I sit at the edge of the pack’s territory, gazing out over the land we’ve fought so hard to reclaim. My thoughts drift to Enzo, to the way he’d revealed his wolf—not fully grown, but strong and fierce in spirit. That sight was a reminder of the journey I’ve been on, of the weight I carry as his father, and of the nearing end of my time.I sigh, letting the cool breeze wash over me, hoping it can clear the bittersweet thoughts clouding my mind. Enzo’s wolf is a sign. I can feel it, that pull that tells me my journey is approaching its final stretch. There’s comfort in knowing he’ll be here, carrying on our legacy, but, it’s hard to shake the ache of leaving him, of leaving Nyx.A rustling from behind draws my attention. I turn, immediately feeling my shoulders tense. Sonet stands at the edge of the clearing, hands tucked casually into his pockets, his gaze fixed on me with a confidence that borders on arrogance.“Alpha Lorenzo,” he says, nodding in greeting.“Sonet. Seems like the vamp
I hear the whispers before anyone dares to tell me directly. The news drifts in from the wolves returning to our pack, some of them old friends, others simply warriors drawn back by the call to rebuild. Alpha Noah. Alive, not a vampire, not infected, I can hardly believe it. I saw him being ravaged by the vampires, withy my own eyes. Nyx is pacing in the den, her brow furrowed. She’s heard it too. "Noah," she mutters under her breath, her voice tight with anger. "After everything he’s done, that bastard has just been hiding this whole time?"I nod, keeping my tone steady, though my mind is racing. "Sounds like it. Maybe he wasn’t brave enough to stay and face the consequences."Her jaw clenches, and she turns to me, her eyes flashing. "Lorenzo, you know what he did. He killed our advisor Jenna—murdered her in cold blood." She shakes her head, disgust flickering in her gaze. "That kind of betrayal, it can’t go unpunished. The pack deserves justice."I step closer, resting a hand on he
"He's coming."As the first rays of dawn spill over the mountains, an eerie silence blankets the pack grounds. I stand by Nyx’s side, the two of us watching from a distance as our warriors form a defensive line along the boundary. Tension crackles in the air, as palpable as the scent of earth and pine. Alpha Noah’s forces aren’t far off now.“Do you think he’ll really show?” Nyx mutters, her voice low but steely.“He’ll show,” I reply. “Arrogant wolves like him always do.”Almost on cue, a howl rips through the air, echoing through the valley. Noah’s wolves appear at the edge of the forest, a shadowy mass shifting and weaving as they approach. And then, like a dark specter, Alpha Noah steps forward, flanked by a handful of wolves who seem to be the last of his loyal followers.Noah sneers as he takes in our formation, his gaze zeroing in on me. “Lorenzo! Hiding behind your warriors, are we?”“Hardly hiding, Noah,” I call back. “Just ensuring you don’t try any of your usual tricks.”He
Two years later The fire crackles softly in the den’s hearth, casting a warm, amber glow over the room. Nyx and I are alone, at last, a rare moment where the weight of the pack, the responsibilities, and the worries seem to fade into the background. Tonight, it’s just us.Fate has been nice to us lately. We didn't encounter any more vampires or human attacks, it's like they all disappeared. Enzo is growing up very quickly, learning and training to be a greater person. And for me, sometimes the tickling sound of clock makes me breathless. I have been counting my days, as I feel that Enzo might get his wolf even before he turns six. But it's alright, my happy moments with my son and wife make me forget about those painful feelings. Nyx leans back on the couch, her hair loose and spilling over her shoulders, her dark doe eyes softened by the warm light. I can’t help but stare at her, at the strength and grace she exudes even in moments of stillness.“You’re staring,” she says with a s
The night has settled over the pack, a calm, cold wind sweeping across the land. The full moon looms overhead, its light bathing everything in silver. The pack is resting, but there's an unease in the air. Something feels off.Nyx stands outside their den, her eyes fixed on the glowing orb in the sky. The full moon has always been a time of strength for their kind, but recently, it’s been different—unpredictable. She brushes a stray lock of hair from her face, a knot forming in her stomach as she hears a soft thump coming from inside the den.“Enzo, son,” Lorenzo calls out urgently from within, his voice strained.She doesn’t waste a moment. Her instincts kick in, and she rushes inside, her heart already pounding.Enzo is lying on the floor, his small body trembling uncontrollably. His usually bright eyes are dull, his face pale. Lorenzo is kneeling beside him, his large hand resting on his son’s forehead, worry written all over his face.“Nyx!” Lorenzo’s voice is tight with panic. “H
I step outside the den, the cool night air pressing against my skin. The silence wraps around me, broken only by the soft rustle of the trees and the distant howl of a lone wolf. The weight in my chest feels heavier than it has in a long time. Enzo is finally calming down, his breathing even, his small body finally at peace after fighting against his wolf’s awakening.I don’t know if I can keep watching him go through this. A part of me feels pride—my son is coming into his power, embracing his heritage. But another part feels an ache I can’t seem to shake. He’s growing, changing, and I know what that means. His wolf is emerging. And mine_ mine has seen many full moons.I glance back at the den, Nyx sitting by his side, her hand gently stroking his hair as he rests. A bittersweet smile tugs at my lips. She’s always been so strong, so steady. She’s held us both together through so much. But even she can’t change what’s coming.“Why does it have to be like this?” I mutter under my breat
It starts as a whisper.The night feels heavy, the silence pressing down on me as I lie in bed, eyes shut but mind racing, shadows hovering over me. Nyx sleeps beside me, her breaths slow and even, but mine_ mine are uneven, catching in my throat. A faint feeling of dread coils in my stomach, growing stronger with every passing second. I can’t shake it, even as I try to convince myself it’s nothing.But soon, I’m pulled under. The darkness wraps around me, thick and suffocating, dragging me into a sleep far heavier than I intended.I’m standing alone in the middle of a battlefield.The air is thick with smoke, the ground littered with fallen bodies, the scent of blood sharp and choking. My heart pounds, echoing in my ears. I recognize the faces lying on the ground—the warriors of the Blood Moon Pack, our friends, our family. And standing in the middle, his small body twisted and broken, is Enzo.“No_” My voice is strangled, a hoarse whisper, like someone is choking me. I try to move,
As we stand there, the mountain wind whipping around us, I try to steady my racing thoughts. Nyx’s presence is grounding, but I know that I can't keep her in the dark forever. She deserves to know what’s weighing on me, even if it means admitting things I’ve been avoiding.“I’m afraid, Nyx,” I finally say, my voice low, vulnerable. “Afraid of what will happen when my time comes. Enzo, he’s not ready yet. The curse_ it’s getting closer. And I don’t know how much longer I can keep fighting it.”Nyx’s grip on me tightens, and she tilts her head up to meet my gaze. There’s a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, but then it hardens, determination settling over her like a cloak. “We’ve faced worse. You know that. This isn’t the end, Lorenzo. You’ve been carrying the weight of this curse alone for so long. Let me help you carry it.”Her words hit me like a storm. I wish it were that simple. The truth is, I’ve always kept my burden close, never allowing anyone to share it with me. I don’t want
I never thought this would happen. Never.Not like this. Not now. Not with him.I watch as Lorenzo’s chest rises and falls, each breath getting weaker, slower, like the very life within him is being drained away. The blood still stains the floor around us, a reminder of how quickly everything is unraveling. It’s as if time itself is slipping through my fingers, and all I can do is hold onto him. My mate. My everything.His hand is so cold in mine. I try to warm it, press my palm against his, but it feels like the warmth is fading, like the life inside of him is ebbing away with each passing second. I press my cheek against his forehead, my tears falling freely, mixing with the blood that covers us both. Healers, even the world's most powerful healer can't help him. "Lorenzo," I whisper, my voice hoarse with the weight of my fear. "Please, don’t do this. Please don’t leave me. I can’t lose you. I just_ I can’t."But he doesn’t answer. His lips remain still, and his eyes are closed, as
I wake up to the sound of rustling leaves. It’s quiet, too quiet, like the calm before a storm. My head is pounding, a sharp ache that seems to cut through my skull. I blink, trying to focus, but everything is blurry, and I’m suddenly aware of a sickening warmth creeping up from my stomach. I sit up, but the room tilts and spins, and before I can stop it, I feel a wave of nausea wash over me. I stagger out of bed, desperate to make it to the bathroom, but my legs feel like they’re made of lead.The moment I stand, the room tilts to the side. My vision darkens.I feel the bile rise in my throat, and I can’t stop it. I double over in pain, retching violently. Blood splatters across the floor, staining the stone tiles beneath my feet. My chest tightens, the air becoming harder and harder to breathe, but I can’t control it. The blood keeps coming.“Lorenzo!” The voice is frantic, filled with fear.I look up, and through my blurred vision, I see Nyx rushing toward me, her face pale with wo
I can hear the soft rustling of leaves, the distant calls of the creatures in the woods around us, but all of it fades away in the face of the moment. It’s happening.Enzo. My son.I watch him, standing tall in the middle of the clearing, the wolf inside him finally unleashed. His transformation is complete. The air around us crackles with the energy of it, the power of the wild that he’s just embraced.My heart swells with pride. I always knew this day would come—the day he would claim his wolf, step into his true power. But as I watch him now, golden eyes glowing in the pale moonlight, there’s a knot tightening in my chest. It’s the curse.The curse that has loomed over me, hovering like a dark cloud, waiting for the moment when my son would finally become whole. The moment when the last part of him would emerge. The moment when the bond between us would be fully realized.And with that realization, I would lose him.I swallow, trying to push away the bitter taste of that thought. I
The moonlight spills into the clearing, casting a soft glow across the forest. It’s peaceful here, the wind rustling gently through the leaves, the scent of pine filling the air. But tonight, there’s a different energy—a charge in the atmosphere, thick with anticipation. Nyx stands by Lorenzo, her heart beating faster than usual as they watch their son, Enzo, standing in the center of the clearing.He’s ready. He has to be. Tonight is the night he finally gets his wolf, the transformation that will mark him as a true Lycan, as one of their kind.Nyx can see the nervous tension in Enzo’s posture, the way his hands are clenched at his sides. His chest rises and falls with each breath, his golden eyes flickering nervously toward her and Lorenzo. He’s been through so much already, and though he may be growing stronger, there’s still a part of him that’s afraid. Afraid of the unknown, afraid of the power that’s about to course through his veins.Enzo is a warrior in the making, but tonight
It’s quiet for a moment. Too quiet. The wind, which had been carrying the scent of the surrounding forest, now seems to still, as though the entire world is holding its breath. Nyx watches Enzo carefully, her heart beating faster than usual as she takes a step closer to him, her protective instincts flaring.Lorenzo stands beside her, his gaze locked on their son, who is standing tall, his hands clenched at his sides. Enzo looks nervous—no, more than nervous. He looks unsure, as if something so big, so monumental is about to happen, and he’s not quite ready for it. Nyx can understand that. She remembers when she first felt the power of her wolf and the weight of her responsibility. But this? This was different.Enzo isn’t just a wolf. He’s a Lycan, and he’s about to awaken something inside him that none of them fully understand.She can see it in his eyes—the flicker of uncertainty, the quiet struggle to accept what’s coming. But it’s in his blood, running deep. There’s no escaping it
The ground beneath us shakes, sending a ripple of unease through my bones. The ritual has begun, but it’s not like anything I’ve ever felt before. The magic surrounding us pulses like a living thing, thrumming in the air. It feels as if the very forest is alive, watching, waiting.Lorenzo’s hand tightens around mine, his fingers steady despite the chaos unfolding around us. Enzo stands beside us, his expression unreadable, but I know he feels it too—the power, the danger. I can sense the tension in the air, thick and heavy, as if everything could unravel in an instant.Lyra’s voice cuts through the cacophony of power, calm and firm. “Stay focused. Let the magic guide you.”I glance at Lorenzo, his jaw clenched, his eyes hard with determination. He doesn’t say anything, but I know he’s thinking the same thing I am. This is dangerous, more so than any battle we’ve fought. The Heart of the Forest is a place of immense power, but it’s also unpredictable. We don’t know what we’ll face.The
The days blur as we prepare for the ritual. The elves have been working tirelessly, gathering everything we need, and the weight of what’s coming hangs over me like a storm cloud. It’s all happening too fast. The sense of urgency is palpable, but I can’t shake the fear that something is going to go wrong. I can feel it in the air, the subtle tremor of something dark lurking just out of sight.Nyx doesn’t say much about it. She’s focused, her mind on the task at hand. I can tell she’s trying to keep her worries buried, not wanting me to see how heavy the weight is on her shoulders. But I see the way she looks at Enzo sometimes, that protective glance, the way her hand lingers on his shoulder when she thinks no one is watching. It’s clear she’s worried about him, too. He’s young, still finding his place in the world, and the challenges ahead are only going to get harder.We’re ready. At least, I hope we are.The night before the ritual, I sit with Nyx in the clearing outside the village
The days blur together. Every moment spent thinking of the elven village, wondering where they are, and wondering what this new beginning holds for us. The tension in the pack lingers, and the responsibility of leading weighs heavier with each passing hour.But Nyx’s presence grounds me. She’s always been the strength I need, the constant anchor in the storm of uncertainty. Her words keep me focused, her eyes keep me hopeful.Enzo, too, has been a source of light. I can tell he’s worried about Noah, his elf friend, but he’s stronger now. Not as the child I once knew, but as someone who understands the depths of what we’re up against.Today, we leave the Blood Moon Pack behind for a while. The elves have called for us. They need to speak with us, and Nyx insists that we need to go. I agree, though there’s a part of me that’s reluctant to leave the pack. There’s always a part of me that’s reluctant to leave the familiar and step into unknown territory, but I know this is necessary.Enzo
The morning light filters through the window, casting soft beams across the room. I lie there, tangled in the sheets with Nyx in my arms, her breath slow and even as she rests against me. It’s peaceful here, in this moment, but the lingering weight of everything that’s been happening presses down on me.The quiet is almost deceptive. We’re in the calm before the storm.I brush a strand of hair from Nyx’s face, my fingers gently tracing her features. She stirs slightly, her eyes fluttering open. Her gaze meets mine, and for a split second, the world outside disappears. There’s only us, here, in this room. Safe. Together.“Morning,” I whisper, my voice raspy from sleep.She smiles faintly, her lips curving upward. “Morning.”Her hand rests on my chest, and I can feel the steady rhythm of her heartbeat. It’s grounding, comforting, like everything is okay for once. But I know better. This peace we’ve found isn’t permanent. There’s always something lurking in the shadows, just waiting to p