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
ValkyrieMy stubbornness only led to chaos.The glow in the room intensified, crackling with raw, unrestrained energy as the whispers swelled into a deafening roar.It wasn’t just Ragnor’s voice anymore—others, darker and more twisted, clawed relentlessly at my mind.The bond between us burned in my chest, a searing, all-consuming pain that made me clutch at my heart."Luna!" Dwayne's grip tightened around my arm, his eyes wild with desperation. "We have to go now!"But I couldn’t move.The bond wasn’t just calling to me—it was pulling me, tethering me to something far beyond this room, beyond reason itself.A piercing scream tore through the air, and the glow exploded outward, a shockwave throwing everyone to the ground.I shielded my face as the ancient stone walls quaked, dust and debris raining down like an unrelenting storm.Then, silence.I opened my eyes to see the elders scrambling to their feet, their faces etched with fear.The glow had condensed into a singular orb, floatin
ValkyrieThe chamber’s dim light flickered, casting long, eerie shadows across the fractured walls.My body ached, the strain of the battle with Elyra’s magic weighing heavy on my soul. Yet, in my arms, Ragnor lay limp, his breaths shallow but steady.“That’s all that matters now...” I murmured, a flicker of contentment rising in my heart.The bond between us pulsed faintly, like an ember struggling against the wind.“This is strange...”I pressed my hand against my chest, trying to feel it again, trying to connect to the warmth I had always known. But something was off. The bond was weaker than before.“What’s going on? Genna... what do you think?”“I think... it’s because of Elyra’s magic, Valkyrie,” my wolf answered, her voice weary but steady.I nodded. That made sense.Elyra’s claim wasn’t an empty threat. Whatever her magic had done, it had left its mark—not just on Ragnor but on me, on us.“It’s still there, isn’t it?” I whispered, desperate for reassurance.“Yes, Valkyrie. We
Valkyrie“Plan?” I shot Fanning a glare, rising to my feet, my body trembling with fury. “What kind of plan can you come up with when every second I waste here, he’s slipping further away?”Dwayne stepped forward, his expression firm but tinged with worry.“Luna, this isn’t just about rushing after him. Whatever force has claimed him is older than us, older than any magic we’ve encountered. If you run into this blindly, you might not make it back either.”“I don’t care!” I snapped. “I’ll burn the entire realm to the ground if that’s what it takes to get him back!”“Then you’ll be playing right into their hands,” Fanning said gravely. “Whoever—whatever—has him wants you to act recklessly. You’re connected to him. If you fall into their trap, they’ll have both of you. The bond makes you vulnerable, Luna Valkyrie.”I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as tears of frustration burned my eyes. Deep down, I knew he was right, but the thought of doing nothing, of standing sti
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