A Familiar Place*(Laura's POV)*After finishing the last bite of my grilled fish, Augustus stood up, brushing off the dirt from his clothes. I watched him, still not entirely sure how I felt about his sudden offer to take me to his kingdom. But, as much as I hated to admit it, his presence had a strange sense of familiarity and security that I hadn’t realized I was craving.He looked down at me, his usual unreadable expression softening just slightly. “Ready to go?”I sighed, stretching out my legs before getting up. “I guess.”Without another word, we began the short walk back to my temporary lodge. I wasn’t carrying much—just the bare essentials for someone who didn’t know how long they’d be staying. Augustus, of course, insisted on carrying my bag. I let him, too tired to argue, though I could feel his curious glances as we walked.As we neared the lodge, he broke the silence. “So, what exactly were you thinking, trying to track down the rogue head alone?”I looked up at him, my b
The Vision of Fire and Destruction(Laura’s POV)As I sat at the table, I could barely focus on the food in front of me. Augustus was talking to his sister, Scarlet, and the rest of the lycans gathered around the grand table, but my mind felt distant, clouded by a strange unease that I couldn’t shake. I chewed on a piece of the grilled fish, but it tasted like ash. The warm, inviting atmosphere should have made me feel at ease, but instead, something was pulling at me. It was subtle at first—a quiet whisper, a faint tug from within, as though my wolf, Crystal, was trying to tell me something.Then, without warning, my vision blurred, and the room started to spin. The sounds of laughter and conversation faded, replaced by a high-pitched ringing that grew louder and louder until it was deafening. My body froze, and my senses were pulled into another place—another time.The scene that unfolded before me was chaos.I was standing in the middle of a bustling market, the very same annual marke
The Calm Before the Explosion(Laura’s POV)We reached the market, and the heavy tension that had been building up in my chest started to tighten even more. I could feel Augustus beside me, his presence solid and reassuring, but my heart wasn’t calm. I scanned the area, expecting to see chaos—guards unconscious, stalls in disarray, signs of a rogue attack ready to happen. But there was nothing.Thirty minutes had passed, and yet everything was quiet.The market guards stood at their posts, oblivious to the threat I had seen in my vision. Families wandered through the stalls, merchants called out their wares, and the warm evening air was filled with the scent of food. The annual market was still buzzing with life, and there were no signs of the impending danger I had felt so strongly.“Where are they?” I muttered to myself, glancing around, trying to figure out if I had missed something. This wasn’t right. My vision had been clear—rogues, explosives, destruction. So why was nothing happen
The Aftermath of Chaos*(Laura’s POV)*The explosion hit me before I had a chance to react. One moment, I was standing with Augustus, and the next, the force of the blast lifted me into the air, my body weightless for a terrifying second before slamming me against the hard bark of a tree. Pain ripped through my side as my head collided with the trunk, and everything went black.I couldn’t feel anything at first. It was as if I was floating in a void, surrounded by nothingness, the chaos of the explosion fading into the background. And then, slowly, a light pierced the darkness, soft and warm. The pain in my body seemed to dull, and I felt a presence—a familiar presence—coming closer. I knew who it was even before I saw her.“Mom?” I whispered, my voice barely audible.She appeared in front of me, her face kind and loving as always, though there was a sadness in her eyes that made my heart ache. She looked the same as I remembered her, strong and beautiful, her long dark hair cascading
Augustus Confession LAURA's POV As I lay there in bed, still recovering from the explosion, I felt a presence beside me. Augustus had been standing near, ever since I woke up, checking on me and ensuring that I was comfortable. His silence wasn’t like him though, and I noticed the way he seemed lost in thought. Scarlet had left the room a few moments ago, leaving us alone. The quietness hung in the air like a heavy blanket.I shifted in bed, trying to find a more comfortable position. My muscles still ached from the blast, and the vision of my mother was fresh in my mind. I hadn't told Augustus about the trance or the conversation I had with her. Some things were too personal to share, even with someone as close as he had become.Suddenly, Augustus broke the silence."Laura," he began, his voice soft but strained, "there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you. And I can’t hold it in anymore. I... I care about you, deeply."I looked at him, puzzled at first, wondering where he was
A Letter From AxelLAURA'S POV Days had passed since the explosion, and I was finally feeling like myself again. My strength had returned, and the aches from being thrown against that tree had slowly faded. It felt good to be able to walk around without wincing or leaning on someone for support. But as much as I tried to focus on my recovery, my mind was elsewhere—on my pack, on Maxwell, on everything I’d lost. The peacefulness of Augustus' kingdom couldn't quiet the storm raging inside me.I was sitting by the window, gazing out at the lush gardens, when there was a knock at the door. Before I could answer, Augustus stepped in, holding a letter in his hand. He didn’t say anything at first, just handed it to me with a serious look in his eyes.“A postman just delivered this,” he said. “It’s addressed to you.”My eyebrows furrowed as I took the letter. Who could possibly know I was here? I hadn’t told anyone I was staying in the lycan kingdom, not even Maxwell. As I glanced at the sea
Meeting The Lycan MinisterLaura's PovIt had been a quiet day in the kingdom, with the tension from recent events slowly easing. I’d spent most of the morning resting, trying to clear my mind from the whirlwind of emotions that came with Axel’s letter. My heart was heavy with the weight of my people’s suffering, but I had to stay strong. I knew I would return to the Black Pearl Pack soon enough, but for now, I needed to be patient. The time for vengeance would come.I was in my room, staring out the window, lost in thought, when I heard a soft knock at the door. It was Scarlet, Augustus' sister. She poked her head into the room, her bright eyes full of excitement."Laura, you need to come downstairs," she said, her voice bubbling with energy. "The Lycan Minister is here, and Augustus wants you to meet him."I sighed, pulling myself from my thoughts. The Lycan Minister? I’d heard of him but never had the pleasure—or misfortune—of meeting him in person. I wasn’t in the mood for polit
The Truth RevealedLaura's povAs the Lycan Minister spoke, I listened carefully, trying to remain composed. Every word that dripped from his mouth ignited a slow-burning fire within me, but I couldn’t let it show. Not yet. His voice was grating, full of pride and arrogance, as he recounted a story that hit far too close to home.“Many years ago,” he began, his voice calm but laced with disdain, “I went on an inspection around the Black Pearl Pack’s borders. It was supposed to be routine, but suddenly, we were attacked. Rogues, everywhere. They surrounded me, ready to tear me apart. And then, out of nowhere, a she-wolf appeared.” He paused for effect, as if savoring the memory. “She was the strongest she-wolf I had ever seen. The way she fought those rogues, it was like watching a beast unleashed.”My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt the blood drain from my face. I knew who he was talking about. He didn’t have to say her name—I could feel it deep in my soul. It was my mother.I