DAMIENThe icy wind sliced through the air as I stood at the edge of the cliff overlooking the northern sea. The waves crashed against the jagged rocks below, a relentless reminder of the territory I now tread. SeaHowl territory. It was a land of bitter cold and harsher rulers, a place where power was carved through blood and dominance rather than treaties or alliances.I clenched my jaw against the chill as the hulking figure of Alpha Garrick stepped out from the shadows of his stone fortress. His presence was unmistakable—broad shoulders draped in fur, a long scar slicing across his face from temple to jaw, and eyes as cold and unyielding as the ocean behind him. Garrick, the tyrant Alpha of the North, was not a man to be trifled with.“Alpha Damien,” he greeted, his voice a deep rumble that carried over the howling wind. “You’ve come far from your warm southern lands. What brings you here to my doorstep?”I stepped forward, maintaining my composure despite the predatory gleam in hi
ARLENEI stood there, the weight of Lucian’s gaze pressing down on me as he asked, “What do you mean you’re here to help Gwen? What reason could there possibly be for you to come back?” His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it—curiosity laced with suspicion.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. It wasn’t easy, not with the man I had loved staring at me like I was some unsolvable puzzle. “I came back for her,” I said softly. “For Gwen.”Lucian’s brows furrowed as he leaned back in his chair, his hands gripping the armrests tightly. “Help her with what?” he asked, his voice sharper this time. “What could you possibly do for Gwen?”I moved closer, letting my words sink in before continuing. “Gwen is different, Lucian. You’ve seen it yourself. She’s not just an ordinary Alpha, and deep down, you know that too. She’s struggling because of the power she carries, a power she doesn’t fully understand yet. I’m here to guide her, to help her harness it without it destroyin
GWENThe first thing I noticed was the heaviness in my chest, a familiar weight that wasn’t entirely mine. I was back in control of my body, but I wasn’t alone. Arlene’s presence lingered like a shadow, her energy intertwined with mine, both comforting and overwhelming.“Breathe, Gwen,” Arlene’s voice echoed in my mind, steady and calm. “You’re fighting too hard. You need to let go.”Let go? Easy for her to say. My shape-shifting was still a mess, and my wolf remained elusive, almost mocking me with its silence. Every attempt I made to connect with it felt like trying to grip smoke—it slipped right through my fingers, leaving me feeling weaker and more frustrated each time.I clenched my fists, standing in the clearing where I had been practicing for hours. The moon hung high above, its silvery light spilling over me as if urging me forward. But no matter how hard I tried, my wolf refused to surface.“I can’t do this,” I muttered, pacing angrily. “It’s useless. I’m useless.”“You’re n
GWENThe urgency of the dream propelled me to Lucian’s room. The hallways were eerily quiet, the faint light of dawn barely peeking through the windows as I rushed toward his door. My heart pounded in my chest, and my thoughts swirled with the warnings of the Moon Goddess. When I reached his room, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Could I convince him to help me? Could I even explain this without sounding desperate or insane?I took a deep breath and pushed the door open. Lucian was already awake, sitting on the edge of his bed. His sharp gaze met mine, his brows furrowing in confusion.“Gwen?” he asked, his voice rough from sleep. “What’s going on? Why are you awake so early?”“There’s no time to explain everything right now,” I said, my voice trembling but firm. “I need you to come with me. The Moon Goddess warned me. We need answers, and I know where we can find them.”He stood slowly, his posture tense as he studied me. “Answers to what, Gwen? What’s ha
GWENThe decision to go through with the ritual weighed heavily on me, but I knew there was no other way. The Elders prepared everything with meticulous care. Their chants echoed through the chamber, each word thick with ancient power. Lucian stood nearby, his presence grounding me even as he looked uneasy. When the final preparations were done, one of the Elders stepped forward, holding a bowl filled with shimmering liquid.“This will send your spirit to the ancestral plane,” he explained. “Your journey will not be easy, Gwendolyn. You must face what lies ahead with courage.”I nodded, swallowing my fear. “I’m ready.”Lucian took a step forward, his jaw clenched. “I’m staying close. If anything happens—”“You cannot interfere,” the Elder interrupted firmly. “Her journey is hers alone.”Lucian’s fists tightened, but he gave a sharp nod, his eyes locking with mine. “I’ll be here when you return.”His words steadied me as I drank the liquid. The taste was unlike anything I’d ever experi
DAMIENThe air in the throne room was thick with tension as I sat back in my ornate chair, staring at the trembling figure before me. The spy I had sent weeks ago, tasked with finding any trace of Gwendolyn, knelt at the foot of my dais, sweat gleaming on his forehead. He had finally returned, his presence stirring a dark curiosity in me. The reports of Gwendolyn’s death had never settled well in my mind. Something about it felt incomplete, as though a vital piece of the puzzle had been deliberately hidden.“What have you discovered?” I demanded, my voice low but cold enough to send a shiver down the room.The spy hesitated, his gaze darting toward the marble floor. “Your Majesty,” he began, his voice shaky, “I found Gwendolyn’s body, or what remains of it, but the situation is… peculiar.”“Peculiar?” I leaned forward, my grip tightening on the armrest of my throne. “Explain.”He swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. “The body… it is her, my lord, but there are whispers.
GWEN“You’re a part of me,” I said softly, meeting my wolf’s glowing eyes. “I can’t fight you forever. I don’t want to. We need each other. But I won’t let you control me.”The wolf stopped, its massive form towering over me. For a moment, it just stared, as if weighing my words. Then, with a snarl, it lunged one last time.I braced myself, standing firm. This time, instead of resisting, I opened myself to it. The wolf’s form collided with mine, and instead of pain, I felt a surge of energy—raw, powerful, and overwhelming. My mind was filled with images of my past, my struggles, and my victories. The wolf’s memories mixed with mine, and I realized it wasn’t just testing me. It was showing me that we were the same.When the light faded, I stood alone in the shadowy realm. My wolf was gone, but I could feel its presence within me, no longer a separate entity but a part of who I was.I had won—not by fighting, but by accepting.The air was heavy, suffused with the energy of the ancestor’
GWENThe ride back to our territory was long and quiet. Lucian and I were both lost in thought, our silence heavy with the weight of what we had uncovered. Damien’s plans weren’t just ambitious; they were catastrophic. He wouldn’t stop until he had reshaped the world to his liking, and anyone who stood in his way would be crushed.I clenched my fists as the memory of the battle replayed in my mind. The way the rogues had fought—it wasn’t random chaos. It was calculated, disciplined. Damien’s forces were growing stronger, and more organized, and we couldn’t afford to be caught off guard again.When we finally arrived, the first thing I did was call a council meeting. Leaders from our neighboring packs were invited to join us. If we were going to stand a chance against Damien, we couldn’t do it alone. We needed allies, and I had to convince them to fight with us.The meeting was held in the grand hall of Lucian’s manor, a space large enough to accommodate the many Alphas, Betas, and war
GWENBeing pregnant wasn’t supposed to be like this. I knew carrying pups wasn’t easy, but as an Alpha mated to another Alpha, I should have known it would be different. The moon had granted me a vision, a glimpse of the future, and yet here I was—exhausted, emotional, and constantly battling fluctuating moods. I couldn’t help but laugh sometimes, wondering how the pack would handle this version of their Alpha Queen.The first few weeks after Ethan had confirmed the news felt like an endless roller coaster. My body seemed to change by the day, the weight of pregnancy settling into my bones. Some days, I could hardly keep my eyes open; others, I felt like I could conquer the world. But it wasn’t just my body that was changing—it was my emotions, too. I’d snap at Lucian for something trivial, my mind a storm of thoughts and anxieties, only to immediately apologize and burst into tears because I felt guilty. Hormones? No. This was an Alpha’s pregnancy, and it was intense.Lucian, bless h
GWENThe night was quiet, serene—almost too quiet. After the grand celebration of our union, Lucian and I finally had a chance to rest, to take in everything that had happened in the past few days. But sleep eluded me that night. I found myself lying awake, staring at the moon through the open window. Its light bathed the land in silver, peaceful and eternal, much like the bond I shared with Lucian.That’s when it happened.A soft presence filled the room, a comforting warmth that seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. I blinked, sitting up, my heart racing. The room was empty, yet I felt no fear. There was only a sense of calm, as if I were being cradled in the very arms of the night itself.Then, a voice, as gentle as the moon’s glow, filled my mind.Gwen.My breath caught in my throat. It was her, the Moon Goddess.Do not be afraid, child. I have watched you closely. Your defiance, your refusal to bow to the constraints of destiny, it inspired me. You, Gwen, have shown
GWENThe day had finally come, the day I would say goodbye to Arlene. The woman who had been my closest confidante, my mentor, and my friend. She had stood beside me through the darkest of days and the brightest of victories. Now, her absence was a gaping wound in my heart, one that I wasn’t sure how to close. But life had to go on, and I had promised her that I would lead our pack into a future that honored everything she had taught me.The clearing was quiet, the air still with the weight of anticipation. The pack had gathered to honor Arlene, and as I stood before the gathered faces, I could feel her presence with me, as if she were standing right behind me, offering her silent support. I could almost hear her voice, whispering the words of strength I needed to carry on.The ceremony was simple, yet filled with reverence. The flowers we had picked from the fields, the candles that flickered with a soft light, and the incense that swirled through the air all spoke of love, loss, and
GWENThe moonlight cast a soft glow over the newly rebuilt pack lands, the air crisp and alive with the whispers of a future we were all striving toward. The sounds of construction had faded, replaced with a deeper kind of peace, one that had been hard-earned, fought for with the blood of our people and the weight of history on our shoulders.I had spent so many nights looking out over these lands, reflecting on what had been lost under Damien’s reign and what we were now building together. My heart still carried the scars of his betrayal, but I had made a promise to my people—to rebuild, to heal, and to lead them into a future where we could finally be free of the shadow he had cast over us.With Lucian by my side, that promise felt more like a vow I could keep.It had been weeks since the last of Damien’s forces had been rooted out, since we had finally reclaimed our territories. There were no more whispers of traitors hiding in the shadows, no more enemies creeping through the crac
GWENThe wind swept through the ruins of the once-great city, carrying with it the scent of fresh earth and rebuilding. Everywhere I looked, the landscape bore the marks of war—broken walls, shattered homes, the remnants of lives lost. But amidst the destruction, there was something else. Hope. It was growing, slowly but surely, as my people—my pack—began to rebuild what was lost.I stood at the edge of the newly constructed walls, my gaze sweeping over the horizon. The sun was rising, casting a golden glow on the charred remnants of Damien's reign. It was almost surreal to think about how far we had come, and how much we had been through. I had been forced into a role I never expected, thrust into the leadership of a pack torn apart by betrayal and bloodshed. Yet, here I was, standing strong, the weight of my people’s trust on my shoulders.Lucian stood beside me, his presence steady and grounding. His hand brushed against mine, a silent reminder that I wasn't alone in this. We were
GWENLucian’s scent, earthy and steady, with just a hint of spice, wrapped around me like a balm. He didn’t speak, just came to stand beside me, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the faint glow of the dying fire.“You’re brooding,” he said softly, breaking the silence.I huffed a breath, the corner of my mouth twitching in a half-hearted smile. “I prefer the term ‘reflecting.’”He chuckled, the sound low and rich, vibrating through the cool night air. He didn’t push me to speak, giving me the space I needed to sort through my thoughts. But the silence between us wasn’t empty, it was filled with the steady, unspoken connection we always shared.Finally, I exhaled deeply, letting the words I’d been holding back tumble out. “Do you ever wonder if... if we’re doing the right thing? If I’m doing the right thing?”He turned to face me, his dark eyes searching mine. “What brought that on?”I gestured vaguely toward the clearing. “Everything. The battle, the losses, and the decisions we
GWENThe sun dipped low in the sky, casting its warm, amber glow across the clearing as the pack gathered to honor our fallen. The air was thick with grief, mingling with the faint scent of earth and smoke from the makeshift pyres. Each face was etched with sorrow, yet there was a quiet sense of pride among us—a recognition of the strength it took to survive and protect our home.I stood at the center, my hands clasped tightly in front of me. Lucian stood beside me, his presence grounding me as I struggled to find the right words. My voice felt heavy, burdened by the weight of loss and the responsibility to keep our pack moving forward.The clearing felt alive with silence, the kind that pressed against your ears and made every thought louder. Wolves of all ranks and ages were gathered, their postures stiff, their eyes solemn. Mothers clutched their children close; warriors stood with heads bowed. The pyres, carefully built from branches and kindling, stood like solemn sentinels await
GWENAfter the whole saga with Elaine, it was time to addressed the ruthless Alpha. The forest was eerily quiet as we approached the rogue Alpha’s camp, the kind of quiet that sets your teeth on edge and makes you hyper-aware of every sound. Lucian walked ahead of me, his stride confident and steady, even though the tension radiating off him was impossible to miss. I stayed close, my senses sharp and ready. This wasn’t just any rogue we were dealing with. This was the Alpha who had dared to ally with Damien, who had promised reinforcements that could have devastated us.And now, he was about to face justice.We reached the edge of the clearing where the rogue’s camp was situated. My eyes swept over the scene—ragged wolves lounging near a smoldering fire, a few sharpening weapons, others pacing like caged animals. They were a sorry sight, but there was still danger in their unpredictability. The air was thick with the smell of unwashed bodies and stale aggression.Then he emerged. The
GWENThe battlefield was quiet now, starkly contrasting to the chaos that had reigned just hours ago. The storm Damien had summoned had dissipated, leaving a somber calm in its wake. The bodies of the fallen were being tended to, and the wounded were receiving care. Yet, amidst the aftermath of battle, another storm was brewing—a far more personal one.I stood at the center of the pack’s gathering, my Alpha aura still humming with power. The tension was palpable as two warriors dragged Elaine before me. She was disheveled and bruised, her hair matted with blood and dirt. Yet her eyes held no remorse, only a bitter defiance that made my stomach churn.The pack murmured angrily, their voices rising as they hurled accusations at her.“Traitor!”“She almost cost us everything!”“She deserves death!”I raised my hand, and silence fell instantly. I stared at Elaine, trying to reconcile the image of the loyal maid I once trusted with the venomous woman kneeling before me.“Elaine,” I began,