The wild wolves scatter, their growls and snarls fading as they retreat into the shadows of the forest. Lorenzo shifts back to his human form, panting as he surveys the clearing. Nyx stands beside him, her face streaked with sweat and dirt, but there’s a fierce glint in her eyes.“They're running away,” she breathes, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and exhaustion.Lorenzo nods, then spots Jacob struggling against the pack members holding him down. He steps forward, his voice firm. “Hold him, but don’t hurt him. He’s not our enemy exactly.”A murmur of disbelief ripples through the crowd. One of the protection guards, his face bruised from the skirmish, scowls. “Alpha Lorenzo, this kid led a whole pack of wild wolves against us. You sure he’s not the enemy?”Lorenzo meets his gaze evenly. “I said, don’t hurt him. We don’t know his story completely yet.” He turns to Nyx, his eyes softening. “Let’s go check on Enzo.”Nyx’s face pales as she remembers. Without another word, she
I lie awake, staring into the darkness of our den. The quiet presses down on me, amplifying the thoughts I’ve tried so hard to ignore. Enzo’s sleeping between me and Nyx, his small form warm and steady, his breaths even and soft. Every rise and fall of his chest reminds me of what I have, and more painfully, what I stand to lose. He’s growing up so fast; it feels like just yesterday he was a baby in our arms, and now he’s almost two, full of life and energy. I look over at Nyx. Her hand rests near his shoulder, protectively, even in her sleep. She’s beautiful—fierce and kind in a way that seems almost otherworldly. I watch her now, her face peaceful, a rare sight, given the constant threats around us. She bears the weight of Blood Moon Pack with such strength. But even she deserves more than I can give. The curse on my heart leaves me with only a few short years—just eight years left. I press a hand against my chest, feeling the sharp, invisible spike that’s slowly tightening, const
“I feel like Lorenzo is hiding something from me,” Nyx sighs, fidgeting with her hair, looking bored. “It might be your overthinking, Alphaess,” Maria comments, braiding her hair flawlessly. Over time, they’ve grown closer—Maria no longer feels like just a maid but a friend. “Do you think_ he might like some other girl? I haven’t exactly been at my best since Enzo was born,” Nyx sounds anxious. “I know I shouldn’t question his loyalty, but he’s definitely keeping something from me.” Maria shakes her head, her expression gentle. “I don’t think it’s about another woman. You two have been through too much for him to stray. He might just not want to burden you.” Nyx lets out a sigh, straightening her posture. “Maybe you’re right. Still_ it feels heavy, knowing there’s something he won’t share. Managing this pack with him is our responsibility for life.” As if on cue, Lorenzo enters, his usual serious expression replaced by a smile. Maria stands up and bows, slipping out of the ro
I wake up gasping for air, heart pounding as though I’ve just sprinted miles. The remnants of my dream linger like dark shadows in my mind—a godly figure, eyes fierce, dripping with some cosmic wrath. The Lycan God. He warned me, his voice echoing like a thousand storms, Time is ticking, Lorenzo. Six years_ six years before the curse runs its course. I sit up, pressing a hand to my chest as though it could steady the frantic beat within. My eyes drift to Enzo, sleeping peacefully beside Nyx. He’s just a small kid now, two years old, but the Lycan’s words won’t leave my mind, the prophecy of the curse. He might get his wolf before he’s even eight, he’d said. And that means I’m running out of time. Six years_only six years left with my family, my life. I reach out, brushing a hand softly over Enzo’s little soft hair, swallowing down the tightness that clogs my throat. I can’t break down here, not where they can see. Carefully, I slide off the bed, making my way outside.The night air
I return to the den quietly, the early hours of dawn barely lightening the sky. My head feels clearer now, the heavy feeling left behind on the mountain where I sat, looking out over the sleeping pack. Cade might be a stranger, but his words held deep meanings. The Lycan God's words, his warning, it all starts to seem like a fading nightmare. I take a deep breath, ready to slip back beside Nyx and Enzo, but when I walk into our den, I see her awake, sitting on the edge of the bed, her expression cold, dark.“Nyx?” I whisper, surprised.“Let’s not wake Enzo,” she says, her voice low but tight. “Come with me.”I follow her silently into the adjoining room, closing the door softly behind me. She turns to me, her arms folded, her eyes cold and unyielding.“Where were you? At this hour?” she asks, the question sounding sharper than a knife.“Outside,” I reply, keeping my tone calm. “I needed to clear my head.”“Outside?” She narrows her eyes at me. “For three hours? At two in the morning?”
Nyx lies awake in the dark, her gaze fixed on the shadows that stretch across the ceiling. Silence presses down around her, thick and unyielding, but inside, her thoughts are anything but still. Lorenzo’s face, that flash of hurt in his eyes, lingers in her mind. She feels regret clawing at her, but the ache inside her chest refuses to ease. Each word from their argument replays, bitter and sharp, cutting deeper each time. What should have she said instead? Slowly, she raises a hand to her cheek, feeling the faint trace of her own dried tears. She sighs and lets her hand fall, wrapping her arm instead around Enzo, who sleeps soundly beside her. His small, steady breaths fill the quiet room, a soothing rhythm that momentarily distracts her from her turmoil. She clings to the warmth of his little body, the only comfort she can find tonight.Morning light filters in through the window, casting a pale glow across the room. Nyx knows she has to get up, her duties won’t wait, no matter how
After a long day visiting my family at Crescent Moon, exhaustion drags at me. The pack is well, and it’s been good seeing my mother, sisters, and brothers. Even the endless hours of workouts I put myself through earlier seem to hit me all at once. The moment I finally settle back at my personal den, ready to collapse onto the bed, a shape on the bed catches my eye.In the dim light, I see Nyx curled up, fast asleep. A twinge of surprise pulls at me—she’s never waited for me here before. My first instinct is to back away, to let her rest, but something keeps me rooted in place.Before I know it, she stirs, as if sensing my presence, and her eyes flutter open. She blinks a few times before recognizing me, and without warning, she throws herself at me, wrapping her arms around my neck.“Lorenzo,” she whispers, her voice choked with tears. “I’m so sorry_ I was so wrong_” Her fingers dig into my shoulders as she holds me close, her face buried against my chest, and I feel the full weight o
I watch Enzo sleep, his small breaths steady against the blanket. He’s only two, but every time I look at him, it feels like he's older, like he understands more than he should. He's not naughty much, adorable and happy. Nyx stands beside me, her arms crossed. She looks at Enzo the same way I do now, guarded, with a shadow of worry we can’t shake.“I feel like the air around us has changed,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. I nod, not taking my eyes off our son. “I feel it too. It’s like_ there’s something we can’t see yet, just lurking.”Nyx moves closer, reaching out to touch Enzo's cheek. “We’ll protect him, no matter what. Though I don't get the deal about the Lycan God. What the fuck does he even want?""I don't know," I look away, trying to ignore that topic. As if in response, a sharp caw sounds from outside, breaking the quiet. We both turn, looking at the small window. A raven sits on the windowsill, a rolled parchment tied to its leg.“Do you think it’s_?” I
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