Chapter 23: Mother…Eris ~I couldn't breathe. The words blurred together as I stared down at the letter in my hands, my chest tightened. My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed to the floor, knees hit the cold stone. It should've hurt, but the pain inside was louder-crushing, drowning out everything else.I didn't even realise I was crying until I felt the tears, like tiny pearls slipped down my face and splashed onto the letter. My fingers trembled as I read and reread the words, as if somehow they'd change."Augustin is dead. Your mother will be next if you don't return. War is coming."My heart shattered. I could see them-the images so clear. My mother, my pack, all destroyed. Darius had killed Alpha Augustin. He'd killed my mother too, or he would, if I didn't do what he wanted. His threat hung in the air like poison, choking me deeply with his strong hairy hands.Seven stirred and paced, she was growling deeply and feral, pushing at the edges of my mind.‘Let me out,’ she
Chapter 24 : No Matter WhatLeina ~ “This girl hasn't been sleeping for days. She refuses to eat, to bathe and to come outside. At this point, the wolf inside her will die soon with her.” “I understand…” I replied to omega Rei, who was watching after Eris carefully, “please don’t share this with anyone.” ‘Leina?’ “Not now, May…”‘The girl is dying, but so are you. Please be more careful.’My wolf wasn’t wrong, my health kept getting worse day by day. My body felt like it was being poisoned from the inside slowly, with time. But I couldn’t just ignore Eris. Her mother was at great risk of dying, and none of us knew what the right decision would be?Eris didn’t marry and mate with Kaya, so that leaves us in a blank. She also didn’t mate with Samuel, so his kingdom could not do anything as well. The letter was crafted greatly, by someone who knew the political and wolf laws. That man…Darius…he knew exactly what he was doing.I looked at Eris as my own daughter-in-law, someone who w
Chapter 25 : The FaeLeina ~A Few days later, Gabriel finally returned, and he wasn't alone. Standing next to him was the fae, and if I wasn’t so desperate, I would’ve sent him back the moment I laid eyes on him. He was tall, yes. Handsome? If you liked a smug grin plastered on an arrogant face. His long red hair fell over his shoulders like fire, and his red eyes glittered with indifference. The way he stood, relaxed and completely at ease, made it clear he was used to doing whatever he wanted.“Luna, meet the fae,” Gabriel said, trying not to sound annoyed, though his clenched jaw gave him away. “This is—”“Sibel,” the fae interrupted with a lazy wave. “And I’ve heard so much about you, Luna Leina. What an honor it is to be dragged here, against my will, I might add.” He gave Gabriel a pointed look. “By this charming gentleman.”I stared at him, unimpressed. “Sibel,” I said slowly in a low tone, “you’re here because we need your help.”He tilted his head, looking completely unint
Chapter 26 : Maybe If You Would Listen?Kaya ~ Standing by the window, staring out at the moonlit forest, my mind was like a storm in Pretto’s winters. I could feel anger boiling beneath my skin, like hot coals ready to come out any minute. “Darius,” I muttered, the name burnt my tongue. He had made Eris feel sick, and the thought of it made my body feel like it was walking through fire. I clenched my fists, desperate to do something, anything, to take him down.‘We need to protect her,’ Kai stated in a deep rumble tone. My wolf was restless, pacing back and forth inside me. His feelings mirrored mine, a fierce need to shield our mate from har. ‘He cannot get away with this.’“I know,” I replied, I’ll make him pay. He won’t hurt her again.”I found myself drawn to Eris’s chambers, my feet moved on their own. Each visit was helpless. I wanted to see her smile, to see the light in her eyes that Darius had tried to extinguish. I wanted to hug her, to hold her close and promise her
Chapter 27 : I’m The Only OneDariusIt will not take long for them to figure out that I didn’t kill Augustin and Julie just yet, but I must act fast. Ever since Eris escaped, Julie became a mess. She wouldn’t talk to anyone, she wouldn’t eat, wouldn’t come out of her chambers. She was like a ghost. A ghost that I feared the most. I always wanted to know why Augustin decided to marry her and kill my mother. So many times I was dreaming of ripping Luna’s head in two, then eating her like she meant nothing to me. Why did my mother die because of her? Because of my father’s selfish ego?I paced back and forth in the empty room, and these cold stone walls repeated my steps. It felt chaotic, running around like a storm I had no control of. Eris. It always came back to her. Because of Julie, everything had changed. My obsession with Eris, with keeping her close—it was all because of Julie.I stopped and clenched my fists."I can’t lose her. She’s mine."'You’re right. She’s the only th
Chapter 28: Be Careful With Your Wishes23 years ago.Humans were dumb. But lately, it seemed wolves were even dumber. For as long as I could remember, humans had always been predictable, foolish even. They wished for power, money, love—things they thought would bring happiness, but in the end, it only left them with emptiness. You’d think that wolves, being creatures of instinct, would have been smarter. They were supposed to know better, to understand the natural balance of things. But now? It seemed like they had forgotten the very laws that protected their survival. Take, for instance, the last dispute. The humans, of course, had wanted more land. Typical. They wished for endless territories without a single thought of the consequences. Wolves, being more territorial by nature, should have seen the trap. They should have smelled it in the air—the scent of ambition, greed, and inevitable destruction. But no, they had fallen right into it, as if they could ever outsmart the s
Chapter 29: I’m Not HelplessEris~For days, I refused to eat or drink. I was ready to die—until I heard a familiar voice. "Please… please wait! I want to talk to you! Please!" But he didn’t seem to hear me, or maybe he did, but didn’t care. I didn’t want this. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt because of me, because of my wish. "Please… come back… please, undo the wish…" I didn’t know who I was talking to. I didn’t even know if anyone could hear me, but all I wanted was for this to be over.My mother wasn’t the best in the world, and part of me still thought she didn’t want to be the Luna of the pack—especially after my dad had to kill my grandfather, her father. My mother wasn’t perfect, but I loved her. There were moments when she smiled at me, and I knew deep down she cared. But those moments were rare. Most of the time, she was distant, with her eyes clouded like she was lost in her own world of thoughts. I used to wonder what she was thinking about. Maybe it was abo
Chapter 29: I Need to Find Him“Eris? Thank the Goddess of the Moon, you’re alive!” Kaya dropped to his knees next to my bed, his face relaxed. “Alive? Was I supposed to be dead?” I asked.“Eris…” Samuel whispered, joining Kaya in what looked like praying. I glanced at Leina, who stood there, “Are you feeling better?” she asked softly.“I am,” I replied, frowning at the two wolves kneeling beside me. “But what is this?” I pointed at them, unsure why they were acting this way.Leina sighed. “Oh, well… they thought you were gone. We all did. We really thought we’d lose you.”I shook my head. “I’m not planning to die yet. Not until the wish is canceled.”“The wish? You still believe in—?”“Yes,” I cut her off, meeting her eyes firmly. “The wish is real, and I feel like the person who granted it is here.”I watched her expression shift, it deepened into something else—realisation. She knew. “Tall, handsome, red hair, red eyes… mean and sarcastic,” I said, describing him clearly. Lei
Chapter 66 : Leina’s DeathKaya ~ Chapter 65:I was standing at the edge of the square when it happened.Leina was just about to finish the ceremony, about to pass the Luna’s power to Tessa. I watched her closely, the way she moved slowly, the tiredness in her eyes. Something about her seemed off today, but I thought it was just the annoyance of the ceremony.Then, she coughed. It sounded sharp, unnatural.At first, no one reacted. We all thought it was nothing. But then she coughed again, and this time, blood spilled from her mouth.My heart stopped.“Leina!” I shouted, pushing through the crowd. I didn’t think. I just ran.She collapsed before I could reach her. Tessa tried to catch her, but she wasn’t fast enough. Leina hit the ground, hard. I was there a second later, kneeling beside her, my hands started shaking as I reached for her.“Leina, no!” I shouted again in a voice that seemed to lose control.Her body was limp, her skin cold. Blood covered her lips, and it kept coming,
Chapter 65 : Luna’s CeremonyLeina ~The village square was already filling with people by the time I stepped outside. Faces I had known all my life turned to greet me, with their bright smiles, voices filled with warmth.“Luna,” someone called, waving from the crowd.“Good morning, Luna!” another greeted me.I smiled softly and waved back, though my body felt heavier than usual, and my legs ached as I made my way through the crowd. I should have felt stronger today, of all days. It was my last day as Luna, the day I would officially pass on the title to Tessa.But something was wrong. I could feel it deep in my bones. May had been silent for days now. She wasn’t responding to my calls, and it worried me more than I wanted to admit. I tried to push the thought away as I reached the center of the square where the ceremony would take place.The elders were there, already preparing for the official proceedings. Tessa stood beside them, in a stiff posture, nervous energy rolling off he
Chapter 64 : He’s Finally MineTessa ~I’ve always loved Kaya.From the first moment I saw him, I knew he was mine. It didn’t matter that he didn’t see it right away. I was patient. I waited. I was loyal. Always loyal.And then he brought her. Eris.Ugly. From some weak pack on the other side of the mountains. She had nothing. No strength, no power. And Kaya, stupid Kaya, paraded her around like she was some kind of treasure.“She’s going to be Luna,” he had said, like that made any sense. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear her apart.‘You should have,’ Mei snarled in my head. ‘You should’ve ripped her throat out the moment she walked into our pack. She didn’t deserve him.’“I know,” I muttered under my breath. “I should have. But Kaya… he wouldn’t have forgiven me.”‘Who cares about forgiveness? She was nothing. And now look—he’s still mourning her, like she was worth something.’I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. “She wasn’t worth anything. Not to me. Not to this
Chapter 63 : I Will Always Love YouKaya ~A few minutes after Tessa left, the door opened again, but this time the smell that filled the room was different—warm, comforting, familiar. Leina.“Kaya,” she said softly and in a gentle voice, as if she knew exactly how fragile I was at that moment. “Can I come in?”I nodded, still staring at the floor. I couldn’t bring myself to look at her just yet. Somehow, everything was crushing me, and I wasn’t sure I could handle one more conversation.But Leina was patient. She always was. I heard her light and soft steps, as she walked over. And then, before I could brace myself, she wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was warm, and for a moment, I let myself melt into it, letting her hold me together when I felt like I was falling apart.“I’m so sorry, Kaya,” she whispered against my shoulder. “I miss her too.”I swallowed hard, feeling the lump in my throat growing. “It’s like she’s everywhere, Leina. I can’t escape it.”Leina pulled bac
Chapter 62 : Kaya ~It’s been three months since Eris died. Three months, and I still couldn’t wrap my mind around it. The pain felt as fresh as the day it happened, like someone had ripped my heart out and replaced it with a cold, hollow pit.I tried to numb myself, tried to forget, but nothing worked. Everywhere I went, I saw her—heard her laughter, remembered the way her smile could light up a room, how she made everything feel right. But she was gone, and now I was supposed to be preparing for a wedding I didn’t even want.The room felt depressing and everything was pressing down on me. My suit hung on the wardrobe... It felt wrong. I felt wrong. Tessa was supposed to be my bride. She was in the next room, probably preening, getting ready for a life that didn’t belong to her.Kai was anxious too, like he had been for months now. ‘This isn’t right, Kaya,’ he growled angrily. . ‘She’s not meant to be Luna. She can’t carry Leina’s powers. She’s empty. She’s…’I clenched my jaw.
Chapter 61: The Poisonous ThroneAugustin~I closed the door to Darius’s chambers, the smile faded from my face the moment I stepped into the dark hallway. That boy had no idea how much he teetered on the edge of failure. He was too blinded by his anger, too easily manipulated by the words of a girl. A mere girl, yet he let her slip through his grasp again and again. Pathetic.But then, weakness ran in the family, didn’t it?I walked down the cold stone corridor, my boots clicked against the floor, echoing in the emptiness. As I rounded the corner, my mind drifted back to where it all started. Eris’s father. The proud, noble alpha who ruled with strength and fairness. A fool, blinded by loyalty and love.“Too trusting,” I whispered, feeling the bile rise in my throat at the thought of him. He never saw it coming, never suspected that his own ally—his friend—was the one poisoning him from the inside.‘He was a fool,’ Hamex growled in my head, his dark tone always brought a bitter t
Chapter 60: The Hunter’s WrathDarius~The air in my chambers was suffocating me from failure. I paced back and forth, my fists clenched so tightly my knuckles ached. She had escaped again. Again. I slammed my hand against the stone wall, the impact went through my arm, but it did nothing to calm the tornado inside me.“How could this happen?” I growled through gritted teeth. “How could no one find her?”‘Weak,’ Hunter snarled in my mind, rumbling. ‘You let her slip through your fingers. Again.’I could feel him prowling, his claws itched to tear something apart, anything that would make this unbearable feeling of failure go away. He had been restless ever since Eris disappeared into the snow. Every attempt to track her had come up empty, and it was driving both of us to the edge.“She can’t have gone far,” I muttered, though to whom, I wasn’t sure. I raked a hand through my hair, the strands sticking with sweat. “We’ll find her. We have to find her.”‘You better,’ Hunter growled.
Chapter 59: The Stranger in the WoodsEris~The cold air nipped at my face as I walked through the woods, my breath came out in small puffs. Snow crunched beneath my boots, and the thick trees around me stood silent, their branches looked heavy with snow. It felt like the world had been swallowed in white, everything so quiet that I could hear my own heartbeat.But something was off.I stopped, my senses suddenly sharpened. There was someone out here. I could feel it. The hair on the back of my neck stood on end, and a low growl rumbled in my throat.‘We’re not alone,’ Seven warned in my head, her voice tensed.I turned, scanning the trees, trying to find the source of the feeling. My eyes locked onto a shadow moving between the trunks. It was quick, but I saw it. My growl grew louder, and I bared my teeth.“Show yourself,” I commanded.A person stepped out from behind the trees. He was tall, wearing a long black cloak that blended into the dark woods. His hood was pulled low over
Chapter 58: The Mark of FateEris ~The fire crackled softly in the room as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring down at my hand. There, on my palm, was a bruise like a faint, star-shaped mark. I rubbed at it, hoping it was just from the cold or from clenching my fists too hard earlier, but it didn’t fade. It was as if the bruise had formed with purpose, as if someone—or something—had placed it there.I flexed my fingers, trying to get rid of the feeling crawling up my spine. I had healed quickly from the torture of Darius faster than I should have, even for someone like me. But this bruise… it wasn’t like the others.‘Eris.’Seven’s voice drifted into my mind, calm but watchful. ‘That’s not just a bruise. There’s magic in it. I can feel it.’“Magic?” I whispered, staring harder at the star. It glowed faintly under the firelight, almost like it was alive. “What does it mean?”‘I don’t know. But someone marked you, Eris. You need to be careful.’Marked. The word left a bitter taste i