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THE TURNING TIDE
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Reckoning of the purple moon HAUNTED TRAUMA
POV: JennaA tremendous roar shook the chamber, vibrating in my bones. I looked in awe and dread as the multicolored light merged into a massive, ethereal shape.What sort of ancient power was this? The ghostly shapes of snarling teeth and raking claws swirled in a whirlwind around a central lupine nucleus. As the dazzling light faded, I swear I saw muzzles and gleaming eyes peering out from within that frantic tornado of phantom fur. The towering juggernaut that had been bearing down on the defenseless Ivory appeared to falter, taken aback by this unusual new menace. That solitary second of doubt was its undoing.With an earth-shaking rush of force, the ember beast struck, engulfing the war golem in swirling, scintillating savagery. Its frightening chorus of howls and roars drowned out all other sounds as it charged at its mechanical prey. I could only gape in stunned wonder as adamantine skins crumbled and separated like rice paper under the continuous assault. The juggernaut's
Reckoning of the purple moon NOWHERE TO RUN
POV: Callum WellsI felt agony piercing me with each rasping breath. My whole body felt like one enormous wound, ripped apart and left to swelter in the harsh weather. However, I couldn't wouldn't let such vulnerability be apparent.Not right now. Not when I was on the verge of total disaster or ultimate success.I could see the strewn remains of my juggernauts through a haze of blood and whirling dust, those destructive avatars of destruction I had fashioned by mastering the forbidden crafts of the ancients. Unmade to the core, torn apart like tissue by whatever crazy force that ethereal beast had taken on.A mocking laugh of incredulity leaked from my injured throat. Such amazing structures...so effortlessly buried? No, that's not possible! Not when I was this near to transcending at last!I snarled through the intense spurts of pain, searching for some indication of support or relief. But amidst the juggernaut, all that was left were straggling hangers-on, the pitiful remnants of m
Reckoning of the purple moon NEGOTIATING WITH A MADMAN
POV: Darrel WilliamsTensing my muscles, I tried to resist the fury rising inside me as Callum stood over my daughter Darcy. Not while I still was breathing, that twisted monster would not lay a finger on her."Callum, stop this madness right now," I murmured, trying to maintain composure and a level voice. "Darcy is a young innocent child. She has nothing at all related to our strife.Callum laughed, a raspy wheeze that made my spine chillingly cold. "But old friend, she has everything to do with it. She stands for the future, the optimism still clinging to your miserable relics."His eyes pierced into mine with utter hate. And it makes her my ultimate leverage over you.I gave a slow head shake. "I'm not sure what delusions you are running under, but even for you threatening a child crosses a line."Changing strategy, I appealed to the ragged remains of the friend I once knew. "Callum, for decades all but blood has been our brotherhood. Certainly, some of you can see the craziness i
Reckoning of the purple moon TRAGIC CONQUENCES
POV: HardinAs Darrel absorbed the full force of Callum's ferocious energy blast, my heart stopped in my chest. He was bathed in a putrid purple glow, with waves of malicious power that tore away skin and bone. His anguished cries echoed across the room."Darrel, no!" With a raw edge of panic in her voice, Jenna let out a cry.His flaming figure slumped boneless to the ground, and I watched in terror. Curling up from his wrecked body was acrid smoke. I was unable to discern if he was still alive for an interminable, excruciating moment.A glimmer of hope flickered through me as I noticed the faint rise and fall of his chest. He was harmed, possibly very badly, but for the time being he managed to hold on to life.My moment of relief was fleeting, as Callum turned to face the others, his features contorted into a victorious, wicked grin. He scowled, "Did you see that, you sniveling relics?" "Behold the price of defiance against my greatness!"Jenna stayed motionless, her arms still enc
Reckoning of the purple moon AWAKENING
POV: Ivory WellsSuch pain in my skull. I struggled to open my eyes. Everything felt odd. I opened them slowly. The room was very bright. I moaned."Ivory? Are you okay?" Mia spoke. I turned my head slightly. She was there, looking frightened."What happened?" I asked. My voice sounded strange. Mia got closer. "You've spent the last three days in bed. We were so afraid."Three days? That couldn't be right. I tried to sit up, but it ached a lot. "Don't move," Mia urged, pressing me back down gently. "You're still recovering."Recovering? From what? I closed my eyes, trying to remember. Then it hit me. The fight. Callum. Darrel... My eyes opened wide. "Where's Darrel? Is he okay?" Mia seemed even more frightened. That worried me."Mia, tell me. What happened to Darrel?" She inhaled deeply. "He's alive, but... he's hurt badly." My heart felt like it stopped. "How bad? What happened to him?""He got hit by Callum's magic. He's been asleep since then." Then I recalled something else. Darc
Reckoning of the purple moon HEALING WOUNDS
POV: Darrell WilliamsI gently opened my eyes, squinting in the intense brightness. Everything was painful. I had the impression that my head was full of cotton. Where was I?My vision cleared enough that I could see the clean walls of the medical wing of the pack. Yes. The conflict. Callum. defending Darcy and Ivory... "Darrel? You're conscious." I scowled at the motion as I turned to see Hardin seated next to my bed. My former comrade and subordinate appeared exhausted, with shadowy bags beneath his eyes."How long?" With a dry throat, I croaked. I was given a glass of water by Hardin. "Six days. You scared the hell out of us all."I gratefully gulped the water. "The pack... what's happening?" Hardin's expression darkened. It's not good. Everyone is terrified as a result of Callum. While you're healing, the Elders are at odds over who should take over."I attempted to sit up, but my body hurt so much. "I need to get out there." Hardin responded, "Whoa, easy," and pushed me back down
Reckoning of the purple moon A NEW FAMILY
POV: DarcyI was afraid when I woke up in a different bed. I was where? It dawned on me that this was my new room. In my biological parents' home.My true parents. It seemed strange to think about even now. There was a gentle tap on the door. "Darcy? "Honey, are you awake?" Ivory was the one. My true mother. I hadn't gotten used to calling her that yet."Yes," I mutely said.Ivory entered as the door opened. She smiled at me, but it was clear that she was anxious as well. She sat on the edge of my bed and asked, "Did you sleep okay?" I shrugged. "I suppose. I experienced a few nightmares."Ivory appeared dejected. "I apologize, my love. Would you like to discuss them? I gave a headshake. The thought of the shadows and what Callum had done terrified me. That's alright, Ivory remarked. However, I'm available if you ever want to talk. Alright?"I gave a nod. It was still difficult to trust Ivory, even though she seemed pleasant. I mistook Jenna for my mother for a very long time. Everyth
Reckoning of the purple moon HARDIN’S QUEST
POV: HardinI massaged my weary eyes, fixed on the stack of papers on my desk. Although second-in-command was never simple, these last two weeks had been agony.I looked up a knock on the door. "Come in," I urged. Among our younger pack members, Roger came inside. He appeared uneasy. "Sir, the main hall is in a... state." I exhaled. Still another dilemma, another day. "What kind of circumstances?" "A few of the younger pack members are under dispute with some of the senior ones. It is becoming heated.Nice. just what we needed. More war. Great, I said, "I'll be right there."Before I had arrived at the main hall, I could hear yelling. I inhaled deeply in preparation. Pushing in the doors, I found two groups confronting one another. On one side, Elder Rovin and his supporters Conversely, a group of younger wolves headed by Kira, one of our most promising fighters, "What's going on here?" I begged loudly, and everyone turned to stare at me. Elder Rovin started first. "These young people
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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
