MelanieI had been in the art room for hours, my mind numb from the colorful swirl of paints and brushes. It had been a quiet escape, a brief moment of peace from the whirlwind of events that had taken over my life in the last few days. But even here, there was no true comfort. No matter how much I immersed myself in the strokes of my brush, the weight of everything that had happened—the lies, the rumors, the pressure to conform to a life I wasn’t sure I was ready for—remained.Celeste had been quietly watching me, as she always did. There was a comforting gentleness to her, a calm that I desperately needed right now, but even that wasn’t enough to ease the restlessness twisting inside me. She was kind, sweet, and never pried, always tending to her duties with a soft smile. But today, even Celeste couldn’t soothe the gnawing anxiety."Miss Melanie," Celeste's soft voice broke my reverie. "It’s time to leave the art room now, I think. I’m sure Queen Lydia is expecting you."I looked up
MelanieThe sound of the door opening startled me out of my groggy sleep. For a moment, I thought I was dreaming—my mind was too heavy with exhaustion, the weight of the night pressing me deeper into the soft blankets. But then I felt it: a sharp tug on my shoulder, pulling me from the warmth of my bed.“Melanie,” a soft but insistent voice whispered. “Melanie, wake up. It’s time for Luna training.”I blinked against the harsh light filtering through the curtains, struggling to focus. My eyelids felt like lead, and I let out a low groan. I rolled over, pulling the covers tighter around me, hoping to steal just a few more moments of sleep.But Celeste wasn’t having it. She tugged harder at my shoulder, her voice rising in urgency. “Please, Miss Melanie, you can’t be late. Queen Lydia will have our heads.”Reluctantly, I opened my eyes, squinting against the bright sunlight. “I’m so tired, Celeste,” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hand. “Can’t I just sleep for a little lo
MelanieThe morning air was thick with the scent of roses, and the sun had barely started to filter through the heavy curtains of my chambers. I stood in front of the mirror, nervously smoothing my hands down the front of my white dress. It was almost time for my coronation, and with it came a whirlwind of preparations, some of which I dreaded more than others. Today was dress fitting day—one of the few things I couldn't ignore or put off. But the thought of spending another moment in the presence of Queen Lydia made my stomach turn."You look nervous, Miss Melanie," Celeste said softly as she helped me into the dress. Her voice was gentle, like a balm to my nerves, though I knew it wouldn’t ease the looming pressure."I'm not nervous," I lied, forcing a smile. "I'm just... I don’t know, everything’s moving so fast."The dress felt strange against my skin, tight in all the wrong places, and too loose in others. But that was nothing compared to the dread that gnawed at my insides. Ever
MelanieI couldn’t believe it. In just a few days, I was going to be crowned Luna, a title I didn’t feel ready for, but one I had no choice but to accept. The days had blurred together in a whirlwind of intense Luna training and the never-ending preparation for the coronation. Queen Lydia’s training had been brutal, and there were times I thought I might crack under the pressure. But today—today was different. Today, I had a brief respite. It was lunch, and I was going to take full advantage of it.Sitting in my chambers, I pulled my phone from my pocket and scrolled through the contacts. My heart raced with excitement as I searched for the familiar names of my friends. These were the people who had always supported me, the ones I could count on no matter what. I needed them here. I needed them to stand with me when I took my first steps as Luna.I found Delona’s name and tapped the screen.“Delona!” I typed, my fingers shaking with excitement. “I’m about to be crowned Luna in a few d
MelanieI woke up early that morning, my heart racing as I realized it was finally the day before my coronation. The day I had been both dreading and anticipating for weeks. Tomorrow, I would be crowned Luna. I was about to enter a world that felt foreign, a life I wasn’t entirely sure I was prepared for.I had spent so many days in training, each session more grueling than the last, and yet, I didn’t feel any closer to being ready. The fear still lingered, but so did the excitement. It was a new chapter of my life, one that was finally unfolding before me, and I couldn’t help but feel a mixture of nerves and exhilaration.Today, however, I was determined to savor every moment I had with Oswald before everything changed. We had so little time together amidst all the chaos.The sun was beginning to dip behind the horizon, casting a soft orange glow over the infinity pool in the palace grounds. I could see Oswald already waiting there, his back to me as he leaned against the edge of the
MelanieThe sun had barely risen, and already, my heart was racing. Today was the day—the day I would officially become Luna. The day that would mark the beginning of the rest of my life with Oswald. As much as I wanted to savor the moment, excitement mingled with nerves, and I had to remind myself to breathe. The crown would be placed on my head today, and I would take my vows with Oswald. But I still couldn’t shake the uncertainty in my chest. Was I truly ready for this?I had barely managed to close my eyes the night before, the reality of what was about to unfold keeping me awake. But now, with the sound of soft knocks on my door, I knew the moment had arrived.“Melanie, it’s time to get up,” Celeste’s voice called through the door, and I could hear the excitement in her tone. “Your big day has come.”I rolled over and groaned, pulling the blanket over my head, but there was no escaping it now. The time had come, and there was no going back. I pushed myself out of bed, trying to s
Unknown’s POVMaxine DeLong stood in front of her mirror, her fingers tracing the intricate patterns of the silver bracelet around her wrist. It was the only piece of jewelry she’d ever worn that wasn’t meant to serve a political purpose. It had been a gift from her mother, and although the woman was long gone, the bracelet still held a measure of power over Maxine. She could almost feel it radiating in her bones, a reminder of the power she had once wielded, a reminder of the ambitions that still lingered in her heart.Melanie. Queen Melanie. The words made her teeth grit.“Just a pup,” she muttered bitterly to herself, pacing the plush carpet in her private chambers. “A mere pup, and yet she has everything. Everything I deserve.”Maxine’s fingers tightened around the delicate silver chain. She had seen the signs from the very beginning—the way the Alpha King Oswald had gravitated toward Melanie, the way she had captured the hearts and minds of the pack. The rising star had not only
MelanieThe weight of the day seemed to press down on me, the oppressive tension of the near-kidnapping attempt still lingering in the corners of my mind like an unwelcome shadow. It had been a few days since the rogues tried to take me, but the memory of the cold, dark hallway, the desperation in their eyes, and the suffocating panic that had gripped my chest still haunted me. I had tried to go on with my duties, to act like everything was normal, but the truth was, I was far from fine.Sitting in the grand hall, my back stiff against the velvet chair, my mind was a thousand miles away. I could hear the soft murmurs of the other Luna’s in the region, their voices blending together in a low hum. But it all felt distant, muffled, as though I were underwater. My hands rested on my lap, the edges of my nails digging into my palms as if I could ground myself in the physical sensation, ward off the intrusive thoughts.Oswald had been so patient with me. His touch was always gentle, his con
MelanieThe return to the Royal Crimson Pack’s territory was bittersweet. The sun was rising as we crested the last hill, painting the blood-soaked horizon in shades of gold and crimson. It felt like a cruel irony, the beauty of the dawn juxtaposed against the pain etched in every step we took. The pack lands were quieter than they should have been, the air heavy with grief and exhaustion. Our warriors bore the weight of loss, and though they moved forward, their eyes told the stories of the friends, brothers, and sisters we’d left behind. Rook, still unconscious, was carried by a pair of strong wolves. He looked fragile in their arms, a stark contrast to the overwhelming power he’d wielded as the Alpha of Shadows. I walked alongside them, refusing to leave his side. Oswald stayed close to me, his steady presence grounding me. His hand brushed against mine, a silent reassurance that I wasn’t alone. As we passed through the gates of the Royal Crimson Pack’s stronghold, the rema
MelanieThe ground trembled beneath us, cracks spiraling outward like jagged veins across the temple floor. Dust filled the air, choking and thick, but I didn’t care. My eyes were locked on him—Rook, standing tall in the center of the crumbling ritual circle, his body radiating dark power that rippled through the air like a storm. The sky above the temple churned, dark clouds roiling in an unnatural vortex, blotting out the moon and stars. The world seemed to hold its breath, suspended in the shadow of the Alpha of Shadows. “Rook!” I shouted, my voice hoarse but defiant. He turned toward me, his glowing eyes piercing through the gloom. For a moment, I thought I saw the man I had come to know—the fierce, determined wolf who had fought alongside us against the cult. But that glimmer of familiarity was swallowed by the overwhelming darkness. “You shouldn’t have come,” Rook said, his voice resonating with a power that wasn’t entirely his own. It was layered, twisted, as though ano
Quincy OttoThe air was suffocating, thick with the weight of ancient power and an oppressive darkness that gnawed at the edges of reality. The temple walls trembled, their runes bleeding crimson light as the cult's ritual surged toward its peak. At the center of it all was Rook, bound in chains of dark energy, his form writhing as the magic engulfed him. The moonstone hovered above him, its light pulsing in time with the ritual’s chants, casting eerie shadows across the chamber.I stood in the shadows, watching it unfold. For all the years I had plotted, schemed, and waited, the moment was finally here. My son, my legacy, stood on the brink of transformation, poised to become the Alpha of Shadows. But this was not a moment of triumph—it was a culmination of pain, regret, and a darkness I could no longer control.Rook’s screams echoed through the chamber, his voice raw with both fury and anguish. I could feel his resistance, the fierce battle within him as he fought against the chains
MelanieRook’s capture weighed heavily on me, a constant ache in my chest that I couldn’t shake. He had warned us, risked everything to fight against his own bloodline, and now he was in their hands. The image of him being dragged away by those cultists haunted me, even in my waking hours. But I wouldn’t let his sacrifice be for nothing.Oswald and I stood in the war room, the map of the Blackspire Mountains spread out before us. The air was thick with tension as we plotted our next move. Hazel stood to my right, her fingers tracing the lines of the map, while Quincy Otto lingered near the edge of the room, flipping through an ancient, tattered book.“They’ll take him here,” Quincy said finally, pointing to a spot on the map marked with jagged peaks. “The Temple of the Veil. It’s where the cult conducts its most powerful rituals. If they mean to turn Rook into the Alpha of Shadows, they’ll need the temple’s energy to do it.”Oswald’s hands clenched into fists at his sides. “Then we’ll
MelanieThe air was thick with tension as we gathered in the central hall of the Royal Crimson Pack’s fortress. The wariness that clung to the room was palpable. Every face around me—Oswald’s, Quincy’s, Hazel’s, and even Rook’s—carried the weight of what lay ahead. The cult wasn’t just a threat to us anymore; they were a threat to everything we had fought to protect.“Let’s get this straight,” Oswald said, his voice tight as he folded his arms across his chest. “We’re trusting a rogue who’s the son of the enemy and a traitor who once conspired against the pack. Tell me how that doesn’t sound like the worst idea we’ve ever had.”I glanced at Rook, who stood rigid near the corner, his jaw clenched but his gaze unwavering. He wasn’t fazed by the hostility, which only added to the enigma he’d become. Quincy, on the other hand, smirked faintly, clearly enjoying Oswald’s skepticism.“Because if we don’t,” I said, breaking the silence, “we lose any chance of stopping this before it’s too lat
RookThe battle had settled into uneasy silence, the air thick with the acrid scent of blood and the sharper sting of betrayal. Rogues lay scattered across the battlefield, their bodies lifeless, but it wasn’t a victory. The cult leader—my father—had escaped, and with him, the artifact that could doom us all. I stood in the eye of the storm, my heart warring against my instincts as I turned to face Melanie and Oswald.Their eyes bore into me, a mixture of fury and mistrust. They had every right to question me. My past was steeped in lies, half-truths, and bloodlines I wished I could sever. “You need to explain yourself,” Oswald growled, his tone low and dangerous. “Now.”I took a step back, holding up my hands in a gesture of surrender. “I will. But first, I need you to understand that I’m not here to hurt you. I never was.”“You expect us to believe that after what we just saw?” Melanie’s voice was sharp, but beneath it, I could hear the tremor of uncertainty. Her golden eyes search
MelanieThe sound of howls pierced the still night air, a chilling harbinger of the storm descending upon us. My heart raced, a drumbeat in the chaos as the pack mobilized. Every wolf—strong or wounded, young or seasoned—stood ready to defend our home. I could feel the energy humming in the air, dark and unnatural, an unwelcome intrusion into our sacred land.Beside me, Oswald barked orders, his voice carrying authority and resolve despite the tension etched into his features. His hand briefly brushed mine, a fleeting but steadying touch. I drew strength from it, pushing aside my fears. The rogues were here, and there would be no turning back.The first wave hit hard. The rogues, eyes gleaming with an unnatural light, were faster and more coordinated than any enemy we’d faced before. Their movements were sharp, their attacks precise, as if they were being guided by an unseen force. I shifted into my wolf form, joining the fray with a feral growl. My claws tore through the flank of a
MelanieRook stood at the edge of the firelight, his silver eyes catching the flicker of flames as he paced. The weight of his presence was palpable, and the silence between us stretched like a taut wire. Oswald leaned against the nearby table, arms crossed, his gaze sharp as he waited for Rook to speak. I stood beside him, my thoughts racing. The pendant, the shard, the whispers of the Shadowstone—all of it was beginning to form a picture, but the edges were jagged, incomplete.Finally, Rook stopped pacing and looked at me. His jaw tightened as if the words he was about to say physically hurt to utter. “You want the truth? Fine. My pack, the Shadowfangs, is gone. They were wiped out by a force unlike anything you’ve ever faced.”My breath caught. Though the devastation of war wasn’t new to me, the bitterness in his tone carried a weight that made my chest tighten. “What kind of force?” I asked.“A rogue Alpha,” Rook said, his voice low and cold. “Not just any rogue. This one isn’t ac
MelanieThe silver pendant lay on the table in front of me, its faint glow casting eerie shadows across the room. I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Its intricate wolf design shimmered with an otherworldly energy, a reminder of the forces we had yet to understand. Rook’s sudden disappearance and the organized rogue attack weighed heavily on my mind. This pendant was more than just a clue—it was a thread connecting us to the growing storm.I reached out to touch it, hesitating when my fingers hovered above the surface. Even without making contact, I could feel the power radiating from it, a strange resonance that felt both familiar and foreign. It reminded me of the moonstone, the ancient relic we’d fought so hard to destroy. Could it be connected to that same magic?“Don’t,” Hazel said sharply, breaking my trance. She stepped forward, her expression grim as she glanced between me and the pendant. “We don’t know what it’s capable of.”“I wasn’t going to,” I said, pulling my hand back. My