the distance between us. The less I had to hear his nonsense, the better."Excuse meee?" he bellowed.I smirked but didn’t bother looking back. Let him fume."Hey, Alpha!"Seraphine's voice rang out from the carriage. One problem barely left, and another arrived.I exhaled sharply, gripping the reins tighter as the wheels of the carriage rattled over uneven terrain."Alpha," Seraphine called again, her tone smoother this time, but I didn't care.Of course, I ignored her. The last thing I needed was another headache
Ragnor Valkyrie’s face softened at my words. That was enough for now. I needed to convince her—not make things worse. "Chop chop! Off we go!" Seraphine’s voice cut in, sharp and impatient. I exhaled harshly, resisting the urge to snap at her. There was no point in delaying any longer. "Baby, I need to go," I whispered, pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. "Right now?" Her voice trembled, her fingers clutching onto me as if she could hold me in place. "Yes," I murmured, my heart aching with the weight of it. Valkyrie’s breath hitched, and she shook her head, her grip tightening on my cloak. “Not yet… Just a little longer.” Her desperation made my chest ache. I cupped her face, my thumbs tracing the curve of her cheekbones. “If I could stay, I would.” Her lips parted, but no words came immediately. She was fighting it, swallowing down the emotions threatening to spill over. “You always say that, but you always leave.” Guilt hit me like a fist to the ribs. "I have