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A DEADLY LURE
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Reckoning of the purple moon FORGING UNITY
POV: HardinMy eyes sharp, overlooking no detail, the clang of steel on steel boomed across the enormous training hall as I circled the sparring pair."Lorac, you're leaving your guard on the left!" I let out a yell. "You would be dead twice over by now if this were a real battle."Grunting, sweat beading on his brow, the young warrior battled to stop his opponent's relentless assault. He changed his position and tightened his defenses, to his credit.Fantastic. In the next few days, they would need every bit of discipline and ability.I let my eyes span the whole of the hall, counting the others as the simulated fight raged on. Some were improving their reflexes and stamina by running routines. Others crowded into tiny groups, grimly inspecting and reevaluating their weapons.Tension permeated the air, a tangible sense of expectation mixed with a tiny bit of fear. After all, we were getting ready to attack the very center of Callum's fortress, an action that would very well decide th
Reckoning of the purple moon SHATTERED LOYALTY
POV: MiaRunning my hands through my messy hair, I walked the length of my little flat. My head spun with opposing ideas and feelings, each fighting for supremacy.How had everything fallen so wildly out of hand?Not ideal, maybe, but at least reasonably steady just a few days ago was my life. I had my job, my schedule, and occasionally deviations with Callum to keep things interesting.But now? Now everything I knew had been turned on its head, thrown into the merciless glare of truth, and oh, how that light burned.I trembled, remembering the expression in Ivory's eyes when she had told me Callum's actual nature was that of a deep depravity. I had first rejected her statements, writing off them as the ranting of an envious ex.She spoke, though, and the more facts she exposed, the more difficult it got to ignore the awful reality. The man I had idolized, Callum, wanted, to serve without hesitation; he was simply a monster. A twisted monstrosity masquerading as authority and reputati
Reckoning of the purple moon THE CALM BEFORE
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe evening seemed to be thick and stifling, pressing in from all directions. Standing at the mouth of the cave, I peered out into the inky blackness past our small campground.Callum plotted and schemed somewhere out there, definitely preparing his forces for the unavoidable collision. At the idea, I shivered as my muscles tightened, coiled like a serpent ready to strike." Cannot sleep?"I started but turned not looking at the quiet voice behind me. A second later Ivory dropped into step next to me, her sharp eyes easily searching the darkness."You could say that," I said, allowing the age's understatement some voice. Relaxation? With so many lives underweight and so much at stake hanging on my shoulders? Simply thinking about it was ridiculous.Out of the corner of my eye, Ivory nodded, as though she knew the currents of uncertainty and fear churning inside me. After all, we had traveled a long, violent path together. Maybe she did.We slipped into silence, e
Reckoning of the purple moon THE CHOICE
POV: Jeremy WilliamsWith my thoughts racing, I paced back and forth in the tiny space. It was all such a disorienting chaos. I had regarded Darrel as a father figure for a very long time. I was reared in the pack by him, sheltered, and cared for. But now that I knew all of his lies and Ivory's real identity, I was at a loss for ideas.I jumped as I heard a faint knock at the door. "Jeremy? "It's me, may I enter?" Ivory spoke out in a soft voice.She came in with a worried look on her face as I opened the door. Ivory was the one person who seemed to genuinely care about me and was kind and nurturing, much like the mother I never had.She inquired, putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder, "Are you alright?" "I know this is all a lot to take in."I gently shook my head. "Ivory, I'm really confused. I've treated Darrel like a father figure, so how come I now know that he has been lying to me all along? that you truly are my mom?" The weight of the disclosures crushed me, causing tears t
Reckoning of the purple moon ASSAULT OF THE FORTRESS
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe darkness appeared to engulf them, oppressive and dense. Peering through the darkness, I saw Callum's fortress standing there, a massive structure made of stone and iron, encircled by tall walls and guards on patrol. We were going to attack the center of the viper's nest here.I faced the group of warriors who had surrounded me. I could see the terror beneath the determined expressions on the faces of Hardin, Tera, Lorac, and the others. Even though we were vastly outnumbered, we had no other option. Before Callum's evil influence poisoned us all, it had to be removed."You understand what lies ahead," I growled softly. "Callum's troops are well equipped and trained. He has warped intentions and will battle violently to defend his fortress."I looked directly into each of their eyes. "I won't lie: many of us won't make it through the impending struggle. However, our cause is righteous. In the face of his depravity, we struggle to preserve our kind, our culture
Reckoning of the purple moon BROKEN BOND
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe shroud of smoke and anarchy whirling all around me seemed to distort the world into flashes. Jenna's scared face as Callum's sword caressed her throat. The amazed stillness of the infiltration crew. Hardin still silently approaching a vague target.It required every bit of will not to just run ahead, consequences be damned. To attempt to find Jenna, my friend, my universe whole. But Callum's icy pledge of merciless death for any reckless move held me like a chain of frozen iron.Rather, my voice came out in a ferocious snarl. Calum! You turned monster, let her go. In all this she is innocent.The dark figure on the parapet laughed, a sound completely lacking of laughter that caused the back of my neck to have hair raised. "Innocent? Alpha, none of the components in our world are ever quite innocent enough to be given up."Jenna started to cry in terror as he casually flicked another little line of red across her flesh. "You stupid she is my leverage. My promi
Reckoning of the purple moon FATAL PASSAGE
POV: Ivory WellsAs I descended further into Callum's stronghold, the smoke-filled air stung my eyes and caused wateriness. Around me screamed the symphony of battle: steel smashing on steel, the terrible sound of rending flesh.But I drove it all to the margins, my senses sharpened with laser-like attention toward one single goal: locating my daughter Darcy. After so many years of believing her missing, I at last got proof she existed, held hostage someplace in this horrible land.Low, I passed a knot of Callum's guards interacting with Hardin's infiltration team. A few tried to turn and interact with me, but I was already swirling like a whirling tornado of flashing blades and kicked up smoke. They dropped silently and then rejoined the dusty haze.Part of me understood the need for every life lived and every hurt caused. But it was a little, always dwindling voice against the tidal urgency pushing me ahead. Once Darcy was in my arms once more, I could grieve the price of my deeds.
Reckoning of the purple moon INTO THE DEN
POV: HardinAs my squad and I battled our way deeper inside Callum's citadel, the air was filled with smoke and the sounds of injured people breathing heavily. Bodies everywhere, both enemy and ours, littered the ground. The price was already shown to be rather high.However, we could not and would not be discouraged. Not when we'd finally broken through Callum's warped domain's inner sanctum. Somewhere around here, Jenna was being held captive as his last, ruthless negotiating chip.Before that filthy creature could inflict whatever tortures his cruel imagination could conjure as "reinforcement" of his demands, we had to get to her."This way!" I gave the order with a bark and led the charge toward the big adamantium doors at the far end of a smoke-filled corridor. Callum's conceit would not permit anything less than them to serve as the entrance to his throne room.Blades leading, two guards erupted from a cross passage. I parried the first's poor attack with scorching speed, fallin
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Reckoning of the purple moon UNITY DAWNS
POV: Ivory WellsI emerged from our cabin and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my face. That tragic day in the cave had been three months ago. Even though so much had changed, other things stayed reassuringly similar."Good morning, drowsy head," Mia greeted me as she jogged up. "Ready for the big day?" I smiled. "Ready as I'll ever be, I think. Who gave pack picnics the go-ahead?""Oh wise leader, that would be you," she jokingly said.We strolled to the central area, where pack members were busy getting everything ready for the festivals. Near the food tables, I saw Darrel chatting with Hardin and Marcus. "There you are," Darrel said, drawing me in. "We were just discussing the new patrol schedules."Marcus gave a nod and said, "Joint patrols are operating efficiently. Now my wolves feel comfortable here." "And the training program?" I inquired with Hardin.He grinned. "Better than anticipated. Kira has a talent for instructing the younger ones." "Dad! Mom! Take a look!" Jeremy
Reckoning of the purple moon PAINS AND SACRIFICE
POV: Darrell WilliamsWith the bright light gone, an unsettling silence followed. I attempted to clear the dots from my vision by blinking. When my vision returned, I saw Callum on the ground, lifeless, with Darcy and Jeremy kneeling next to him. "Callum?" Emotion-laden, Ivory's voice broke the stillness.Heart heavy, I took a step toward her. Callum had become the brother I'd always wished he could be in his last moments, something I never would have imagined myself feeling sorry for."Is he...?" I was unable to complete the question. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ivory nodded. "He's gone." The children gazed up at us, shock and anguish filled in their huge eyes. Shouting, "We didn't mean to," Jeremy said. "We didn't know it would..."I gathered them both into a close embrace. "It's not your fault," I firmly stated. "Callum made his choice. He saved us all." I began to notice the world outside our small group as we grieved. Rovin's army was nowhere to be seen, and the cave entr
Reckoning of the purple moon THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
POV: Callum WellsI heard the others converse, make plans, and feel hopeful. I felt ill from it. How were they so innocent? Calm amid the packs? Saving us all with the powers of the children? That story was a fable.But as the evening went on, I was plagued by a persistent discomfort in my stomach. What if they were correct? What if there was an alternate route? I shook my head, attempting to dispel any uncertainty. I'd gone too far to go back at this point.The cave became still as the morning drew near. Most had gone to sleep, worn out after the activities of the evening. But I was unable to sleep. As my thoughts raced, I relived each step that brought me to this point.Curled up beside Ivory and Darrel, I found myself staring at Jeremy and Darcy. They appeared so little and so innocent. Was I truly ready to give them up for power? "Can't sleep?"Ivory was observing me with cautious yet nonhostile eyes when I turned around."Just thinking," I said in a whisper. She inched forward, t
Reckoning of the purple moon WOLFS AT THE DOOR
POV: Darrell WilliamsChaos ensued inside the cave. In a flurry of fur and fangs, wolves snapped and hissed, crashing into each other's bodies. Amidst the chaos, I lost sight of Ivory and the children, and my heart raced with concern for their well-being."Ivory!" I yelled, my voice hard to make out over the commotion. Something heavy crashed into me from behind. I turned around and met Callum's twisted smile."Hello, my old friend," Callum said with a sly smile. "Miss me?" I didn't use words to squander time. We collided, stumbling in a mass of limbs across the cave floor. I caught a glimpse of Marcus fending off two of Rovin's goons."Darrel!" A voice spoke above the din: Ivory. "The kids!" I glanced up and saw her cornered with Darcy and Jeremy. With a look of hunger in his eyes, Rovin was charging towards them. My veins heated with rage. I hurled Callum off of me and lunged in the direction of my family.But before I could get to them, an unforeseen event occurred. With a surprisi
Reckoning of the purple moon DECEPTION AND LIES
POV: Ivory WellsI started to get shivers as the howling got closer. It felt quite exposed suddenly, this small clearing.With a tight voice, Darrel stated, "We have to move. Now." Marcus gave a nod. "It's not far to my den. There, we'll be secure."Unsure if we could trust him, I hesitated. But after seeing the exhausted looks on Darcy's and Jeremy's faces, I decided. We had to find shelter quickly. I kept having the impression that something was missing as we went through the woodland. Callum and Rovin had surrendered too quickly. What did we fail to notice?It turned out that Marcus' den was a cleverly concealed cave system. We assembled around a central fire pit once we were inside. With his eyes darting nervously to the cave entrance, Jeremy sat close by. I held his hand and whispered, "It's okay. We're safe here."He gave a nod, but it was clear he wasn't sold. Not one of us was. Marcus cleared his throat. "Now, I believe it's time for some answers."Darrel sat up straight. "You
Reckoning of the purple moon FLAMES OF DESTINY
POV: Ivory Wells“Jeremy!" I screamed as the fire surrounded my son. My heart halted, horror clutching me like a vise. Then, though, the flames disappeared as fast as they began. And something else lingered where Jeremy had stood.A wolf, but unlike any I had seen before. Its eyes shone like fire, and its fur shimmered with an ethereal brightness. Darrel muttered next to me, "Oh my god. Is that...?"Not sure what to say, I nodded. Our son had developed into something much beyond our wildest dreams. Marcus moved forward, amazement ablaze on his face. "The prophecy," he said quietly. "It's true."Jeremy's wolf turned its head and stared at every one of us individually. Its sight locked with mine, and I felt a flash of recognition. My small son was still in there."Jeremy?" I called gently. "Can you understand me?"The wolf nodded gradually. Darrel stepped forward, his hand out. "Son, can you shift back?" Though nothing changed, Jeremy's new shape shimmered. He whined, sounding frustrat
Reckoning of the purple moon THE WOLF WITHIN
POV: Jeremy WilliamsEven as Mom guided me out of the cave, my heart continued to beat. The sounds of war had diminished, but the echoes of horror still echoed within me."Are you okay, sweetie?" Mom's voice quivered with concern as she grasped my shoulders, searching my eyes. I nodded, unable to find the words to convey what I had just experienced. How could I explain the unfathomable, events that happened in that dark, scary cave?We stumbled into a little clearing, surrounded by the calm of the forest. Mom held me close, her hug was a barrier against the residual fear. "Now that you're safe," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. "I won't let anyone hurt you."But I wasn't sure whether even she could protect me now. The meeting with Callum and the enigmatic Rovin had been traumatic enough, but what worried me most was the discovery about myself that surfaced in that unfathomable darkness."Mom," I began, my voice shaking, "something... something happened
Reckoning of the purple moon HIDDEN PARTNERSHIP
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe sound of Alpha Marcus approaching filled the cave. His presence commanded both respect and horror in equal measure, and his silver fur shimmered in the unsettling blue light.I looked at Ivory and noticed that her eyes reflected my same bewilderment. Why was the Silver Claw Alpha in this situation?Marcus scanned the cavern, taking in the tight exchange of words. "Well, isn't this cozy?" he grumbled.Anger twisted Rovin's face. "Marcus! You're ahead of schedule." My thoughts were racing. Too early? Were they collaborating? Marcus laughed, his laugh resonating against the walls of stone. "Plans change, my dear friend. I decided to speed things up."I moved forward, putting myself in the way of my group and this new foe. "What's going on here?" I demanded.Marcus looked up at me, a gleam in his eyes. "Ah, Darrel, the young one. There's a lot to learn about politics in packs." "This isn't politics," Ivory fumed. "You're holding our son hostage!"Whimpering, Jere
Reckoning of the purple moon THE SEARCH BEGINS
POV: HardinAs we gathered in the pack grounds, the tension in the night air crackled. Nervous talk was interrupted by Darrel's voice.He declared, "We're under attack. We're not running, though. We're retaliating."Ivory stepped forward, and I saw her eyes light up. "We must split up now. While some remain to protect, others will go in search of Jeremy."There were murmurs among the people. I saw glimpses of resolve, fear, and rage."Hardin," Darrel yelled out. "You will lead one search team. Kira, you take another. Ivory and I will take Callum at his word."I nodded, mentally arranging routes already. "What about Darcy?" I enquired. Everybody looked at the little girl. She was tall, with a soft glow all about her."I'm going with you, Dad," she declared strongly.Ivory began to object, but Darrel raised a hand. "She is correct. Her abilities might give us the advantage we need."The pack split apart, and I went up to Kira. "Pay attention to her," I muttered. Kira's gaze grew gentler
