Getting enough rest was never the answer to Era's anxiety; she had proven that. No matter how often or how long she slept, it didn't make her feel better. In fact, it only made her feel worse. When she slept, she was trapped in nightmares, and when she woke up, she was faced with a grim reality."Oscar?"Era looked around to find the room silent. She was alone; Oscar was not there.A heavy feeling made Era catch her breath. It was as if hundreds of tons of weight were trying to render her powerless. However, she managed to move her body, albeit with great difficulty. She got out of bed and at the same time Aaron entered the room."Luna." Aaron approached and helped Era. "How are you feeling?"Era winced slightly. She sat down and Aaron quickly prepared a glass of warm water. "I've never felt so bad, Aaron." She accepted the warm water and took a few sips. "According to Landon, I'm fine. I just need to rest, but why does my body feel completely powerless?"Aaron took the glass back and
District Marindale, more precisely in the Falindor Forest—Ryloston Pack Palace.Freddy was inhaling the aroma of an 18-year-old single malt whisky that had just been poured into a rock-cut crystal glass by Peter McKay—watcher—when Bernard arrived. He knew that Bernard must have important news. But that didn't mean Bernard's arrival should interfere with his desire to relax.The crystal glass turned slowly. There was a soft clink as the ice hit the sides, creating faint ripples in the whisky. Freddy closed his eyes and savored the first sip. So did he, not wanting to miss a single taste sensation in every drop of whisky.Bernard, understanding Freddy's nature and character, decided to remain silent for a moment. He stood still, not saying a word until Freddy finally spoke."How is it, Bernard? Any news from Xylvaneth?"Bernard lifted his face slightly. He watched Freddy, eyes closed, still enjoying the whisky. "Nothing, Alpha."The spinning of the crystal glass stopped. Freddy's relaxe
Oscar was determined not to let Era's worries and fears come true. So, he made the most of the time he had left. He trained diligently, perfecting all the techniques and strategies he had learned over the years. He wouldn't let any weakness get in the way of his goal. He had to return with his life intact.However, Oscar didn't just focus on himself and the upcoming fight. He wouldn't neglect something far more important, even more important than his own life.Oscar gathered several people in his office. It was just before they left for Riverdale Bluffs.Everyone gathered. Tension hung in the air. Their faces were filled with apprehension."Tonight," Oscar began, looking at each of them. His expression showed utmost seriousness. "I am going to Riverdale Bluffs with Philo, Thad, and several warriors. Although this is a one-on-one fight between me and Nicholas, no enemy can be trusted. So, vigilance is paramount."Oscar was determined to fight with determination and not allow Nicholas t
The previous nights had indeed been painful. Era was always worried about the condition of the people around her who were experiencing bad things because of her. But at least she could still sleep, even if she woke up feeling tired. Now, on the contrary, she couldn't even close her eyes for a minute.Era's feelings were truly uncertain. Even words like anxious, uneasy, worried, or scared couldn't describe her feelings now. She was adrift, trapped between waves that kept trying to pull her into an endless ocean.Era gave up. Trying to sleep was useless. Closing her eyes only made her more exhausted. So, she got out of bed.There was only one thing Era could do now, and that was to occupy herself. She had to distract her mind. She had to keep herself busy or the clock on the wall would explode from the constant staring.Era grabbed her pajama robe and quickly put it on. Then she left the room and wasn't surprised at all to find Aaron there."Luna," Aaron greeted as he folded the newspap
The sound of a heavy thud echoed as a brown-maned wolf was violently thrown to the arena floor. It whimpered quietly, but a second later it rose quickly. Strengthening its initially wobbly legs, it then leapt, intent on retaliating against the golden-maned wolf that had made it the object of ridicule for the past ten minutes.The golden wolf dodged effortlessly, as if the brown wolf's attack was nothing, completely harmless. It showed no fear and instead continued to attack with bold courage.The golden wolf's movements were very agile and nimble, causing its mane to flicker and shed shafts of light everywhere. It seemed to light up the dimly lit battle arena. Its attacks were precise, full of accuracy and power. As a result, the brown wolf was cornered, and the spectators were filled with awe.The golden wolf's claws sliced through the air with incredible speed. The brown wolf could not dodge. It chest was ripped open. It blood vessels burst.But the golden wolf didn't stop. It contin
Throughout her life, Era had witnessed and endured countless chaos. Her life had never been peaceful. More often than not, problems would come crashing in and leave her life in shambles. But of all the turmoil, none was more terrifying than what she was about to face.Era was shaken. The chaos wasn't just the physical destruction or the deafening noise—it was far more than that. It carried with it the threat of death everywhere, a fear so palpable and overwhelming that it felt like invisible chains wrapped around her entire body.The air grew heavy. Pressure from all sides. Amidst the relentless cacophony, Era felt small, fragile and utterly powerless.The Palace of Xylvaneth, long a symbol of strength and protection, was on the verge of collapse—both literally and symbolically. The tremors that rippled through the ground, emanating from the battle in Lunaria Forest, seemed like a harbinger of the disaster that was about to unfold there.The rumble of wolf paws pounding the earth in t
Instinct had already sounded its warning. An uneasy feeling clung to Oscar's mind ever since he received Nicholas' challenge to a fight to the death. He knew there would be parties trying to take advantage of the situation, and his suspicions proved correct. Information leaked. No one knew who was behind it, but the supposedly private fight to the death at Riverdale Bluffs had turned into a spectacle that drew a large crowd. Oscar couldn't even keep track of which packs were present.Unfortunately, the problem didn't end there. Bad news arrived just as Oscar was preparing to face Stephen. The palace had been attacked by the Phydaron pack. As a result, Oscar left the arena in a hurry. He ignored Stephen's taunts. It didn't matter if he was branded a coward for leaving the fight. After all, he didn't owe Stephen anything, and what mattered most was Era's safety—his top priority above all else.Oscar jumped effortlessly into the helicopter, followed by Philo, Thad, and the Warriors. As
The darkness of the night began to fade. The glow of the full moon was no longer as bright as it had been. The sky gradually shifted, leaving a gradient of purple that slowly turned into orange streaks on the horizon.The morning breeze carried the scent of damp leaves and fresh dew, soothing the weary souls that had endured the long and harrowing night. Sunlight began to creep through the tall trees, illuminating tired faces now covered in gratitude. The atmosphere, once tense and heavy, gave way to a deep silence filled with meaning.The Lunaria Forest felt desolate. The scent of earth mingled with the metallic taste of blood, leaving haunting traces of the battle that had just ended. Tall trees, usually standing proudly, appeared damaged—some with broken branches from the fury of the brutal clashes.In the midst of all the destruction, Era felt a surge of emotion well up in her chest. Her heart pounded wildly—not with fear, but with an indescribable relief.Era’s tired eyes scanned
Oscar's face was hard, reflecting tension and determination. Yet his breathing remained steady, as did his heartbeat. He was in complete control.Only one last fight remained. When the night was over, everything would be settled.A knock at the door pulled Oscar out of his thoughts. He blinked once and turned to see the door open. Philo and the others entered.Oscar said little, just as he had before. He emphasised to Dom and Bogy that the palace had to be guarded to the utmost and that they had to be alert for the worst. They couldn't let their guard down—there could be another pack lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.Then Oscar turned to Philo and Thad. "We're leaving now."With determined strides they moved through the corridors of the palace. They hurried while the helicopter waited on the helipad—its spinning blades creating strong gusts of wind.Oscar boarded the helicopter in a single bound, followed closely by Philo and Thad.The door closed. The
Never before had time tormented Era so cruelly. Every second had become a dagger that slowly carved into her soul, leaving invisible wounds. Minutes bled into hours in an endless loop, trapping her in a fear that refused to subside.Two nights had passed, each bringing its own terror and uncertainty that held Era in an unforgiving grip. She was desperate, clinging to Oscar's promise in the suffocating silence.Era lay in the dark those nights, her eyes closed, but never really asleep. She stayed awake, unable to surrender to rest as her mind swarmed with worry for Oscar's safety.Sleep was impossible. The only thing Era could do was pretend and wait in the dark for Oscar's return.Now it was the third night. This was the last night, the one that would decide Oscar's fate in a fight to the death.Era sat motionless on the bed, her back pressed against the headboard. A blanket was wrapped around her, but it did nothing to dispel the cold that had settled on her skin.The bedroom door cr
Slowly, Era's consciousness floated to the surface, as if drawn from a dark, formless depth. Her body felt light, as if suspended between dream and reality. Yet something kept trying to hold her back. A heavy sensation enveloped her eyelids, refusing to let her fully awaken.Warmth enveloped Era's entire body. It caressed her, embraced her, almost masking the faint throbbing pain in several places.The sensation was no longer painful enough to make Era wince, but just enough to remind her of everything that had happened. Growls, roars, claws—flashes of memory spun through her mind, pulling her further out of the void.Sounds began to creep into her consciousness. The soft whirring of medical instruments, the steady rhythm of someone's breathing. Then a familiar scent—a mixture of spices and cinnamon—filled her lungs, reminding her of Ursa.Era, wake up.The whisper pierced the depths of her heart, coming from something that had always been with her—the wolf spirit that never left her
The cool morning breeze drifted gracefully in through the wide-open dining room window, carrying the scent of dew mixed with the aroma of herbal tea from a porcelain cup. The diaphanous curtains hanging from the window swayed gently to the unceasing rhythm of the wind.Sunlight crept in, illuminating the long table set with an array of delicious dishes—steaming slices of roasted meat, freshly baked bread with a crisp crust, and a neatly arranged plate of fresh fruit.At the head of the table, Freddy sat leisurely. He had a sharp silver knife in one hand and a fork in the other. He sliced his steak slowly, savouring the sensation of each tender fibre being cut cleanly, but in reality, his mind was elsewhere.Something felt different. Freddy could feel it. The usual serenity of his morning had been replaced by an underlying tension.Freddy’s body tensed instinctively. His knife struck the plate with a little more force than necessary, and his fork trembled slightly at times.A feeling o
The dim light still covered the sky as Oscar stood at the window of his study. His eyes gazed far into the trees swaying in the morning breeze, as did his mind, which had been wandering restlessly.The scent of wood and the early morning dew seeped through the cracks of the window. It should have provided a sense of calm, enough to ease the tension in Oscar's body. Unfortunately, this time it wasn't enough. He needed more than just a beautiful morning to cool the fire raging in his chest—revenge.Oscar's sanity was hanging by a thread. He had never been one for patience, and now his self-control was being tested. The situation was truly against him, threatening to blind him with rage.Oscar’s blood was boiling. Heat radiated from every pore of his skin. His rage had ignited beyond reason, leaving only one desire in his mind—to wipe from this world anyone who would harm Era.Oscar pressed his lips tightly together. His face hardened into a dark, angry red. The veins on his body tensed,
The night was still thick, accompanied by an unusual stillness that felt heavier than ever. The cold grew sharper, seeping into the bones, stained by the scent of damp earth and lingering traces of blood in the air.A thin mist hung low over the ground, weaving between the towering trees on either side of the road. It dulled the senses, obscuring vision until the glow of portable lights flickered to life, illuminating everything without exception.The darkness stirred. The scene once shrouded began to unfold, revealing the grim reality that lay before them.Shattered glass littered the tarmac. Jagged pieces of metal gleamed in the dim light. Era's car lay in the middle of the road in a devastated state—its side crushed beyond recognition, its bonnet shredded and deep claw marks scarring its entire body, silent witnesses to the attack that had taken place hours before.Amidst the wreckage, Bogy and Irene stood with unwavering concentration. Their sharp eyes scanned every detail left at
The silver-white glow of the ceiling lights dimmed automatically, adjusting to the late hour. It created a hushed atmosphere, punctuated only by the low hum of medical equipment. A precious silence, meant to allow exhausted bodies to rest.Unfortunately, Era couldn't rest as she was supposed to. Her body was tired, her bones felt shattered, but the weight on her chest was so heavy that she couldn't bring herself to lie down.Sitting on the hospital bed, Era remained still, a thin blanket draped over her legs. Her back was propped up against a pile of pillows, but there was no sense of comfort. Her fingers lay limp in her lap, revealing the IV line embedded in her left hand.Accompanying Era was Oscar, standing near the window. His back was to her, his sturdy silhouette framed in the dim light. Dressed in a black shirt, he still couldn't hide the tension that wrapped around his body, a clear sign of the turmoil that raged inside him.Era knew that she should say something. She should e
There was nothing Landon could do. When it came to magic, all his medical expertise was completely useless, and Oscar was painfully aware of that.The pallor on Oscar's face grew worse, his expression resembling that of a lifeless corpse. His heart seemed to have stopped and his blood felt as if it had frozen. He was numb, and the only sensation left in him was terror.Magic had never been good for anyone, especially werewolves, and this knowledge was driving Oscar dangerously close to the edge of his sanity. His breathing became erratic, his body trembled and his eyes darted around wildly, as if searching for the answers he desperately needed. The mere thought that Era's life was in danger hit him like an endless storm of despair."Damn you, Freddy. I swear I won't stand idly by," Oscar growled in a deep, threatening voice. Every word he spoke was laced with unmistakable anger. "You will pay dearly for what you've done."For Era's sake, Oscar would do whatever it took to make sure Fr
That was exactly what Era hoped. She didn't want to stay in such a pitiful state for too long. So of course she listened to Landon's advice. She would get plenty of rest and make sure she recovered as quickly as possible.For Oscar, however, things were a little different. Landon's examination was indeed complete, and the results were reassuring—Era wasn't seriously injured and her life wasn't in danger. Still, his vigilance didn't waver in the slightest. So, he turned to Era and said, "Landon's right, Era. If you feel the slightest discomfort, no matter what it is, tell him immediately. Don't even think about keeping it to yourself.""Oscar," Era murmured melodically, rolling her eyes dramatically before continuing. "Maybe it's time for you to calm down. Landon's already examined me." She shook her head, not the least bit surprised by Oscar's overprotective behaviour. "I'm fine and..."Something crossed Era's mind, leaving her words hanging in the air. Her expression changed as well,