The crackling of the fire seems deafening in the silence that follows Ella’s confession. My blood runs cold as I stare at her, the vial of poison in her hand, the symbol of her treachery. But before I can react, a loud bang shakes the air, and the door to the training room slams open. Jacob. My heart skips a beat as I see him standing in the doorway, his chains gone, his body bruised but alive. He’s not supposed to be out. He should be locked up. He was a traitor. A prisoner. But now, here he is, in front of us, a wolf freed from his cage—and I can feel the danger radiating from him. "Jacob?" Nyx’s voice is barely a whisper, disbelief lacing it. "How_ how did you get out?" Jacob steps forward slowly, his eyes narrowed, dark with intent. He’s different. The wolf that I once knew is no longer there. Something in his gaze has shifted. He’s no longer the broken, betrayed soul I thought I could help. This new Jacob is a stranger. His steps are calculated, cold, and deliberate. "I brok
Nyx’s voice is sharp, filled with command. “Lorenzo, to the left! We need to hold that line!” I snap into action without hesitation. My muscles tense, my senses alive as I shift with the speed of a predator. The first wave of enemies crashes into us, their faces gleaming in the moonlight—vampires. They’re fast, relentless. Their eyes burn with malice, and I can feel the cold fury from across the clearing. “Move!” Nyx barks again, her blades slashing through the air as she takes down a vampire with a swift strike to the neck. I hear the sickening thud of its body hitting the ground, but I’m not slowing down. I focus on the humans in the distance. There are too many to count, but they’re standing firm, aiming their weapons at us, their eyes full of purpose. This isn’t just an attack—it’s an organized assault. I can feel it in my bones. “We can’t let them get past the line!” I yell, but Nyx is already two steps ahead of me. She’s fighting with deadly precision, her movements so flui
The battlefield is chaos.I hear the roar of wolves and the shrill cries of vampires as they clash. Nyx is at my side, her presence a constant reminder that we have a chance—together, we can win this. But I can feel the weight of the moment. The vampires’ strength is overwhelming, and our warriors are struggling to hold their ground.I glance over at the little girl, Ella, with the gun. She’s standing in the middle of the battlefield, her eyes locked on the chaos. Her body is tense, but there’s something else there—fear. She’s scared, but there’s more. I’ve seen that look before. It’s a look that only comes from someone who knows what’s coming.“Lorenzo,” Nyx snaps. “Focus. You have to focus!”I shake my head, pushing the thoughts away. “Right. Let’s end this.”We charge into the fight, shoulder to shoulder. I can feel the rush of power as my fists make contact with vampire after vampire. Their bodies crumple in front of me, but I don’t stop. Every movement is a blur—punch, kick, twis
The battlefield is a battlefield no longer. It’s a graveyard. The wolves, once fierce, now lie scattered, broken and bleeding, their cries lost in the wails of death. Nyx stands in the middle of the chaos, her breath shallow, her heart racing, but it’s not the battle that’s taking her breath away.It’s Lorenzo.He’s on the ground, his body still.Everything around her slows down, the sounds of battle muffling into a distant hum. She’s paralyzed by the sight of him.Lorenzo.He’s been shot. The bullet wound, a dark stain on his chest, speaks of death, of everything they’ve fought to protect. She knows she should move, she knows she should help, but the world has frozen, and all that matters is him.“Lorenzo!” Nyx’s voice is a desperate plea, but he doesn’t respond. His eyes are half-lidded, and for a moment, she believes he’s gone.No. She won’t lose him. Not like this.Nyx rushes to him, kneeling at his side. She feels his cold skin, the warmth of his blood soaking into her hands. His
"I'm sorry, everyone," Nyx whispers under her breath, heart pounding as the Original vampire steps closer, his dark aura chilling her to the core. All around her, she hears the pained whimpers of her packmates battling to survive. Her chest tightens, guilt gnawing at her insides.Without another thought, Nyx hoists Lorenzo’s limp body over her shoulder, his blood soaking into her clothes. She can feel his heartbeat—faint, irregular. Her heart screams, but she forces herself to keep her composure. With a deep breath, she transforms, her wolf form swallowing her grief, if only for a moment. In a flash, she bolts from the battlefield, carrying Lorenzo with all the strength she has left.'I’m so sorry_ I have to save him. I have to.' She can’t let him die, even if it means leaving her pack behind. As she races through the woods, branches whip against her fur, but she doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t look back. Every step forward is heavy with regret.“This_ this is all my fault,” she mutters,
The battlefield’s horror still haunts her as she recalls leaving it behind. She casts a worried glance at Lorenzo, his chest rising weakly, blood seeping through his wounds. Clutching him close, she continues forward, her thoughts a whirlwind.They’ve reached unfamiliar land, yet Nyx hesitates, sniffing the air cautiously. Beyond the trees, a small village peeks through the foliage, humble huts scattered across the hillside. It’s quiet, seemingly untouched by the chaos of war.“Maybe_ someone from there can help,” she mutters, uncertain. Her gaze lingers on the huts. Rumors whispered among her pack hint that humans have advanced healing methods—methods unlike her pack’s traditional herbs and magic spells. But would they help or see her as a threat?Just then, a small figure appears from behind a tree. She freezes, feeling a surge of panic. It’s a child, though not entirely human. Dark-skinned with large, curious eyes, the boy’s pointed ears flick slightly, hinting at his heritage.“Wh
“Why did you save me?” Lorenzo’s voice is strained as he grabs her shoulder weakly, his breath coming in shallow gasps.Tears fill Nyx’s eyes as she steadies him. “Because you’re my one and only, Lorenzo. I couldn’t leave you there, dying!”Lorenzo’s gaze drifts, haunted. “Jacob, Ella_ they’re all dead. Those little kids with a harsh reality. What a cruel world this is.” He closes his eyes, grief tightening his features. “But Nyx_ you left our son there. What about Enzo?”Nyx flinches, as if struck. She hadn’t thought about it in the panic, the terror of escaping with Lorenzo’s life slipping through her hands. Her chest feels tight, heavy. “I thought—I just wanted to save you. I thought I’d be able to go back for him.”Lorenzo’s voice is rough, raw. “I was going to die anyway, Nyx. You should have left me. I’m cursed. The Lycan God himself marked me to fall. I wasn’t meant to survive that fight probably and Enzo would receive his wolf.”Nyx stares at him, her mind reeling. “What are y
"For now, we'll stay here," Lorenzo says, casting a cautious glance around the peaceful elf village. The sunlight filters through thick trees, casting a warm glow across the enchanted surroundings. They have been staying at a small den beside the Grandma Healer's residence, who is really a nice woman. Nyx gives him a nod, watching as Enzo runs around, his laughter echoing through the village, chasing after Jonah, the young elf boy who had first welcomed them. She smiles faintly. "At least he has a chance to be happy, for now."They’re taken aback by the strong magic woven into every corner of this place—the vines that seem to shift to allow them passage, the whispered songs of the trees, and the gentle hum of power that even Nyx feels in the air. The elves have been nothing but kind, especially to Enzo, who seems to have adapted quickly, making friends with almost every elf child in the village. This is like a Heaven in the Earth. As Nyx and Lorenzo begin to settle in, Jonah approach
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