*Meadow*It was beautiful; the wind in my fur, the blurriness at my side as I ran faster, my eyes adjusting to the light of the moon focusing upon each new object: a rock, a tree, a leaf. Caleb quickly caught up with me and began running at my side, I didn't want to chase him, nor have him chase me, perhaps in another time. Now I wanted him with me, at my side, enjoying this moment as we both ran towards our spot. I knew where I was heading, and he knew it too.I saw and felt the earth shake with my pack's run; wisps glowing up in the air at the top of the trees. Queen Isilwen herself graciously watching us from the top of the tallest tree. I howled up at her and saw her smile and bow her head.Caleb and I reached the stream and waterfall I now love so much, and I didn't stop running, I jumped into the water and soon Caleb jumped too. I felt the wet sand under my paws and jumped up and down enjoying the splash of the water and the feeling of his maw now playing to catch my neck and
*Caleb*I walk to the command center after Alex summoned me. Meadow not far behind as she was selecting some clothing she wanted for Agape. I'm not sure why Meadow insisted on being nice to her when it was obvious she wasn't. Yes, she might be a victim of a demon, but my role as an Alpha is not to ponder about things that could be, I live in the now and I protect my Luna and my pack. If she represents any danger to either, I will eliminate her myself instantly.There is a new smell as soon as I enter the building, I walk straight to Alex and I am surprised by finding an old injured woman; Cara examining her body with one of our pack's nurses and pouring some medicine oil on the most severe cuts. She is not from my pack, but she is a wolf."What is going on here." I ask, the old woman yelps and then sighs again."We found her near our second barrier, the drows followed her close by, they said, and I quote *She feels honest and with noble intentions.* So they let her cross the first
*Caleb*Once they both left, I looked at Alex frowning and he shrugged. "How many trespassers are we going to have? I think we need to re-discuss our defensive strategies with Queen Isilwen." I grunted and Meadow chuckled."Actually she is the first one to enter our lands with their consent, Alpha." He replied and I shook my head with a sigh."Caleb? I knew there was something else behind her, I really want to hear more about it before the others arrive, do we have time?" Meadow asks me and I take a look at my watch."They are arriving tonight, which gives us most of the day. Queen Isilwen is meeting us mid ground to discuss briefly their presence. Tomorrow morning Demark and his wolves will arrive, Smithson not far behind. Give her a couple of hours to rest and then after lunch, we can get to hear her story. I am interested to know how she made it here alive." I said and she nodded. "Alex, fill Cara in on this for me, there is something I need to do before we get invaded by so man
*Meadow*I am staring at Caleb as he looks at me holding my hand and sliding the ring in my finger, I am without words, completely shocked and so happy. He looks at me with a smile and the silence let's me know I haven't replied yet. "Yes Caleb... I would love to be your wife!" I jump to his arms and we both land on the floor, laughing and kissing as if there was no one else in the world.I still can't believe he actually asked me to marry him, many times I thought about it but I knew I was destined to be with him so I was happy with that, but he did it again, he went beyond himself to please me.He caressed my face softly as I smiled looking at the beautiful ring, it was white and with a lovely design; a square white diamond embedded with a set of smaller white diamonds encrusted with circular patterns around, the beautiful circular waves reminded me of old crown jewels.He lifted my hand and kissed the finger and the ring together. "I know you don't care much about it, but it is
*Meadow*"So what happened to Daphne?" I asked and Gideon turned around finally, he had his eyes locked on that screen for too long."I came with the nurse, she is going to be ok. The nurse gave her some medicine already. Apparently she was dehydrated and starving for too long, and after having some proteins and vitamins into her system, it kind of overwhelmed her. The medication is doing wonders on her already. Kinda cool." Gideon said with half a smile and I remembered the effectiveness of the nurse's medicine on myself long time ago.I nodded at Gideon and smiled. "Magic, right?" He nodded and Caleb chuckled. "What about Agape?" I asked and walked towards the cameras, she was pacing on her room furious, moving from a random side to another."Well, I think she senses her mom is here, probably when she got feverish." Alex filled us and I nodded."I am going to get in and talk to her, calm her down a bit. After that, I want us to maybe meet her mother and make her talk, we have ve
*Meadow*In other situations I would have taken more time, but we were running against the clock.We helped Daphne relax in a comfortable couch inside the room adjusted for her, she smiled and thanked us for our kindness. I purposely made Gideon walk in the room with us with the promise of him to be silent."Thank you Daphne for agreeing to meet us so soon. I know you must be tired, but we have visitors arriving soon, and I would like to hear the story you said you would share with us before they arrive." I began, the old woman nodded, she already had a shade of pink in her cheeks and her body was relaxed. I took a deep breath and mentally crossed my fingers, I wanted this to work, I left the intercom open in order for Agape to hear everything. This was the biggest risk I took, one that might play against us as well.She laid her back on the couch and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "It all began about 400 years ago. My husband, Alpha of the White Moon pack in the far south
*Meadow*She continued. "Everything slowed down, and we both felt and saw the dark shadow approach us. I cried as he claimed me to be his, since he had bathed me in his blood and I had accepted it. Gordon growled at him and was ready to fight for me but I was slipping away, I was about to die. The dark shadow offered him a deal... he would let me free of the blood oath if he made one, a new one, with him. I was going to object, I barely knew who he was but already wanted to protect him, but I had no energy left, I was so cold, so tired. He agreed and took the new pact, the dark shadow making him promise that in time, my mate and I will have to give him our child. He would present himself when our daughter turned 18th, and claim her as mate. And Gordon would have to turn the pack to him without a fight. I knew it was wrong, but he took it. It was almost too late for me when he finally took the oath and sealed the new pact. I closed my eyes only to wake up days after, in his bed, clean
*Meadow*"I will always blame myself for her and her brother's destiny, for dooming them both. If only I said no to that blood oath, if only I didn't run to Gordon putting myself at risk... if only I could have been strong enough to say no before he said yes... my beautiful Agape would have never suffered as much as she did... I begged to be left near her so I could keep watching over her the little I could."Daphne was shivering, tears running from her eyes, I was crying too, her story moving me in ways I never thought possible. Caleb was sad as well, Cara was sobbing on Alex's arms while Gideon had tensed jaw and gritting teeth with rage. I focused on that, I took in his pain and turned it into rage as well. This was horrible, what that demon did to Daphne and Agape, to her father and her brother, he ruined lives and corrupted Agape from such a young age. I needed to let this rage feed me in order to focus on what to do next.I stood up and Caleb did as well with me. "Daphne, not
*Meadow*The sun casts a warm golden glow, as if trying to heal the scarred landscape left by the war. Fields, once lush and green, lie ravaged, but sprouts of new life fight their way through the wreckage. The earth seems to be slowly stitching itself back together, just as we are.I sit anxiously as I wait for Sol to walk down the flowered aisle. She chose this place as the setting for her wedding, and when I asked her why, she said she wanted to honor those people who fell during our battle."Look at that," Xavier says, pointing to a small group of deer grazing in the distance. "Life always finds a way.""Indeed," I reply, my voice catching in my throat. The sight is both beautiful and heartbreaking. It's hard not to think of those who never got to see this moment of renewal.Right after the battle, we spent our days rebuilding the world around us, not only the physical structures, but also the hearts and minds of those left behind. It's a slow and arduous process, but with each bri
*Solveigh*My consciousness returns slowly, as if emerging from the depths of a murky abyss. The voices around me are hushed and indistinct, like echoes in a fog. I strain to understand them, but they remain elusive.‘Sol,’ Seth's voice resonates within my mind, warm and reassuring. ‘You're going to be okay. You need more rest before your body can fully recover.’I want to respond, to tell him how tired I am, but my limbs are heavy and unresponsive. My eyelids feel weighed down, as if encased in stone. It's frustrating, this inability to move or communicate.‘Mom... Dad…’ I try to call for them in my thoughts, hoping Seth will relay my message.Footsteps approach, and I sense their familiar presence even before I hear dad's deep, calming voice. "Seth, how is she?""Her body is still too weak to talk or open her eyes or move yet," Seth explains gently. "But she can hear us."My heart swells with gratitude. They came, just as I knew they would. I wish I could see their faces or embrace t
*Caliope*I watch Amral crumple to the ground, his eyes rolling back as he loses consciousness. Panic surges through me like a tidal wave, drowning out all other emotions. The dark creatures circle him, preparing to tear him apart, and something inside me snaps."Amral!" I scream, my voice cracking under the weight of my fear and desperation. He can't die; not now, not like this. My love for him, my need to protect him, fuels my anger and pain. I have more to fight for than ever before."Get away from him!" I roar, focusing all my dark powers into a singular force. Shadows stretch out from my fingertips, wrapping around the monstrous beings that threaten his life. I tug at the darkness, sending the creatures flying away from his motionless body."Please, you can't leave me," I whisper, tears streaming down my face. Desperation echoes through my voice, and I feel it deep within my soul. "You can't die."The creatures recover quickly, turning their attention towards me. But I'm not afrai
*Solveigh’s*I step through the black hole portal, and my breath catches in my throat. The darkness enveloping me is thick, almost tangible, and I feel like I'm choking on it. Panic rises within me as I sense the presence of the creatures, born from the shadows and chaos that surround us."Sol," Seth's voice rings out, startling me. He's right beside me, his strong hand gripping mine. He steadies myself emotionally. My panic begins to subside a little, replaced by a sense of calm that only Seth can provide. "We'll get through this," he whispers, his eyes filled with determination."Where are they? Amrafel, Caliope," I call out, searching for our companions. Within seconds, they materialize before us, their powerful auras cutting through the darkness. Amrafel's eyes are like twin flames, lighting up his face, while Caliope's gaze is as sharp as obsidian."Ready to fight these dark creatures?" Amrafel asks, his voice low and steady. Caliope nods, her face set in grim resolve. I feel conf
*Solveigh*I feel like I am in a new state of existence, and every inch of my body is running with electricity; something else has replaced my blood, and the adrenaline is addictive. Seth’s hand presses on my back and I know the reason why I haven't fainted is that of him.A large creature falls close to me and I jump, but quickly regain my focus, not wanting to be distracted, but the smell that comes from its corpse is making me nauseous. I shiver slightly but lock my eyes on my brother Ian, and then I feel ready to try more.It is not the first time; I have done this before, transferring my abilities, affecting them in a way that helped them, enhancing them. I know I can do this, and so, I feel myself reach to Xavier and he shudders slightly, then his voice booms, and it starts to affect the lesser creatures that screech in what now has become a battlefield.I can’t erase the smile on my face; we are making things happen, they are stepping away, so many of them are on the floor alrea
*Xavier*‘They are here,’ are Ian’s words. Words that reach me just as I finish kissing my mates.I rush outside and I see Ian in the middle of the large field, he is looking up to the sky and my eyes follow his. A black pool of nothingness is starting to grow, and I see the elementals panicking as they whisper things in different languages and I know my brother feels them more than me.This angers me; it is not like we weren’t expecting them. Sure, we didn’t know specifically when they were going to attack again, but we had been preparing for them.I focus on the fire elementals and I let my command voice do its job. “Gather up! Get ready! Distraction is needed very fast! Chop chop!”Uncle Aen is quickly joining them, keeping his calm as he looks at me and nods, he knows the time has come. I turn to look at my mates and I feel caught up in the same panic; my mates need to be safe.“Don’t you stand there, you need to get over there and help take them down,” Dana pulls me out from the s
*Meadow*I rush into the cabin, and I find a small gathering in the living room. I don’t understand why everyone is here and not inside helping my Sol. Caleb quickly reaches me and we both walk straight towards her bedroom door.Until Xavier stops us.“Son?” I ask, confused and angry at the same time. “What is happening?”“Mother, wait… Sol is actually ok, she was taken to Caliope’s father to help.”His words feel almost like a foreign language to me. “I can’t feel her mind, what do you mean with all this?”I look at Caly and she actually looks back at me with a face filled with confusion and fear. It is Lucifer who speaks for her. “I have been many eons in my own prison, so I know what he is doing. He has felt a connection to Sol, so he has used her to send a message to us. He can’t hold it for long, so she should be back very soon.”Her words make some sense, and I understand why Caly is a bit shaken by this. I look at her and nod, trying to contain myself as well, showing her that
*Solveigh*I walk through a path of tall and untamed grass. Wild dandelions fly as I walk by them, and the sun shines at its peak, yet its heat is soothing, not overwhelming. The wind blows on my face, and there is pure peace embracing me.Am I dreaming?No, this is not a dream, it is so real. I feel the grass at the tip of my fingers and I sense the texture of them. I see a cabin, a very old one, and a scarecrow that is standing in the middle of the empty land. I frown as I notice that there are no crows nor any animals around us.Everything seems so eery and quiet. Too quiet.As the seconds pass and I keep walking, I get worried, something is about to happen or is happening. I am not sure what it is, even though I keep looking all around me, but something doesn’t fit. Is like I am inside a painting, a living painting.It is when I open my mouth to talk, that I realize that I have no voice as well, and now, I know this must be a nightmare.‘Seth, can you feel me?’ I try to reach for
*Caleb*I watch as Aen handles the elementals calmly. It is not an easy task, yet his experience in battle allows to use his command voice with every one of them. It is something out of an epic story, and yet we find ourselves helpless while we wait.Ebony and Ivory are having a small talk with Sol, the angels like her a lot, which ensures her protection. Is not like she would need so much of it, she is her own worst enemy. But to know they are fond of my daughter just makes me happy.“Where are your thoughts?” Amra asks me as I keep staring at my daughter and the angels.“My thoughts are a bit drifting, I don’t like the idea of coming to a war unprepared,” I admit to him. I know he is also worried, although he shows himself much more calm and collected.“I understand that, and it does bring me worries. I like to be in control of the situation, but nothing that is happening is under our control… in fact, I think the only thing under our control is the lack of actions.”I sigh and shak