Zander’s footsteps echoed in the quiet of the forest as he made his way back to the Mountain Pack’s territory. The encounter with the Elder had left him with more questions than answers. The existence of the mysterious woman and her connection to the conflict weighed heavily on his mind. But there was another piece to the puzzle, an ominous presence that lurked in the shadows—the sinister witch and her coven. Rumors of the witch’s existence had been whispered among the packs for generations. It was said that she and her followers practiced dark magic, harnessing the forces of nature to serve their own twisted desires. The coven was said to be a secretive group, operating in the depths of the forest, hidden from prying eyes. As Zander walked, his thoughts wandered to the stories he had heard. Tales of the witch’s power and the havoc she could wreak upon those who crossed her path sent a chill down his spine. The coven’s motives remained shrouded in mystery, but their malevolent i
Darius strode confidently down the dirt road leading to the southern border of the kingdom. He could smell the faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the nearby café, inviting him in for a quick taste before he departed on a long journey to the west. He reached for the door handle of the café’s front window just as two girls emerged from the entrance carrying plastic bags. One girl held onto the arm of her companion as they headed towards the bus stop several yards down the street. One look into the faces of both the girls caused Darius’s eyes to widen in surprise. Both girls sported bright blonde hair and green eyes, making it easy to distinguish one from the other. He had seen these girls somewhere before; their distinctive features and distinctive hairstyles were all common sights on the streets of Lothian. Even after months of hunting them in the shadows of the shadows, the two girls were not easy to find. There were only so many places where y
The structure consisted mainly of four floors that formed a rectangle shape. Inside, he could see a large room with rows upon rows of beds occupying every inch of floor space. It seemed like there was plenty of room, enough to accommodate thousands of sleeping warriors. It certainly wasn’t the largest town he’d encountered, but it was larger than the previous ones he had passed by. “What is all this for, boss?” called a burly man who was standing beside the entrance. In response, the boss raised his right arm and pointed toward the cliff’s edge. As he did so, a series of loud booms resounded throughout the area as hundreds of flaming arrows shot from the mouth of a huge hole, which had been drilled directly into the cliff’s base. As the fiery projectiles disappeared into the darkness below, it was followed by a deafening explosion followed by a series of loud cracks ringing throughout the surrounding mountainside, as a large portion of th
After traveling through the dense forest for about half an hour, Darius could finally make out something in the distance. Within seconds, his gaze landed upon an enormous building which towered high above the rest of the surroundings. Its walls were constructed of large boulders covered with vines and moss. Numerous holes had been dug in the rocks to accommodate multiple archers, along with a small number of chariots and wagons. In front of the building stood seven towering towers, each containing dozens of rooms, each containing a variety of weapons such as shields, spears, swords, bows, axes and even lances, which had been sharpened, repaired and polished to a brilliant shine. Each tower also contained a large amount of stores that were filled with numerous types of food, including bread, dried meat, dried fruits, nuts and vegetables, along with various wines and spirits. Some tents, too, had been erected around the place in order to provide the army’
Darius shook his head and replied, “I don’t think so… They are probably preparing something. What could be going through their minds? I have no idea,” he added, glancing sideways towards his warriors for reassurance. When they nodded in return, he continued to explain, “I have my own suspicions, though. The witches are cunning people. I doubt that they would just stay in one place like this, just because the rest of the army is present. And the last time the witches attacked, the war was over in less than ten minutes! That’s a lot faster than they usually take. So, I don’t think they are hiding somewhere to gather information, but I do think that they might want to get rid of us before we get any closer to them.” Darius paused for a brief moment before asking one of his soldiers, “Have you seen any suspicious activities anywhere on your travels? Anyone acting suspicious or giving a hint of what they intend to do? Someone who might be holding a g
After a long, painful moment, Darius opened his eyes and looked around. He found himself lying in bed, but there was no sign of anyone in sight. Slowly he lifted his head, and sure enough, he noticed that he was alone in the room. Where did everyone else go? How did he get back here? Why does his head hurt so badly? And how did this happen? His mind raced through the possibilities with alarming speed and clarity, as if he were an expert on all of them at once. The only thing he didn’t understand was why. He sat up slowly, trying to gather his thoughts. He took some deep breaths, then rubbed his temples in an attempt to stop his headache. A few moments later, his hands started to shake slightly, making him realize that this wasn’t something he could control. In fact, it seemed like a bad idea. With trembling hands, he pulled his shirt over his head, leaving his bare chest exposed in the air for a few seconds. It didn’t help, and he had to
“Who the hell are you?!” shouted Darius, throwing caution to the wind as he sat upright in bed and glared at the stranger suspiciously. “What do you want from me?! What is your purpose here?!” The stranger’s smile widened, unaffected by Darius’s outburst. “My, my, such hostility,” she remarked calmly. “No need to be alarmed, Darius. I mean you no harm.” Her voice had an almost hypnotic quality to it, soothing yet captivating. Darius narrowed his eyes, his suspicion still intact. “How do you know my name?” he demanded, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and unease. The witch chuckled softly, her gaze steady on Darius. “I know many things, Darius. I have been watching you closely, observing your every move. You see, you have something I desire.” Darius’s grip on the bedsheets tightened. “What are you talking about? I don’t have anything of value. Leave me alone!” The witch’s smile didn’t falter. “Ah, but you possess a power th
While Darius listened to the Elder speak, the atmosphere in the pack’s territory was mix of excitement and anticipation coursing through the veins all the wolves present. His glance fell on the wolves present, and then caught scent of the same smell he picked a few days ago. The familiar scent still lingered in his mind, reminding him of the woman he had sensed earlier. It was a scent he had never encountered before, and deep within him, he felt an inexplicable connection, an unspoken knowing that she was meant to be his mate. With each step closer to the pack members, the scent grew stronger, guiding him towards its source. Darius followed his instincts, his heart pounding with anticipation. The pack members, aware of his triumphant return, welcomed him with joyful howls, their voices echoing through the rugged landscape. Eager to find his mate, Darius sought out the wise elder, who awaited his return, perched on a prominent rock overlooking the pack’s