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
Valkyrie"You heard me," Dowager said with a smirk.The air left my lungs as if she had struck me. I staggered back, trying to breathe. “What are you talking about?”She turned toward the ancient book she had pulled from the shelf, her fingers tracing the faded symbols on the cover.Luna Dowager’s voice was measured as she continued to explain.“The curse on Ragnor isn’t just madness—it’s vengeance,” she began, her sharp eyes locking onto mine. “Centuries ago, our clan destroyed a powerful witch and her coven, believing their magic would reward us with eternity. But in her dying breath, the witch cursed our bloodline. Every Alpha born since has been marked, destined to spiral into madness as retribution. It is not a sickness that can be cured, Valkyrie. It is a punishment, etched into his very soul.”I stiffened, the revelation sinking in like a dagger. “So... that’s why... you took me from the very start?”"Yes. You are... special. And I have come to a conclusion that only your wolf
ValkyrieI stared at Luna Dowager, her sharp words sinking into me like daggers.My wolf, Genna, stirred restlessly within me, sensing the weight of the impossible decision being forced upon us.“I can’t…” My voice was barely a whisper. “I can’t just give up my wolf. She’s… she’s everything I am.”Luna Dowager’s eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a cold, calculating smile. “You think you have the luxury of clinging to that part of yourself? You think you have time to hope for another solution? You don’t, Valkyrie. Ragnor doesn’t.”Ragnor.My Alpha.She knew exactly how to twist the knife.“Genna... what do you think?” I whispered, seeking my wolf’s guidance, but all I felt was her anguished howl, her pain mirroring mine.“I know... I know…” I murmured, trying to soothe her, my hands instinctively cradling my belly. The faint life stirring within me was a cruel reminder of what was at stake.It wasn’t just Ragnor.It wasn’t just me.It was all of us.“How can you stand there and dem
ValkyrieTasya only smirked at my trembling voice, her eyes cold with amusement. Disbelief churned with fury as I stared at her.She had once been our beta—punished and locked in the dungeon for her disloyalty before vanishing months ago."We had a feeling you'd joined the rogues... but we never confirmed it until today," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I never thought you could betray Ragnor like this.""He's the one who betrayed me first!" she spat. "By choosing you as his Luna. That's enough talking!""It was the Moon Goddess who paired us!""And he rejected you," she snarled. "But there he was, reclaiming you as if I’m nothing!""It’s not about you, Tasya!" I shot back, fury burning in my eyes. "Why don’t you trust our creator? Don’t let your personal grudge destroy this pack!"“My personal grudge?” Tasya laughed bitterly, stepping closer. The rogues flanked her, their crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark. “Oh, Valkyrie, you still don’t see it, do you? This isn’
Valkyrie“No, I need to finish this!” I protested, staggering to my feet as searing pain radiated through my side. Yet Nancy’s grip was unyielding. “Luna, listen to me!” Nancy hissed urgently, pulling me further away from the melee. “Your strength matters—but your life matters more. The pup, too. We cannot lose you now!”I gritted my teeth, torn between my duty to our pack and the desperate need to end Tasya’s treachery.Behind me, Dwayne and the others clashed fiercely with the rogue wolves. The snarls, the clashing of teeth and claws, and the desperate cries of “Luna!” interwove into a terrifying symphony of war.Tasya advanced on Dwayne, her voice rising above the din. “You’re in my way, Fool! I’ll cut you down if it means claiming what’s mine!” she roared.Dwayne parried Tasya's strike with his forearm and shouted back, “We serve the pack, Tasya—not your twisted ambition!”Their fight exploded into a flurry of furious blows. I could not hold back my anger and frustration at witne
ValkyrieThe beast’s eyes—once a warm, molten amber—now glowed crimson, locked onto me with predatory intent. Ragnor’s massive form towered over the clearing, his claws dripping with the blood of Tasya’s brother. His snarl vibrated through the earth, primal and unhinged. “Ragnor, please—” I choked out, stumbling backward, desperate to reach his consciousness. But he didn’t falter. He lunged. I barely dodged, his claws slicing through my sleeve instead of my throat. The force of his swing sent me sprawling into the dirt. Pain exploded in my ribs, but I scrambled to my feet, Genna’s power surging in my veins like wildfire. “Luna, run!” Nancy screamed from the sidelines, her voice raw and urgent. She had dragged herself behind a jagged boulder, clutching her injured arm. “I'll fight him!" “No!” I couldn't let Nancy be in danger. Not her. Not anyone. “I've got this!” “No, don’t risk the pup!” I hesitated. My breath hitched. Could I risk the life growing inside me? The c
ValkyrieElyra’s vines tightened around Tasya’s throat, her smile a blade against my resolve.Tasya’s gurgling screams filled the air. Ragnor’s crimson gaze flickered again, a flash of amber piercing through the beast’s fury.He was fighting her.“Tick-tock, Valkyrie,” Elyra singsonged, her thorns digging deeper into Tasya’s flesh. “Your pack or your mate? Such a delicious dilemma.”I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. The clearing blurred—Dwayne’s limp form half-buried under rogues, Nancy’s sobs echoing from the boulder, Ragnor’s trembling jaws dripping with saliva… or tears.What could I possibly do?“I choose,” I rasped, caressing my belly, “neither.”As the words left my lips, Genna’s light erupted—not from my hands, but from my core. A shockwave of silver tore through the clearing, shredding Elyra’s vines like paper.I crashed to the ground, gasping, as the light spiraled outward, searing the rogues to ash.Elyra staggered back, her starless eyes widening. “What—?”The light coale
ValkyriePain lanced through my body as Ragnor’s claws drove deeper into my shoulder. I gasped, my vision blurring. My mate—no, the thing Elyra had twisted him into—loomed over me, his breath hot against my cheek. The bond between us flickered, weak but present, like a dying ember struggling for air. I reached for it. For him. “Ragnor,” I choked, my fingers trembling as they touched his chest. “This isn’t you.” He stiffened. For a split second, something in his gaze shifted. The crimson faltered, a thin ring of amber struggling against the darkness. But then— Elyra laughed. “Oh, Valkyrie,” she purred, twirling a strand of midnight hair around her finger. “Why do you keep fighting the inevitable?” She lifted her hand, and the black veins crawling over Ragnor’s body pulsed. His muscles twitched violently. His breath hitched, and his grip on my shoulder tightened. Elyra’s magic was still inside him. Still controlling him. No—not controlling. Destroying. I
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