The scent of blood lingered in the air, thick and unshaken by the cold night breeze. The distant hoot of an owl was the only sound breaking the eerie silence. Conan stood near the charred remains of a fire his companions and he had set; his grip firm on the hilt of his dagger. His men had searched the perimeter; nothing but shadows and silence. Yet, something still felt wrong. Then, he heard some sounds, and saw movements too. The figure dashed through the trees, the barest rustle of leaves. Footsteps, controlled but purposeful. Someone was coming. Not creeping. Not running. Just… walking. Conan’s grip tightened. He thought; fool’s mistake. No one approached his territory so brazenly unless they wanted to die. He didn’t hesitate. With a sharp inhale, he lunged into the darkness, his dagger flashing in the moonlight. His instincts guided him; three steps forward, a pivot, a precise slash aimed at the intruder’s throat. But the stranger moved just as fast. A hand snapped up,
(A dark clearing. The scent of damp earth and blood. Raven waits, perched on a fallen log, silver glinting in her fingers. The moonlight filters through the trees, casting long, jagged shadows.)Doyle emerged from the darkness, moving soundlessly, the night wrapping around him like a second skin.“It’s done,” he assured Raven.Raven barely looked up, twirling a silver coin between her fingers. “And?”Doyle exhaled. “They have an intruder. I am guessing you have something to do with it based on the last time.” He enquired“But they have her imprisoned.” Raven's brows furrowed, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. Concern? No, impossible. Her expression hardened again. “And the estate?” Raven asked.Doyle leaned against a tree, crossing his arms. “Cove’s doubling security. He’s got Lucas and other lycans scrambling to reinforce his estate. The underground vault still remains the weakest as usual. But from my observations, it sees rotations every two hours, now they’ve a
Her lungs burned as she pushed forward, every instinct screaming at her to run faster. But she could hear them behind her. The snarls, the pounding of paws against the earth. Panic shot through her veins like fire. Her lungs burned as she sprinted through the trees, her legs screaming in protest. She had no plan, just blind, desperate instinct gushing through her."Run, Lycia! Just run!" she choked out, her voice breaking with desperation.Behind her, the heavy pounding of boots and paws tore through the ground. They were closing in. They were faster. Stronger. They would catch her.No. No, she couldn’t let them.Lycia’s foot caught on an exposed root, twisting violently beneath her. A sharp burst of pain shot up her leg as she crashed to the ground, her palms scraping against the rough earth. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, leaving her gasping, her body trembling from exhaustion and fear.She forced herself up, her vision blurring as she stumbled forward. But it was to
Lycia’s breath was shallow as she pressed against the cold stone walls of her prison, her mind racing. Cove stood before her, the dim torchlight flickering across his sharp features, casting shadows that made him look even more menacing. He was too close—too still. And his silence was far worse than any words.Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as she forced herself to hold his gaze. "What do you want from me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.Cove tilted his head slightly, studying her like a puzzle he was slowly piecing together. Then, in one fluid motion, he closed the distance between them, his hand pressing against the wall beside her head. The air shifted, charged, and for a moment, it wasn’t just fear that made her breath hitch."You tell me, thief," he murmured, his voice smooth, dangerous. "Why would someone like you risk everything for a map you claim to know nothing about?"She swallowed hard, her body betraying her with a shiver. "I… I didn’t know its worth. It
Taking a shaky breath, she decided to tell him the truth; at least part of it."I needed the money," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "I didn’t care about the map or what it meant. I only took the job because Raven said it would pay well. I was desperate."Cove’s expression remained unreadable, but he didn’t interrupt, so she continued."I wanted to get out of Crimson City. I’ve spent my whole life scraping by, running from one bad situation to another. And I had someone to take care of; Jack. He’s sick, dying. I needed the money to help him too."That statement shocked Cove, but it was gone before she could place it."So you risked everything for a man who’s dying?" he asked, his voice lacking its usual sharpness.Lycia nodded. "I couldn’t just leave him to suffer. He’s the only family I have left. I never knew anything about the Bloodmoon Amulet, or why the map was so important. I just needed enough to disappear, to take Jack somewhere safe before it was too late."She met Cove’
The whispers began before sleep had fully claimed her.Soft. Insidious. A voice neither of this world nor the next.Lycia stirred, but her body was no longer her own. Her feet moved, silent as the shadows, drawn to the unseen call.After what seemed like a long discussion with Cove, she finally retired to what used to be her prison. Sleep pulled her under like an unseen tide, dragging her into darkness.But this was no ordinary slumber.A whisper floated through the air; soft, ethereal, curling around her ears like a lover’s breath. A chill ran down her spine. Then another, layered upon the first, overlapping and weaving together like ghostly fingers brushing against her skin.She shuddered.Lycia’s breath hitched. Something felt wrong. The room seemed colder than before, the silence too absolute. Was she dreaming? Or awake?Then, the whisper changed.More insistent. More urgent.“Move!.” It whispered.Her fingers twitched. Her heart pounded. The air around her felt thick, heavy, char
Lycia stiffened. “A prophecy? I think you have me mistaken. You see, I am only but a prisoner here. I don’t think I’m the one.”Maya’s gaze darkened, the weight of centuries pressing into her voice. She reached out, gripping Lycia’s shoulders with a quiet urgency that sent a shiver down her spine. “Listen to me, child,” she whispered, her tone raw with unshaken certainty. “You are more than you know; more than what they have told you, more than the blood that runs through your veins. You are destiny woven into flesh, a force the world has tried to silence, but it cannot. It will not.”Her fingers tightened, her eyes burning with an intensity that sent Lycia’s heart pounding. “You were never meant to be ordinary. You were never meant to bow. They will come for you, they will try to break you, but you….” Maya’s voice trembled with a fierce tenderness. “You will rise, child. You will burn brighter than the night they have tried to drown you in.”Lycia swallowed hard, her breath unsteady.
A few weeks had gone by, yet the memory of what she had experienced with Maya still lingered in Lycia’s mind. It wasn’t just a warning; it was a certainty, and she was sure of it. Something was coming, something far greater than she could comprehend. And if she wasn’t ready, if she couldn’t control the storm brewing inside her, the consequences would be disastrous.But she couldn’t share it. Not with anyone, as of that moment she couldn’t trust anyone.The weight of it pressed down on her, a secret she had to bear alone. No one would understand, not truly. And even if they did, what could they do? This was her fight, her burden as Maya had said.She found herself walking through the vast estate, wandering into the forest. It was much more silent, all she could hear was the rustling of leaves beneath her boots. The moon’s light filtered through the flora canopy, casting silver streaks across the clearing where she trained alone. Every night, she came here, pushing herself, trying to co
Lycia walked toward the trees behind the open field, intending to take her usual path to the hidden glade where she practiced her powers. The air was calm, the sky a soft shade of blue. But a prickle of unease ran down her spine. She felt eyes on her. Unseen but heavy, like a shadow clinging to her every step. Instead of following her usual route, she turned toward the town, blending into the winding streets, letting the hum of daily life swallow her presence. Perhaps it was paranoia. Or perhaps it was instinct. Then laughter. Light and full of joy, carried by the wind like a song. It made her stop. Something about it felt familiar, like a memory she couldn’t quite reach. Slowly, she turned, her steps drawn toward the sound, toward the warmth of something she didn’t know she had been looking for. The sounds were made by Cubs The cubs rolled and tumbled, their tiny claws kicking up dust. Between playful growls and nips, they muttered in hushed, excited tones. “You’re too slow!”
His body was failing him, but his mind remained sharp; too sharp for the kind of visitors who were about to darkened his doorstep. Then came the knock. Firm. Confident. Jack wondered who it was before they had opened the door and stepped in. Raven stood there with that damn smirk, leaning against the frame like she belonged there. And beside her, a man Jack had only heard about in whispers; Conan. Cold eyes. A predator’s stance. A presence that felt like death itself had stepped into his home. Jack’s grip tightened on the wooden cane in his hand. “You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here.” Raven’s smirk widened, but spoke, her voice dripping with mocking innocence. “Just thought we’d drop by since we were in the neighborhood.” Jack let out a dry, mocking chuckle. “Oh, please. You know you don’t have to lie to an old man. What do you want?” Raven stepped a bit closer without consent, her gaze sweeping the room. “Then let’s have a chat, shall we.” “I don’t ch
Morrigana’s breath caught, the words cutting deeper than she’d expected. But she wouldn’t let him see the wound. Instead, she straightened, her nails biting into her skin. “She’s manipulating you,” she hissed. “She’s making you weak.” Cove exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose as if this conversation exhausted him. “She isn’t making me anything, Morrigana.” Morrigana took another step, voice dropping into something darker, something sharp enough to draw blood. “She is nothing, Cove. A thief. A liar. She doesn’t belong here. And the longer you let her stay, the more she will rot everything from the inside out.” Cove’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing. So Morrigana pushed further. “You think she won’t betray you?” Her voice turned cruel, slicing like a blade. “She already has. She came here to steal from you. She shoved your hand away in front of everyone. She will turn on you the moment it suits her. And when she does, you’ll regret ever looking at her like she
There was nothing to stop Morrigana from saying what had been clawing at her insides since that moment at the training ground. She found Cove alone in the Alpha’s quarters, standing near the window, his broad shoulders tense. He hadn’t called for her, but that had never stopped her before. Morrigana didn’t waste time. “What the hell was that, Cove?” Cove didn’t turn around. Didn’t even flinch. His voice, when it came, was maddeningly calm. “Be more specific.” Morrigana’s hands curled into fists at her sides. “Don’t play dumb with me, Cove.” Her voice was sharp, cutting. “You carried her. Right in front of the entire pack, Cove.” He exhaled slowly, finally turning to face her. His expression was stern, like his face was carved from stone. “She was injured.” Morrigana laughed, but there was no humor in it. “And since when do you care about that?” She stepped closer, chin lifted, her eyes flashing with anger. “Since when does the mighty Alpha Cove carry people off the battlefield
“You can put me down now,” she muttered, voice quiet but stubborn. Cove didn’t answer. He simply kept walking. Lycia clenched her jaw, forcing herself not to lean into Cove’s warmth. She hated this. Hated the way her body betrayed her, how exhaustion made her weak enough to accept this; even for a second. But then she noticed the direction he was taking, it wasn’t the way to her room; and her frustration shifted to confusion. “We’re not going to your quarters, right?” she asked warily. “No,” he said flatly. A flicker of unease crept in. “Then where…” The answer came when he pushed open a heavy wooden door, and the scent of herbs hit her senses; dried sage, crushed lavender, and the sharp bite of rosemary mingling in the air. Lunara, the pack’s healer, stood in the center of the dimly lit chamber, her violet eyes sharp as she studied them. Shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of dried herbs, vials of shimmering liquid, and aged scrolls containing knowledge only
[Back at the Training Grounds] Lycia’s breaths came fast, shallow, her chest rising and falling as she held Cove’s gaze. She hated the way he looked at her; like he had already won. Like she was his, whether she wanted to be or not. “You can glare at me all you want, little thief,” Cove murmured, his voice deceptively soft. “But at the end of the day, you still stand where I tell you to.” Lycia scoffed, but the sound lacked its usual bite. Her body still ached from the fight, her strength waning. “I don’t stand anywhere for you.” Cove took a slow, deliberate step closer, his towering presence swallowing the space between them. She tried to move but yelped from pain. “You’re hurt,” he noted, voice low, controlled. “You should’ve let me help you up.” Lycia looked at her ankle. She must have sprained it while trying to dodged Morrigana’s attack. She still lo
The air was still thick with tension.Lycia’s breaths came fast and sharp, her body still burning from the brutal fight she just had with Morrigana. She had dirt clinging to her skin, mixing with sweat and she was clearly too exhausted to care about her looks. The training grounds had fallen into stunned silence, all eyes locked onto her and him.Cove.The Alpha.Cove stood tall before her, his silver eyes looking into hers, unreadable and unwavering. He extended his hand to help her stand up; a help Lycia thought to be a silent command and unspoken order.Lycia didn’t move.Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, jaw tight. Every muscle in her body screamed for rest, but she refused to show weakness. When she finally spoke, her voice was like steel.“I don’t need your help.”Cove’s thoughts didn’t change, but the look on his face showed he clearly was not up for games. For a moment, he simply watched her, as if weighing whether she was worth the patience.Then he exhaled, slow an
The warriors' cheers echo through the training grounds, their roars of excitement vibrate through the earth, a clash of approval and bloodlust that fuels the battle unfolding before them. The sound is deafening, howls growing louder with every second, yet beneath it all, a different kind of weight settles over the onlookers.Lycia’s chest rose and fell, the heat still pulsing through her veins, but something deeper; was stirring inside her.The training ground was no longer just a battlefield. It had become an altar, and she was standing at its center, something sacred and cursed in the same breath. The whispers of the Lycans had died out, replaced by stunned silence, their bodies tense, and their instincts screaming at them to recognize the shift in power.Then Morrigana moved.With a wild snarl, Morrigana charged. No tricks, no games; just pure rage.Lycia barely had time to react before they crashed into each ot
Lycia felt the shift in the moment she walked into the training ground. The air was thick with unspoken tension, pressing down on her like a weight. Conversations quieted as she entered, but the stares remained; lingering, calculating.Raven’s presence still clung to her like a ghost, her touch, her voice, the unsettling promises she had whispered. She could hear the hushed whispers, see the way people turned to each other, speaking just low enough that she couldn’t catch the words. But she didn’t need to. The cautious glances, the wariness in their eyes, told her everything.Raven’s words had already spread like wildfire, poisoning the air around her. Lycia forced herself to move forward, head high, steps steady. She had survived Raven’s games. Now, she had to survive this.“She doesn’t belong here.” The words slithered through the air, hushed yet sharp, spoken by a woman with narrowed eyes and lips pressed into a thin, disapproving line. Her fingers curled around the edge of her cloa