Lisa's breath came in sharp spurts as she stabilized herself, the icy surface of the shard digging into her hand. Distorted reflections of herself appeared in the mirrors all around her, their red eyes blazing with ill intent. They circled her with jerky movements, their twisted limbs clicking strangely."You believe you can prevail?" One snarled, a distorted echo of Lisa's own voice. "You've always been weak, helpless, and unwelcome."Lisa said, "Stop," as she gripped the shard more tightly.Another moved forward, a hideous satire of her own face on its damaged features. You know that he doesn't really love you. He feels sorry for you. He wouldn't bother with someone like you otherwise, why?Lisa shook her head as her chest constricted. "That is untrue. Stop talking.The animals laughed, and the room echoed with their laughter. One stepped closer and said, "Admit it." "You've considered it. I sensed it. You understand our point.Dominick's JourneyWith his body damaged and beaten fro
Dark energy flowed about Anabella as she stood in the middle of the room, her hands held high. A sinister grin curled her lips as her eyes sparkled with malignant amusement. Around her, the space buzzed with power, the walls adorned with sigils that pulsed with an old, terrible magic.Before her, Lisa was on her knees, blood streaming from the black tendrils that had tied her at the wrists. Her eyes were burning with defiance, yet her complexion was pale and her breath was shallow. She sensed that she had Anabella's triumph at her fingertips, and Lisa was the reason for it. The secret to Anabella's ambitious plan lay in their relationship, the lineage that linked her to the Moon Goddess.With a voice full of hate, Anabella murmured, "You should feel honored, Lisa." "I only need your blood and your heritage to subdue the wolf packs." I'll take control of every Alpha and every pack with your strength. They will all bow down to me.Despite her heart thumping in her chest, Lisa remained s
The power of the magical cords around Dominick caused his body to burn. The glistening links stayed tight despite his claws scraping at them, becoming brighter with each attempt. He breathed in quick, panicked gasps as his chest heaved and his muscles strained. Sharp, cold, and relentless, the force rushing through the chains was unlike anything he had ever experienced."Lisa," he said to himself, his amber eyes glimmering with resolve. He sensed her close by, her anguish and terror shining like a light at him. He needed to get out.“You’re pathetic, Dominick.” Anabella's voice, piercing and poisonous, emerged from the darkness. With triumphant eyes, she moved into his line of sight. You believe you can beat me, but now take a look at yourself. A helpless, feeble creature restrained by his own feelings.As he struggled to break free from the shackles, Dominick let out a low-pitched growl. They drew tighter the more he struggled, depleting his strength. His vitality was being sucked up
The chamber was filled with black power that swirled about Dominick like an unstoppable storm, causing his whole body to tremble and every muscle to scream in agony. Even though the wall of energy between him from Lisa was strong and unbreakable, his rage increased with each heartbeat.She was pleading for him in a feeble voice, and he could sense the misery radiating through the link. Each wail was like a sharp dagger piercing his chest as it tore at him. In reaction, his wolf snarled, the innate rage swelling inside him.He hissed under his breath, "Lisa," his eyes brightening and blazing with anger. "I will not let her have you."Anabella mocked him with a harsh laugh that reverberated across the room. Dominick, you're still too frail. It's finished. You've lost.The fragrance of her—the smell of strength, the smell of his mate—pushed Dominick over the brink as his vision became blurry with rage. His claws grew longer and sharper, and his fangs grew longer. The beast within of him
Dominick felt the weight of Lisa's curse as soon as they were back in the pack's territory. Her body was weak, and she moved slowly and unsteadily, making each step harder than the previous. Her eyes were clouded by the obvious indicators of imminent death, and her face, which had once been dazzling with power and determination, now seemed pale and wan.With a broken heart, Dominick stretched out to stabilize her and said, "Lisa." "We'll solve this for you. I promise.The slightest quiver of a grin pulled at the corners of Lisa's mouth, but she hardly nodded. "I am... I'm all right. Simply put, exhausted. Her speech was no more than a breath, a delicate whisper."No, you're not okay," Dominick snarled, his jaw clenched in exasperation. He sensed that she was being drained of her life power by the curse, which was a frigid presence within her. One pulse at a time, it seemed as if his heart was being robbed of every beat.With the last of her normal fervor, Lisa met Dominick's eyes and
With the burden of his mission bearing down on him, Dominick's heart thumped in his chest as he navigated the thick woodland. He felt as if each step brought him closer to something perilous, further away from Lisa, and farther away from the pack.Since there was no one in charge and the renegade packs that prowled the neutral region were as erratic as the wind, packs there functioned outside the law. Dominick had heard tales about the Obsidian Stone, the relic, and Varek, the renegade pack leader, who was said to be aware of its location. The issue was that the stone had never been seen. It was a legend, a myth. But Dominick wasn't going to let anything to go in the way of his saving Lisa's life.He knew that only he could protect the pack, therefore he had left Marcus and Chelsea behind. He couldn't take the chance of putting them in danger of dying. He was accountable for this.As he approached the boundary of the renegade area, the temperature dropped. The weight of unseen eyes ob
As Dominick gazed across the meadow at the man clutching the Obsidian Stone the item that may rescue Lisa his pulse pounded in his chest. But it wasn't just any opponent that held it. The person who had deceived him and attempted to claim Lisa as his own was Alexander. In the middle of all of this, the guy Dominick believed he could never trust was the one with the ability to save or destroy Lisa.Dominick's wolf growled deep in his chest, his eyes sharpened, and his claws itched. "You possess the artifact," Dominick said in a chilly tone. "Give it to me now."A slow, sarcastic smirk curved Alexander's lips. The black light of the Obsidian Stone filled the void between them as he lifted it in front of him. "Oh, Dominick, it's not that easy. Unfortunately, this little gift of redemption comes with a cost.Dominick tightened his hands but remained still. He couldn't afford to make a hasty decision. Not when Lisa's life depended on it."What are you looking for?" With hardly controlled a
Dominick's body shook with the force of the Lycan power coursing through him, and his eyes flashed with rage. As he faced Alexander, the artifact shining between them, the very air around him pulsed with raw energy. Though every muscle in his body ached to let go all of his might, a cold, sneaky fear was nibbling at the back of his thoughts. The relic was connected to Lisa's life. It may kill her if he took it. However, she would stay in Anabella's clutches and disappear with every second if he didn't.“Get out of here, Alexander,” Dominick said in a low, menacing voice. "This is over now."Alexander grinned, not letting Dominick's remarks deter him. Dominick, do you believe you can beat me? You have no idea what you are dealing with.Dominick growled, his claws extended as his body stiffened, "I understand enough." Like a thousand-pound stone, the decision's weight was bearing down on him. He could not afford to wait any longer since Lisa's life was on the line.Dominick roared forwa
Lisa felt it again the ever-present pull of darkness, thrumming under her skin like a beating of its own. The mirror had shown her a truth she hadn’t been ready to face, and now it felt as if the very shadows of the Moon Goddess were wrapping themselves around her, smothering her. Every breath was harder than the last, and the fight to keep herself in control was becoming unbearable.She stood by the edge of their camp, looking into the forest’s darkness, trying to calm the chaos whirling inside her. Dominick had insisted on staying close, despite her protests. He hovered behind her now, but she didn’t turn to face him. She couldn’t."I can feel it," she whispered, though she wasn’t sure whether she was speaking to him, or to the darkness that clawed at her thoughts. "It’s like it’s alive in me, Dominick. It’s getting stronger with every passing moment. I don’t know how much longer I can fight it."Dominick stepped forward, his movements light but filled with haste. He reached for her
Lisa stood at the edge of the old ruins, her heart pounding as the weight of their task pushed down on her. Dominick was by her side, his presence a steadying force, but even he couldn’t deny the unease that had settled over their pack.They had come here to find answers, but the ruins were steeped in silence, their old stones worn by centuries of neglect. The air was thick with an eerie energy, and Lisa could feel it in the pit of her stomach something dark, something old, was waiting."Are you sure this is the right place?" Lisa asked, her voice low, almost respectful.Dominick glanced at her, his eyes filled with purpose. "It’s the only place left, Lisa. The old books... they all point here. The answers are hidden in these ruins. We just have to find them."She nodded, but doubts remained in her mind. The pack’s trust in her was weakening. They didn’t say it, but Lisa could feel the strain. She had once been their center, their guide, their link to the Moon Goddess. Now, without th
The first thing Lisa felt was warmth. It wasn’t the kind of warmth that could be mistaken for sunlight or the heat of a fire, but the kind of warmth that pulsed deep within her chest, spreading through her limbs, wrapping around her like a protective embrace.She blinked, slowly opening her eyes. The world around her was blurry at first, fading in and out of focus. But as her senses began to sharpen, she could feel it—the weight of Dominick’s arms around her, holding her close. The familiar scent of him, of the pack, surrounded her, grounding her. And yet, something was wrong.Something was very wrong.Lisa sat up with a sharp gasp, her body trembling from the sheer effort it took to move. She looked around, eyes wide, searching for an answer. The pack was gathered around them, silent, watchful, and… worried. They looked as though they were waiting for something waiting for her."Lisa?" Dominick’s voice was scratchy, filled with a quiet desperation she hadn’t heard before. "Are you ok
As Dominick's hands hovered above Lisa's motionless body, they shook. Even though the combat was done, it seemed like the conflict had only just started. He stared at her chest, looking for some indication that she was still alive. His anguish made every breath feel heavy and shallow. Her face had turned pale and lifeless. Everything he didn't want to know was revealed to him by the blood stains on her clothing."You can't leave. In a ragged echo of the man, he once was, Dominick muttered to her, "You just can't." Leaning down, he brushed a lock of hair away from her face, allowing the tears he had been suppressing to finally fall."Please, Lisa. Get your eyes open. Return to me.Around them, the pack had gathered in stillness. Even though they had prevailed in the fight, it felt meaningless. His evil power had been broken, and Eryndor's citadel had collapsed, but at what price? With her heart as frigid as the stone under her, Lisa, their ray of hope, lay still.Marcus's face was unre
There was a lot of darkness in the room, and the shadows were thick and moving around them like living things. The stone floor beneath Dominick was stained with blood as he lay unconscious, his body broken and battered. With tears in her eyes and her heart racing, Lisa knelt next to him, but there was no time for sorrow. She was thinking of only one thing.They all needed to be saved by her.In front of them, tall and victorious, Eryndor's eyes were full of vile laughter. "Lisa, you believe you have won, but the game is far from over." The air felt oppressive, and his voice was like ice. "There is no force or power in this world that can defeat me."Lisa's heart ached as she felt the warmth of Dominick's pulse wane with every second that went by, and her hands shook as she reached out to touch him. Even though she still had a close bond with him and the pack, it wasn't sufficient. Not quite yet.Then something changed within her.Her inner wolf spirit awoke with a roil, its restless e
The pack was positioned before the imposing gates of Eryndor's stronghold, which appeared to have impenetrable walls and a dense, oppressive, and dark aura. The weight of the approaching conflict made the air motionless. With the resolve that had brought them this far, Dominick's eyes were hard and his mind was keen. They would put an end to this now.“All units, move out!” he ordered, his voice like a razor slicing through the quiet.With ferocious determination, the pack charged ahead, their warriors trailing behind. Standing by Dominick's side, Lisa felt the strength of the black magic emanating from the fortress walls, her heart pounding and her thoughts turning into its own battlefield.They were nearly instantly struck by the first wave of rogue wolves, their eyes blazing with the strange light of Eryndor's might. The pack was more than ready, but they were swift, vicious, and unrelenting.With her claws cutting through the air and tearing through the rogue wolves that approache
The vista in front of them was a never-ending length of rocky land and forest that led to the impending fortress of Eryndor. With the burden of the trip bearing down on him, Dominick led the way. The strain in the air was evident, and each step felt like it may be his last. The odds were stacked against them in the impending last fight.Lisa followed closely behind him, her steps steady but her thoughts focused on the future. They both understood the seriousness of the situation, and their closeness was strong despite their inability to express it verbally. Although they all had a part to play, nobody could foresee the cost of winning.Marcus kept up with the others despite the emotional and physical strain of saving Chelsea. Even while his expression was fixed on stern determination, his eyes would occasionally flicker with the wounds from the ambush, both the ones on his body and the ones still present in his heart. Chelsea was almost lost to him. He would not permit such to occur o
Dominick stood at the edge of the camp, surveying his warriors' faces while the wind howled all around him. He felt as though the entire universe was resting on his shoulders. The moment had arrived. They were at their breaking point. Eryndor was too near his objective, too risky. In his bones, Dominick knew that the last battle was coming.The tension in the air was broken by Dominick's voice as she said, "We can't wait for more signs, more opportunities." "Now we fight. We battle together.Though there was a hesitancy and a sense of trepidation, the pack stirred and whispers of agreement rippled through them. They had suffered a great loss. They were still grieving over the loss of their siblings in the previous conflict.Chelsea stepped forward from the crowd and said, "Dominick." Her voice was steady, but her eyes were rimmed in red. You want us to put everything on the line. After everything we've lost... after everything we've endured...Dominick responded, his eyes hardening, "
The tension in the camp was high due to the weight of Chelsea's capture. Marcus paced, anger and hopelessness swirling in his head. His fists were clinched at his sides, and his eyes were bloodshot. He was being tormented by the idea of losing her and failing her.Lisa murmured softly, "Marcus," moving into his direct line of sight.He halted his pacing and looked at her, his jaw clenched. "I'm pursuing her." I can't just sit here doing nothing.The unadulterated agony in his voice made Lisa's heart hurt. She was aware of Chelsea's importance to him. "I get it, but we can't just show up without a strategy, Marcus. We shall be met by Eryndor.Marcus shot back, his voice strained and low, "I don't care." There's Chelsea inside. She cannot be left to rot in that hellhole by me.Lisa paused, fully aware of the dangers. After that, we'll travel together. However, we must consider this. Dark magic guards Eryndor's stronghold, and he won't make things simple.For a minute, Marcus's eyes soft