The hall shimmered with golden chandeliers and the chatter of high-ranking officials. Their laughter and celebratory toasts filled the air, drowning out the memories of blood and battle. I stood at the entrance, cradling my swollen belly, my eyes hollow and dark. A blood-stained necklace dangled from my hand, the cold metal biting into my palm.
“I am the Gamma’s daughter,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the clinking of glasses. My shaky body moved forward, through the crowd, the cold path beneath my feet leading me to the man at the center, laughing with pride and ego. My voice grew louder with each step. “A frontliner, a commander, and the daughter of Gamma Celeriac, who gave his life protecting this pack!” The room fell silent. All eyes turned to me, the Luna of the Moonlit Silver Wolf Pack. I could see the concern in their eyes as they took in my appearance, the once adored Luna now in her worst situation. “Elysia,” Alpha Jonathan Hornet called, his voice laced with feigned concern. He pushed his way through the crowd, his handsome face twisted into an expression of mock sincerity. “What’s wrong? You’re distressed. Let me help you.” I scoffed, narrowing my eyes at the man I had once loved. “Don’t pretend to care. Not tonight.” My voice cracked, but I refused to let it break me. “I gave you everything, Jonathan. My loyalty. My love. My soul. And for what?” He hesitated, his eyes darting nervously around the crowd as they began to take notice. “Elysia, please. Your father’s sacrifice wasn’t in vain. He died so we could have a future—so our child could have a future.” The mention of my father ignited a fire within me. “Sacrifice?” I spat, stepping closer. “Don’t you dare use that word. He didn’t sacrifice himself. You killed him!” Gasps rippled through the room. Jonathan’s mask of concern slipped, and I saw the cold, calculating man beneath. “Watch your tongue, Luna,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “You’re speaking nonsense.” I trembled with fury, but I stood my ground, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t lie to me. There are warriors who saw you—who heard you give the order.” The crowd murmured, their unease growing. Jonathan’s jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. " Don't accuse me of something nonsense like this, Luna. I don't want to go hard on you!" His voice was filled with fury and disappointment. " I loved him like I did you. He was the father I never had! You knew how much I respected him!" I couldn't help but laugh at this point. How could he lie through his teeth like it was nothing? I never knew that he was such a good actor. How did I not see him through? He was always a good actor. " Jonathan! Do you take me as a stupid!!?" I retorted, exhaustion and heartbreak weighing over my shoulders. I knew there was no going back, " Sir Vale!" I turned, calling a man, my father's loyal, " Please tell me what he did to my father!" Sir Vale lowered his gaze. " Sorry, Luna! I don't know what you are talking about!" He rose his eyes, looking at me with an uncertain gaze, " Sir Celeriac died with respect. He protected us-!" " Commander Vale!!!" I snarled, " You of all people - Don't betray me and my Dad!" My heart shattered into pieces. Suddenly I realized that I was standing all alone against him, Jonathan, the cruel, selfish man. " I am sorry but this is the truth!" Vale said, walking out of the Hall room immediately. Hah! So they were betraying me! “Luna! You should calm down!" Jonathan tried to touch me. "Your father was a liability. He was weak. This pack needed strength, not sentimentality. But we respect him and his sacrifice!” Weak? The word burned through my veins, but my anger kept me steady. “He protected you when no one else would. He trained you, trusted you, and you repaid him with betrayal!” Jonathan took a step forward, his voice lowering to a venomous whisper. “Enough of this drama. Go to your room and calm yourself. If something happens to my son because of your hysteria—” I let out a laugh, sharp and unhinged. “Your son? You mean the child you forced me to carry because your mistress couldn’t give you an heir?” The room froze, the color draining from Jonathan’s face. He started stammering, noticing the judgmental gazes falling upon him. “Another woman?" The whispers were clear and loud. Having a mistress was a disgusting act of a Man. “Enough! It’s just a misunderstanding!” Jonathan snapped, his voice shaking with anger. “You think I didn’t know?” I continued, my voice rising with each word. “You think I didn’t notice the nights you disappeared, the scent of another woman on you? You’re a coward, Jonathan. A liar and a murderer.” His rage boiled over. “Shut up!” he roared. “You’ve always been unstable, obsessed with your father. It’s unnatural, disgusting! Now you are acting like a total nuts” His words hit me like a slap, but I refused to falter. “How dare you?” I whispered, fury trembling in my voice. “My father was the only person who ever truly loved me. And you—” “You are being too much! Don’t force me to go hard on you!” Jonathan shouted, raising his hand. Before he could strike, I caught his wrist with an iron grip, my gaze icy. “You don’t scare me anymore,” I growled. I let go of his wrist, stepping back. My hands trembled as they moved to my belly, the weight of my actions settling upon me. “Elysia, stop!” Jonathan shouted, panic creeping into his voice as I raised a blade. The room erupted into chaos, but no one dared to approach. I pressed the knife against my stomach, my eyes locking with his. “I am the Gamma’s daughter. And I won’t let my child grow up under your shadow.” " Wh-What are doing? Take it down! Don't hurt my child!" He approached me, worried crept in his eyes. I knew his obsession over this child. But he never knew that it was stupid to mess with Gamma's daughter. Even if the world went against us, I would take revenge for my father. “Elysia, no!” he cried, reaching for me, thinking I would stab myself. But why would I sacrifice my last remaining family for him? My voice was barely a whisper now, each word drenched in pain. “I loved you. I gave you everything. And you destroyed me. But-” Before his hand reached me, I shoved the knife into his chest. Like he dug my father's heart out, I wanted to tear his black heart into pieces. The silence fell through the room. Jonathan was too stunned to react before he grabbed my hands, " You Bitch! How could you -!" I tried to take it out and stab for second time. However, a sharp pain and a metal edge cut through my body. I looked down at my stomach, bleeding out. " Who-?" My voice barely could escape from my mouth as another stab came from the left side of my belly. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the red-stained carpet. The crowd moved forward, and Jonathan held up a trembling hand, trying to stop fhem. " Stop My son!" He was wailing... My breaths came in shallow gasps. The pain was fading, replaced by a strange numbness. I looked up at Jonathan, my vision blurring. Who were they? Who was behind me? Another betrayal? “I curse you,” I whispered, barely able to speak. “You will never know the joy of being a father. You will never find peace. I curse you all.” My head tilted back, my eyes staring at the ceiling as my world darkened. --- I opened my eyes to a strange, soft light. The pain was gone, replaced by a sense of weightlessness. A gentle hand caressed my cheek, and I turned to see a figure bathed in silver light. “Who are you?” I asked, my voice trembling. The figure smiled. “I am the Moon Goddess.” My breath hitched. “Why are you here? Am I dead?” “Not yet,” the Goddess replied. “You have suffered greatly, Elysia. More than you deserved. I made a mistake in letting your path unfold this way.” Tears welled in my eyes. “It’s too late. I’ve lost everything. My father, my child, my mate…” The Goddess knelt beside me, taking my hand. “What if I gave you a second chance? To protect your father, to make different choices. Would you accept it?” My heart ached with longing. “A second chance?” “Yes,” the Goddess said. “But it will not be easy. You will face the same challenges, the same betrayals. Only your choices will determine the outcome.” I closed my eyes, the weight of my regrets pressing down on me. “I’ll do it,” I whispered. “I’ll protect him this time. I’ll make things right.” The Goddess smiled, her light growing brighter. “Then live well, Elysia Celeriac. Remember who you are—the Gamma’s daughter.” The light enveloped me, and I felt myself falling, my body jolting as if awakening from a nightmare. “Elysia!” a familiar voice shouted, pulling me back to reality. I gasped, my eyes snapping open to see my father standing before me, his expression stern but filled with love. My burning pain in my shoulder completely threw me out of my daze, as a sharp blade ran its edge on my flesh. “Focus!” he barked. “We’re not here to play games!”At the age of 12, I was blessed with my Wolf, unlike most kids. At 13, I held my claws against the Commander's neck. By 16, I had already graduated early from College in defense and was promoted to a Warrior in my father's team. At 18, I was a commander, frontliner, and healer with my Wolf.At 19, I had yet to meet my mate. For seven years, I waited for him, but I didn’t find him. Before my 20th birthday, I was invited to the Late Alpha's birthday banquet as an honorable guest, and there I met Jonathan, the man who was a heartthrob to every woman in our pack.From that day on, my life revolved around him. I was assigned as his personal assistant, mostly like a Beta, helping him with everything. Since my father, Gamma Celeriac, was leading the wars and other military matters, I was asked by Alpha to accompany the soon-to-be Alpha in making every important decision.My love for him grew, and so did my blindness. There were red flags about him that made me uncomfortable—his obsession wit
In my memories, he was perfect, always the one who couldn't do anything wrong. I was so blinded by his perfect manipulation and fake love that his words became my command. When it came to someone he deemed an opponent, I was his sword. Whatever he did became, in my eyes, an example of a great ruler. I was like a child captivated by a poorly written book, drawn to the thrill it offered. However... "The morning is beautiful! How long has it been since I last saw the morning sun at my childhood home?" The rays slipped off my fingers, reaching the part of my bed. I missed this summer. Now, the blindness was gone, replaced by revenge and the thought of making things right. I had no courage to face my mate, the one I killed during the war. I wouldn't pursue him either. In our past life, I betrayed him, killed him with my own hands as if it meant nothing. Turning to him now, just because I had chosen the wrong person, would be purely selfish. I didn’t want to be selfish again. As
She was beautiful… Even at her worst, the woman looked so eye-catching. Crouching down, I checked her purse. She was unconscious and had lost a significant amount of blood. It seemed like she had been fighting against something—or someone. “Where is your pup?” I muttered, carrying her toward the river. Ella loved fishing for two reasons: one, I loved fish, and two, the river on this mountain had healing powers. It was filled with herbs and aquatic plants containing antidotes for various poisons. Soaking her halfway in the water, I turned toward the source of the blood. Ella could smell it from at least two kilometers away. “Find the pups first!” I commanded Ella while approaching the first traces of her blood. “She gave birth!” Ella murmured, “She was right when she said pups. They’re in wolf form!” “That’s rare,” I muttered. Only in rare cases did she-wolves give birth to their children in wolf form. During this process, they couldn’t return to their human form until they ha
How could he be here? My mind raced as his touch sent an electric shock through my body. I felt my skin burning up. I had found him—my mate, the man I killed with my own hands. "Thanks for helping my sister, but I'll handle the rest." He released my wrist, grabbed the man by the collar, and punched him hard in the stomach, rendering him comatose. His towering figure made me feel small as he turned toward us. "Thank you!" he said curtly, gathering the pups into his arms, completely ignoring me. Or perhaps he didn’t want to acknowledge me as his mate. I didn’t know, and I had no answers. That familiar voice echoed in my ears. When I rejected him back then, he only asked me one question: "Won't you regret it?" I didn’t respond. At the time, I didn’t think he deserved even a second of my attention. But seeing him now—unbothered by my presence despite being my mate—I felt both relieved and regretful. Someone like me didn’t deserve him. He deserved someone better. I watched
Because of my Wolf, who was as strong as I was, I could count every single heartbeat of the guards around the cottage. The presence of people from different packs should have made Alpha alert us. However, Alpha's silence confirmed my doubts—he wasn't going to do anything about it.It wouldn't take long for him to know that I was the one who invaded their plans. Alpha wouldn't let them kill that woman without any witnesses.So, when I was trying to protect the kids, there might have been someone watching us."I will be called soon!" The words remained on my lips when I heard my father's voice."Elysia! Return home immediately."So here we were. Dad never used the Mindlink unless it was an emergency. That meant it *was* an emergency."Grandma!" I called out to her.She turned, her sharp eyes reading mine. "Go! They will be fine with me!"Oh! I had entirely forgotten. Alpha hated Grandma Aurora for some reason. His people wouldn't dare attack her or the children if they were with her.Wi
"So, Alpha ordered them?" Dad asked, his expression grim and cold. "Yes. I heard them," I responded while heading to my room. I needed to change before leaving for the cottage. "It makes sense now. Otherwise, how would he know that you were there, saving the woman he asked to kill?" He pressed his forehead, deep in thought. "Dad!" I turned, taking off my uniform. "Don't forget to put the CCTV camera in that place I asked you to, and—!" I stopped, staring at him, my eyes glossing with tears. "Don’t put a blindfold on your eyes. Remember, whatever happens, there are always two sides to the story!" In my previous life, we were indeed under the influence of the Protector of Leaders. My dad and I never left the Alpha's side, no matter what. We believed that someone had to dirty their hands, and we decided to do anything— dirtying ours or giving our lives for them. We didn’t even investigate further into the matter with the Black Shadow Wolf Pack and blindly believed that they wante
"Have I been dreaming?" I muttered under my breath as I found myself in the exact same place—right where I was after my death. However, a gentle caress on my head pulled me from my thoughts. "No, child. You haven’t," came the soft yet firm reply. I scrambled to my feet, stepping away from the lap I had unknowingly rested on, only to find myself staring at the Moon Goddess. My heart raced. Why was I here again if it wasn’t a dream? Confused and on edge, I stood frozen, my expression unreadable. "Sit down, child," she said, her voice warm but commanding. "Let’s have some tea. I apologize for this sudden visit!" "But why am I here?" I asked, unable to keep the confusion from my tone. The Moon Goddess, with her shimmering silver hair cascading down her back like liquid starlight, grinned playfully before lightly smacking my head. "Stop overthinking! I chose you and gave you another chance. That’s all there is to it—no need to complicate things." She placed a steaming cup of
What the hell is happening? I sighed internally. Here I was, being escorted by my mate—a man who seemed completely oblivious to the bond we shared. Or maybe he was acknowledging it and just… ignoring it?"Thank you for helping my sister," Hades said, his tone cold but sincere."You’ve thanked me a thousand times already," I shrugged, attempting nonchalance.He stopped walking and turned to me. "I owe you a proper introduction. It was rude of me not to introduce myself earlier."Straightening his posture, he continued, "I’m Hades Wraithborn, son of Alpha Wraithborn, of the Black Shadow Wolf Pack. It’s a pleasure to meet you.""Elysia," I said quickly. Then, before I could stop myself, I added, "You can call me Ellie.""Ellie?" he echoed, his deep voice sending a shiver down my spine.Oops. I clamped a hand over my mouth. Did I really just tell him to call me that? What was wrong with me?"No! Just Elysia. Don’t mind that," I laughed nervously, quickening my pace. What had possessed me
"My father said…" The leader of the Wizards stood tall, his pale face tilted upward with arrogance, as though the world itself were beneath his feet. His voice echoed with a tone that sliced through the tension in the air, sharp and unsettling. "Witches are the hunters of Wolves and Vampires. The most thrilling moment of a wizard’s life is to make a stew from their blood… and drink them." He chuckled, a slow, rotten sound that sent a ripple of discomfort across our group. His sunken eyes scanned us, predatory and gleaming with amusement. "But those who dare to be arrogant," he paused, dragging each word like a blade across flesh, "should be bestowed with cruel, harsh deaths. Including…" He stepped forward, and that’s when we noticed the limp. A wooden cane revealed itself from beneath his flowing black robes, the intricate carvings glowing faintly with runes older than memory. Before I could react, Hades wrapped an arm around my waist and launched us backward with a powerful jump.
I was stunned when he said it.His voice had been quiet, almost hesitant, but the weight of his words struck me like a storm breaking over calm waters.He knew. He knew about my second chance at life.That impossible secret I had buried deep inside me, locked beneath layers of silence and fear—he had just spoken it aloud like it was nothing. Like it was normal. Like it didn’t change everything.I wanted to ask how. I wanted to understand. But I couldn’t focus on him anymore.Because the Dark Stone was pulsing in my hand.A deep, thrumming beat—slow and relentless. It wasn’t just a stone. It felt alive. And with every passing second, it dug deeper, pressing its will into my skin, into my blood, until I could feel it crawling through my veins like smoke made of shadow.It whispered to me."Power. Corruption. Madness."The words slithered through my thoughts like snakes, coiling tightly around the parts of me I didn’t want to acknowledge—the anger, the grief, the desperation. It knew who
Elysia,The moment the figure stepped into the moonless clearing, I knew we weren’t alone. Something ancient stirred in the shadows—its hunger palpable, its gaze unseen but heavy on my skin.I tightened my hold on Hades, but my eyes remained ahead, locked on the figure cloaked in midnight. Around us, the darkness pulsed with unnatural rhythm, and one by one, more emerged—cloaked beings, their hands already crackling with magic.Wizards. No... sorcerers. Old ones.They formed a circle, trapping us in a ring of glowing runes etched into the ground. Their faces were hidden beneath deep hoods, but I could feel their magic thrumming like a war drum—primordial, malicious.The sky was darker than we remembered.. The lightning was displaying like a hired actor in the distance. Hades bared his fangs, his eyes glowing crimson with fury as his wings spread wide behind him. The air turned colder with every breath he took, shadows rippling outward from his feet.“We’re surrounded,” I muttered, st
I thought the night would be spent without incident, peacefully, as it always should. Elysia was in my arms, warm and relaxed, her body pressed against mine. We slept in that timeless, serene way, until the sound came—unnatural, strange, slicing through the quiet like a scream from the past. My eyes snapped open, heart racing. It wasn't the usual sounds of the night. Not the wind rustling through the trees or the distant hoot of an owl. This was different—something far more sinister. It caught my attention immediately, and as I tried to focus on the source, I heard voices outside, growing louder, laced with panic. Elysia stirred beside me, half-awake, her fingers curling around me instinctively. She was still groggy, but the unease in the air seemed to drag her from sleep. I felt her body shift as she clung to me, her breath warm against my chest. “What is it?” she murmured, barely awake, but already sensing the shift in the atmosphere. I opened the window, the cold night air bitin
Hades,The horses’ hooves echoed in the stillness of the night as we made our way toward the village. The forest around us seemed to watch, as if holding its breath. Elysia had been quiet for hours now, her usual confidence replaced with something softer, something I couldn't quite place.I turned my gaze to her, watching as her eyes scanned the path ahead, her back straight and poised. The way the moonlight caught her hair made her look ethereal, as if she didn’t belong to this world at all. After discovering our identity, we decided to shift to our original form except letting our Wolf roam freely. Otherwise the witches would spot us. I hated that she’d been forced into this situation. I hated that she’d taken parts of The Knowledge, to protect me. But I’d never been one to ask for explanations—not when the truth was hidden so far beneath the surface.The road wound toward the small village, nestled in the valley like some forgotten corner of the world. There was something quiet
Unknown's POV,"Haris is burned to death?" My voice was calm, or I thought I was calm. However, every vein in my body was screaming.Haris, one of my trusted people, died? By whom? A young woman? This was unacceptable."We found no more traces of that woman. However—" Kaelan hesitated, pulling out a handkerchief from his robes —" We have found traces of abnormality in these ashes. It wasn’t a witch or wizard's flame."He opened the cloth in his palm and revealed a pile of fine, dark ashes. They were unremarkable at first glance, but the moment I stepped closer, I felt it. That strange hum in the air. The unsettling vibration that laced the magic left behind.My eyes widened. In a world ruled by witches and wizards, what kind of flame could reduce someone like Haris to ash in seconds?I reached out and took a pinch between my fingers. The moment the ashes touched my skin, a violent surge ran up my arm. It wasn't pain—it was a shock, a jolt of power so foreign and dark that my muscles r
My heart sank when the dark shadows shrouded the sky, surrounding us like a layer of thin black polythene. At first it felt like our soul had been deprived by something stronger, heavier and suffocating. But that feeling soon disappeared when Bryan's hand reached my shoulder. " Who are you?" He whispered, " It seems like you are their target. Are you running away from someone? Be honest with me if you want to stay alive!" He warned with a shiver-sending coldness. However I could feel the edge of the concern and genuine worry in his tone. My palms sweated as I grabbed the leather jacket that I was wearing. The night was cold and it was freezing my body. But the tension felt unbearably suffocating. " I...!"" If I am not wrong!" The person in the shadow, wearing a black robe and a book on his hand, cut my words... " You are Master Bryan from the front line Border area!" His voice was condescending. His eyes glistened with a distinct red flickering. A sharp light came out of the bo
He had Two different colors like Hades had. But before I could ask, the color changed. And, The fortress shook violently. I didn’t know what to expect.The roots, those monstrous, writhing tendrils of darkness, seemed to be multiplying with each passing second. The air was thick with dread, suffocating, as if the fortress itself were alive, breathing down on us, caging us in. I could feel the walls closing in, the air getting heavier.Bryan didn’t wait. He moved, swift and deadly, like a shadow. The shimmering blade in his hand cut through the chaos around us, the magic crackling with energy, searing the air. Sparks flew in every direction, the sound of blades slicing through the air mingling with the guttural growls of the creatures encircling us.I watched him for a split second, too transfixed by his movement—his grace, his power—before I forced myself to snap out of it.Focus.I drew my dagger, its cold metal steady in my grip, though my hands trembled slightly. The trembling ha
Elysia,Within ten seconds, we were no longer in the dark chamber that held the Breath of the Dark Stone. The moment we inhaled it, everything shifted. Now, we stood before an enormous fortress, its towering walls strangled by thick vines of thornbane—a plant I recognized instantly. Black thorns curled outward like claws, and tongue-shaped violet blossoms swayed as if breathing. The very air felt hostile.The burning sensation in our throats had dulled, but the aftertaste of magic lingered like smoke in our lungs. We didn’t know how we got here, but it was clear—this place was nowhere near safe.Thornbane. Poisonous. Paralyzing. Hallucinogenic.I remembered its profile from Grandma Aurora’s herb book. One brush of its thorns could freeze the lungs, make you hallucinate until your heart gave out. People didn’t survive thornbane. It survived them.I scanned the environment, instincts prickling. Bryan stood beside me, silent, his face turned toward the fortress that looked like it had be