Ava's povOur stay at Nightshade pack was a bit of a vacation to me. Something about being in the gloomy forest with nothing but peace and quiet helped ease the tension off my shoulders.I was still amazed by how quiet the pack was. Luna Seraphina had told me that most of the pack usually spoke through mind link and the kids had a spot in the forest where they usually went to play so as not to disturb the pack with their noise.I had asked why they were so quiet. As the name of their pack implied, they had to be as quiet as the night. It was their tradition. She had also gifted me with some scrolls to help me as a Luna and also help me and anyone I choose to show, learn the night walk.I deeply appreciated it. Although they seemed like they could kill you for breathing the wrong way, the night people were peaceful people who just enjoyed keeping to themselves.The wooden box on my lap jiggled slightly which made me look at it. The antidote was safely tucked in, and I was happy that we
Ava's povBy the time we crossed Blackthorn's borders it was already dusk. I was glad to finally be on familiar soil, I also wanted to see Lyra. She was the only person that had been nice to me when I first arrived beside Thomas and Heather.I felt a pang in my chest as I thought about them. They had escaped after the castle attack, I shook the thoughts of them away. Now wasn't the time to think about old friendships.The guards opened the gate and we were greeted by familiar faces that had relief and worry across their faces.Gamma Draven was the first to approach us, his face was dark with concern. “Alpha,” he greeted with a bow. “I'm happy to see you back and just in time. One of the sick, there's something wrong with him. He's… changing.”My heart dropped at the news.“Take us to him.” Xander commanded.We quickly got off our horses then followed Draven into the castle as he led us through a series of hallways until we got to the infirmary.The air was filled with the scent of he
Ava's pov“Enough!” I yelled. I was sick and tired of his taunts, I refused to let him make me feel weak. “I will end you, Zerathos. That's a promise.”Turning to one of the healers I said. “Get me water, a lot of it.” I needed the cure to go round for everyone.Marcus continued to scream and fight as Zerathos tormented him. In no time, the healers had gotten the water.I poured the antidote in it and mixed the fetched some and walked over to Marcus. “Don't let him bite you.” Aria instructed.“Xander.” I called out and he was by my side in an instant. “Hold his head, don't let him bite me.”Xander tilted his head then forced his jaw open despite his struggle, I poured the antidote into his mouth and a foul stench came out of his mouth as it touched the blood in his mouth.I withdrew, repulsed. “Let him go.” I ordered the others and they released him.His veins pulsed and glowed as the antidote coursed through them.“Come on, Marcus.” Draven encouraged. “Snap out of it! Fight! Don't le
Ava's pov"Ava, wake up."The voice, I recognized it in an instant. I peeled my eyes open and saw Xander sitting beside my bed, his grey eyes filled with both concern and relief.The last thing I remembered was being in Xander's arms after healing Marcus then I closed my eyes to rest“You're okay.” He said softly, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. “I was starting to think I would have to come to wherever you were and drag you out myself.”A light chuckle escaped me as I tried to sit up, my muscles screaming in protest due to how weak I was. “Marcus?” I asked.Xander nodded. “He's alive and well thanks to you. He's resting and will recover fully in no time.”My shoulders sagged in relief as I slid down and rested on my pillow. “How long was I out?”“Two days, almost three.” He answered.I nodded.“You need rest.” Xander said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. Not like I was going to argue in the first place. “The power you used was far more than you had anticipate
Ava's povThe elders and his father exchanged a look but said nothing. Xander grabbed a silver bowl and knife and placed it on the long dining table.One by one, everyone stepped forward. The ceremonial blade was passed around as each person sliced their palm and allowed the blood to fall into the bowl. Our group, including Lyra, took the oath without hesitation.Lyra gave me a smile as she walked back to her seat. I was glad to see that she had fully recovered, we hadn't gotten a chance to talk and I made a mental note to try and talk to her amidst the current chaos.Finally, it was my turn. I was to seal the oath with my power and blood. I pressed the blade to my palm and allowed my blood to join the rest in the bowl then Aria pushed my powers allowing it to flow into the bowl which glowed as the oath sealed.“Now, answer me.” I commanded. “By blood and magic, this oath is bound. Do you swear to uphold your end of the deal? Your vow of secrecy no matter the cost?”“I swear.” They sa
Ava's povBefore we could process what was happening, the keeper appeared before us. It glowed brighter than ever.“The bond has been sealed.” It said, “Kaida the great warrior of nightshade is now bound to you as your protector. This bond is greater than a pack bond, it has been forged by fate and the will of the moon goddess.”I could feel kaida's emotions through the bond as she stared at the keeper— surprise was what she felt. Just like me .“What does this mean?” I asked the Keeper.“It means that Kaida’s destiny is now intertwined with yours,” the Keeper explained. “Her purpose is to guard and protect you in every situation. Through this bond, she will share her strength, her instincts, and her wisdom with you. And in return, you will share your light and power with her.”Kaida locked gaze with her, her eyes filled with purpose and determination.“I will protect you,” she said firmly through the mind link. “No matter what comes.”I reached out and held her hand. “No. We'll prote
Ava's povA soft, golden light began to glow on one of the high shelves. Like the one that had led me to the chamber months ago. Slowly, a thick ancient book began to float out of the shelf, we watched as it moved and gently landed on one of the stone tables in the center of the room.The cover was made with leather and had intricate runes that glowed faintly on the cover. Written in a bold, elegant handwriting was “the protect”The room was filled with a stunned silence.Then the familiar voice of the keeper echoed through the chamber. “That holds all the answers you seek.”The glow of the book brightened, filling the chamber. I looked at the council of elders who were now speechless.Xander gripped my hand then whispered in my ear. “This is it, my love. Our next step.”I nodded, my heart pounding. Whatever lay within those pages held the key to understanding our bond—and perhaps much more.Everyone stared at the book not knowing what to do or who would touch it first. Kael cleared h
Ava's povXander who had been watching silently finally spoke up. “You said they have met each other in several lifetimes. Show us the. Show us what happened before so that we will understand what we're up against.”The keeper extended its glowing hand towards us. “You both have seen most of your memories. This is the last part of it.”The night shimmered then suddenly, we were standing in a large battlefield. The great war that changed everything. The air was thick with the scent of blood and smoke, werewolves and humans alike were clashing in the distance. War cries filled the air.In the woman stood a familiar woman, her silver hair although stained with blood, it still shone under the sunlight as she moved like the wind, killing those who attacked her, werewolves and humans alike but she never attacked anyone.“That's… Ava.” Thane whispered. I turned to see everyone watching the woman— mesmerized, by the way she flowed seamlessly on the battlefield.My eyes shifted to the figure t
Xander's povI spotted the command post—a black stone tower in the heart of the forge still standing amidst the chaos.“Take the south side!” I shouted to Kaida. “Keep them from regrouping!”She nodded once before leaping into the shadows, other nightshade warriors next to hermI tuned to the rest. “Push forward! Get to the tower! Cut the head off the snake!”We broke into a small unified group, making our way to the gate. More and more of Zerathos' warriors began flooding in from the rear now—those that were not caught in the explosions. Reinforcements. Bigger. Angrier.But it was too late.Too slow.I could feel it.Their fear.Their unraveling.And beneath it all the Forge began to make a groaning sound.Like something buried deep beneath was awakening.We reached the tower. My claws tore through the doors.We stormed inside and then came the scream again.A sound that shattered bone and split stone.The Howling Horror. Another one.It was close.And it was coming.I turned toward
Xander's povWe didn’t stop to breathe.The moment we emerged from the tunnel, I gave the signal and my warriors immediately sprang to motion like blades being drawn.We moved fast. No more room for mourning, hesitation, or mercy. The Forge was right in front of us. The explosives were set. The path to Zerathos lay wide open, and I was done playing on the defensive.No more creeping in the dark. No more lurking behind shadows.The bombs were planted.The path was clear.It was time.I turned to Kael. “Light them up.”One of his enforcers raised a hand, signalling for someone to hand him a torch which he placed on a wire which was connected to the bombs inside. The spark started, continuing down the path of wire, moving with speed towards the bombs inside.There was a brief moment of silence and then—Boom.The ground trembled beneath our feet as an explosion ripped through the forge’s storage rooms, sending fire and smoke into the sky. The sound echoed across the cursed land like a lo
Ava's povWe pressed forward in silence, everyone trying to keep their emotions in check and eyes peeled. As we got closer to the place where the first war took place I could feel the land speaking to me.It was broken and never allowed to heal. It was corrupt, hollow, scorched and lifeless.I could feel the centuries of history.The pain. The blood that had soaked into the ground during the First Great War.The screams that had rang out through the filled.Ahead of us was the tree that had the main door to the forge. The place where he had built his empire of shadows and death.But before we could take another step then a scent hit us.Blood.Old and fresh at the same time.Xander held up a hand, signaling for everyone to stop. His golden eyes scanned the battlefield, sharp and cautious. I could tell that Leo had taken over because he didn't want to take any chances.And then we saw him.A small body. Unmoving.A young werewolf, no more than fifteen, lay dead on the cold, cursed grou
Ava's povWe moved forward in silence, our boots pressing into the ashen soil of Ashville’s cursed land. The deeper we ventured, the thicker the air became—dense, humid, tinged with a metallic taste that clung to the back of my throat.But soon enough I noticed that something was wrong.Very wrong.I couldn't quite place what it was.The enemy wasn’t meeting us in open battle.They were watching. Waiting. Hunting. I could feel their eyes on us but I couldn't place where exactly they were.Xander walked ahead, his shoulders tense, his grip on his blade firm. The warriors behind us moved cautiously, scanning every shadow, their ears twitching at every distant sound. The silence was what disturbed me the most. A battlefield should have been alive—full of shouts, the clash of steel, the roar of war.But this?This was like stepping into a graveyard before the bodies had even fallen.What's going on?A shiver crawled up my spine. I kept my magic close, simmering beneath my skin, waiting fo
Ava's povThese chains will not hold me.Never.The shadows wrapped around me like living creatures, chains of darkness slithering over my arms, my throat, my legs—squeezing, burning, consuming. It felt like they were alive, like they were breathing, whispering, coiling into my skin with a predatory hunger.I struggled, yanking against them, but it was like fighting the weight of an anvil. The more I thrashed, the tighter they held me.A cruel chuckle echoed through the darkness."Foolish girl," the General sneered. "Do you think you can fight against your own nature?"This isn't my nature! I wanted to shout but couldn't.I clenched my jaw, refusing to acknowledge the way his words made my stomach twist. I wasn’t one of them. I wasn’t his.Never was and never will be.But the shadows thought otherwise.They hissed in my ear, whispering things I refused to hear.I refused to listen.But my body was betraying me.The cold was sinking deeper, flowing into my veins, making my thoughts slo
Xander's povThe words from its mouth sent a chill down my spine but I clenched my jaw, refusing to show fear. My grip tightened on my blade as I stepped forward, locking eyes with the towering figure that lurked in the darkness in front of us.The red eyes of the Nyx Wraiths burned like embers in the night. The Hellhounds stalker along at the edges of the trees, low growls reverberating through the battlefield. The Revenants stood unnaturally still, their decayed bodies could be seen due to the flickering torches we had lit behind us.Outside Ashville it was day but in here, Zerathos' corruption had seeped so much into the land that it was night.I could feel the tension in my army—thousands of wolves behind me, armed and ready strike justification waiting for my command.The figure in the darkness stepped forward and shadows seeped it off its body like ink on paper or smoke in the wind.It is as a General. I could tell by the way it carried itself that it wasn't a regular foot soldi
Xander's povThe scent of damp earth, ash and frost clung to the air as we neared Ashville’s border. The heat had lessened slightly due to the change in seasons but it could still be felt slightly.The trees stood tall and lifeless, their branches clawing at the sky like skeletal fingers. The land here was darker, heavier—tainted by Zerathos’ growing influence.But we weren’t alone.As we got over the final hill the sight that waited us knocked the breath out of me.Wolves. Thousands of them.They were stretched across the valley in a vast sea of warriors, their bodies gleaming in the dim morning light. They came from all nine packs, their banners flapping in the wind, colors blending into what looked like a tapestry of unity.I recognized them by their crests— rainville, iron claw, blood Moon, silver claw, storm fang, thornspike, wild heart, night shade and lastly, Ashville.Their Alphas stood at the front of each battalion, their warriors behind them, waiting.Waiting for me.Ava s
Xander's povBy the time we reached our camp, the sky had begun to lighten, the first hints of dawn were peeking above the horizon. The rest of our warriors and allies were already awake, their stance ready with their weapons drawn and a hard expression on their faces.Ava was the first to approach us, her sharp eyes sweeping over me, searching for injuries.“You’re okay,” she murmured, relief flickering in her eyes.I nodded. “The attack was successful. We wiped them out.”She exhaled, glancing at the boy we had captured. “And him? Who's that?”“A survivor.” I locked eyes with her. “He’s going to talk.”Ava studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then she turned back to me. “You should rest.”“There’s no time.” I pulled off my bloodied cloak and tossed it aside. “We move at nightfall.”She frowned. “Xander—”“I’m fine.” My voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.Ava pressed her lips into a thin line in annoyance, but she didn’t push further. Instead, she turned to
Xander's povThe night was thick with tension, the air cold against my skin as we moved swiftly through the trees. My breathing was steady and controlled while my heart pounded fast in anticipation of what was to come..The rebel camp was close.Kael moved beside me, silent as a shadow, his bow already drawn. Rowan and Vanessa followed closely behind, their weapons glinting under the moonlight. The rest of our warriors fanned out, forming a perimeter to ensure no one escaped.We had the element of surprise.And I intended to use it.***The rebel camp was in a clearing deep in the forest, it was half hidden between fallen logs and makeshift tents. Smoke rose lazily from dying fires and the scent of burning wood, meat and unwashed bodies filled the air.There were at least fifteen of them, maybe more.Some were seated near the fire, speaking in hushed tones, while others patrolled lazily along the edges of their camp. They seemed like a lowly group in the rebel force because they didn'