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
Ava's povXander addressed the warriors next. “The rest of you will assist where needed, but you will also stand guard. Ava and I do not know the full extent of magic in this place and we want to ensure everyone's safety Incase if anything happens.”Elder Garrick scoffed, crossing his arms. “We’re wasting time playing scholars. We should be preparing our warriors and—”“You will do as you are commanded,” Xander growled, letting his alpha king authority wash over everyone in the room. “Or you will leave.”Garrick seethed but after exchanging glances with the other council members, he said nothing.To everyone's surprise, Xander's father spoke up. “I am not one to say something like this but I do believe we should trust Ava and Xander and see where this goes.”Everyone stared at him in shock. I turned to look at Xander who had his eyes locked on his father, something quietly passing through them.“Okay..” I said breaking the silence and taking a step towards the floating boom. “It's set
Ava's povMy breath caught in my throat.The flickering shapes. The shifting shadows. The wrongness etched into the faces of those I had known for years.But what I was seeing—none of it made sense. It was twisted. A funhouse reflection of the world I knew. Was this the truth? A vision? A warning?Or…My heart pounded violently in my chest as my legs gave out from under me. I fell to my knees on the stone floor, staring at the ground as if it might split open and swallow me whole.Then the realization hit me.It wasn’t real.None of it.I looked back up at the people I had just seen—people whose faces had changed, who had grinned and had wrong shadows—and now… they were normal again. Whole. Familiar. The same as always.I gasped. “No… no, no, no…”It wasn’t real.It wasn’t real.I stumbled back, shaking my head as the panic started to claw its way through my throat. “It isn’t real. IT ISN’T REAL!” I screamed, so loud it echoed through the forest.Doors slammed open.Boots rushed towar
Ava's povNo one said anything to me anymore.They didn’t need to.The whispers were loud even in their silence.The way conversations shifted when I walked past. The way people refused to meet my eyes, as if even eye contact might make them join in my madness—or worse, my supposed crime.I tried apologizing to some of them even though I didn’t know what for. I tried helping in the kitchens. Volunteering for patrol. Sitting through meetings I was no longer welcome in.Nothing worked. No one wanted me around them.I was a ghost in a home I had helped fight for.The days passed like the wind—fast and untouchable. I drifted through them like a ghost.Nobody spoke to me unless they had to. Even then, it was clipped, formal, laced with suspicion and caution. Conversations that used to warm up rooms now stilled when I walked in. Smiles I used to see daily became vacant stares—or worse, side-eyed glares.I didn’t blame them.Elder Maris had been a guide to them, a beacon. She’d walked with w
Ava's povSilence clung to me like a second skin.Cold and unforgiven.Quiet but loud.It was deafening.I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Couldn’t even speak. All I could do was stand there, trembling, as dozens of eyes bore into me. Judging. Accusing. Disbelieving.Hating on me.“What did you do?” Elder Thane’s voice cut through the silence like a blade. “Ava… what have you done?”“I—” My voice cracked, barely above a whisper. “I don’t know. I don’t understand what’s happening—”“You’re holding the dagger,” someone growled, voice filled with suspicion and hate.Hate that broke my heart. Hate that I didn't deserve but was getting due to a situation that I didn't understand.I looked down again. My fingers were clenched around the hilt of the dagger, knuckles white, blood trickling down my wrist in thick, slow streams. Maris’s blood.“I didn’t—I wasn’t even—” I took a shaky step back. “I went for a walk. Through the volcanic forest. I just… needed to clear my head.”“That’s not possi
Ava's povThe night begins with shadows.Always.Not the kind that creep under doorways or stretch across walls. These are inside me—cold, vile things curling behind my ribs and pressing against my spine.I couldn't sleep. Again.I thought I had gotten rid of Zerathos' hold on me so I was very confused by the shadows tormenting me.Or is it all just in my head?I didn't know. It was driving me crazy.Every time I closed my eyes, I would see a shape in the dark. A flicker at the edge of reason. A whisper that wasn't by voice.And tonight, it showed me something that I couldn't escape.It started with smoke— it was thick, black, and curling like serpents across the ground. I was standing on a cracked path of scorched earth, the sky a scary swirl of red and grey. The air hummed like something alive.I didn't know this place but something in me said I did.Death Hollow.It whispered.The forbidden wasteland where no life grows. Where bones sink into the black soil and never rise again. Wh
Ava's povWar doesn’t end in a day. But neither does peace begin in one.It has been three days since Zerathos vanished.Three days since we watched his monstrous army retreat into the mist, leaving behind scorched earth, broken trees, a pile of bodies, the smell of blood and rot and the faintest echo of something dangerous whispering in the wind.We had returned to the Ashville main pack to regroup, heal, and mourn. The war council met daily. The injured filled the infirmary. My magic was slowly coming back as the days passed. Our warriors were tense, always half-listening, always watching the tree lines.But there’s something worse than fear in the air.Something wrong that had plagued me since the day of the first battle.And I could feel it clawing at me like a cold hand pressed against the back of my neck.I would wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, heart pounding like I’ve been running. But there was nothing there, no matter how hard I searched. Just Xander’s s
Zerathos' povThey think they’ve won.How foolish.War doesn't end when someone retreats. Not for those who breathe war.They thought my vanishing act was surrender. That my army fading with me was a sign of loss. But they misunderstood the game entirely.You don’t conquer a kingdom by brute force alone—you break its spirit, fracture its foundation, and wait for the cracks to show and watch everything crumble as they scramble to save what is beyond repair.The moment I faded from the battlefield, I felt the wave of their false relief like a sweet smell in the wind. It made me smirk at their naiveness. A dream. It was the normal way a prey always relaxes when the predator steps away… forgetting that sometimes, the beast only backs off to sharpen its claws.I stood at the top of the cliffs of Death Hollow now, the wind howling in the air, the sky was bleeding, the earth soaked with death, black mist curling at my feet. The death hollow was a little realm I had crafted for myself. Below
Ava's povWar doesn’t start and end in a day. It takes a while.To build. To break. To bleed.To bury.And when the sky finally cleared of fire and ash, when Zerathos’s monstrous form vanished into the nothingness from which he had come from, taking his cursed army with him, all that remained was silence.A thick, eerie, unnatural silence.Like the earth itself was holding its breath.The blood-soaked ground beneath my feet was still warm, humming with the leftover power of dark spells and light magic. The battle was over…for now but it didn’t feel like a victory. It felt like a pause. A line right in the middle of a war that hadn’t even shown us its worst yet.All around me, bodies lay scattered like fallen birds—our warriors, his Shadow slaves and everything in between. Some would never rise again. Others would carry the scars forever.My heartbeat echoed in my ears, the only sound I could hear over the rush of adrenaline still coursing through my veins.Xander stood a few feet from
Ava's pov The moment the black mist erupted from the ground, I knew that things were about to get much worse. It was reeking badly. The ground cracked open beneath our feet like a wound splitting wide, and from it, the shadows poured, thick and choking, whispering in voices I couldn’t understand. Zerathos was coming. And I wasn’t ready, it was too soon. But I had to be. I knew that if I had continued to wait in blackthorn, I would never fully be ready. Now, regardless I was already here and needed to get things together and end this. I turned, eyes widening as I sensed something coming. "Shields!" I screamed, summoning my light magic and making a dome flare out around us, golden and humming with energy just as a blast of shadows shot out from the crack on the floor and hitting the barrier with so much force that the forge shook. We stumbled. Xander caught me by the elbow, his arm strong, steady. His eyes locked onto mine for half a second stormy gray-golden eyes c
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