I stood in the war room, the air was heavy with the scent of battle and the tension of recent events. My mind was full of thoughts, but I knew what needed to be done next."Solvieg!" I called, my voice echoing in the chamber.Within moments, Solvieg, one of my most trusted lieutenants, entered the room. His face was filled with concern, but his eyes held the steely determination that had made him an invaluable ally.“How are you doing?” I asked after he had been injured by Maria.“I am very fine, my Alpha,” he replied.“I need you now,” I said."Alpha," he said, bowing slightly. "What are your orders?"I took a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. "We have a new target, Solveig. His name is Ray, the killer. Maria gave me his description and some details, but we need to be cautious. This could very well be a trap."Solvieg nodded, his expression serious. "What do we know about him?""Ray is dangerous, cunning, and ruthless," I replied, pacing the room. "Maria said he's behind much of th
I called for the small council. And as I stood at the head of the table, my gaze swept across the assembled faces. We have now included the protesters and nobles to join the elders who make decisions tough to make or execute."I've called you all here to discuss an important matter," I began, my voice steady. "General Masa was a hero who gave his life for our safety and freedom. We owe it to him and to ourselves to honor his memory with a befitting burial."Immediately, the room erupted into chaos. The nobles voiced their agreement, their support for the General's honor clear. The protesters, however, were less than pleased. They shouted their dissent, their voices full of anger and frustration. The elders, the wise ones who had seen many seasons pass, remained silent, their eyes observing the scene with a calm, discerning gaze.One of the protest leaders stood up and pointed a finger at me. "We don't need a grand ceremony for the likes of him! He was part of the problem, part of the
The world felt hazy around me. The events of the previous days seemed like distant echoes in my mind. The sound of Solveig's voice pierced through the fog, pulling me back to the present. He was here, along with Alpha Jo, Zaza, and Captain Hyde."Solveig?" I murmured, my voice thick with sleep. Slowly, I sat up in bed, trying to shake off the lingering grogginess. The room felt too bright, too alive with the presence of those who had come.Zaza's voice broke through the silence that followed Solveig's greeting. She rushed towards me, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ava, I'm so sorry," she choked out, her words sounding with remorse. "I should have trusted you. I shouldn't have doubted..."Her words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of everything that had transpired between us. I reached out instinctively, pulling her into a comforting embrace. "It's okay, Zaza," I reassured her softly, my own emotions swirling inside me. "We've been through so much, and you are safe now. You ar
The next morning, Alpha Jo stood at the entrance of the palace, preparing to leave for Nashville. I approached him, my thoughts still on Nashville and how to ensure my parents and the entire Omega clan were safe.“Alpha Jo,” I called out, and he turned to face me, a mix of determination and weariness in his eyes. “I wanted to let you know that we will be coming to Nashville to help you fight the bandits. But first, I need to ensure that peace reigns here.”He nodded, understanding the weight of my responsibilities. “I appreciate that, Ava. Nashville is in dire need of strong allies.”I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Jo, you have to be careful. The situation is volatile, while I want to ensure all this crisis ends, I want you to help keep the omegas and my parents safe.”He looked at me with a grave expression. “I know. I’ll be on guard and my job as Alpha is to keep everyone safe. But promise me something, Ava.”“What is it?” I asked, curious and concerned.“Promise me that you
After the council members had dispersed and Karim had informed Zaza she was going with me, I called Bjorn and Karim over. "I need you to take our best scouts and scan the woods ahead of us. Ensure the path is clear and that we’re not walking into any traps. The rest of us will follow behind."Karim nodded determination in his eyes. "We’ll make sure it's safe, Ava."“You should know that I also want to know all the camps if the bandits don't miss anyone.”Bjorn grinned as a twinkle of excitement in his eyes. "Consider it done. We’ll give those bandits a surprise they won’t forget."With that, they turned to gather the scouts. I looked over at Zaza, who was practically bouncing on her feet with excitement. "You're happy to be coming with me, aren't you?"She nodded enthusiastically. "I am! I’ve been practicing the tricks you taught me. I won’t let you down."I smiled at her confidence, but a part of me was still worried. "Just remember to stay close and follow my lead. This isn’t just t
Karim and I moved with precision, our blades clashing against the formidable leader of the rare breeds. His movements were swift, his strikes deadly, but we pressed on.It seemed we were gaining the upper hand until a sudden, brutal swipe of his claws caught Karim on his right arm. Karim cried out, stumbling and falling to the ground, clutching his wounded limb.Panic surged through me. Alone, I knew my chances of defeating this leader were slim. But I had one advantage, one gift that could turn the tide. Summoning every ounce of focus, I activated my vanishing gift, disappearing from sight. In the momentary confusion, I maneuvered around him, reappearing just behind and beneath him. With a swift, decisive strike, I slashed through both his legs, severing tendons and bringing him crashing to his knees.He roared in pain and fury, but I didn't hesitate. I placed my sword against his neck, pressing just enough to draw blood. "Surrender," I commanded, my voice cold and unwavering. "Tell
Kim and I sat around the makeshift campfire, the burning wavy flames casting shadows on his face. He was a young warrior, but there was wisdom in his eyes that spoke of hardships and battles faced."What did the bandits promise you?" I asked, leaning forward, trying to find out what his reaction would be.Kim sighed, looking into the fire as if seeking answers from the dancing flames. "They promised us power and dominion over the woods. They said we could rule alongside them if we helped eliminate any threats."I nodded, understanding the allure of such promises, especially to a clan that had been living on the fringes. "And what did they ask in return?""To fight for them, to use our strength and our unique abilities to crush their enemies," Kim replied, his voice was mixed with some sort of bitterness. "But now, with my father gone, those promises mean nothing."I leaned closer, my voice soft but firm. "Kim, I can offer you something better. Freedom and a new life in Border Town. Jo
The air was thick with tension as we prepared to launch our attack. Our hideout was filled with the quiet murmurs of our troops, each one braced for the coming battle. I turned to Kim, my brow furrowed with concern. “Why haven’t we seen Bjorn and his team yet?” I asked.Kim, his eyes scanning the darkening forest, shook his head. “Bjorn’s team will be approaching from our left,” he said. “They’re taking a different route to flank Arit’s forces.”I bit my lip, frustration bubbling up inside me. “We need to intercept them and stop them from attacking. We can’t afford any mistakes.” My mind raced with the possible scenarios. If Bjorn’s team attacked prematurely or from the wrong angle, it could jeopardize our entire plan.Kim’s expression remained calm, but there was a hint of worry in his eyes. “To get to them, we’d have to move through Arit’s camp,” he explained. “That will draw attention and likely lead to a confrontation before we’re ready.”The weight of his words settled on me. Mov