The grand Lycan Hall buzzed with whispers, tension thick as the smoke curling from the kitchen. Warriors sat at long wooden tables, their fur still stained with blood from the battle, their faces scarred. Maids walked between them, pouring fresh ale and setting down trays of food, their ears tuned to the whispers swirling like a restless wind.Tonight, the talk was not of war. It was of something far more dangerous.“Did you see it?” a young warrior asked, leaning in close, you could barely hear him over the clinking of glasses.“See what?” the older warrior beside him asked, his tone tired , his eyes red from lack of sleep.“Alpha Cove… he protected her. He fought for her.” His friend laughed and took a deep gulp of ale.“Oh, I saw it. We all did,” he said, shaking his head, his braided beard swaying like a pendulum. “Reckless. He nearly got himself killed for that human girl.”A maid placing a tray of bread hesitated, her eyes darting between the warriors. She glanced at them, her
Lycia sat on the edge of the bed, her body was tensed, her hands barely holding her body upright. She hadn't slept. The night had been long and restless, her mind replaying every horrifying detail of the battle she had witnessed, and every moment of Cove’s transformation. Her prison was even more unwelcoming as ever, the walls that were made of rough, unpolished stone, trapping her in their icy embrace, reminding her that she was nothing more than Cove’s prisoner. A small barred window high up let in faint light, casting eerie shadows on the disarranged bed she sat on. The air inside smelled of moisture and decaying timber, reminding her how far she was from freedom.She turned to the mirror looking at her reflection in the old, dust covered mirror across the room , which made her stomach twist. She looked so unkept; her long hair tangled, her track suit wrinkled and stained with dirt and dried blood. Dark circles hung under her eyes, making her look drained and weary. Her lips w
The air was foggy outside, with the scent of damp earth and the distant howls of nocturnal creatures. Raven wandered outside the cavern, her thoughts tangled, she couldn’t stop but overthink her place in all of this.The weight of the truth unsettled her, eating up the edges of her usually unshakable confidence. She had spent years mastering her art of manipulation, twisting people to her will, yet tonight, she felt an unfamiliar unease creeping into her bones.She walked further, drawn by the need for more solitude, but the soft murmur of voices in the distance caught her attention. Instinctively, she pressed herself against the rough bark of a tree, her breath shallow as she strained to listen to the sound she heard. Just beyond the tree line, under the pale glow of the moon, she saw Conan standing stiffly before a shadowy figure, cloaked. The figure’s presence exuded authority, a chilling aura that made Raven’s skin develop sudden goose bumps."The map," the figure demande, his vo
Vandal placed a firm hand on Conan’s shoulder, his voice steady but filled with grief. “My job here is done. I must return to the Void.”He stepped back, his figure fading like a dying flame. A cold wind rushed through the trees as shadows gathered around him, twisting and shifting. The air felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Vandal gave Conan one last look; one filled with pain, determination, and something unreadable, before vanishing into the darkness.Conan stood frozen. His breath came in quick, uneven gasps. Then, the memories struck like a tidal wave, crashing into him all at once.The scent of smoke and blood.The howls ripping through the night.Screams; his mother’s voice, desperate and shaking.His mother knelt beside him, pressing a shaking finger to his lips.“Shh, my little cup. Stay quiet, no matter what happens.”Conan didn’t understand. His little hands clung to her dress as she held his baby sister close, wrapping the child tightly in a bundle
Her body twisted, bones shifting beneath her skin. White fur sprouted along her arms, her nails sharpening into claws. The air crackled with power.Conan squeezed his eyes shut.The sounds that followed were not human.Snarls. Roars. The clash of claws against claws. The crack of bones snapping.He felt his baby sister tremble in his arms, and he held her tighter, biting his lip to stop from crying out.ThenA sharp, agonized scream.His mother’s scream.Conan’s eyes flew open.She lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath her. The werewolf loomed over her, its massive jaws dripping blood. She was still breathing, but barely.Her eyes looked toward the crawl space, locking onto Conan’s.She mouthed something,“Run.”Then the beast struck.A sickening crack.Silence.Something inside Conan shattered.His vision blurred, his breath coming in ragged sobs. His small hands trembled against his sister’s bundle, but he couldn’t move, couldn’t look away.The werewolf lifted his mother’s lifele
The first wolf lunged towards Conan.Raven barely had time to react before Conan moved. His body twisted, avoiding the wolf’s snapping jaws by an inch. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the dagger strapped to his thigh and plunged it deep into the werewolves’ ribs. Causing the werewolf to let out a strangled yelp, that echoed through the trees as the beast collapsed, squealing for help in the damp, moonlit clearing.But the others didn’t hesitate.Two more lone wolves sprang forward, their eyes blazing with hunger. There was no plan in their attack, only pure, reckless desperation. Unlike pack wolves, they weren’t bound by loyalty or strategy. They fought for survival alone, driven by nothing but raw bloodlust.Conan turned sharply, ready to face them head on. The first wolf lunged for Conan’s arm, its jaws snapping, but he moved fast, twisting himself out of reach and slicing deep into its side. The beast let out a pained yelp, stumbling back. The second wolf barely had a chance to rea
“She’s dangerous,” Morrigana said flatly.“We already know that,” Lucas, Cove’s Beta sighed, “No!” she snapped, her eyes darkening. “Not like that.”Lucas studied her. “Then explain.”Morrigana’s fingers drummed against the wooden table. “Few days ago, I went to her prison, you know to do my job; interrogate her, get information.”“So?” Lucas frowned, rolling his eyes in exasperation.She leaned forward. “Have you ever wondered how she got out of the chains, how it broke?”“Morrigana get to the point. Alpha Cove seeks my presence”Morrigana exhaled. “Ok, fine… I was there. She had this surge… this power surge. The chains shattered all of a sudden, and I was thrown back like I weighed nothing.”There was brief silence, but Lucas broke it.Lucas skeptical but unsettled. “What are you talking about, Morrigana. She’s human.”“No, she’s not,” Morrigana snapped back, shaking her head. “She’s… something else.” She hesitated, choosing her next words carefully. “I think she’s a witch.” She f
An underground chamber was thick with tension. Fires from torches lit flickering lights against the hard stone walls, casting long shadows over the gathered wolves. Derek sat at the head of the room, his fingers lazily tapping the handle of his throne, as he observed the faces before him.To his right, Ronan stood stiffly, his broad frame exuding quiet authority. He had been Derek’s second for years, the only one he trusted to speak plainly. To his left, lounging on a makeshift throne of stone, was Melissa; the Mistress of Shadows, as some called her.Beautiful, deadly, and utterly unreadable.She stretched, her dark silky hair cascading over one shoulder as she spoke to Derek with amusement.“You actually want to work with Conan?” Her voice was like honey, smooth and mocking.“Darling, that man would rather slit your throat than shake your hands with you.”Derek smirked. “Maybe. But he wants Cove dead more than he wants me dead.”Ronan exhaled sharply. “That’s a dangerous bet Alpha D
An underground chamber was thick with tension. Fires from torches lit flickering lights against the hard stone walls, casting long shadows over the gathered wolves. Derek sat at the head of the room, his fingers lazily tapping the handle of his throne, as he observed the faces before him.To his right, Ronan stood stiffly, his broad frame exuding quiet authority. He had been Derek’s second for years, the only one he trusted to speak plainly. To his left, lounging on a makeshift throne of stone, was Melissa; the Mistress of Shadows, as some called her.Beautiful, deadly, and utterly unreadable.She stretched, her dark silky hair cascading over one shoulder as she spoke to Derek with amusement.“You actually want to work with Conan?” Her voice was like honey, smooth and mocking.“Darling, that man would rather slit your throat than shake your hands with you.”Derek smirked. “Maybe. But he wants Cove dead more than he wants me dead.”Ronan exhaled sharply. “That’s a dangerous bet Alpha D
“She’s dangerous,” Morrigana said flatly.“We already know that,” Lucas, Cove’s Beta sighed, “No!” she snapped, her eyes darkening. “Not like that.”Lucas studied her. “Then explain.”Morrigana’s fingers drummed against the wooden table. “Few days ago, I went to her prison, you know to do my job; interrogate her, get information.”“So?” Lucas frowned, rolling his eyes in exasperation.She leaned forward. “Have you ever wondered how she got out of the chains, how it broke?”“Morrigana get to the point. Alpha Cove seeks my presence”Morrigana exhaled. “Ok, fine… I was there. She had this surge… this power surge. The chains shattered all of a sudden, and I was thrown back like I weighed nothing.”There was brief silence, but Lucas broke it.Lucas skeptical but unsettled. “What are you talking about, Morrigana. She’s human.”“No, she’s not,” Morrigana snapped back, shaking her head. “She’s… something else.” She hesitated, choosing her next words carefully. “I think she’s a witch.” She f
The first wolf lunged towards Conan.Raven barely had time to react before Conan moved. His body twisted, avoiding the wolf’s snapping jaws by an inch. In one fluid motion, he grabbed the dagger strapped to his thigh and plunged it deep into the werewolves’ ribs. Causing the werewolf to let out a strangled yelp, that echoed through the trees as the beast collapsed, squealing for help in the damp, moonlit clearing.But the others didn’t hesitate.Two more lone wolves sprang forward, their eyes blazing with hunger. There was no plan in their attack, only pure, reckless desperation. Unlike pack wolves, they weren’t bound by loyalty or strategy. They fought for survival alone, driven by nothing but raw bloodlust.Conan turned sharply, ready to face them head on. The first wolf lunged for Conan’s arm, its jaws snapping, but he moved fast, twisting himself out of reach and slicing deep into its side. The beast let out a pained yelp, stumbling back. The second wolf barely had a chance to rea
Her body twisted, bones shifting beneath her skin. White fur sprouted along her arms, her nails sharpening into claws. The air crackled with power.Conan squeezed his eyes shut.The sounds that followed were not human.Snarls. Roars. The clash of claws against claws. The crack of bones snapping.He felt his baby sister tremble in his arms, and he held her tighter, biting his lip to stop from crying out.ThenA sharp, agonized scream.His mother’s scream.Conan’s eyes flew open.She lay on the ground, blood pooling beneath her. The werewolf loomed over her, its massive jaws dripping blood. She was still breathing, but barely.Her eyes looked toward the crawl space, locking onto Conan’s.She mouthed something,“Run.”Then the beast struck.A sickening crack.Silence.Something inside Conan shattered.His vision blurred, his breath coming in ragged sobs. His small hands trembled against his sister’s bundle, but he couldn’t move, couldn’t look away.The werewolf lifted his mother’s lifele
Vandal placed a firm hand on Conan’s shoulder, his voice steady but filled with grief. “My job here is done. I must return to the Void.”He stepped back, his figure fading like a dying flame. A cold wind rushed through the trees as shadows gathered around him, twisting and shifting. The air felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath. Vandal gave Conan one last look; one filled with pain, determination, and something unreadable, before vanishing into the darkness.Conan stood frozen. His breath came in quick, uneven gasps. Then, the memories struck like a tidal wave, crashing into him all at once.The scent of smoke and blood.The howls ripping through the night.Screams; his mother’s voice, desperate and shaking.His mother knelt beside him, pressing a shaking finger to his lips.“Shh, my little cup. Stay quiet, no matter what happens.”Conan didn’t understand. His little hands clung to her dress as she held his baby sister close, wrapping the child tightly in a bundle
The air was foggy outside, with the scent of damp earth and the distant howls of nocturnal creatures. Raven wandered outside the cavern, her thoughts tangled, she couldn’t stop but overthink her place in all of this.The weight of the truth unsettled her, eating up the edges of her usually unshakable confidence. She had spent years mastering her art of manipulation, twisting people to her will, yet tonight, she felt an unfamiliar unease creeping into her bones.She walked further, drawn by the need for more solitude, but the soft murmur of voices in the distance caught her attention. Instinctively, she pressed herself against the rough bark of a tree, her breath shallow as she strained to listen to the sound she heard. Just beyond the tree line, under the pale glow of the moon, she saw Conan standing stiffly before a shadowy figure, cloaked. The figure’s presence exuded authority, a chilling aura that made Raven’s skin develop sudden goose bumps."The map," the figure demande, his vo
Lycia sat on the edge of the bed, her body was tensed, her hands barely holding her body upright. She hadn't slept. The night had been long and restless, her mind replaying every horrifying detail of the battle she had witnessed, and every moment of Cove’s transformation. Her prison was even more unwelcoming as ever, the walls that were made of rough, unpolished stone, trapping her in their icy embrace, reminding her that she was nothing more than Cove’s prisoner. A small barred window high up let in faint light, casting eerie shadows on the disarranged bed she sat on. The air inside smelled of moisture and decaying timber, reminding her how far she was from freedom.She turned to the mirror looking at her reflection in the old, dust covered mirror across the room , which made her stomach twist. She looked so unkept; her long hair tangled, her track suit wrinkled and stained with dirt and dried blood. Dark circles hung under her eyes, making her look drained and weary. Her lips w
The grand Lycan Hall buzzed with whispers, tension thick as the smoke curling from the kitchen. Warriors sat at long wooden tables, their fur still stained with blood from the battle, their faces scarred. Maids walked between them, pouring fresh ale and setting down trays of food, their ears tuned to the whispers swirling like a restless wind.Tonight, the talk was not of war. It was of something far more dangerous.“Did you see it?” a young warrior asked, leaning in close, you could barely hear him over the clinking of glasses.“See what?” the older warrior beside him asked, his tone tired , his eyes red from lack of sleep.“Alpha Cove… he protected her. He fought for her.” His friend laughed and took a deep gulp of ale.“Oh, I saw it. We all did,” he said, shaking his head, his braided beard swaying like a pendulum. “Reckless. He nearly got himself killed for that human girl.”A maid placing a tray of bread hesitated, her eyes darting between the warriors. She glanced at them, her
The forest was very quiet except for the soft sounds made by the leaves and the distant sounds of the night. Derek’s warriors moved carefully, their steps slow and heavy. Some carried fresh wounds, while others pressed hands against deep cuts that would take time to heal. Their bodies would recover, but their pride was another matter; the wound was just too deep.Near a small fire, Derek settled and sat with his warriors. His fur marked with streaks of blood; some his, some not. His dark red eyes reflected the bright light as he stared into the flames, deep in thought.Ronan, his second in command, stepped forward. His silver fur bore signs of many battles, but tonight, there was something else in his gaze, concern, maybe even doubt.“That human,” Ronan said quietly. “Why did Cove protect her?”Derek’s hands on his jaw. He had been asking himself the same question. Cove had fought with everything he had, not just to win, not just for his land, but for her. It wasn’t just instinct. It