She walks down the aisle, looking ethereal. I stare at her, unable to take my eyes off her. Her gorgeous doe eyes shimmer, though her exhaustion is apparent. Her pale face shows the toll the pregnancy is taking, yet, somehow, she remains radiant—more beautiful than ever. Despite everything, she still carries herself with grace, her dress flowing around her like a gentle breeze. My heart pounds, but it isn’t from fear anymore—it’s from love, pure and overwhelming.As she reaches me, I take her hand, my fingers trembling as they intertwine with hers. Her skin is warmer than usual, feverish, but the moment her touch connects with mine, a strange sense of calm washes over me. She’s here. We’re doing this. Together.“You look stunning,” I whisper, the words barely leaving my throat. There’s so much emotion packed behind them, it’s almost hard to speak.She lets out a soft, breathless chuckle, her voice strained but trying. “I feel like I’m going to pass out.”“You’re still the most beautif
As Nyx’s eyes widen in panic, I feel a rush of adrenaline surge through me. “Okay, stay calm,” I urge her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the chaos erupting in my mind. “We need to get you to the infirmary, fast.”She nods, but I can see the fear etched on her pale face. “Lorenzo, it’s too soon. I don’t think I’m ready for this.”I kneel beside her, taking her hands in mine. “You are strong, Nyx. You’ve carried our child this far, and you can do this. Just breathe.”She takes a deep breath, but I can see the tremors running through her body. “It hurts,” she admits, her voice shaking. “I didn’t expect it to feel like this.”I glance around the gathering, noting the worried faces of our friends and family. “Someone! We need help!” I shout, my voice cutting through the murmurs of the crowd.A moment later, the Head Healer, Josephine rushes over, her eyes wide with concern. “What happened?” she asks, taking in the scene—the gathering crowd, Nyx’s ashen face, the wet fabric of her
Suddenly, the air shifts, an unnatural chill wrapping around us like a blanket. A low growl rumbles from somewhere in the distance, reverberating through the ground beneath our feet. The crowd stirs, confusion etched on their faces, but I barely notice them.“Do you hear that?” Nyx asks, her eyes wide with fear.Before I can respond, the growl intensifies, and a dark shadow looms at the edge of the clearing. The atmosphere grows tense, electric. My instincts scream at me to protect her, but I can’t pull my gaze away from the approaching figure.From the shadows emerges a being unlike any I have ever seen. Massive and imposing, its body ripples with muscle and power, glistening in the faint light. Its fur is midnight black, absorbing the surrounding light, and its eyes—oh, those eyes—burn like molten gold, glowing with an ancient power.The Healers part, gasping in awe and fear as the figure steps forward. They quickly leave the room, screaming, only Josephine stays. My heart races, no
I pass my son to Josephine, looking at her with sincere eyes. “You have done a lot for us. Please take care of our son for a while too.”She smiles, glancing at Nyx’s peaceful, sleeping face. “Of course, this is my duty. Don’t worry too much, Alpha Lorenzo. You’ll lose all your hair like this.”I chuckle, rubbing the back of my neck. “You might be right.”I drop onto a nearby chair, gripping my head, trying to clear it. My son or Nyx—neither of them will be going to that temple. I’ll go alone.I look down at my son, his tiny features softened in sleep, and a decision settles in my heart. I’ll choose the name Nyx had whispered to me when we first learned we’d be parents. Enzo. His name will be Enzo.Taking a steadying breath, I brush my hand over Nyx’s forehead, feeling the warmth beneath my fingers. She seems to be in a better position now. I hope she can rest while I do this, while I settle the score with the Lycan God.Quietly, I rise from my seat and step out of the room, giving on
I return to the infirmary, feeling numb. But again, I must be strong, use the time left to its fullest.I peek into the room where Nyx is resting, her chest rising and falling gently with each breath. She’s deep in sleep, her face serene. A smile tugs at my lips—she really did her best in childbirth. She fought through it all, every moment, to bring our son into the world. My heart aches, knowing what I've given up to keep them safe.Turning away from the doorway, I head to the central den, hoping to find Enzo with Josephine. But as I approach, the den is empty, the silence eerie. My pulse quickens, and a slight panic stirs within me. Where could they be?I search the room, looking around for any sign of them, but it’s as if they’ve vanished. Clenching my fists, I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. Josephine is careful, she would never let anything happen to Enzo.After a moment, I remember the Healers’ residence, the smaller wing attached to the main building where the
Nyx opens her eyes, breathing heavily. Her whole body is sore, and it takes a moment before she can find the strength to look around the dimly lit room."Lorenzo?" she calls out softly, her voice trembling slightly.There’s no response. The space around her is empty, the silence echoing in her ears.“Where are you, Lorenzo?” she whispers to herself, trying to steady her racing heart.Fragments of the dream still cling to her, a dark and twisted nightmare. Someone had died in her arms, someone close to her. She couldn’t remember every detail, but the lingering sense of loss and desperation still burned deep in her chest. It was only a nightmare, she reminds herself, but her heart aches as if it were real.With a shaky breath, Nyx slowly pushes herself upright, each movement a struggle against her sore and weary muscles. Her body feels like it’s been through a war, but somehow, she manages to stand.Taking one careful step after another, she leaves the room, moving through the silent co
Two years later The cool night air hums with music and laughter as Lorenzo, Nyx, and their little Enzo sit under the sprawling branches of a giant oak tree. Enzo’s small hands busy themselves with his toys on the table, his eyes round with curiosity at everything around him. Nyx smiles, watching him. “He’s getting so big,” she says softly. Lorenzo chuckles, nodding. “He is. Won’t be long before he’s running around with the others.” Enzo looks up at them, clutching his mother’s dress. “Dance!” he chirps, pointing toward the crowd where everyone’s moving to the beat. Lorenzo grins. “You want to dance, buddy?” He ruffles Enzo’s curls. Enzo nods eagerly, lifting his arms. “Up, Papa! Up!” “All right, you asked for it!” Lorenzo laughs, lifting Enzo onto his shoulders. Enzo squeals, gripping his father’s hair as Lorenzo spins him around. Nyx chuckles, eyes shining as she watches them. “Be careful with him,” she teases, unable to look away from the sight of her boys together. Lorenzo
I didn’t know Nyx’s mother, so I don’t think I have the right to comment on this situation. But Nyx seems really tense; it must be a lot to take in. Enzo is sleeping soundly, his small breaths a comforting rhythm. I decide to give her some time alone and head outside.It’s almost a full moon, and I can feel the pheromones flaring up in my body. Should I go for a hunt? Just like a lone wolf. Though I prefer to hunt alone, tonight feels different.I transform just before entering the forest, feeling the familiar rush of power as my senses sharpen. My red eyes scan the area, and I can’t help but growl in a low tone, eager to assert my presence in the wild. I run forward, all my senses heightened, red eyes seeking prey.Suddenly, I sense two wolves behind a bush. I halt in my position, the feeling striking me like déjà vu. The scent is heavy with musk and intrigue. I sigh and transform back to my human form in under ten seconds, remembering what I’ve just interrupted.I cough loudly, maki
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