Lyra's POV It was coming all together now. “Come on Selene,we need to leave !” I said as I turned towards the door. “And how do you plan on doing that?” She asked, her attention focused on her paw. “I…I dunno?, the door maybe?” “Might I remind you that you discovered this place,realm brain maybe, to be a piece of memory” “Walk out through that door and you might ruin it, even break something.” I knew that those words were basic, I hated the fact that she was into something and hated it even more that she explained it to me as though she was speaking to a five year old and I understand it. “How do we then leave?” She rolled her eyes, this was the first time I was experiencing this physically, other times it was like a feeling and truth be told, whoever or whatever it was that assigned wolves to werewolves sure did a dang job picking a sassy one for me. “why then are you in a hurry?,I mean,you always find a way to leave this trance on your own am I right?” I did no
Rune's POV“If this leads to one more dead end, I am going to lose it!” I muttered as I walked into the dark alley.It had been months now since I escaped that goddamn prison.I couldn't help but think that Xavier had a hand in this.One could say that I loved him dearly and deeply.But that was not my drive; it was far from the motive I have now.Walking down this silent and deserted alley, it was rough to tell how desperate I was.It took nothing—little effort—to change a man, and I was a clear testimony to that statement.After my escape, I contemplated going to another pack to seek refuge, but that thought disappeared as quickly as it came.Lucas was dangerous. Who knew how far he was willing to go this time to get to me?He had spies in every pack and could take over any pack he wanted. He settled for that if his brother, and would stop at nothing until he got it.“You lost, brother?” I heard a low, grubby voice speak behind me.“Not today!” I said to myself as I hastened my foot
Rune's POVI was taken aback. The fear of mere men was expected.If only he knew the creature he was talking to, he would tear open his stomach, bring out his intestines, and clean them just to get rid of the meal I got for him.“She bewitched us and attempted to take our leaders as captives as she tried to rule us all against her will!” He said with such conviction that I almost believed him.I would have too; he did a really good job with the whole convincing thing.I was a creature of power; this was literally my background story.“Very well then, I still want to see her,” I pressed on.This statement made him choke on the beer he was chugging down his throat.“Why…” he spluttered.I wiped off whatever had escaped his mouth and onto my face with a nearby tissue.Whatever it was, it had a bad odor, and I was not up for this any longer.I was done with this; time was important to me.I faked a smile and, with all the strength I could muster, replied calmly, “Do not worry about me. I'
Rune's POV “All alone,” I muttered, “in this dark, not-so-creepy forest.” I had just realized that most people who spoke about the witch were being paranoid. Or perhaps I was in the wrong place. Assuming Carmila would reside somewhere in the mountains had been a bold mistake, and I needed to correct it. It had barely been five minutes, and I was already beginning to regret letting Keith go. I scanned the area for any signs of life—a plume of smoke, maybe—but the only inhabitants were the woodland critters. Since physical signs were unhelpful, I decided to rely on magic. There were no magical footprints or residues, except for the one I used to teleport myself and Keith here. But even that was gone, as if it had been erased. “Well, that’s not normal,” I said aloud. “What is not?” Thane asked. My wolf had been weak these past few months, his strength waning due to the rowan. I was his lifeline, but I was struggling too, with no one to support me. I sank to the ground,
Lyra's POVOne way or another, I always got entangled in the worst of situations.I could literally write several examples, but there was one similarity with all of my bad experiences in life.They always end well. I mean, from the experience I had with Rune and Xavier, and now this.I knew I had a duty to Nikolai—to help him escape or clear his head, at least.My only option was my mother's place, though this was the last place I would even consider.There was monkey business going on in this pack, and it needed to be sorted out. But even before I did that, I needed to get out of this place.“Now I know your origin, I have no one to blame but myself, and maybe Lucas.”“You just got entangled with the wrong person. Akira did not know any better…”He seemed to react to me calling her name, even in his sleep.I could swear that she was speaking to me. She wanted me to save her brother, or help him at least.I doubted I could save him. He needed to face his fears at this point and deal w
Lyra's POV“I did this to you!”Those words tore me to pieces and cut deeper than I could ever believe. And to think that it was never my intention to hurt him. This was all a misunderstanding that could have been sorted out if only it had been addressed immediately.“I did this to you!” I muttered again as the reality hit me once more.“Yeah, no joke,” he responded, his eyes still piercing into mine.“I should look away!” I thought to myself, but I could not.“You know one reason I always loved you? You are smart, and it is a good thing that you are being smart here too!” he said.I blinked my eyes as they were burning from staring too long. He dropped me; I had totally forgotten that I was hanging mid-air all this time. The pain of hanging came all at once as blood flowed back into my hands.A gentle massage was all I needed to get it over with. He was that strong, and I felt sturdy and safe in his arms. But that, however, was not the only contention. I was in this situation because
Lyra's POV“But,” Nikolai said to me in between mouthfuls, “I did make a good decision by stopping to get him something to eat.”He was hungry, and the way he was panting with each breath showed it.“Well, you don't like sharing much,” I said aloud as I looked away from him and searched my room for the essential items I would need for my trip.The Grimoire was the top priority, so it would go into my handbag. I glanced at Nikolai as his eyes were on me, and I regretted my words immediately.“See…” I sighed, “I did not mean what I said in any insulting manner. I am going through a lot right now, and…it is not your fault. This is not about you,” I explained further.I did not want him to think he was a bother to me. I really felt for him, especially knowing what he had been through growing up and with his sister. He needed someone now, more than ever—someone he trusted. And I was willing to bear that responsibility.His face brightened, and he went back to his meal.“Well, that should b
Lyra's POV“That bitch!” I yelled. “Where the fuck is that cock-sucking fool?!” I shouted at the top of my voice.I banged on the very first door I laid my eyes on. Lucas and Nikolai shared a wing in the manor; it was Lucas who had come up with this idea, and Nikolai had played along.“Oh really?” I scoffed after pausing for a few seconds. “You do not want to show yourself, right?”“You’ve forgotten that I can do this!” I yelled as I drew out my claws and slashed the door.“Come out wherever you are!”My voice echoed down the halls. Wolves are always drawn to noise instead of running from it, and I used that to my advantage. I needed as many of them as possible to come out of their rooms.“NIKOLAI!” I roared.I was impressed with my acting skills, to say the least. There was a crowd so thick that light could not pass through. But I could not stop now; Lucas was still not here.“Oh well!” I thought. “This is entirely his fault.”Positioning myself in the perfect stance and summoning t
Lyra's POVThe ground rumbled for a few seconds and opened wide, taking a large part of the rogues inside it. I saw Nikolai's corpse falling in too, but there was nothing that I could do.“Where is he?” I asked without wasting any more time.I turned back and ran, leading Rune to where Xavier lay.The remaining rogues who were there still ran after us, but they were the least of my problems.I just wanted Xavier alive and well.We got to where he was. “Rune? Is that you?” Xavier asked.“Of course, it is me,” Rune called out to him, while his grimoire flew closely.“Lyra, there is a spell here, but the ingredients and the time for this spell are impossible to get and prepare.”“Well, not for me, but given the time and the availability of these materials, I am sorry; there is nothing that we can do!” he said to me.“Do something!”The rogues had already caught up to us and were coming closer and closer.“Hold!” Rune said to me.“That should be able to hold them.” A protective form of li
Lyra's POV“You bastard," I said, slapping him across the face. “You did this. This is all your fault. After all that I have done for you, this is how you decide to pay me back?”“By betraying me? I should take your life right here and now, and there would be nothing that would happen.”“Do that, please,” he said, bleeding seriously from his shoulder; he was not healing.“The poison has got to you badly, has it not?” I asked him, and he shook his head.I thought he had healed from the poison Lucas injected him with, but I was wrong.That bastard strikes and wins again, with Nikolai.“Akira asked me to protect you…”I saw the shock in his eyes. “And that, I swear, I am going to do!”He was teary; his eyes were saddled with regrets. I could see that he was willing to turn back the hands of time just to correct the mistakes he had made before.“That is too late. There is nothing that you can do now. I am still holding on to tell you some things.”“Even if you figure something out, that w
Lyra's POVThere was something uncomfortable on my face. I was too weak to open my eyes, and for some reason, I felt oddly comfortable where I lay. I didn’t want to move a muscle, but the crawling sensation grew worse, becoming unbearable.I tried to brush whatever it was away with my hands, but it was no use. I had to open my eyes. My heart leapt when they finally came into contact with the green leaves hanging and swinging freely above me.The tingling sensation I felt was from a spider trying to weave a web on my face. I remembered why I was here.I could hear thunder and sizzling sounds nearby, and I knew something was happening. Random screams and shouts echoed around me. I realized people were getting hit, and the moment I thought of who might be on the receiving end, I summoned every last bit of strength I had to stand and fight.As I made my way through the bushes, I began to wonder who was fighting. “Nikolai?” I thought in disbelief. There was no way he could have done this.
Xavier's POV“How?” he said, laughing. “I do my study. Not everyone has to tell you everything,” he added with a smirk.“It’s not every day you see a three-tailed wolf laying around at her initiation ceremony.”Pity filled me as I recalled all the times I should have been there for her. But it was too late to turn back now. If I had one wish, it would be to go back and support her then.“Of course, I knew what that meant,” he said, taking a step forward. “I and Lyra have history.”“Remember that one time you subjected me to the human realm, forcing me to live amongst them for over a century? Yes, that one time. I obeyed, and it turned out not to be as bad as I expected.”“It was wonderful. She was one of the reasons—I loved her dearly.”“She didn’t give me a chance anyway, and my punishment was nearing its completion. I was going to make my move until you cut me off.”“I mean, you brought her back to me…”He must have seen the confusion in my eyes. “Oh… I understand how confusing that
Xavier's POVI had heard enough from Rune. I could have found ways to shut him up if this were not true and if he had not just been to hell and back. His explanations gave logical reasons for everything I experienced the very first day I came in contact with Lyra. It could also explain why Ozed was skeptical about me touching her that night and why I felt attracted to her.But there was a catch: if all that Rune had said were true, I was yet to see her as my mate. She was still with her exes, as far as I knew, and I did not want to ruin whatever we had going on between us. I trusted Rune, but this was a significant risk to take. But first, I needed to get to Lyra.He was still speaking when I felt something strange. Whatever it was, I could feel it, and it felt familiar. I needed to get to her.I impulsively entered the bushy road without consulting Rune. This was one of those times I fully trusted my instincts and whatever I felt.“You feel that too?” I asked.He responded in the a
Rune's POVI had been through hell and back, and today felt like the worst of it. I was certain this was the least that could happen to me.I opened my eyes to see Xavier looming over me, his face a mix of concern and confusion. He was calling my name repeatedly, but I was just as lost as I had been moments ago. Where was I? What was happening?As my surroundings came into focus, I realized I was in Kayla's room. I struggled to piece together how I got there, my mind still foggy. Xavier's urgent voice was a constant in my ears, shaking me as if he could rattle the answers out of me.“Rune,” he called again, and I felt a surge of irritation. The pounding in my head was growing unbearable. Just as I was about to respond, an unexpected sneeze overtook me. It felt like a reset button—my heart kicked back to life, and memories flooded my mind.“I remember trying to...” I began, but the thoughts were jumbled, causing a splitting headache. I could barely differentiate between past and presen
Xavier's POVThane quickly noticed my sour mood. “Do not mind me…” I began, but the sounds returned, and this time I was sure something else was in the room with us. I turned to check on Rune and saw he was still asleep. I followed the movement behind the headrest. It was fast—definitely not a rat; they wouldn’t survive long in this meticulously clean manor.The sound moved to the closet. I opened the door and found it—Rune's grimoire. “You sneaky tome!” I chuckled, mentally exhausted. I fell back onto the bed, trying to catch my breath.“Wait…” A bright idea struck me. We didn’t actually need Lyra; I just needed the grimoire.“Your master is sick and not himself,” I told it. The book pulsed with a glow, responding, but I couldn’t understand its message.“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered, still unsure how to communicate. The one who could explain everything was unconscious, and I couldn’t risk waking him without facing repercussions.The grimoire pulsed again. I tore open the bag containin
Xavier's POVI needed to handle this matter wisely. Something was going on, and I had to get to the bottom of it. Rune had become audacious. I knew he was bold, but today felt different. He was embittered, fueled by every negative energy I could think of. This wasn’t the Rune who stood for the right things.I had no one to blame but myself. I left him to whatever had changed him. “Lyra was right,” I sighed. I needed to know what was wrong with Rune and, most importantly, if the one I held in my hands was truly him. This was a serious debate in my mind. Certain signs made me believe this was Rune, while others made me doubt. He had knowledge no one else could have about me. He was my right-hand man for a reason, privy to my deepest fears. He was a magic user, and the spells he cast were ones I had seen him use before. But the fact that he couldn’t heal as quickly as usual threw me off. He was a wolf, after all.“Why do I even bother?” I groaned. “Just don’t let him die. Whoever he
Nikolai's POV“You had better start talking!” Lyra said as she opened the door to her closet.It was a close call.She had been a good host to me all this while.Either she knew what she was up against and didn’t care, or she was just foolish to help me. Whatever the case, I was grateful.Luca came inside and saw me.I pleaded with him to spare my life. “What the hell do you want from me? I’m done with this,” I said.“I’m tired of your control and reign of terror. Have you done enough by taking my sister too?”“Just leave me alone. You have a lot of people under you, yet you cling to me like a plague.”He chuckled. “And there he goes, the little pup has begun to grow teeth and thinks it’s okay to nip at the elder wolf! The audacity,” he said, walking closer to the window.“You know Lyra is a lovely wolf,” he said. I knew he was watching her from the window. My heart skipped a beat.“Do what you want with me, but leave Lyra out of this.”“Really?” He laughed. “You think this is about