Valeria The trees loomed around me, their branches swaying in the gentle breeze as I stood in the clearing Malachai had described. The weight of his words from the night before still pressed heavily on my chest. I couldn’t stop my mind from spinning as I waited for him. The morning had passed in a blur, my thoughts entirely consumed by what I might face today.Aiden had asked me where I was going, and I had lied. It made me sick to do so, but I couldn’t involve him in this. Malachai’s warning was clear—come alone, or risk everything. I couldn’t bear the thought of putting Aiden or anyone else at risk because of me. My instincts screamed at me to turn around, to run back to the safety of Stormclaw, but I knew it was too late.I glanced up at the sky, the sun hanging high above, marking the time. Noon. He would be here any minute now.Sure enough, I felt a presence before I saw him. Malachai appeared from the shadows of the trees, his face calm, but his eyes sharp and calculating. He m
Valeria The cold air bit at my skin as I walked back to the packhouse, my body moving on autopilot while my mind spun wildly, trying to process everything that had just happened. The truth about my past. The deception. My family. The weight of it all pressed down on me, suffocating, squeezing the breath from my lungs. I could still see Malachai’s eyes, the way he had looked at me, as if he had all the answers to the questions I didn’t even know how to ask. My parents, the Alpha King, Prince Darius—it was all a twisted, horrifying reality that I was now a part of.And what was worse, a part of me—no matter how small—couldn’t help but wonder if Malachai was right.By the time I reached the packhouse, I felt as though I were in a daze. I barely registered the familiar surroundings, or the soft warmth of the building as I pushed open the front door. My legs were weak, trembling beneath me, but I forced myself to keep moving.I didn’t expect to see Aiden so soon. He appeared at the top o
ValeriaKade and Rylan arrived at Stormclaw just after dusk, their expressions grim and filled with worry. The moment they walked into the packhouse, I could feel the tension building between us. We had all been through so much together, and now the weight of Malachai’s looming presence hung over us like a suffocating cloud. Aiden greeted them with a tight nod, and they wasted no time gathering in the large sitting room to discuss the situation.Kade’s eyes found mine almost immediately, searching for answers, for reassurance, but I had none to give. I knew he was worried—he always had this way of carrying the weight of everyone’s problems on his broad shoulders. Rylan, on the other hand, paced the room like a caged animal, his energy restless, his focus sharp.“I can’t believe this is happening again,” Rylan muttered under his breath as he stopped by the fireplace, running a hand through his tousled dark hair. “We barely got out of the last attack alive, and now we’re dealing with M
KadeI woke up early, a strange sense of unease gnawing at me before my eyes even opened. The air in the packhouse felt wrong, like something had shifted during the night. My first thought was to check on Valeria—she hadn’t been herself lately, and the weight of everything going on was pressing down on her hard. Malachai’s presence loomed over all of us, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that things were about to get worse.I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stood, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. Without wasting time, I headed down the hallway toward Valeria’s room. The closer I got, the more the anxiety in my gut twisted like a knife. When I reached her door, I knocked softly, not wanting to wake her too abruptly if she was still asleep.No answer.I knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing.My pulse spiked, and I shoved the door open. The room was empty. Her bed, untouched. My heart plummeted into my stomach. I stood there for a moment, staring at the emptiness before
Valeria I struggled against the tight binds that kept me tethered to the cold chair, my wrists aching from the rough ropes digging into my skin. The moment I opened my eyes and saw Malachai standing before me, a mix of fury and dread boiled in my chest. I had been so careful—how had he gotten to me? And what more could he possibly want?“Malachai,” I spat, glaring at him. “What the hell is this? You already dragged me into my past and revealed more than I ever wanted to know. What more could you possibly want from me?”He stared at me with an unsettling calmness, his eyes flickering with something dark and ancient. “It’s simple, Valeria. We’re family—cousins, connected through the same bloodline. The Nightshade legacy flows through both of us. But here’s the thing, cousin: you are stronger than I am.”My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my expression defiant. I didn’t care about power or bloodlines. I wasn’t going to play along with whatever twisted game he was planning.“Strong
Valeria The night air was thick with tension as Kade and I stepped out of the shadowy building. My legs felt weak, but his steady arm around my waist kept me grounded. My heart was pounding from the close call, but the relief of escaping Malachai’s grip, even for a moment, was short-lived. I knew this wasn’t over. It was only a matter of time before he caught up.Kade and I hurried toward Aiden and Rylan, who were waiting just outside the forest’s edge, their expressions grim and ready for anything. Aiden’s sharp gaze scanned our surroundings, always vigilant, while Rylan stood poised, his shoulders tense as if expecting an attack at any moment.“We need to move,” Kade said, his voice low and urgent. “Malachai’s not far behind.”Aiden nodded, already starting to move. “We stick to the plan. Rylan’s pack is ready for us. We just need to make it there in one piece.”I felt a sinking pit of dread in my stomach. I hated that I was the reason they were all in danger. But what other choice
Malachai The air around me hummed with the energy of battle, my fists clenched tight as I lashed out at Kade and Aiden. They were skilled, both of them, but they were no match for me. Each strike I threw sent tremors through the ground beneath our feet, and I could see the strain in their eyes as they struggled to keep up. It would only be a matter of time before they fell, just like the others who dared to stand in my way.I’d enjoy watching them break.But then, something shifted. A gap opened in the fray, and I saw it: Valeria. She wasn’t there anymore. My heart slammed against my ribcage as the realization dawned. She was gone.“Where is she?” I growled, my voice low and dangerous, barely containing the fury boiling inside me.Kade, despite the pain he was in, sneered at me, wiping blood from his mouth. “You’ll never find her.”I could’ve killed him right then and there, snapped his neck like a twig, but something stopped me. The rage was too raw, too focused. I needed to channel
Malachai The room was dimly lit, the only light coming from a few flickering candles strategically placed around the grand chamber. The air was heavy with the scent of burning wax and a hint of something sweeter—perhaps jasmine. I waited with my arms crossed, leaning against the stone wall as the door creaked open. Seraphina stepped inside, her figure shrouded in shadows, but I could still see her sharp, calculating eyes scanning the room.She was a striking woman, no doubt about that—long, dark hair cascading down her back and her movements smooth like a predator’s. But what made her truly dangerous was her mind. Seraphina wasn’t just a pawn in anyone’s game, and that’s what made her the perfect ally. She had her own ambitions, her own desires. And today, I was counting on them.“Malachai,” she greeted, her voice like silk, gliding effortlessly through the room. “I didn’t expect to be summoned by you so soon.”I pushed off the wall, straightening up, and allowed a small smirk to tou
RylanThe biting cold of the Blackridge mountains was unforgiving, but I barely felt it. The weight of the occasion pressed down on my shoulders far heavier than any winter chill could. Today was the day my father would be officially crowned Alpha of Blackridge, a position he’d essentially held in practice for years, but this was the formal acknowledgment of his power. I stood just behind him, my breath clouding in the cold air as I observed the pack gathered around us.We were a smaller pack, but Blackridge’s strength was undeniable. Every member was hardened by the unforgiving landscape, disciplined by our strict hierarchy. To outsiders, we might have seemed cold and ruthless, but to us, power and loyalty were everything. No one questioned the strength of my father, Eryx, and no one dared to defy him. He had earned this moment through blood, sweat, and countless battles. But as I watched him, standing tall and unyielding, I couldn’t shake the tension that gnawed at me from within.T
KadeThe dawn came too soon. The faint light filtering through the curtains signaled the beginning of another battle, another fight for survival. But for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t dreading it as much as I usually would. Valeria was still asleep beside me, her body curled against mine, her steady breathing the only sound in the room. It was a rare moment of peace, one I knew wouldn’t last.But I didn’t want to wake her yet. She’d fought so hard to bring our packs together, to show everyone, including me, that she was the Luna we all needed. And I’d fought her at every turn, believing I knew better. But now, holding her close, I realized how wrong I’d been.I’d spent so much time worrying about protecting Shadowfang and keeping it separate that I hadn’t seen the bigger picture. Valeria’s strength wasn’t just in her leadership—it was in her ability to unite, to make people believe in something greater than themselves. Including me. I had to stop thinking that my way was the
KadeThe fire crackled in the pit, casting shadows across the stone walls of the meeting chamber. The air was thick with the tension that lingered after every battle, a kind of pressure that sat heavy on my chest. I could feel the eyes of Valeria’s council on me, their judgment hanging in the balance. It wasn’t just Shadowfang’s future that rested on this alliance—it was my own relationship with Valeria. And after all the mistakes I’d made, I wasn’t sure I had the right to ask for their trust.But I had to try. Not just for Shadowfang, but for her.I straightened in my seat, forcing myself to meet the gaze of the man across from me, Valeria’s Beta, Torin. He’d always been suspicious of me, ever since I’d stepped into Valeria’s life. I couldn’t blame him. I hadn’t exactly been forthcoming, especially when I kept Shadowfang’s independence at the forefront. But that was over now. I needed to show them all that I was committed to this alliance.“Shadowfang is prepared to stand with you,”
KadeThe air was thick with the scent of blood and sweat, the sounds of battle echoing around me as I fought through the chaos. Malachai’s forces had come at us harder than I anticipated. Shadowfang’s warriors, Valeria’s pack—everyone was giving their all. But it wasn’t enough. Not yet.My wolf growled inside me, restless, urging me to push harder, to protect them all. But more than anything, I had to protect her.I caught sight of Valeria at the center of the battlefield, her movements fierce and precise as she took down an enemy rogue with a single, brutal swipe. Even now, she was magnificent—strong, commanding, everything a Luna should be. My heart clenched as I watched her, a surge of protectiveness roaring through me. I’d been holding back for too long, distancing myself under the excuse of duty, of responsibility to my pack. But seeing her now, in the midst of battle, I knew there was no more running.She was my Luna. And I was hers.Another rogue lunged toward her, and before I
KadeThe weight of the prophecy hangs over me like a shadow I can’t shake.It’s a prophecy that warns of a “dark king,” a figure who will bring ruin and devastation to those around him. It doesn’t name anyone outright, doesn’t point to me specifically—but I can’t help but feel its claws digging into my conscience. Every decision I’ve made, every step I’ve taken away from Valeria, away from fully embracing our bond, has begun to feel like a pathway toward that destruction.And I’m the one walking us straight into it.I’ve always been devoted to Shadowfang, to my pack. My life, my entire being, has revolved around protecting them, making sure that we stand strong no matter what threats come our way. But as the days go by, as tensions mount and the threat of Malachai grows more pressing, I’m starting to wonder if my loyalty to the pack has been misplaced—if, in my pursuit of keeping them safe, I’ve been dooming Valeria to struggle alone.I’ve failed her.I should be the one standing at h
KadeI didn’t mean for it to get this bad.I stared at Valeria, her eyes ablaze with fury, her fists clenched at her sides. The tension in the room was palpable, thick enough to cut through, and I knew—I knew—that I had crossed a line. But I couldn’t take back the words I had said. Couldn’t undo the damage they had caused.“This isn’t about control,” I snapped, though even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren’t entirely true. “This is about keeping us safe. Keeping you safe.”Valeria’s laugh was sharp, bitter. “Don’t try to spin this into something noble, Kade. This is about you thinking I can’t handle my role. That I can’t lead without you micromanaging every decision I make!”I winced at the bite in her voice, but I held my ground. “I’m trying to protect Shadowfang. The pack is my responsibility.”Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her presence commanding the space between us. “Our responsibility. I’m the Luna, or have you forgotten that?”I hadn’t forgotten. Of
KadeThe air was thick with tension as I stood in the center of the war room, staring at the map in front of me. Every detail had been meticulously planned—our defenses, the patrols, the routes we’d take to safeguard Shadowfang from Malachai’s rogues. And yet, something felt off. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.I trusted my warriors, every single one of them. They were brothers and sisters to me. My lieutenants had fought alongside me for years. We’d faced countless battles together, survived countless threats. The idea that one of them could be a traitor… I didn’t want to believe it.But I couldn’t ignore the reports. There had been small signs, whispers of strange behavior, subtle shifts in communication patterns. Information we should have kept tight within our pack had been slipping through the cracks. Someone was leaking details—strategic details—to Malachai. And now, it was clear that the ambush was more than just luck on his part.I gritted my teeth, g
Kade The report in front of me felt like a weight pressing against my chest, each word sinking deeper into my thoughts. Malachai’s presence was growing, his rogues testing our borders more frequently, and his attacks becoming bolder. This wasn’t just a random series of strikes—he was probing, searching for our weak spots. Every time we fought them back, they retreated, but I knew it was only a matter of time before he found the chink in our armor.Shadowfang had always been prepared, always vigilant. It was my job to ensure we stayed that way. The safety of the pack was my first and only priority, and Malachai was becoming an ever-present threat I couldn’t afford to ignore.I scanned the intelligence report again, noting the details—movements near the eastern border, rogue sightings near our supply routes, a pattern in their retreats that suggested they were mapping our defenses. I clenched my fist, the muscles in my jaw tightening. We couldn’t let this go on much longer.“Alpha?” Ro
Kade The sounds of training filled the Shadowfang camp as I watched my warriors spar under the midday sun. The rhythmic clang of steel on steel, the grunts of exertion, and the sharp commands of our combat instructors were a familiar comfort to me. This was where I belonged—leading, strategizing, ensuring that Shadowfang remained the powerful force it had always been.My pack looked to me for leadership, and I gave them everything I had. Every decision, every battle plan, every word spoken at council meetings was weighed with the same question: how does this protect Shadowfang? I couldn’t afford mistakes. Not with Malachai’s forces lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.But lately, the tension between Shadowfang and Valeria’s pack had been growing, and it was weighing on me more than I wanted to admit. My bond with Valeria should have made things easier—two powerful packs standing united, with their Alpha and Luna stronger together than apart. Yet, the real