…A few years ago…The ground beneath me is cold, damp, and unforgiving. The leaves overhead shift with the wind, whispering secrets through the forest that I can't bear to hear. I pull my knees closer to my chest, the thin blanket wrapped around me doing little to keep the chill away. My stomach aches, empty and hollow, but I ignore it. Hunger is a constant companion now, one I've learned to live with.The remnants of my old life cling to me like ghosts. The screams of my pack members still echo through my mind, everything is still so vivid, so painfully clear and no matter what I do I can’t seem to shake the feeling. I remember the warmth of the fire in our packhouse, the laughter that used to echo through the halls. I remember my father's strong hands, my mother's kind eyes, the way my sister would steal my hairbrush and laugh when I chased her down to get it back…But those memories feel like another lifetime now.Because that life is gone—burned and buried beneath the ashes of my
The early morning sun gleams softly overhead as Miyuki leads me down a dirt path that opens onto the Raven Moon training grounds. My first impression? Sweat, grunts, and tension hanging through the cool morning air.Rows of pack members are locked in intense drills, their bodies moving in sharp, coordinated bursts. Some spar hand-to-hand, their strikes fast and brutal, while others shift mid-movement, their wolves snarling as they tear into padded dummies designed to withstand claws and teeth.It's all so... rigorous. Precise. As if every move is rehearsed down to the last detail.And yet, I chuckle to myself."Something funny?" Miyuki snaps, her sharp tone breaking through my thoughts.I shrug, a smirk tugging at the corners of my mouth. "It's cute, watching them try so hard. Almost like they think this is life or death…”She stiffens beside me, her jaw tightening as her eyes dart toward me. "They're warriors, rogue. Something you wouldn't understand…”"Warriors?" I repeat, my smirk
The air shifts as we step into another section of the training grounds. It's quieter here—not silent, but there's a distinct lack of the grunts and growls from the larger groups I saw earlier. Instead, it's all focus. Precision. Deadly intent.These aren't the typical pack warriors.No, these are their strongest.I stop a few paces behind Miyuki, my arms crossed as I take in the scene. I notice Octavius walk right by, greeting the people around him as he walks off to a completely different area. A handful of wolves—mostly male, though a couple of women stand out—are sparring in the centre of the space. Each move is deliberate, powerful, and brutal, the kind of training that leaves bones broken and pride shattered.I smirk. This should be fun."Stay close and keep your mouth shut," Miyuki snaps, her voice sharp as she glances over her shoulder.I raise an eyebrow, but I don't respond. Her irritation is almost as amusing as watching her try to assert dominance over me.We step closer, a
I barely have time to catch my breath before I notice Octavius steps into the circle, his gaze fixed on me with a calm intensity that makes my wolf stir uneasily."You," he says, motioning for me to come forward.I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms. "What now, Alpha? Come to remind me that your Gamma couldn't handle me?"His lips twitch, but it's not quite a smile. "She's not the one I'm concerned about," he replies, his tone even. "I want to see for myself what you can do."The tension in the air sharpens, and I feel the eyes of the others around us, their curiosity mixing with unease."Afraid I'll embarrass you in front of your pack?" I ask, stepping forward with deliberate slowness.Octavius tilts his head slightly, his gaze never leaving mine. "Let's find out."Miyuki snorts from the sidelines, muttering something under her breath that I can't quite catch. I glance her way briefly, smirking."You might want to take notes, Gamma," I say, cracking my knuckles as I step into the cir
I decide to train solo afterwards, not wanting to be around any of the Raven Moon imbeciles... especially Octavius.The training grounds are quieter now, most of the wolves either cooling down or moving on to other duties. And so I find an old punching bag hanging from a thick chain and decide to focus all my frustration on it. Each strike sends a satisfying thud into the air, but it's not enough to drown out the gnawing irritation in my chest.I glance over at him.Octavius stands on the far side of the grounds, his shoulders square, his posture that infuriating mix of authority and ease. He whispers something to Samson and Miyuki, his icy blue eyes drifting toward me briefly before turning back to his conversation.It's like he's monitoring me, waiting for me to slip up.I roll my eyes and turn back to the punching bag, landing a sharp hook that sends it swinging. Focus, Kaida. Forget him. Forget all of them.But then, I sense someone approaching from behind, their footsteps hesitan
The air in the room is heavy, as if the walls themselves are braced for what’s about to be said. I stare at Octavius, weighing my options. His icy blue eyes are unrelenting, fixed on me with a mix of curiosity and something I can’t quite name. Trust, maybe? Or suspicion. It doesn’t matter. I can feel the weight of his question pressing against my chest like a vice. Tell me the truth about the pack you come from. There’s no escape from this moment, no clever deflection that will buy me time. He’s already too close to figuring it out. “The Xarano Pack,” I finally say, my voice quieter than I intended. Octavius straightens slightly, the name lingering in the air between us like a ghost. “What?” he asks, his tone sharp but unreadable. I don’t answer, letting the silence fill the space. “The Xarano Pack was massacred,” he says slowly, as if testing the words on his tongue, tasting their bitterness. His steps are deliberate as he moves closer to me. “Yes… they were,” I reply,
"Lucien killed my father," Octavius says, his tone flat but deadly. His eyes pierce into mine, icy and distant, and for the first time since I've been here, I can feel his grief, buried beneath all that cold control."I'm sorry," I reply after a beat, my voice steady, though I don't know why I bother saying it. Doesn’t seem like he’ll care anyway."Do you really mean that?" he shoots back, his words sharp, flipping my earlier retort back at me.I can't help the small scoff that escapes me, but I nod a few times in confirmation, my gaze holding his as I step closer to him. "Yes... I do."His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he doesn't say anything. It's like he's sifting through a million thoughts, trying to figure out which one to give voice to, until finally, he answers."We've been hunting Lucien ever since he turned on us," Octavius finally says, his voice rough, every word slow and controlled. "But he's sneaky. Very sneaky.""We have a common enemy," I tell him, my tone softer now.
"I will find Lucien with or without your help," I say, my voice cold as I stare up at him, my eyes flashing between his blue one."And I'll make him suffer for destroying my family." Octavius stiffens, his icy blue eyes narrowing as he takes a deliberate step closer. His presence is suffocating, but I hold my ground, meeting his gaze head-on. "Going alone is the stupidest thing you can do," he says, his voice low, dangerous as he looks down at me and for some reason, a chill runs through my body as he speaks to me. But despite how he's making me feel, I roll my eyes, crossing my arms over my chest. "It's better than sitting here doing nothing." His jaw tightens, and for a moment, I think he's going to argue, but then he exhales sharply, the sound more frustration than defeat. "Fine," he says, his tone measured. "We'll work together to stop him." I blink, caught off guard by his sudden shift as I raise my eyebrows at him right before I get a hold of myself, not wanting to look too
K A I D AThe silence stretches between us, heavy but not uncomfortable, one where both of us are simply processing everything we’ve shared with each other. Korra hasn't sat down. She's still standing, probably still hearing the words I said—about Admosian, about Lucien, about bloodlines and wars we didn't ask to inherit. I shift my weight from one foot to the other, exhaling deeply as an unsettled frown rests on my face.The adrenaline is starting to wear off, and now I feel tired—not just in my body but deep down, in that place people call soul, though I don't think mine has ever had a chance to breathe."I have to head back now, I’m sure Octavius is worried about me…" I say quietly. Korra turns her head to look at me. No surprise in her face, just a flash of something softer as she exhales. Something close to disappointment, but not quite."Already?" she asks and perhaps she isn’t used to the fact that I won’t be living with her anymore. The two of us grew up close, with a fierce b
K A I D A“What?” I ask, voice low but sharp, like the word cuts on its way out. My heartbeat stutters, then kicks into overdrive. I blink hard. Once. Twice. Like that’ll clear the static building in my head. Like maybe I misheard her. Like maybe she didn’t just say what I think she said.Korra stays calm. She doesn’t flinch, doesn’t back down. Her face is serious, grounded. No hesitation in her voice. “I know it sounds crazy… but believe me, it’s true.”I’m watching her carefully now. Reading the tension in her shoulders, the stillness in her stance. She’s not spitballing. She’s not guessing. She’s thought about this—probably over and over again, turning it around in her head until it made enough sense to say out loud.“We’ve been researching,” she continues. “Trying to figure out which of the bloodlines I came from. We came from.”That part catches in my chest.We.“We dug through what we could find—old records, pack stories, bloodline traits. Physical markers. Based on our features,
K A I D AKorra and I are sitting on the edge of the bed in the room they set up for her. She smells clean now—like herself. No more scent of blood, rusted iron, sweat. No more stink of captivity clinging to her skin like a curse. Her hair’s still damp, slicked back and tucked behind her ears. Her face is clearer too. Hollowed out, yeah, but clear. Her eyes... they’re finally awake.I’m still not used to this. Seeing her here. Alive.I glance over at her and my heart lurches in my chest, heavy and full and weirdly tight. She’s here. She’s really here.She nudges her elbow into mine, that little sister-sister thing we used to do when we were younger, before the world split open and swallowed us whole.“Tell me what happened to you now,” she says softly.I inhale, slow and deep, but it does nothing to ease the knot in my stomach. I feel like I’ve been waiting years for someone to ask me that. I also feel like I don’t want to say any of it out loud.But she deserves to know.“Well... It’
Korra sits on the edge of the bed, freshly showered, hair damp, skin free of the dirt and grime from that hellhole.She looks better.Not just physically, but in the way she carries herself now. Her shoulders are no longer hunched, her body no longer weighed down by chains—literal or otherwise.But there’s still something in her eyes.A ghost.Something Lucien left behind.I lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms over my chest. “Feeling better?”She lets out a slow breath, rolling her shoulders as if testing her body for weakness. “Yeah… a little like myself now.”That’s good.I don’t say it, though. I just nod.Silence stretches between us for a moment, but it’s not uncomfortable. It’s the kind of silence that comes with understanding, with years of missing time trying to fill itself in all at once.Korra studies me, her eyes scanning my face like she’s trying to memorize it. Like she still can’t believe I’m standing here.“I can’t believe you’re alive,” she murmurs, shaking he
K A I D AThe drive back to Xarano territory is long and heavy with silence.Though Octavius was opposed to the idea, I managed to convince him to let me head back to the Xarano Pack with my sister. They needed to see that she is alive; they needed to know that both Xarano sisters have returned and are standing strong.I sit beside at the backseat of the car, Jace being the one to drive us while Valerie sits in the front seat. I haven't been able to let go of my sister's hand. Perhaps out of fear that if I somehow do, I will lose her again. But I'll be damned if that ever happens again. Her posture is tense, her gaze locked onto the rolling landscape ahead of us. She hasn’t spoken much since we left the ruins, and I don’t blame her.She’s processing. All of it. Being free. Being alive-- truly alive --and out of captivity, and seeing us all again, and finally coming.I glance at her, my chest tightening. Does she even remember this place as home? I stare down at her tattoos, admiring t
K A I D AKorra’s growl is cold and deadly, silencing the entire forest and everything in it. Everyone is on edge… Jace, Valerie, the others… but no one moves. No one dares to.Because we all feel it.The rage rolling off of her, thick and dangerous, her silver eyes glowing with barely restrained fury.She looks ready to kill him. Fear floods its way into my body. I knew my sister had always been dangerous. What more after all these years in captivity, what more that she is now a Lycan. Who knows the horrors she has been subjected to? Who knows what she’s seen? I no longer know what she is capable of doing, and so no matter what happens, I need to try and keep her calm.“Korra,” I say, carefully, taking a few steps towards her to try and enter her line of vision. “Please calm down…”She doesn’t look at me.She only stares at Octavius, her breathing slow for now but the longer she stares at him, the more it elevates. Her hands are clenched at her sides, shaking slightly as her body vi
K A I D A Kaida walks slowly, her arm wrapped firmly around Korra’s waist, supporting her sister’s weakened frame. So she seems physically strong, Kaida can pick up the faint scent of Wolfsbane off her, it was all over the cell as well and Kaida is certain Lucien had flooded the air with it to keep her abilities suppressed."Are you okay...?" Kaida asks worriedly, being sure to keep her sister steady and maintain her balance."I'm okay... I just need fresh air..." She answers, her voice hoarse as she lets out slow breaths.Korra is strong... stronger than her. Kaida has always known that, but right now, her body trembles with every step, her muscles struggling to carry her after years in captivity. Her once-powerful stance is reduced to unsteady footing, her breathing laboured.Still, she is here. She is alive.That’s all that matters.Kaida tightens her grip, feeling Korra lean into her slightly as they make their way toward the others. Her sister is unbroken, but she is not unscath
K A I D A I don’t stop running. My breath is sharp, my pulse erratic, my mind locked onto a single thought: She’s here. The scent is pulling me forward, leading me deeper into the ruins, past the crumbling stone and the echoes of battle still raging behind me. I know Octavius and the others are fighting, I know we haven’t won yet—but none of that matters right now. Because I can feel it. My sister. Somewhere in this hell, Korra is alive. A snarl rips through the air. Two wolves leap at me from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with bloodlust. I react on instinct. The first one lunges for my throat, but I’m faster. I drop low, twisting under him before grabbing his hind leg mid-air and swinging him into the ruins. His body crashes through the stone, debris collapsing over him. The second wolf is already coming for me. Teeth bared. Claws slashing. I meet him head-on, our bodies colliding in a brutal clash of muscle and rage. He’s strong. But I’m stronger. He slashes at my
The air hums with raw energy.Kaida stands in the ruins, glowing silver, her power pulsing like wildfire through the battlefield. Every wolf, every fighter, every enemy watches her with wide, stunned eyes.Including Lucien.For the first time, he looks intrigued.Not afraid. Not angry. Just… interested.His icy blue eyes gleam as he studies her, as if calculating something. He tilts his head slightly, the faintest smirk playing at his lips. “Well… isn’t this unexpected?”Kaida clenches her fists, her breath steady, her body still vibrating with pure, unchecked power. “Come find out just how unexpected it is.”Lucien lets out a quiet chuckle. “Tempting.”Then, without warning—“Lilith.”The name is barely spoken, a command wrapped in amusement.Kaida barely has time to react before a blur of green comes at her from the side, fast and lethal.Lilith.The force of the impact sends them both crashing into the rubble, the ground splitting beneath them. Snarls and claws rip through the air