Finally.“Another door,” Logan muttered, his voice tinged with frustration, but then he noticed something. “Wait… it’s unlocked.”“Maybe Leah did it,” I whispered, my eyes scanning the heavy iron hinges and the door’s frame, half expecting to find a trap.“Goddess bless her,” Logan muttered.We carefully pushed the door open, the heavy iron groaning softly on its hinges as it gave way, revealing the dungeons beyond. The cold hit us immediately—a biting chill that seeped into our bones. Ancient brick walls lined the corridor ahead, cracked and damp from years of disuse, while narrow, arched ceilings added to the oppressive atmosphere. Flickering, ancient fire lamps hung from the walls, casting a dim, ghostly glow across the space. The air smelled of damp earth, mold, and something faintly metallic—blood, maybe.“This place gives me the creeps,” Eli whispered, his eyes darting around as we stepped inside.“Stay sharp,” I said, my voice low. “We’re not out of danger yet.”“Let’s follow t
IvyThe fire crackled in front of me, a comforting sound against the silence that weighed heavy in the room. Rose, Cora, Noah, and I were huddled close together in the sitting room, waiting—hoping. The minutes dragged by, each one stretching into an eternity. It had been two hours since Noah last heard from Logan. The mindlink had gone silent after Logan told him they’d reached the dungeon. Nothing since. Every five minutes, Cora would break the silence with the same question, her voice edged with worry.“Any news yet?” she asked, her eyes fixed on Noah.Noah shook his head, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. “You’d know if there was,” he muttered. “You have the mindlink too.” Cora clenched her jaw but didn’t respond.“They’ll come back soon,” Rose said softly, sitting down beside me and placing a gentle hand on my knee. “I have complete faith in all three of them.”I nodded, unable t
IvyAsher, Logan and Noah were gathered in the common study, pouring over a map of Crescent Moon. None rested for even a second, their faces tight as they focused.“We have to attack from this side…” Asher said, pointing to the map. “That could take them by surprise.”“They could be already expecting it,” Logan said. “Because I don’t see any other way of getting Eli out.”“Do you think he’s….” Noah mumbled, not completing his sentence. None of us wanted to even remotely consider that idea.“We would have felt it through the bond,” Asher said quietly. “He’s our Delta…”“I just can’t believe it…” Noah sighed. “It’s Eli…it’s…” Before he could finish, the door slammed open and we all blinked as Naya stood outside, her eyes red with tears.“Where’s Eli?” she demanded, walking inside. Asher glanced at me and I just…I didn’t know what to say.“Alpha…where is my brother?” she repeated, glaring at Asher. “What happened to him? Where is…he?”“Naya…” I reached for her but she moved away from my g
Ivy“What?” I demanded, not sure if I heard him right.“You heard me, little Alpha,” he said. “I am striking another bargain with you. And let’s make it fair this time, because you clearly got the rules wrong last time.”“And what is it?”“Your young wolves in exchange for your Delta, fair and square. Bring them to me tomorrow and take him back home. Hopefully your pack doctor and witch friend can fix him up in no time.”“Why do you want the young wolves?” I demanded, my mind refusing to work.“That’s not your problem,” the witch answered.“And if I don’t bring them?” I challenged. Killian took a step closer, a lazy, evil smile spreading along his lips.“Then you better bid him a final goodbye before leaving,” Eli grunted something in response and Killian just made a face at him.“The choice is yours,” he said casually. “Take it or leave it.”I didn’t know what to think. This decision wasn’t even mine to m
Ivy“This is how we will proceed then–Noah and Logan, you will take our warriors and spread out in a circle around the Forbidden Territory so we can attack from all sides,” Asher’s face was a mask of sheer determination. “I will take the young wolves with Ivy. The moment we get Eli…we attack…no waiting. Ivy will take Eli away and we will fight. Are we clear about this?”“Yes,” Logan and Noah nodded.“I wonder why he wants the young wolves,” Cora grimaced. “I really can’t understand.”“What I don’t understand is
IvyI couldn’t feel my body. I just stood there, blankly staring at the coffin and the body lying inside. My tears haven’t stopped even if I wanted them to. So I stood there and silently watched the couple crouching by the coffin, grieving their son and the inconsolable young girl begging her brother to wake up.“Wake up! Wake up…please…” Naya sobbed. “Please…please….”The pack members mumbled in consolation. The entire pack had gathered around, shock spreading through everyone as Logan, Noah and Asher, along with the others, had brought Eli’s dead body back home. Everything that happen
Ivy“What?” Asher blinked at Tessa and so did I.Did we hear her right? Did she just call Silas…Andres?“What are you saying?” I demanded. “We…don’t understand.”“Okay, maybe you should come back to the pack with us,” Asher said. “This isn’t the kind of discussion I want to have standing in the middle of nowhere.”“No…I can’t,” Tessa shook her head, looking terrified. “He’s here…if you want to hear what I have to say you have to hear that standing right here…”“Let her speak,” I mindlinked Asher.“I don’t trust her…” Asher hissed.
“So…that was all an act?” Asher asked, looking impressed.“Yes. I saw an opportunity to free myself and I took it. Saving that asshole was the only way apart from the fact that Silas told me to keep my mouth shut. I am done with Graham. I won’t reject him, but I am going to watch him die because nothing else would be enough for me. The matebond is the most beautiful thing one can experience, and I have seen that with all three of the Alphas of GrayCrest with their mates. But not everyone is so lucky and sometimes the Moon Goddess does make useless choices. So the only thing left to do is to take your destiny in your hands. I am done with mates. Next time I will make the choice for myself—not some bond or some goddess.”I smiled at her, my heart swelling with pride to see the change in her and how strong she had become.“I hope when everything is done, you’ll come bac
AsherKillian’s army was a flood of darkness, their silhouettes stark against the snow. Rogues, hybrids, and vampires, all moving in perfect unison, their eyes glinting like red-hot embers. They were spread thin at first, testing our defenses, but I knew better than to think it was random. They were probing us, looking for weakness.“Hold fast,” Logan’s voice rumbled through the link. “Stay focused.” Noah’s wolf, Noel, was at my right, his massive form solid and unyielding. His deep growl vibrated through the ground as we waited for the first strike.To our left, Cora and Catalina led the charge on the flank, their wolves sleek and fast as they darted through the snow. The left side was tight, their warriors moving like a well-oiled machine, cutting off any attempts by Killian’s forces to circle around us.Then, I saw it—the telltale signs of their strategy. A group of vampires, positioned in the trees on the far
AsherThe wind howled, carrying a bitter chill as we marched toward the battlefield. Snow whipped through the air, stinging like icy shards against my wolf’s fur. Mac's paws crunched through the thick blanket of snow that coated the ground, the cold barely registering in my mind. The forest loomed ahead, its dark silhouettes blurred by the blizzard.At my sides, the pack moved in perfect formation. GrayCrest wolves formed the vanguard, their steps steady and deliberate. To our left and right, allied forces spread out, forming a crescent that stretched into the treeline. Despite the storm, every movement was precise, every warrior holding their position with discipline.Logan’s black wolf, Axel, massive and imposing, led the charge at the center. Beside him, Noah’s wolf, Noel, kept pace, its bulk matching Logan’s, his ears twitching at every sound carried by the wind. I took my place beside them, Mac surging for
IvyI stepped closer, my dagger glinting in the dim light. “What were you doing here? What was the ritual for?”Thalora’s lips curled into a smile as if she were savoring some private joke. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”Sabrina’s magic flared, and the chains constricted sharply. Thalora hissed in pain but laughed again.“You’re standing in the middle of it and you don’t know? Typical. Always so blind to the bigger picture. Fine, fine. You disrupted it anyway, but you might as well know what you’ve doomed yourselves to.” Her gaze flicked to me, dark amusement dancing in her eyes.
IvyThe tunnel opened into a dimly lit corridor, damp and suffocating. The walls were carved from rough stone, and the air carried a mix of mildew and iron—the unmistakable scent of blood. My boots scraped softly against the uneven floor as Sabrina and I moved forward, her magic casting a faint glow that barely pierced the oppressive darkness. I knew this place. This was the Crescent Moon dungeon.“Stay alert,” Sabrina whispered, her sharp eyes scanning ahead.A faint noise—shuffling footsteps and low murmurs—pricked my ears. We slowed, pressing against the cold stone walls.“They&rsqu
IvyI armed myself with whatever possible weapon I could—wolfsbane in small vials, a wolfsbane laced dagger and even small blades laced with wolfsbane. My heart was pounding in my chest as I took deep breaths, pulled on my gloves and headed downstairs. The weather outside was turning darker by the second and Sabrina predicted a blizzard to hit soon.The last update Asher gave me through the mindlink was that the armies have gathered and the glimpse he tried to give me of Killian’s army…things were really not looking good for GrayCrest. We literally had half of what he had apart from the vampires and the hybrids. The only hope now was tha
Christmas morning was filled with the comforting smell of roasted meats, warm bread, and the spice of mulled cider as pack members gathered around the tables for a feast. No one talked about the war, even if between us, we knew that Silas was dead and Noah had actually sent his dead body over to the Crescent Moon—a Christmas gift Killian would remember. Sabrina told me that she has managed to create the antidote and tomorrow she and Avery will start injecting the warriors and everyone else with it before leaving for the battlefield.Cora, Rose, and I had gathered gifts over the past weeks, and together, we made our way through the pack, handing small wrapped bundles to every member. The omega children squealed with delight as they tore into theirs. Stacks of gifts piled up for Aurie and Theo, each pack member contributing something to bring joy to the children. I glanced at Shae and Lia as they added their own contributions to the ever-growing pile. Everyone’s gestures, big or small,
Ivy“How could they even decide that without asking us what the truth was?” Cora growled as Asher’s eyes scanned the letter, turning dark with rage every passing second.“Natalie must have been very convincing,” I grimaced. “Does Logan and Noah know?”“Yes, I told them,” she nodded.“Are they still working on Silas?” I asked. “It’s been long enough.”“None of what Silas told them is of any use to use. And apparently, even he doesn’t know Killian’s war strategy. Logan has tried enough…you wouldn’t want to see what he has done with him. I have never seen Logan this angry in all my life and I have seen a lot…” I pursed my lips. If it scared Cora watching what Logan had done to Silas, then I definitely didn’t want to know.“Well, if we get through this the Council is fucked,” Asher hissed, crumbling the paper in his hands.“Now what?” Cora asked.“Now we fight with all we have got,” he said. “This isn’t going
Out of all the places, I didn’t expect Asher to take me to a tattoo parlor. Did he want to get a tattoo now?“I don’t think this is an appropriate time to get a tattoo…” I muttered as he headed inside.“I’m not here to get a tattoo, but this is where I have got all my tattoos done, in case you were curious. And when all of this shit is over, I have a matching tattoo planned for us as well,” Asher said. “Now…this is why I am here,” I frowned as he pointed to a woman in black standing by one of the booths. She had pink hair tied in a ponytail and looked pissed as fuck as she watched an artist work on a guy.“Ruby,” Asher called. The woman turned around and I blinked. She was typically not the kind of female I could imagine Asher being friends with.“Hello Alpha,” her scowl instantly turned to a grin as she walked over and gave Asher a hug before turning her eyes covered in kohl and liner to me. “Wait…don’t tell me…it’s her, isn’t it? The Silver wolf?” I frowned.How did she know that?“
Ivy Reed, dad and I were gathered in the common study to discuss war strategy. We had spread out maps and charts and all that stuff and now my father was deep in talks with Reed as he explained the old strategies of the army to him. My father looked much recovered now, very much like the alpha he was. If there will ever be a second in my life where I won’t be grateful for Eli’s sacrifice, then I hope the Moon Goddess kills me right there.“Hmm. I believe Killian’s forces will be advancing from this side…” Dad muttered, deep in thought.“Yes,” Reed agreed, his expression serious as he analyzed the map. “And we’ll be positioned here.” He tapped a cluster of trees on our side of the field. “It’ll be steep and treacherous, but we can use that to our advantage. If Killian’s vampires try to attack from higher ground, the slopes and snow will slow them down.”“They’ll likely position their main forces here—vampires an