The Palace was in a gloomy state. It wasn't just Era and Seth's condition that caused it, but the crime committed by Julie made the situation even more unpleasant. So, it was no wonder that the events would be an interesting topic of conversation for the next few days. In addition, Philo immediately announced to the pack Oscar's decision to remove Julie as a Gamma and simultaneously punish her in the underground prison.Everyone was taken by surprise, of course. Many of them were shocked, and if Philo hadn't spoken on Oscar's behalf, they wouldn't have believed it. In their eyes, Julie was a dedicated and loyal she-wolf to Oscar and the Xylvaneth Pack.Some of them realized, however, that Julie could indeed do such a thing. The basis was that love could blind anyone. Common sense and logic could become useless when love spoke.Just like what happened to Oscar now. His feelings for Era made it impossible for him to be calm at all. So, his words from the other day were proven; he didn't
The air felt trapped in Seth's chest. It was like it was stabbing his lungs. He gasped and felt a sudden bitterness in his throat. The bitterness was everywhere.Seth had heard about Julie's punishment from Oscar. It was a terrible punishment, but deserved. Then he asked himself, could he take that punishment? Because he realized that not protecting Era was an unforgivable mistake."Do you have any idea what punishment I should give you?" Oscar asked.Seth bowed his head even lower. "Alpha, I—""Philo!"Philo replied immediately, his body tensing. "Yes, Alpha?""Clear Bogy's schedule for the next month. I want him to train Seth specifically. Tell him that if Seth doesn't make progress, he should be prepared to accept punishment from me."Philo's tension disappeared. The others relaxed as well. Meanwhile, Seth reflexively lifted his face again.Seth looked at Oscar with a trembling tongue. "A-Alpha, I—""Suffer your punishment with all your heart, Seth. Make it a time of reflection. Ma
The excitement that surrounded the Xylvaneth Pack Palace in the early morning gave off an aura of happiness. People who had been asleep suddenly awoke as the good news spread from mouth to mouth. They immediately left their rooms and saw Landon rushing to Oscar's room.The good news was indeed true. Era, the future Luna of the Xylvaneth Pack, had come out of her coma. All the anxiety and worry that had plagued her days had vanished in an instant, leaving no trace behind."So how is she, Landon? Is she okay?"Landon finished his examination of Era. Then he turned to Oscar with a beaming smile. "Of course, Alpha. Era is perfectly fine now. You don't have to worry anymore."Oscar felt an immense sense of relief. He closed his eyes in gratitude and instinctively hugged Landon. "Thank you, Landon.""You're welcome, Alpha," Landon replied with a nod. Then he turned back to Era. "Welcome back, Era."Era smiled weakly, but felt happy. "I seem to have inconvenienced you for the umpteenth time.
Era's eyes closed briefly as she felt the morning sun wash over her entire body. It felt truly refreshing and made her wonder for a moment, does the morning sun always provide such peaceful warmth like this?See? Didn't I tell you? The sunlight here is so refreshing, but you didn't believe me before.Era smiled. This time not only because she appreciated the sunlight on her skin, but also because she could finally hear the voice of her wolf spirit again. After days of silence, she could hear the hustle and bustle again.I miss you.Era's wolf spirit startled. W-what? You miss me?Era replied. Very much. So, promise me. Never leave me. My world is really empty without you. You've always been by my side, so never leave me.Of course, Era. I'll never leave you. I'll always be with you. We'll always enjoy the morning sun like this. What do you think?A smile spread over Era's face. Of course. That's a great idea.Era spent her morning sunbathing in the palace garden. She believed that her
Ursa greeted Era's arrival with a broad smile and open arms. Then she hugged Era tenderly. Era closed her eyes and smiled as well. The warmth of the embrace made Era feel calm.One reason Era has always believed to be the cause of her calmness when she was with Ursa was her longing for a motherly figure. In addition, Ursa always had her own way of soothing Era's fears. There were times when she felt a gentle vibration emanating from Ursa's body, then spreading through her own body, and all her anxiety instantly disappeared. As if all the complications in her life had vanished without a trace through Ursa's warmth and love."You will never know, Era, how grateful I am for your recovery," Ursa whispered as she released the embrace. She created some distance so she could look at Era. "Thank you for coming back to us."Era smiled with mixed emotions. On the one hand, she felt guilty for worrying so many people. On the other hand, a part of her felt happy. Now there are so many people who
The world seemed to spin in Oscar's eyes. He took a deep breath for a moment to regain his disturbed concentration. He tried to concentrate again, but it turned out that he couldn't.Oscar closed his eyes. He pushed the laptop away from him. "Give me another task, Philo. I've been staring at that laptop screen for almost fourteen hours straight today. I'm sure if I look at the laptop screen any longer, your face will soon turn color in my eyes.""Sorry, Alpha," Philo said as he approached Oscar, who was sitting behind the desk. He glanced at his watch. "How about you go home now, Alpha? It's almost midnight. I think this work can wait until tomorrow."Oscar groaned and also looked at his watch. "The tomorrow you mean is only eight minutes away, Philo.""You need rest, Alpha, and even though there's a lot of work to be done, your health is the priority," Philo continued as a sudden thought crossed his mind. So, he spoke again, albeit with an uncertain expression. "Besides, I think you
Oscar could feel it, his blood began to boil. There was something in Era's words and manner that ignited his natural instincts. So, he remained alert, preparing himself for any possibilities that might unfold.Trying to calm himself amidst the onslaught of intuition that instantly awakened his wolfish soul, Oscar took a deep breath, trying to contain the sudden rush in his chest. He persisted and decided to halt his steps, unwilling to risk approaching Era any closer for fear that a misinterpretation of his instincts might cloud his judgment."Actually," Oscar said, furrowing his brow for a moment. He could not believe how his voice was shaking. Then he cleared his throat. "What do you want to say, Era?"Era let out a long sigh. Then she stood up and approached Oscar with a confused expression on her face. "I don't know. I just realized something after I woke up from the coma.""What is it?""There were some voices and emotions that felt strange. They weren't mine, but I could feel th
The tickling sensation Era felt suddenly disappeared. Her expression slowly changed. She looked tense and anxiety was visible in her eyes.Oscar knew that Era was in a difficult situation. All of fate and reality came so suddenly that Era was on the verge of uncertainty. He just hoped that Era would slowly accept it as time went on.Oscar's hope began to show signs of becoming reality when he received information from Ursa. Era's desire to learn and train to become a full werewolf was a good sign. However, he did not want to be too arrogant and assume that it was also a sign that Era had accepted herself.Era's reaction reinforced that thought. So, Oscar smiled and tried to suppress the disappointment that began to rise in his chest. He reassured himself that he was okay; after all, Era would still be completely his."Calm down, Era. You don't have to be so tense," Oscar said with a thin smile. In his heart he prayed that his expression did not show any signs of disappointment. "You c
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,