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THE BROKEN HUNT

Penulis: Ana belle
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-04-28 03:26:50

The morning sun hung low, spilling gold through the tangled canopy above as Veyra laced her boots. A crisp breeze drifted through the trees, tugging at the edge of her cloak like a whisper, as if the forest itself wanted to speak. She tightened the strap on her quiver and looked toward her brother. Jon Hale, already armed and ready, leaned against a tree, sharpening his blade with quick, precise strokes. His dark hair was tied back, and his sharp jaw was set in concentration—but when he looked up at her, his eyes softened.

"You good, pup?" he asked, voice low and warm.

Veyra gave him a look. "I'm twenty-two, Jon. You've gotta stop calling me that."

He grinned, a rare break in his usual solemn expression. "You'll always be my pup. Now let's move. It's just a training hunt, but I want you sharp."

"Training hunt" was code. They both knew it. Ever since Kael and Lioren, her body had begun to change. Her senses were heightening, her reflexes sharpening. The bonds were awakening something deep within her. Jon knew this, though he never said it out loud. Their parents had been tense ever since. Elias kept to the perimeter like a shadow, and Maelin had begun preparing enchantments again, though she didn't explain why.

Jon led her deeper into the woods, and soon they fell into a rhythm. Quiet movement. Listening. Observing. Veyra knelt and brushed her fingers across disturbed leaves—prints. A hare, fresh trail. Her instincts sparked, her wolf rising.

"I'm taking left," she whispered.

Jon nodded, melting into the trees.

She moved silently, tracking the scent, her body low and steady. She heard the crackle of brush ahead and quickened her pace. The hair on her arms prickled. Something felt... off.

A growl tore through the silence—raw and brutal. Veyra's heart slammed against her ribs. A rogue.

A blur of black fur lunged at her from the shadows.

She dove to the side, rolling through dirt and roots. The rogue's claws scraped past her shoulder. She scrambled up, adrenaline burning in her chest.

"Jon!" she yelled, drawing a blade from her belt.

The rogue wolf snapped at her with yellowed teeth, snarling with madness. Its eyes were bloodshot, feral. Not just a rogue—corrupted.

She lunged forward and slashed, catching it across the snout. It howled and lunged again. She stumbled, landing hard, pain blooming in her ribs.

A howl answered hers—but it wasn't Jon.

From the thicket came a blur of movement. A new wolf leapt, sleek and silver, colliding with the rogue. They tumbled together in a savage whirl of teeth and claws.

Veyra crawled backward, heart racing, watching as the newcomer pinned the rogue down and delivered a swift, merciful bite to the throat. Blood soaked into the earth. The rogue stilled.

The silver wolf shifted.

And standing before her was a man she didn't recognize.

He was tall and lean with tousled dark blond hair and striking amber eyes. Dirt streaked his jaw, and a faint scar cut across his cheekbone. His clothes were travel-worn—he looked like a wanderer. But there was something in the way he moved—fluid, confident, dangerous. He was no rogue.

He stepped closer, studying her.

"You okay, moonlight?" His voice was light, teasing.

Veyra blinked. "Who... who are you?"

He crouched beside her, offering a hand. "Name's Zevi. Let's say I was in the right place at the right time."

She hesitated but took his hand. The moment their fingers touched, a jolt ran through her—gentle but unmistakable. Her wolf stirred, not in alarm, but in wonder. Warmth curled low in her belly. It wasn't the blaze of Kael or the icy pull of Lioren. Zevi's bond was different. Calming. Soft.

He didn't react immediately—just helped her to her feet. But then their eyes locked.

And she saw it hit him.

His breath caught. "Whoa..."

"What?" she asked, even though she knew.

He stared at her, stunned. "That was... you felt it too, didn't you?"

She nodded slowly.

Zevi let out a shaky laugh. "Damn. I wasn't expecting that."

"What are you doing this deep in Moonfang territory?"

He smirked. "Just passing through. Or I was. Name's Zevi Korrin, Gamma of Hollowcliff. Traveling under the radar. You're not supposed to know that."

Her eyes widened. Another mate. Another piece of the curse clicking into place.

Before she could speak, a branch snapped behind them.

"Veyra!" Jon's voice rang through the trees.

She turned sharply. "Jon! Over here!"

He rushed into view, sword drawn. His eyes locked on Zevi, and his wolf surged forward in warning.

"Get away from her!" Jon snarled, stepping in front of her.

Zevi raised both hands. "Hey, hey—easy. Not here to hurt anyone. In fact, I just saved your sister from a rabid rogue."

Jon didn't lower his weapon. "And I'm supposed to take your word for it?"

"Look at the body."

Jon's gaze flicked to the corpse behind them. Then to Veyra.

She stepped forward. "He did help. I'd be hurt if he hadn't shown up."

Jon's jaw clenched. "What were you thinking, separating?"

"I didn't mean to," she said, eyes pleading. "It just... happened fast."

Zevi took a step back. "I can go. I didn't come to start trouble."

Veyra turned to Jon. "Don't hurt him. Please."

Jon hesitated. Then nodded once, though his eyes stayed sharp.

Zevi gave a small bow. "Appreciate it. I'll be nearby... if you ever want to talk."

He winked at Veyra, then vanished into the trees.

As they turned to head home, Jon looked at her sideways. "That was the third, wasn't it?"

She didn't answer.

She didn't need to.

He sighed and slung an arm around her shoulders. "This is getting complicated."

She leaned into him, heart aching with the weight of it all. "Tell me about it."

But somewhere deep in her chest, where the bonds curled and pulsed with ancient magic, something whispered: Three have found you. Two remain.

And time was running out.

_______

I believe we all love ourselves a flirty man now, don't we?

Oofs.... Our third Prince Charming finally arrives.

I didn't want to pick a side before guys but I'm sorry I have to say I'm team Zevi>>

He seems like a green flag, no a Green Forest.

Third down, Two to go.

I'm excitedddd to the core guys.

Let me know what your thoughts are in the comments. Don't forget to vote and recommend to your friends and family.

Until next time,

xoxo

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Bab terkait

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   LAUGHTER AND LIGHTNING

    The first thing Veyra heard was laughter.Not just any laughter—his laughter.It drifted through the trees like wind catching fireflies, playful and warm, stirring something in her chest she didn't want to name. Zevi was lounging on a low branch, just above her head, when she entered the glade they'd secretly been meeting in for the last three days. He always seemed to know when she'd be there. Or maybe he was always waiting. Either way, he made it seem like it was all just coincidence."Didn't know wolves climbed trees," Veyra said flatly, arms crossed.Zevi grinned, his amber eyes catching the sunlight like a challenge. "We don't. But I'm not like most wolves. Haven't you figured that out yet?""You're something, alright," she muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched. She hated how easily he could coax a smile out of her, how her chest fluttered when he was near, how calm her wolf was around him—like the storm in her bones grew quiet in his presence.He dropped from the bra

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   RUNE OF THE WILDS

    The disease came like a whisper on the wind, silent and unseen. One day the pups were laughing under the trees; the next, they were coughing, burning with fevers no healer could name. The sickness spread with cruel precision through the Moonfang Pack, sparing no den or warrior's quarters. Veyra had watched it unfold from the safety of the outer territory, her heart clenched with helpless fear as her people—though they barely knew her—suffered.Two weeks had passed since the first wolf fell ill. Maelin had been working day and night with the Moonfang healers, pouring through ancient tomes and crushed herbs, casting spells of protection on the borders of their home. Veyra had helped quietly, cloaked and hidden, boiling roots, scrubbing cloths clean of blood and vomit. She had seen children limp in their mothers' arms, warriors too strong to break now collapsed and shivering. It was a strange kind of war, one without a visible enemy—but it was a war all the same.When the Thornswell Pack

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE FOURTH AWAKENS

    The firelight in the Hale hearth flickered like a heartbeat, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. Veyra sat cross-legged on the floor, staring into the flames, her fingers absently tracing the hem of her wool cloak. The house was quiet—too quiet. Her father and brother were out on patrol again, and her mother, Maelin, moved silently in the adjoining room, stirring herbs into vials and whispering incantations to ease the lingering illness that still clung to parts of the pack.But Veyra's silence had nothing to do with the sickness. It had everything to do with the white wolf she saw in her dreams.The fourth bond had changed something inside her. Rune's touch hadn't just sparked the connection—it had unlocked a deeper part of her soul. Since that moment, her dreams had become a realm of moonlight and magic. Every time she closed her eyes, she found herself standing in a forest of silver trees, her paws—white as fresh snow—crunching softly beneath her. She wasn't just seeing

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   ECHOES OF A CURSE

    The full moon hovered like a glowing sentinel above the Moonfang Pack's territory, casting a silver sheen across the sacred grounds nestled deep within the woods. The trees swayed with a ghostly hush as if whispering secrets to the stars. The air buzzed with anticipation—an unspoken energy that crackled beneath the solemn stillness of the ritual night.Veyra stood cloaked in the crowd, heart pounding, her eyes trained on the flickering fire at the center of the moon-circle. Though she wore a hood that shadowed her features, she could feel the weight of unseen eyes—some curious, some cautious, and one pair...watchful in a way that made her skin prickle.She didn't belong here. Not in the open. Not where whispers could catch fire.But tonight wasn't about her—it was about tradition. The full moon ritual was sacred to all packs. A time of renewal, blessing, and balance. It was one of the few events where even the isolated Moonfang allowed outsiders to enter the fold—under tight supervisi

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE WHITE WOLF IN THE SHADOWS

    The forest whispered her name. Veyra Hale stood at the edge of the glade, her breath steady but her heart pounding like a war drum. The moon was high, silver light casting shadows that danced between the tall trees of the Moonfang Pack's outer territory. Out here, there were no curious eyes, no judgmental stares—just the wind, the trees, and the cold truth that she did not belong. She had never belonged. At twenty-two, Veyra's life had been one long, cautious inhale—never quite able to breathe out. She moved like a ghost among the living, careful not to draw attention, never stepping too far from the outskirts of the pack. Her family had built their home here, a cabin tucked deep in the shadows of the wild, far from the central pack village. It wasn't by chance. It was by design. By fear. Because Veyra Hale was no ordinary wolf. She was the white wolf—the last of her kind. Rare. Forbidden. Hunted. She tugged the hood of her cloak tighter around her face as the breeze stirred he

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   HOWLING HEARTS

    The morning broke quietly, the sun stretching golden fingers across the treetops outside the Hale cabin. Inside, it was a flurry of movement. Jon Hale buckled the last strap on his chest armor, the leather creaking as he adjusted the fit. His black cloak lay folded on the table, and his weapons were freshly sharpened. Though it was just a patrol mission to the neighboring border near Stonefang Ridge, he treated every assignment with the seriousness of war. That's how their father raised him—prepared, alert, unshakable. Veyra stood near the doorway, watching him with tight lips and folded arms. She hated when he left. The world outside their secluded haven felt sharper, more dangerous, without Jon's calming presence. He always made her feel like no harm could touch her. "You'll only be gone two days?" she asked. "Two and a half, max. We're just checking trade routes, reinforcing some pack-to-pack borders. Nothing serious," Jon replied, though his tone was clipped. "Still, I want y

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE WARRIOR’s BOND

    The moon had risen high by the time Kael slipped away from the Ironhowl merchant encampment. The light cast eerie silver streaks over the woodland paths, shadows dancing across the snow-dusted ground like spirits shifting in the dark. But Kael's mind wasn't on the moon or the cold. It was on her—the girl with eyes like stormlight and a scent that had embedded itself deep into his memory.He didn't even know her name."Who is she?" he muttered under his breath, weaving between carts and trader tents. "She has to belong to this pack..."But when he asked—quietly, cautiously, pulling aside younger warriors or curious market dwellers—they gave only shrugs and confused expressions."No one like that lives around here," one said."Sounds like you were hallucinating," another chuckled.Kael narrowed his eyes. His wolf snarled within. They were lying—or someone was hiding her. That kind of bond didn't just happen. And it sure as hell didn't go away. He remembered the way her body had jolted w

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28
  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE FESTIVAL OF UNITY

    The scent of roasted meat, pine sap, and crushed wildflowers drifted through the air like an intoxicating perfume. The central clearing of the Moonfang Pack had been transformed overnight into a mosaic of banners, lanterns, and ceremonial fire pits. Wolves from neighboring territories—some bitter rivals, others cautious allies—had gathered for the annual Festival of Unity, a political dance cloaked in smiling faces and carefully chosen words.Veyra Hale watched from the safety of the tree line, her hood drawn low, her heart pounding. She wasn't supposed to be here. She'd promised Jon and her parents she would stay hidden during the festival. The stakes were too high—too many strangers, too many risks. But curiosity had always been her undoing, and the call of the world beyond her isolation had grown louder since her strange encounter with Kael.Now, as twilight bled across the sky, she stood cloaked in anonymity, the festival glowing before her like a dream she'd never been allowed to

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-04-28

Bab terbaru

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   ECHOES OF A CURSE

    The full moon hovered like a glowing sentinel above the Moonfang Pack's territory, casting a silver sheen across the sacred grounds nestled deep within the woods. The trees swayed with a ghostly hush as if whispering secrets to the stars. The air buzzed with anticipation—an unspoken energy that crackled beneath the solemn stillness of the ritual night.Veyra stood cloaked in the crowd, heart pounding, her eyes trained on the flickering fire at the center of the moon-circle. Though she wore a hood that shadowed her features, she could feel the weight of unseen eyes—some curious, some cautious, and one pair...watchful in a way that made her skin prickle.She didn't belong here. Not in the open. Not where whispers could catch fire.But tonight wasn't about her—it was about tradition. The full moon ritual was sacred to all packs. A time of renewal, blessing, and balance. It was one of the few events where even the isolated Moonfang allowed outsiders to enter the fold—under tight supervisi

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE FOURTH AWAKENS

    The firelight in the Hale hearth flickered like a heartbeat, casting dancing shadows across the stone walls. Veyra sat cross-legged on the floor, staring into the flames, her fingers absently tracing the hem of her wool cloak. The house was quiet—too quiet. Her father and brother were out on patrol again, and her mother, Maelin, moved silently in the adjoining room, stirring herbs into vials and whispering incantations to ease the lingering illness that still clung to parts of the pack.But Veyra's silence had nothing to do with the sickness. It had everything to do with the white wolf she saw in her dreams.The fourth bond had changed something inside her. Rune's touch hadn't just sparked the connection—it had unlocked a deeper part of her soul. Since that moment, her dreams had become a realm of moonlight and magic. Every time she closed her eyes, she found herself standing in a forest of silver trees, her paws—white as fresh snow—crunching softly beneath her. She wasn't just seeing

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   RUNE OF THE WILDS

    The disease came like a whisper on the wind, silent and unseen. One day the pups were laughing under the trees; the next, they were coughing, burning with fevers no healer could name. The sickness spread with cruel precision through the Moonfang Pack, sparing no den or warrior's quarters. Veyra had watched it unfold from the safety of the outer territory, her heart clenched with helpless fear as her people—though they barely knew her—suffered.Two weeks had passed since the first wolf fell ill. Maelin had been working day and night with the Moonfang healers, pouring through ancient tomes and crushed herbs, casting spells of protection on the borders of their home. Veyra had helped quietly, cloaked and hidden, boiling roots, scrubbing cloths clean of blood and vomit. She had seen children limp in their mothers' arms, warriors too strong to break now collapsed and shivering. It was a strange kind of war, one without a visible enemy—but it was a war all the same.When the Thornswell Pack

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   LAUGHTER AND LIGHTNING

    The first thing Veyra heard was laughter.Not just any laughter—his laughter.It drifted through the trees like wind catching fireflies, playful and warm, stirring something in her chest she didn't want to name. Zevi was lounging on a low branch, just above her head, when she entered the glade they'd secretly been meeting in for the last three days. He always seemed to know when she'd be there. Or maybe he was always waiting. Either way, he made it seem like it was all just coincidence."Didn't know wolves climbed trees," Veyra said flatly, arms crossed.Zevi grinned, his amber eyes catching the sunlight like a challenge. "We don't. But I'm not like most wolves. Haven't you figured that out yet?""You're something, alright," she muttered, though the corner of her mouth twitched. She hated how easily he could coax a smile out of her, how her chest fluttered when he was near, how calm her wolf was around him—like the storm in her bones grew quiet in his presence.He dropped from the bra

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE BROKEN HUNT

    The morning sun hung low, spilling gold through the tangled canopy above as Veyra laced her boots. A crisp breeze drifted through the trees, tugging at the edge of her cloak like a whisper, as if the forest itself wanted to speak. She tightened the strap on her quiver and looked toward her brother. Jon Hale, already armed and ready, leaned against a tree, sharpening his blade with quick, precise strokes. His dark hair was tied back, and his sharp jaw was set in concentration—but when he looked up at her, his eyes softened."You good, pup?" he asked, voice low and warm.Veyra gave him a look. "I'm twenty-two, Jon. You've gotta stop calling me that."He grinned, a rare break in his usual solemn expression. "You'll always be my pup. Now let's move. It's just a training hunt, but I want you sharp.""Training hunt" was code. They both knew it. Ever since Kael and Lioren, her body had begun to change. Her senses were heightening, her reflexes sharpening. The bonds were awakening something d

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   A SECOND FLAME

    Veyra Hale dreamed in shadows now.In the quietest hours of the night, she lay motionless in her bed, but her soul wandered far from the safety of the small cabin tucked deep into the forest's edge. The dreams had started two nights ago—after the festival. After Lioren.In her vision, five figures stood in a circle around her. Each of them loomed tall, their forms cloaked in mist, their eyes glowing with distinct colors: crimson, silver, obsidian, deep gold, and sapphire. None of them spoke. They only watched her. Their presence didn't feel threatening—it felt inevitable. Like destiny had wrapped her in their chains and tossed the key into the moonlight.She woke with a gasp, breathless, clutching at her chest as if she could pull the lingering sensation from her skin. Her wolf, usually quiet, now stirred with hunger and alertness. Something inside her had awakened. Magic, Maelin had called it. The mark of her kind—the rare, myth-bound white wolf.And now, with each bond that formed,

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE FESTIVAL OF UNITY

    The scent of roasted meat, pine sap, and crushed wildflowers drifted through the air like an intoxicating perfume. The central clearing of the Moonfang Pack had been transformed overnight into a mosaic of banners, lanterns, and ceremonial fire pits. Wolves from neighboring territories—some bitter rivals, others cautious allies—had gathered for the annual Festival of Unity, a political dance cloaked in smiling faces and carefully chosen words.Veyra Hale watched from the safety of the tree line, her hood drawn low, her heart pounding. She wasn't supposed to be here. She'd promised Jon and her parents she would stay hidden during the festival. The stakes were too high—too many strangers, too many risks. But curiosity had always been her undoing, and the call of the world beyond her isolation had grown louder since her strange encounter with Kael.Now, as twilight bled across the sky, she stood cloaked in anonymity, the festival glowing before her like a dream she'd never been allowed to

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   THE WARRIOR’s BOND

    The moon had risen high by the time Kael slipped away from the Ironhowl merchant encampment. The light cast eerie silver streaks over the woodland paths, shadows dancing across the snow-dusted ground like spirits shifting in the dark. But Kael's mind wasn't on the moon or the cold. It was on her—the girl with eyes like stormlight and a scent that had embedded itself deep into his memory.He didn't even know her name."Who is she?" he muttered under his breath, weaving between carts and trader tents. "She has to belong to this pack..."But when he asked—quietly, cautiously, pulling aside younger warriors or curious market dwellers—they gave only shrugs and confused expressions."No one like that lives around here," one said."Sounds like you were hallucinating," another chuckled.Kael narrowed his eyes. His wolf snarled within. They were lying—or someone was hiding her. That kind of bond didn't just happen. And it sure as hell didn't go away. He remembered the way her body had jolted w

  • THE CURSE OF THE FIFTH MATE   HOWLING HEARTS

    The morning broke quietly, the sun stretching golden fingers across the treetops outside the Hale cabin. Inside, it was a flurry of movement. Jon Hale buckled the last strap on his chest armor, the leather creaking as he adjusted the fit. His black cloak lay folded on the table, and his weapons were freshly sharpened. Though it was just a patrol mission to the neighboring border near Stonefang Ridge, he treated every assignment with the seriousness of war. That's how their father raised him—prepared, alert, unshakable. Veyra stood near the doorway, watching him with tight lips and folded arms. She hated when he left. The world outside their secluded haven felt sharper, more dangerous, without Jon's calming presence. He always made her feel like no harm could touch her. "You'll only be gone two days?" she asked. "Two and a half, max. We're just checking trade routes, reinforcing some pack-to-pack borders. Nothing serious," Jon replied, though his tone was clipped. "Still, I want y

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