"Hey!" One of them yelled. But before they could react. Beta Shadowclaw transformed into a massive Lycan, his fur bristling with fury. With lightning-fast speed, he attacked the guards, taking them down one by one.Eirika watched in awe as the older Lycan dispatched the guards with ease. When he was finished, he turned to her and snarled, "Run!"Eirika gave him a grateful nod and sprinted past the fallen guards, her heart racing with adrenaline.Weeks before: ArricArric crept through the forest surrounding his father's pack's territory, careful to avoid making any noise that might alert the guards patrolling the perimeter. He knew the layout of the castle-like structure that served as his father's home like the back of his hand.He moved stealthily across the courtyard, hugging the shadows in his black hooded cloak and ducking behind bushes whenever he saw a guard approach. His heightened senses allowed him to sense their presence even before they came into view, and he used his keen
After a day in the woods again, camping alone and sleeping on trees, Eirika's heart pounded in her chest as she watched the massive pack of black werewolves march by. She need not guess where they were coming from and she silently prayed that Nigel and his father and Brook with the rest of the Silvertooth Nightstalkers Pack are alright. She watched from her perch as the group of werewolves passed beneath her, their numbers milling massively in hordes. She waited until they had moved on before climbing down from the tree. Knowing they were heading back to the black wolves' territory, she started to trail them, unconsciously making a decision to find Roffe Barther. She moved silently through the woods, staying just far enough behind the group so as not to be noticed. They moved quickly, their massive forms blending seamlessly into the night. She had to use all her stealth and agility to keep up with them, but she managed to do so. She watched as they made their way deeper into the fo
After running for a few minutes, Eirika spotted a small cottage at the end of a quiet street. It was surrounded by overgrown vegetation, making it difficult to see from the road. She hurried towards it, trying to stay quiet in case anyone was nearby. As she slipped inside, she didn't turn on the lights. Instead, she tiptoed through the small living room, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. It was sparsely furnished, with a couch, a couple of chairs, and a small table in the corner. She could see the outlines of pictures on the walls, but she didn't get a good look at them. Eirika made her way to the bathroom, where she washed her face and hands to try and calm her nerves. She then sat down at the table and ate quickly, trying to replenish her energy. Feeling more refreshed, she decided to explore the rest of the house. She found the bedroom, which was similarly sparsely furnished. There was a dresser against one wall, and a bed with a plain white sheet on it. She wondered if the st
Eirika slowly opened her eyes, blinking in the dim light of the walled-up dungeon. Her head throbbed from where she had been knocked out, and she could feel the cold stone floor beneath her. She tried to get up, but her body was weak, and her muscles refused to cooperate. She shivered, feeling the cold seep into her bones. The walls of the dungeon were damp, and the air smelled musty and stale. She had no idea how long she had been here, but it felt like days since she had last eaten or drunk anything. A piteous sob escaped her lips and she shook with tears. She wished they had killed her outrightly. So she wouldn't have to face Arric. She figured he would have found out about her by now, and if no one had come for her, then she was right about her deductions. Arric hate her now and had indeed left her to her fate – to rot and starve to death. Because she was certain she would soon enough. Lack of food would make her waste away that is if the cold did not kill her first. She was e
Eirika's eyes fluttered open to the soft swaying of the hammock beneath her. For a moment, she was disoriented, her senses struggling to adjust to her surroundings. But then, the smell of roasting meat reached her, and her stomach growled with hunger. As she slowly sat up, she took in her surroundings. She was in a clearing, surrounded by trees that loomed tall and imposing on all sides. The crackling of the campfire filled her ears, the flickering of the flames dancing against the bark of the tree trunks in the shadowy ground. Nigel emerged from the shadows, his sharp features illuminated by the fire. "Hey," he said, his voice gruff but warm. "How are you feeling?" Eirika groaned, the effort of sitting up still taxing on her weakened body. "Like I'm trying to crawl out of my grave," she rasped. "Everywhere hurts." Nigel nodded, going to stand beside her. "You've been through a lot," he said softly. "But you're safe now." Eirika managed a weak smile, grateful for Nigel's kindnes
Nigel crouched low to the ground, his muscles tensing as he prepared to fight. Eirika silently noted that their assailants were a mix of werewolves and unchanging, and there were about ten of them. "Where is the she-wolf?" one of them asked. "What she-wolf?" Nigel replied in a cold tone. "Give her to us and walk away…" another growled. "Why don't you come and make me," Nigel snarled a reply. The ten then started to close in on him. It was an unchanging that lunged at Nigel first with a knife, but Nigel was too quick for him. He dodged the attack and delivered a powerful punch to his gut, sending him flying into a nearby tree. Another one, a werewolf, transformed into his lupine form and charged at Nigel with a vicious snarl. Nigel met the werewolf head-on, his own transformation into his Lycan instant and frightening The two beasts clashed, their teeth and claws glinting in the moonlight as they fought for dominance. Nigel was quick and agile, dodging the werewolf's attacks
Arric stood in the morgue, his eyes darting back and forth between the two examination beds. On each lay the lifeless bodies of his father and brother, the only family he had left in the world. His heart pounded in his chest, and a wave of grief washed over him, threatening to consume him. Bishop, York, Jarom, Caineghis, and Jimothy stood by as he paced back and forth, his footsteps echoing in the sterile room. The scent of formaldehyde filled his nostrils, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. His father and brother had been killed by Eirika, and the thought of his brother, most especially, lying here, cold and lifeless, made his blood boil. Arric clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white as he fought to contain his emotions. Mauro had told him how it happened but Arric couldn't quite believe Eirika had bested Marcus even with a poisoned weapon; he doubted his brother would have gone down that quickly. And she had killed his father?! Roffe Barther! If it wasn’t such
"No! Arric, please!" Eirika cried weakly. "You have one minute to tell me what happened in that arena Eirika Mikain Aedelwulf before I crush your boyfriend's neck!" "Arric, please, it is me you want! Let him go!" Eirika cried. "Speak!" Arric growled, refusing to look at her, holding the gaze of the Lycan, who was supposedly a friend to his mate. From where he stood he could perceive his scent on her and he wanted to crush his neck for that whether she answered him or not. "This is not the way. She is weak!" Nigel managed to croak through a clenched jaw. Arric darted a glance her way then and watched as the hood covering her head fell back. His heart literally shook in his chest at the sight of her. Her skin was pale, and her eyes and cheeks were sunken. She seemed weak and was even struggling to stay upright her eyes mirrored weakness and exhaustion. And her hair color was all wrong and appeared brittle and dry. 'Goddess,' the word echoed in his head. Steelclaw whimpered. A