69Trigger Warning"There's always a duality of good and evil. Aligning yourself with great men is crucial if you aim to be the strongest,"Sitting by the fire, I felt a tumult of emotions, none of which carried warmth. Jean held my hand, tracing the lines of my palm with his finger. Despite the platter of food in front of me, I refrained from touching it, repelled by the presence of this monster by my side. Contrary to my expectations upon returning, the room remained empty. I used to dread solitude, but now, I longed for the company of another person."I never declared a desire for power,"Jean released his grip on me. "That is what you sought when I rescued... and trained you. I provided you with everything you needed, and in return, you betrayed us by crossing the line with our enemy."Snatching my wrist, Jean forcefully pushed me onto the long wooden table. I struggled against his hold, and a flood of malevolent thoughts accompanied a frantic heartbeat. "Why are you doing this? W
70"Head west of the City; come find me there."The boy didn't hesitate, snatching the letter from my hand. He unintentionally glimpsed at my covered face, the glow in my eyes briefly holding his attention long enough to unsettle him. Pocketing the letter, he quickly exited the dimly lit room. The echoes of multiple footsteps reached my ears as I clenched my hands together, contemplating the day that lay ahead. I needed to act swiftly, preempting any suspicion from the Northern guards regarding the threats I had sent.The flickering light and the tolling of bells disrupted my thoughts. Something triggered my senses, but it faded as Accius' presence became apparent. Too tense to meet him outside, I awaited him within the small cabin. After a brief moment, the sound of hooves ceased at the entrance. I envisioned Accius dismounting, his familiar scowl etched across his features."I was hoping you'd come to the tavern.""I couldn't, not when most of the members are my own, not when I betr
1The wind tickled the woman's golden hair as she hurriedly ran from those beasts that were after her. They were creatures that were hungry not for flesh but for power; they could not fathom. Bathed with sweat and filled with anxiety, she slipped past grazing rock formations found scattered in the mainland grandeur. It was eerily quiet that night, and although she had no one to aid, the full moon was there to mend her de-escalating hope. The creatures, unlike humans, had remarkable speed and agility, abilities hard to imagine, and with the wrong intentions and state of mind, they could take over and rule places of tranquility.A slither of moonlight appeared at the grand expanse, and with careful concentration, the woman chanted a few known spells that would help her with the situation."She's reciting incantations!" She heard another man growl. Perhaps the man hasn't shifted. That call was their signal, though; the men wailed as a knot in her chest tightened. Why wasn't it working? W
2There wasn't anything peaceful when I awoke.Perched atop the highest reaches of the stadium, the Alpha occupied a position of undeniable authority within the upper quadrant. With a mere gesture from him, the executioner's hands closed around my hair, yanking me unceremoniously. The once-lustrous cascade of my golden locks once imbued with an otherworldly radiance, had now suffered a cruel transformation. No longer a source of magic, they lay matted and destroyed, a stark contrast to their former glory.Gone was the silkiness, replaced by a gnarled mess that clung to my pale head like a discarded afterthought. Suspended in mid-air, my torso hung, vulnerable, and exposed to the collective gaze of the onlooking crowd. It was as if my very being had become a canvas for their morbid curiosity, a spectacle for them to savor and dissect.The thing about torture is that it will strip you of everything, even the will to live. They hadn’t extracted any information from me, and I knew how fru
3The bruises on my arms had considerably lightened over the course of hours and even the broken shallow capillaries on my hand were no longer visible. Within seconds, I rose from the soft, delicate mattress and met the sun's shimmering glow. Instantaneously, the shadows looming inside the room disappeared, leaving behind a lone space devoid of any touches and care.After yesterday's affair, I simply woke up determined to breathe into life once more. I had a dream last night—composed of blurry images and shards of memories. It was a beautiful, fleeting feeling that I wanted to savor for the second time, thus I needed to live and regain what I had lost in order to feel that slither of emotion once again.At probably around ten, a girl who looked somewhere between thirteen and fifteen stood by the archway door. I gave her a weak smile and to my surprise, she also did the same. She came in with a bucket in her hand and took the dangling handkerchief from her sleeves."I was ordered to cl
4Unfortunately, my wounded shoulder bled in desperation. With all the strength I could muster, I pushed myself upright—struggling and barely managing. I stammered to get myself together, but the lifeless corpses of wolves nearby obscured my line of vision, making my head spin with odd contemplation. The scene felt familiar but also unusual. I tried every piece of memory I could garner, but none came about. Alpha Strevus plowed right through the bloody mess as his orbs met mine, and instantly my heart accelerated. "Heal her," He instructed, his tone deadly and devoid of any emotions.Martha immediately obliged when Alpha Strevus instructed her.I regarded him with a puzzled expression. My memories must hold a significant value for him to tend to my injured shoulder. Based on his previous demeanor, he seemed largely apathetic toward my presence. And yet, here he stood, akin to a chivalrous knight, coming to my rescue. It often crosses my mind whether he's deliberately crafting an im
5Glancing nervously, I slowly dipped my attention to my nervous hands gripping the saddle. People were gathered in masses upon landing in the Western Kingdom, welcoming Alpha's sort of steady arrival. Adorned and respected, they flicker with joy and excitement. Plenty vowed in his presence. Some shot apprehensive glances while others were uninviting. Their gleaming faces died down in an instant they noticed me. As much as I yearned to adore the intricate buildings of the kingdom, the sharp stares I was receiving imposed my distasteful appearance. I failed to mask the ramble of fear and anxiety within me as hushed whispers started dominating our surroundings. Although I was hidden in the veil of the cloak I was wearing, the scrutiny I was receiving made me feel naked for some reason.I tilted my head forward, not wanting to look at anyone's face. All I could make out of were scowls and scorching stares. They wanted to at least have a flash or glimpse of the unknown stranger Alpha was
6Pale eyes with a slight tinge of iron in color. The man looked at me with curiosity then as if on cue, his face turned into amusement. His eyes focused on mine, and for a moment, I saw the familiar flash of color behind them. I broke our contact, not wanting to linger in it any longer.Those eyes reminded me of him. Alpha Knight Strevus. He is a pleasant thought, but I was not willing to scald under his scrutiny anymore, not when he has a lover. If he loathed me, I would not push myself to be a bit likable to him.My hopes of turning away were disposed of as I muffled my urge to vent out my pain. Overpowering me like turbulence was grief, desperation, and heartbreak, all in one moment.Noticing my silent torment, the man walked forward, leveling his eyes into mine and offering a lending hand."Are you alright?" Lacing his voice was concern and something I couldn't point out.I waved my hand, indicating that I was indeed fine, though it was a lie. I lifted my head, trying to balance