Alpha Randall had become a shadow of himself. He barely had any sleep or rest. His scouts had combed around the entire territory and beyond, but Reyana was nowhere to be found.He was fully dressed and ready to storm Novak's pack to demand answers. Novak should know where he can find Rashka since he works for him.He was willing to spill Novak's blood if he didn't get the answers he sought."This is all your fault! She is finally gone forever!" Keir resumed his nagging. Apart from his nagging conscience, Keir had made it a point of duty to remind him of his foolishness every day.Keir hasn't been himself since they felt their bond with Reyana severed. A part of him felt weak and lost. He was hurt. They had lost their mate.But Randall had promised to bring her back no matter the cost."Keir... Are we still doing this?" He sighed."Yes. We are. See where your pride and foolishness have gotten us. Shouldn't you be proud of yourself? Your pack is in total chaos because of you!" Keir yell
Alpha Randall sat in his private courtroom, alone with his thoughts. Scrolls scattered around his table. Vials containing potions to keep him awake were spread across the table.Randall had become a shadow of himself. His pack, which was one of the biggest packs, was now a thing of ridicule.His people were starving. Farmlands becoming barren. Sickness becoming the order of the day. Sadness and depression tainted the corners of his pack.He had become a shadow of himself. He had no one else to blame but himself. Staying awake and looking for an alternative to the solution Klara provided was not enough punishment. He deserved more punishment for his foolishness.Loneliness was now his best companion. He didn't speak to anyone. Neither was he eating. His wolf, Keir, had deserted him too.Everyone warned him. The signs were there. But he was blinded by love and revenge.Perhaps, just like Keir said, his sins were already catching up with him.Perhaps he wasn't meant to be the Alpha of th
Master Rashka sat amidst his most trusted witches in their inner coven. His Ashkais heavily guarded this place. No one dared trespass on that environment. It was sacred.Dark energy emanated from within. Seven witches sat around the long table, deep in conversation, with Rashka seated at the head of the table."Now that we have the four Necro keys, what is our next action? It's time for the ritual, Rashka." Zendaya, the only one who can address Rashka by his name, asked.She had been growing impatient. She'd been waiting for this moment for centuries. The moment she would witness dark magic take over their realm.She was thankful to have followed that narrow bush path on that fateful day. The day she found the half-dead Rashka in the pool of his own blood.As soon as she saw and touched him, the most potent form of darkness emanated from him. The darkness was raw. Birthed from anger. Pain. Accusations. Hurt. Wish for revenge.Young Rashka's eyes were pitch black. It was his wolf. They
Aldric sat in the inner courtroom of Alpha Novak, looking well beaten up. He had gotten a taste of Novak's anger, and he understood. He deserved more.Novak, his Beta, Gamma and Maya, stood with frowns on their faces, waiting for Aldric to speak."I don't know what it is called. But I can show you where," Aldric said, wiping off the blood stain from his mouth."And how do we know this isn't a trap set by you and that fool of an Alpha of yours?" Novak spat."I swear on my life, this is no trap. The earlier we act, the better for us all," Aldric replied.After a moment of silence, Novak spoke to his Gamma, "Gather the warriors. We set out to see this place he speaks of.""I'd like to come with you, Novak," Maya said."No. It might be dangerous. We have to be certain he isn't playing some tricks on us." Novak replied. "As soon as we succeed, she'll be back home to us. I promise."***Reyana had barely set eyes on Rashka in the last two days. She couldn't tell where he was and if everythi
Alpha Novak was fully prepared to go out in proper search for his sister. Aldric had taken them to the spot where he had kept Reyana when she passed out. It was a good start.His witches were waiting for him outside so they could go on the search. They were going to use an ancient method to trace Reyana's scent, foot imprint, energy, and anything at all they could use that would lead them to where she had been taken."You won't stop me this time, Novak. I am coming with you," Maya said when Novak stepped outside.His warriors, Aldric and Maya, stood waiting for him. He was prepared for a war, just in case there was need for it."Maya..." He wanted to protest but she wasn't having it, "Okay. Let's go."The witches swung into action as soon as they got to the woods,"Just pray to the Goddess she is found; otherwise, death will be a luxury you'd wish to have," Novak warned Aldric through gritted teeth.***Dust devils jigged across the plains of the parched earth as Alpha Randall, Klara,
"I didn't come here to help fight your battle, Alpha Randall," Alpha Parthe said coldly. "I am here for one purpose, and you know that.""I understand. But at this point, your help will be greatly appreciated. We sincerely need it." Alpha Randall replied."You were once arrogant and proud. Where did all that go?" Parthe said with amusement in his voice."Now isn't the time to be arrogant or proud. I need your help, and I am asking politely." Randall replied.There was silence."Still a no. We help you tear the veil, and that it is. Nothing more. I have other important matters to attend to after your pack. I can't dwell on this forever." Parthe said in the most relaxed tone for such a turndown.Randall's gaze shifted to Rashina and Sheila, who seemed to share the same opinion as Alpha Parthe, and they nodded in agreement."Sorry, Alpha Randall, but I have pack matters to attend to immediately," Luna Rashina said."I wish I could help. But a deal is a deal." Luna Sheila chipped in.Rand
Novak stalked through the woods, his pace fueled by a simmering anger that threatened to boil over.His warriors and witches trailed behind him.They got a certain clearing and Aldric stopped."This is where you left her?" Novak demanded, his voice rough with unspoken emotions.Aldric inclined his head, a flicker of regret crossing his face. "Yes. Unconscious, but alive."Without another word, the five witches accompanying them, Letira and Corvus, stepped forward."We require an undisturbed area," Letira, the leader of the witches announced.Novak gestured towards a clearing a few paces away. "Let's give them some space."They moved swiftly, while Letira lay down intricate patterns of woven branches and leaves. Corvus, her assistant, produced a small pouch and began chanting a low, guttural melody, the other three witches chanting along with her.Minutes turned into a tense silence broken only by the soft murmur of the witches' chants. Letira's hands moved with practiced ease, sprinkl
Chantings rose, the witches' voices sounded in a powerful, ancient tongue. The leaves and branches writhed and twisted, forming a swirling light pattern resembling a celestial constellation.Just as the light reached its peak, and they were ready for the next phase of the spell, a sharp snap of a twig snapped through the tense atmosphere. All heads whipped around as the unmistakable sounds of pounding hooves grew steadily close to them.The witches continued with their chanting, not minding the disturbance that threatened them.Novak's hand instinctively went to the hilt of his sword, "Ready yourselves," he growled, his gaze scanning the dense foliage behind them, "we need to prepare for whatever is coming."Maya moved forward, too, her hand gripping the dagger strapped to her thigh.Suddenly, the trees parted, revealing a sight that brought a jolt of surprise to Novak.Alpha Randall rode at the forefront of a battalion of warriors.A tense silence descended upon them as they drew clo
The war was over. The long awaited and anticipated war was finally over. The warriors cleaned up the battlefield as they mourned their fallen warriors.Rashka had ordered his Ashkais to return to the Green Oasis. He was left with a few of his top warriors.They were inside the fortress. Rashka, Randall, Novak, Reyana. All inside.Reagan hurriedly scanned the area. He hadn't seen his pregnant Ria. He was worried. He had looked everywhere. His heart was racing really hard."Ria!" He called desperately but didn't get a response. When no reply came, panic set in, tightening its grip around his chest.Suddenly, his eyes caught sight of her familiar frame among the fallen warriors somewhere around a hidden area, almost outside the battlefield. She was struggling to stand up when she heard Reagan's voice.Ria slowly pushed herself up from the ground, her body aching from the ordeal.Reagan's heart skipped a beat as he saw Ria attempting to rise, her movements sluggish and pained. He sprinted
The name rang a bell. A very negative bell. Kasiri was an ambitious witch who always wanted to associate herself with everything good and prestigious.People wondered why the Alpha hadn't thrown her out of his pack those years. It was even suspected that the Alpha was having an affair with her, which made him unable to take a stance and exile her."How?" Rashka asked with a broken heart. Everyone knew Kasiri. He wondered why his brother fell for her tricks. He had expected his brother to be smarter than that.Randall's voice was thick with remorse as he spoke, his eyes never leaving Rashka's. "Kasiri knew how to manipulate my feelings, how to twist the knife of jealousy deeper into my heart. She convinced me that the only way to gain our parents' respect and the pack's recognition was to outshine you—to take the leadership from you."Rashka's face hardened as he processed the information, the history of deceit unraveling before him. "She played on your insecurities, pushed you to betr
With a sickening crunch, Rashka's paw connected with Randall's side, sending him crashing to the ground. The pain was excruciating. He coughed blood as he gasped for air.Randall lay sprawled on the blood-soaked earth. His breath came in ragged gasps. His vision blurred at the edges, and the world seemed to tilt and sway.His gaze traveled in the direction of Reyana. He watched in dread as Reyana unleashed the full extent of her abilities. It was as if she was a goddess descending upon the battlefield to deliver righteous judgment.His warriors were clearly outnumbered. A lot of them were already dead.He stood up weakly, trying to raise his sword, his arm heavy and trembling. He could barely hold the weapon, let alone defend himself. He was bleeding profusely from all sides of his wounded body.It was almost as if his healing abilities were no longer there, even before he lost connection with his wolf. Rashka came prepared with dark powers that no one could ever imagine.Rashka raise
Alpha Randall was proud of his warriors. At the same time, he was thankful for Alpha Parthe's warriors. But at this point, he saw a very difficult situation facing them. The war seemed impossible to win.His warriors were totally outnumbered, and Alpha Parthe's warriors, despite their skills, were acting based on their Alpha's order: 'Leave the battle the moment one hundred of his men are down.' Alpha Parthe likes his warriors the same way he likes his women. He doesn't tolerate losses. And if it isn't his own battle, he doesn't see why his men should risk their lives saving another pack, no matter what the deal was.A cold dread washed over Randall as he watched Alpha Parthe's warriors begin their retreat. The signal was clear: one hundred of their men had fallen, and as per their agreement, they were withdrawing.Randall's heart raced, and his mind scrambled for a solution. He couldn't blame Parthe for protecting his forces under his stringent rules of engagement, yet the sting of
Randall's vision blurred with pain and anger. He could barely process Rashka's words, his mind struggling to reconcile the reality before him. "Reyana," he called out, his voice strained. "What has he done to you?"Reyana's eyes glinted with mischief and darkness, "This is who I am, Randall," she replied, her voice devoid of emotion. "Rashka has shown me the truth. Our destiny is to rule, not to serve."Randall's heart shattered at her words, but he knew he couldn't afford to lose himself in grief. He gritted his teeth against the pain and forced himself to stand. The wound in his side burned, but he refused to let it weaken him further.Randall tightened his grip on his sword, his resolve hardening. "I won't let you destroy everything we've built," he declared. "I will fight until my last breath.""Your last breath is all I desire, brother," Rashka said with a cruel smile and walked back to the warriors he had come with.Reyana followed him behind.Randall's vision blurred with a mix
The war was a maelstrom of steel and blood, tearing through the heart of the Blood Crescent pack.The war had begun in full force. The chaos was heart-wrenching. It seemed Rashka's army had one assignment - destroy everything that made up the Blood Crescent pack.They were not soldiers fighting for honor or glory; they were instruments of destruction, their eyes burning with a cold, inhuman light. They tore down buildings with savage glee, their laughter echoing through the chaos.Women and children screamed, fear consuming them.The Ashkais barely had the time to fight. It was almost like they weren't scared to die.Of course, they weren't. Not that they were actual wolves. They were just Rashka's twisted creations."Protect whatever you can! We can't lose all our homes!" Randall yelled into the air as he lounged at one of the Ashkais who was headed toward the homes for the elderly.Alpha Parthe had sent about a thousand warriors. His armies could never be killed by mere blades, which
"Make sure every able-bodied warrior is armed and ready. We can't let them breach our borders." He ordered Xular, the new Head of his warriors, as he dished out orders to his men."Alpha! Xular!" Two men ran breathlessly toward the warriors who were warming up for the war ahead. They looked troubled."What happened?" Xular stepped forward."The armory! The armory is on fire! It's been set ablaze!" One of the men said almost breathlessly."What?" Randall asked, "Armory ablaze?" he repeated, disbelief and a growing sense of dread washing over him. The armory was their lifeline, their teeth against the world. Without it, they were defenseless pups facing a hungry wolf pack. His eyes widened in shock as his legs propelled him towards the armory without a second thought.As they hurried toward the armory, they saw the women and children coming from the direction of the Shelter."Where are you all going? You should be at the Shelter..." Randall began, but his voice was drowned out by the ch
"What?" Randall said, holding her by both arms, "How did you know?""He told me. Last night." She replied, getting Randall even more confused."How? Did he come here? How did no one see him?" Randall almost panicked, but he had to be calm."No, Randall. The Sigil. With the Sigil of possession, I am never far from Rashka. Prepare for what's to come, Randall." Reyana said, walking away into her chamber.Since she woke up that morning, she had been feeling strange. The feeling of hatred and pain she felt while at the Oasis seemed to intensify after her encounter with Rashka last night.As Reyana moved through the dimly lit corridors of the fortress, a wave of nausea washed over her. The Sigil on her back throbbed with a dull, insistent pain, its faint glow pulsing in rhythm with her heartbeat.She stumbled into her chambers, closing the door behind her with trembling hands. The room seemed to close in around her, the shadows elongating and shifting as if they were alive.She felt utmost
Visha was dragged from the dungeon, her wrists bound in iron shackles that rattled with every step. Her heart raced. She knew this was the end for her.Memories of how she had lived her life and how she was meant to live came flooding her. Regrets had become her best companion throughout her stay in the dungeon, but there was nothing she could do to save herself.Her sister had warned her. But she was blinded by stupid feelings. Feelings that they had been taught never to let get in their way.No one is coming to her aid. Not Novak. Not the Master. Not even her sister. Because she had gone against everyone just to be with Randall. The same Randall who was going to be her executioner today.Reyana stood beside Randall in the middle of the crowd, her gaze fixed on Visha. A cold satisfaction crept into her heart as she watched her former tormentor face her ultimate fate. The woman who had caused her so much pain was finally going to pay the price.A cruel smirk played on her lips.Randal