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Chapter 9. Desperation to survive
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 10. The Alpha’s crest
WILLA’S POV I stared at her. She stared back, her eyes filled with rage. Last night’s victory was still fresh, but the lingering hatred from the guards clung to the air like smoke. Especially Marcos, who seemed to think he could get away with murdering me. The blond-haired one was indifferent, but the rest? They wanted blood. My blood. But the goddess had her whims, and it seemed she was on my side—at least for now. All that vanished the moment I opened the door to answer the Alpha’s call, only to find her standing in my way. I’d never seen her before, but she wasn’t a maid—that much was obvious. "You need—" Her hand cracked across my cheek before I could finish. I blinked, the sting sharp and quick. Did she just slap me? “What the hell is your problem?” I hissed, feeling the burn on my skin but refusing to flinch. She was angry, that much was clear, but why? I didn’t have the time or patience to figure it out. Her eyes flashed with hatred as she snarled, “I
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 11. Captured for the wrong reason
WILLA’S POV The red wolf prowled in the packhouse garden below, its fur gleaming like fire in the sunset’s dying light. My throat felt parched. That wolf—it was the same one that had saved me from the female hunter. There was no mistaking it. The dire wolf. A noise behind me shattered my thoughts, and when I looked back, the wolf was gone, nothing but the rustling leaves left in its wake. It must have vaulted over the fence. Maybe. “Is something wrong?" the old librarian asked. "N-no," I stammered, quickly kneeling to gather the fallen books. Could it really be the same wolf? Had it followed me here somehow? Once I had the books back in order, I picked one at random and moved toward a quiet corner, a little nook tucked away from the main aisles. It wasn’t much, but it offered a semblance of privacy—a place where I could focus. The first few books yielded nothing about the curse I sought. By the time I reached the fourth, night had fallen and the old man had lo
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 12. Little miss assassin
NOX’s POV I growled, shoving my wolf's voice to the back of my mind. This had become a nightly ritual—demanding things I wasn’t willing to entertain. But tonight was different—too much. A slow rasp on the door interrupted my struggle. "It's past bedtime already, Hunt," I groaned, running a hand through my sweat-dampened hair. My Beta, ever the picture of calm, strode in any way. His eyes roved over my bare chest, taking in the sheen of sweat. "You weren't in your study," he said simply. I sprawled dramatically across the chair. "Am I not allowed to rest?" Hunt's brow arched. "Resting, huh? And the sweating…?” A smirk tugged at my lips. "Oh, you know, the usual. Nightmares about paperwork, visions of council meetings, the crushing weight of responsibility. Or perhaps I've taken up midnight calisthenics. Who can say, really?" "Uh-huh," Hunt's gaze flicked to the bed, then back to me. "And I suppose that's why your scent is practically choking the bedroom? Strong
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 13. Bleed to death
WILLA’s POV Two days had passed since the incident, and the Alpha hadn’t summoned me—not that I gave a damn about his whims. But he’d saved my life after all. I hadn’t crossed paths with him either, not even a glimpse of his brooding, cold stare. Good. Maybe the last thing I needed was another reminder that I wasn't a member of this pack. My memory of that night was fragmented, like shards of a broken mirror— The bastard’s fists, the sharp smack against my face, and a voice in the back of my mind urging me to stop, to think for once. But I hadn't. Of course, I hadn’t. I couldn't even remember much after that. Only the blurred image of the crest … somehow, that little trinket was important enough to keep me alive—or at least alive enough for their precious Vad to see. Apparently, it was enough to keep me alive. For now. Now here I was, ribs aching like they'd been cracked by a sledgehammer, and my jaw felt like someone had dug holes into both sides of it. The bruises ha
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 14. An unexpected visit
WILLA’s POV I stared at my reflection in the cracked mirror, grimacing at the sight of my soaked clothes clinging to my body. The room I'd been "allowed" to stay in was as bare as a prisoner's cell, and certainly didn't come with a wardrobe full of options. For days, I'd been washing the same outfit each night, wearing it again the next day like some kind of uniform of shame. But there was no way in hell I was going to meet the Alpha looking like a drowned rat. Even if it meant swallowing my pride and facing the one person in this godforsaken pack who might hate me more than I hated myself. Gaia. I knew it was a bad idea before I even left my room, but desperation makes fools of us all. And whatever Gaia's reasons for hating me, I knew she wasn't like the others. She'd been hurt that day. I wasn’t sure why, but I suspected it had something to do with the poison. Hunt had nearly died because of it—her stepbrother, if the whispers I'd caught around the packhouse were tr
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 15. Poor predictable Eamon
NOX’s POV I strode into the receiving room, my footsteps echoing against the glossy marble floor. This was where I entertained high-ranking guests—other Alphas, mostly. But the Alpha of Moonveil had never been one of those guests, at least, not until now. Eamon rose to his feet, his wife following suit a beat later. Moonveil pack. The name had been cropping up with alarming frequency for my liking ever since mylittle assassin had arrived in my territory... The scent of fear that clung to her at the mere mention of Moonveil wasn’t lost on me, no matter how hard she tried to mask it. I saw the way her face drained of color, the desperate excuse she'd fumbled with when it was mentioned the Alpha had come. Perhaps when Draven returned, I’d have the answers I sought. Until then, I’d keep her exactly where I wanted her— I'd pay good money to know what was going through that pretty little head of hers right now. …And now here was its Alpha, standing before me day
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 16. Hunted by her own blood
NOX’s POV I stalked through the hallways. Maids, servants, and guards scrambled to bow and murmur greetings as I passed. Their fear was noticeable, a scent as familiar to me as my own. "Alpha," they whispered, eyes downcast. I barely acknowledged them, barely looked elsewhere other than ahead. I was searching for one thing—or rather, one infuriating woman who had the audacity to vanish from under my nose. I'd sent Hunter off to handle the tedious arrangements for the council meeting. Dear goddess, she knew just how to tempt my patience. The door to her room nearly splintered as I threw it open. Empty. The scent of her lingered, mocking me. I hissed, my wolf clawing at the edges of my control. I strutted out and headed to the library. Again, nothing but the musty smell of old books and the startled gasps of a few pack members who quickly made themselves scarce. "Terrence!" I bellowed. The old keeper shuffled into view, his rheumy eyes wide with alarm. I
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 17. In the tunnel
WILLA’s POV The tunnel was colder than I remembered, the cold stone pressing in from all sides. My heart was pounding against my ribs like a caged animal, breath misted in front of me as I crouched in the dark, listening for any sounds above. Nothing. No heavy boots, no murmured commands. I'd slipped out of Nox's study the moment he'd left to meet with the Alpha of Moonveil pack—my uncle. The irony wasn't lost on me; while they discussed whatever nefarious plans Alphas discuss, I was plotting my own escape. For now, it seemed I had a little time before they figured out where I'd gone. I'd studied these tunnels for days, memorizing every twist and turn. It was my failsafe, my last-ditch effort if things went south. And boy, had they gone south. The dagger I'd swiped from Nox's study pressed against my thigh. An hour ticked by, each second stretching into an eternity. The lack of guards made me uneasy. Had they given up? Or was this just the calm before the storm? Mayb
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Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 97. The first plan
Willa’s POV The air was tense on the front porch of the pack house, the crisp bite of the evening brushing against my skin as I stood beside Astrid. My arms crossed tightly over my chest, I couldn't help but watch Nox and Vad standing a few steps ahead. Their postures were strikingly similar—broad shoulders squared, heads held high— And then there was her. Davina. She lingered too close to Vad, her hand brushing his arm as if staking some unspoken claim. I wasn’t sure what her purpose was. Was she going with them, or was she just here to see him off? Astrid adjusted her stance beside me, the soft creak of her leather boots catching my attention. She was dressed simply for once—brown leather pants and a loose, long-sleeved shirt. But I knew her well enough to see past the simplicity; beneath those flowing sleeves and tucked into her boots were a small arsenal of daggers. She shifted her weight slightly, wincing as her injured shoulder protested. "Seems
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 96. Why do the wrong ones suffer?
Willa’s POV "Home?" The word escaped me like a challenge. "What do you mean, home?" The aftermath of Eamon's revelation churned inside me like a poisonous brew. Emotions twisted and coiled, threatening to break through the fragile barrier I'd constructed. Eamon's claims about my father—they burned, not with divulgence, but with a fury that threatened to consume everything in its path. What if the claim was true? The thought flickered and died. Truth or lie, nothing could justify the devastation. Not what he'd done to me. Not what he'd done to Astrid. Not the cubs torn from their mother. Not the lives destroyed in his wake. I locked those thoughts away, deep in the darkest recesses of my mind. A place where emotions became weapons, where pain transformed into something. Vad's eyebrow arched. "Whoa," he drawled, his voice a silk-wrapped knife, "those frown lines could topple kingdoms." I stepped forward, I was in leather pants and a shirt now. Good fo
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 95. Her rage
Nox’s POV I’d anticipated a lot of fallout, but not this. Fuck! Silence punctured the council chamber, thick with implied pressure and disbelief. My jaw clenched, muscles coiled tight beneath my skin as I watched Willa—her frame vibrating with a rage so pure, so concentrated it could slice through steel. But only visible enough for me to tell. Somehow, they had escaped—not by magic, but by conscious layout. Even with the young woman’s gifts as a seer, no strange power had intervened after the smoke flared. This had been deliberate, every step mapped out. The shockwave that came with it had sent a few Alpha tumbling. And Willa… she wasn’t startled. With all Eamon had revealed about her father, it was impossible to tell which emotion churned within her the most. Was it hatred? Wrath? For once I feared her thought. The dagger remained where it was, untouched—for now. But I knew, without a doubt, that if the moment had been hers, she would not have he
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 94. The big reveal
Nox’s POV The pressure in the council chamber thickened as the drunk's voice quivered, each word dragged from his throat. "I got to know Pack Leader Eamon during a raid on the eastern villages of the Moonviel Pack years ago. We were being led by Rogue Leader Thadeus then..." Finneas's face darkened, a deep frown etching lines across his forehead. "What?" The drunk's fingers trembled against the floor. "Yes, it was so brother…" He swallowed hard. "A chance encounter—or rather, an unlucky one on a full moon night. Thadeus was..." His voice cracked. "Thadeus was energetic as ever with his speeches, rallying us for the raids. It was going well at first. He was a good wolf—the only reason he agreed to that raid was because we got word of a cargo caravan moving supplies through the Cull Path." "Those were dark times. I had barely passed being a cub. Finneas remember—we had no food. Our camp was starving, wolves turning on each other. Thadeus never wanted that future for h
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 93. More surprises
Nox’s POV Chaos erupted instantly—chairs scraping, claws extending, growls filling the air. "What sorcery is this?" Kora leaped to her feet. "Guards, to arms!" "Whoa, whoa!" Vad raised his hands in mock surrender, his grin mirror-identical to my own, if I was in his shoes, which I wasn't. "Everybody hold on. I'm only here in an observing capacity. After all, the host is my brother, and this is still my house." "So that's how you do it," I mused, though I'd suspected his presence. Not this early, perhaps—but my brother had clearly mastered the art of concealment even more than before. "One lost brother fighting their kind," Kora snarled. "Unforgivable." I noticed Willa hadn't even flinched at Vad's appearance, and I wasn't sure if that pleased or concerned me. Vad's smile turned cruel. "Their kind? Oh, you mean the dark roams. Yet you all managed to defeat them. There are so few of them left, they're literally extinct." "Everyone calm down," I co
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 92. My Luna, My Woman
Nox’s POV "Alpha, they have all arrived." Hunter's voice carried a weight I hadn't heard in years.. I turned from the window where I'd been watching shadows lengthen across the courtyard. "Tell me, what time is it?" "The moon is just starting to appear." Hunter's eyes flickered to the darkening sky, then back to me. "A fitting hour for what's to come." "And everything is in place?" I kept my voice neutral, though my wolf prowled beneath my skin, eager for what lay ahead. Hunter shifted his weight, a tell from our childhood days that he wasn't entirely comfortable. "Yes... but I still think there's more to be done, given how high the stakes are tonight." His jaw tightened. "Too many bad ideas floating around." A smirk tugged at my lips. "Those bad ideas are what makes it exciting." I straightened my jacket. "The thrill of not knowing what's going to happen next." "You're beginning to scare me, Nox." The use of my name rather than my title spoke volumes
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 91. A letter
Nox’s POV The morning sun hadn't yet cleared the mountains when I turned to Hunter. "Triple the guards around the pack house." He nodded, falling into step beside me as we strode through the corridors. The events of the previous night—the cubs, the thrall's visit—had left an unsettling weight in my gut. "The cubs?" I asked, pausing at one of the tall windows overlooking the training grounds. "Fed, washed, and rested." Hunter's expression softened slightly. "Surprisingly resilient for what they've been through. Almost... eager." I filed that detail away for later consideration. "And our friend, the thrall?" "Paid and gone. I made sure he understood the wisdom of keeping his distance from our territory." A ghost of a smile touched Hunter's lips. "We won't be seeing Dick again." "Good." We emerged onto the main balcony, the morning air crisp with the promise of autumn. Below, guards patrolled in precise patterns, but I knew better than to trust in
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 90. I trust you
Nox’s POV The silk sheets whispered against my skin as I sank into my bed, muscles aching—being an Alpha was never the cushy job others imagined it to be. I unbuttoned my shirt, tossing it aside as my gaze drifted to my reflection in the mirror, noting the nearly faded scratch marks across my shoulder. Even though it’s been a day, I could still smell that distinct floral scent. My wolf prowled beneath my skin, unsatisfied with just her lingering presence. We both wanted more. "Can't remember the last time I turned in early," I muttered, my eyes drawn to the empty expanse of my bed. The last time I'd suggested she stay, she'd fixed me with that fierce look of hers—equal parts defiance and something darker that made my blood sing. Her refusal only made me want her more, and the goddess herself must be laughing at my predicament. A sharp knock interrupted my brooding. "Enter," I called out, not bothering to retrieve my shirt. Few would dare disturb me
Howl of the Cursed Luna Chapter 89. Rogue camp
Astrid’s POV "What's in that direction?" The taller of Nox's men asked, his finger pointing toward the center of the rogue camp. His voice held a careful neutrality that made my teeth itch. Spies trying to play casual always did. "That's where they keep the prisoners." I kept my own voice flat, even as my eyes tracked the movement of guards below. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the camp, perfect for counting patrols without being spotted. It had taken us nearly a day to get here. Something I would have achieved in hours, alone. I’d metal signaled my wolf to stay at a much distance. "Right in clear view? At the heart of the camp?" The disbelief in his voice almost made me smile. Almost. "They do it to deter sympathizers," I explained, brushing a strand of red hair from my face. "Everyone sees if you try to help them. No sneaking around when you're in plain sight of the entire camp. Get caught, and you're shunned—if you're lucky." The st
