Alice led the way deeper into her domain, the energy in the air thick and oppressive. Every step we took felt heavier than the last, the forest itself seeming to watch and whisper. Astrid stayed close, her fingers intertwined with mine, her touch anchoring me. My wolf was restless, pacing beneath the surface, uneasy in this place of unnatural power. Yet the bond between us, fragile but undeniable, kept me grounded. Maya walked a few paces behind, her sharp gaze darting around, always vigilant. Lira was silent, her expression unreadable as she followed Alice with an air of familiarity, though tension radiated from her like a storm waiting to break. Astrid’s grip on my hand tightened as Alice stopped before a massive stone structure, half-hidden by the gnarled roots of ancient trees. It looked like it had been there forever, untouched by time. Runes carved into the stone glowed faintly, their meaning lost to me but humming with a power I couldn’t ignore. “This,” Alice said, turn
The silver mist thinned, revealing a scene that made my stomach clench—a small cabin, its wooden walls scarred by age and fire. It was too familiar, too hauntingly vivid. This was my home. Astrid’s hand tightened in mine as she followed my gaze, her brows knitting together in concern. “Kael, where are we?” “My past,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The cabin door creaked open, and I froze. A shadow stepped out—a tall man with my eyes but colder, sharper. His movements were deliberate, and his presence radiated power and cruelty. My father. Astrid gasped softly, sensing the tension radiating from me. “Look at you,” the shadow of my father sneered, his voice laced with contempt. “The wolf who thought he could outrun his bloodline. You’re no better than me.” “I’m nothing like you,” I growled, my voice shaking with fury. The shadow smirked, stepping closer. “You killed me, didn’t you? My own son, striking me down like a rabid dog. Tell her, Kael. Tell her what y
As Astrid rose to her feet, hand still clutching mine, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Her face was streaked with tears, but her expression was fierce, determined. She’d stood on the edge of her own self-doubt and chosen to fight her way back. And damn, if it didn’t make me fall harder for her. I’ve faced more battles than I care to remember—fought creatures that most men would never survive. But nothing compared to watching Astrid confront her fears. Because the truth is, the doubts she faced weren’t just hers. They were mine too. “You’re incredible,” I said before I could stop myself. Her head turned sharply, surprise flickering across her face. “What?” “You heard me,” I said, stepping closer. “The way you just stared down whatever that was… I’ve never seen anyone do that.” She blinked at me, as if trying to decide whether to accept the compliment or question my sanity. “I didn’t do it alone,” she murmured, her voice softer now. “You… you pulled me back.” I want
The air shimmered with a strange, ethereal energy as Astrid and I emerged from the veil’s first test. My chest felt lighter, as though the invisible chains of doubt that Darion had tried to wrap around me had loosened—if only slightly. Astrid’s hand was still in mine, her grip firm, as though she were tethering me to reality. Ahead, the clearing was bathed in soft, golden light, an almost eerie calm settling over it. Two figures stood waiting—Lira, her sharp features softened with a mixture of relief and apprehension, and Alice, whose presence exuded raw, commanding power. Astrid hesitated for a fraction of a second, her eyes darting to me before releasing my hand and stepping forward. “Mother,” she said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion that clung to her. Lira’s gaze flickered to me, her expression unreadable, before she focused entirely on her daughter. “You made it through the first veil.” There was pride in her tone, but it was tempered by caution. “That is no small f
The shadows slithered across the walls like living smoke, their dark forms twisting and solidifying into armored figures. They were faceless, featureless except for the gleaming weapons they carried—swords, spears, and shields that looked as if they’d been forged from pure obsidian. The room grew colder with each passing second, the air thick and oppressive. Astrid tightened her grip on my hand, her breathing steady despite the clear danger surrounding us. “Kael,” she said softly, her voice calm but urgent. “I see them,” I replied, stepping in front of her instinctively, my wolf snarling in my chest. The figures stood motionless for a moment, as if waiting for a command. Then, all at once, they began to move, their weapons raised as they advanced on us. “There’s too many,” Astrid said, her voice strained but not panicked. “We’ve faced worse,” I growled, unsheathing my blade. My wolf surged forward, the need to protect her overriding every other thought. The first shadow
The air exploded with chaos as the shadows surged forward, their weapons glinting with an eerie, otherworldly glow. I barely had time to react before the first one was upon us, its blade slicing through the air toward Astrid. I moved instinctively, stepping in front of her and deflecting the blow with my claws. The force of the impact sent a shockwave up my arm, but I held firm, my wolf roaring in fury inside me. “Astrid, stay behind me!” I barked, twisting to block another strike from a second shadow figure. But Astrid wasn’t listening. She stepped to my side, her hands glowing faintly with a silver light I recognized as the remnants of the ritual’s magic. She wasn’t helpless—not anymore. With a sharp flick of her wrist, the light coalesced into a shimmering shield, deflecting another attacker before it could reach me. “Don’t think I’m just going to stand here while you do all the work!” she snapped, her voice steady despite the chaos. I didn’t have time to argue. More shadows
Astrid froze, her hand resting protectively on her stomach, her face a mixture of shock and defiance. "You knew?" she asked, her voice trembling, but her gaze sharp as it locked on Alice. "You knew I was pregnant, and you still expect me to leave my child behind?"Alice hesitated, her usual composure faltering for a moment. "The child will live, Astrid. That much I can promise. The Veil will protect it, ensure its safety. But your path... your destiny lies elsewhere.""No," I growled, stepping in front of Astrid again, shielding her as much from Alice as from the truth of her words. My wolf was howling inside me, demanding I do something, *anything*, to stop this madness. "You're asking her to abandon not just me, but her child. You expect us to accept that?"Astrid’s grip on my arm tightened. I glanced down at her, expecting her to crumble under the weight of what was being asked of her. But instead, I saw a spark—something fierce and unyielding. She wasn’t going to crumble. She was
The first thing I noticed when I woke was the sterile scent of herbs and blood—a mixture that always reminded me of battlefields. My body ached, but the sharp pain in my side was dulled, as if someone had tended to the wound. I blinked against the dim light filtering through a cracked window, my vision sharpening to reveal a room I didn’t recognize. “Astrid?” I rasped, my voice weak. I tried to sit up, but my arms felt like lead. A figure moved in the corner, stepping into the light. My breath hitched as recognition settled in. It wasn’t Astrid. It was her. “Mother,” I growled, my voice stronger this time. The word dripped with venom, my wolf stirring uneasily at her presence. She smiled—a cold, calculated expression that sent a chill down my spine. Her silver hair was perfectly styled, her dark eyes gleaming with amusement. She always looked pristine, like she had stepped out of some regal nightmare. “Well, well, you’re awake,” she said, her tone smooth and mocking. “I was be
I don’t know how long we walk for but a faint light shown in the distance. I could feel my bones protesting in agony, and my stomach wasn’t helping matters.I leaned against a tree, taking in deep sharp breaths.“We are almost there, little mouse.” Kael’s voice sounded so distant.Little mouse, he called me.We have been so caught up in wars and fight that we barely had time for each other. I Opened my eyes and gave in a weak smile.He lifted me into his arms, carrying like a child that weighed nothing, I placed my head in his chest listening to the sound of his heartbeat. It was loud but steady. Steady enough to calm my nerves.We got to a little house in the middle of nowhere, the air around the area was thick and heavy with magic.My feet touch the dried up leaves, that made a crunchy sound.“We’re here.” Kael said, guiding me to the front pouch, were a lantern sat my the door side. The door creaked open and a familiar figure emerged.My eyes widen in shock.“Ruby” I breathed out
We ran deeper into the forest, our breaths ragged, the dense foliage scraping against our skin as we weaved through the trees. Kael’s hand never let go of mine, his grip grounding me, keeping me from succumbing to the fear clawing at my chest. The moonlight barely filtered through the canopy above, casting eerie shadows across the forest floor. Behind us, the sounds of the wolves tearing into the guards echoed through the night. But I knew better than to think we were safe. Kael’s mother wasn’t one to give up so easily, and every step forward felt like a countdown to another confrontation. “We need a plan,” I said between gasps, glancing over my shoulder. “She’s not going to stop.” Kael slowed his pace just enough to glance at me, his face grim and determined. “We’ll get to the eastern cliffs. There’s a path that leads down to the river. If we can reach it, we can lose her in the water.” “What about her magic? She found us once; she can do it again.” His jaw tightened. “Not
The cold night air hit me like a slap as I burst through the crumbling gates. The forest beyond stretched like a dark, endless labyrinth, but it was freedom, and that was all that mattered. My heart pounded as I stumbled forward, my legs trembling from exertion. A deep, familiar growl pulled me to a halt. My eyes darted around the shadows until I saw him. Kael. He stood just beyond the treeline, his silhouette powerful and commanding. His wolf loomed just beneath the surface, his eyes glowing with a predatory light. Relief flooded me, and before I knew it, I was running toward him. “Kael!” He moved faster than I anticipated, meeting me halfway. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest so tightly I could barely breathe. “Astrid,” he murmured, his voice rough with emotion. His hands trembled as they roamed over me, as if he needed to confirm I was real. “You’re safe. Thank the goddess.” Tears pricked my eyes, but I pulled back slightly, gripping his
Megan led me through the dark corridors with a precision that was almost unnerving. She moved like a shadow, her steps silent and deliberate. I followed close behind, my senses gradually sharpening as the potion cleared the magic's lingering effects. The fortress was eerily quiet, but every now and then, we’d hear faint echoes of footsteps or voices in the distance. Each time, Megan would stop, holding up a hand to signal me to stay still. Her sharp ears picked up on things I couldn’t hear, and I had to trust her instincts. “Where’s Kael?” I whispered as we paused in a narrow hallway, the dim light casting flickering shadows on the walls. She glanced at me, her expression unreadable. “He’s outside, trying to breach the main wards. It’s taking longer than expected. Your mother-in-law doesn’t mess around when it comes to fortifying her stronghold.” “You and Kael…….I thought-“ I was unable to finish my sentence. No knowing how to put the question. A small smile danced on her lip
**Astrid’s POV** After kael had lost consciousness in the veil through the fight and injury to his side, i sat beside him hoping against hope that those things didn’t come back out. In a blink of the eye we were transported into a different place , the air was crispy and sweet. It smelled like home. The grass was green and lush, shining under the soft rays of the sun. Where are we? Was this still some part of the test? I laid my head back, already tired from the fight we just had, soon I fell fast asleep in a peaceful embrace of the warm breeze. The last thing I remembered was the thick scent of lavender and iron. My head swam as the world blurred around me, and then everything went black. When I woke, I was bound and gagged, my arms aching from being pulled taut above my head. The room was dim, the only light coming from a single flickering torch mounted on the stone wall. Panic coursed through me as I tried to move, my wolf snarling within me, but the chains held firm, and t
Megan shifted back into her human form, brushing her hair from her face as she scanned the fortress ahead. The ominous structure loomed against the night sky, its dark towers piercing the clouds. Torches flickered along the high walls, and faint shadows moved within the light—guards patrolling the perimeter."Do you have a plan?" she asked, her tone laced with sarcasm but underpinned by urgency.I growled softly, still shaking off the pain in my flank. "Get in. Find Astrid. Kill anything that gets in my way."Megan raised an eyebrow. "Straightforward. I like it. But unless you've developed the ability to teleport past walls, you're going to need a bit more finesse." She pointed toward the eastern side of the fortress, where a smaller guard tower stood. "That’s our best bet. Less fortified, and it connects to the servant’s quarters."I nodded, though my wolf snarled at the idea of sneaking. Every fiber of me screamed to storm the gates, to rip through the fortress and tear apart anyone
Megan didn’t hesitate. She grabbed a thick leather satchel from the corner of the room, tossing it over her shoulder as she turned to face me. Her expression was sharp and determined, her wolf brimming just beneath the surface. “If we’re going to do this, we need to move now,” she said. “The Shadow Ward won’t stay static. Your mother’s defenses are always shifting, and every second we waste is a second closer to Astrid being lost.”I nodded, my wolf growling low with anticipation. “Lead the way.”Megan stepped to the door and paused, glancing back at me. “This isn’t just a straight fight, Kael. If we’re caught, there’s no backup, no escape. You’re ready for that?”“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”Her smirk returned, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Fair enough. Let’s see if that alpha blood of yours is worth something.”***The forest was darker now, the trees dense and ancient as if the weight of centuries pressed down on them. Megan moved with the grace of a predator, her w
The name *Shadow Ward* struck a deep chord of fear in my chest. Even my wolf bristled at the mention of it. The Shadow Ward was more than just a prison—it was a black hole, a place where hope went to die. Anyone taken there either never returned or came back broken beyond repair. “You think she’s there?” I asked, my voice tight.Megan’s green eyes darkened, her wolf stirring beneath the surface. “If your mother’s playing her usual games, then yes. It’s exactly the kind of place she’d put Astrid to keep you in line. It’s warded, Kael. No one just walks into the Shadow Ward and comes out alive.”I slammed my fist on the table, the wood groaning under the force. “I don’t care how dangerous it is. If Astrid’s there, I’m going after her.”Megan’s lips curled into a snarl, her wolf rising to meet mine. “Don’t be an idiot. You can’t storm in there half-dead and expect to fight your way out. The wards alone would cripple you before you even set foot inside. You’ll need more than brute streng
The impact sent me sprawling backward, the ground biting into my palms as I landed hard. The air was charged with energy, crackling like static against my skin. I growled low in my throat, shaking my head to clear the ringing."Shit," I muttered again, struggling to my feet. My side throbbed in protest, but I ignored it, focusing on the invisible barrier in front of me.Magic. My mother’s handiwork, no doubt. She’d sealed the perimeter with one of her traps, designed to keep intruders—or escapees like me—contained. I could feel the power humming in the air, ancient and relentless.I placed my hand against the invisible force, my claws extending instinctively. It burned, a searing heat that made my wolf recoil, but I didn’t pull back. Instead, I closed my eyes and reached for the bond I shared with Astrid, searching for even the faintest trace of her.Nothing. Just a void where her presence should be.Frustration surged through me, but I shoved it aside. I couldn’t afford to lose contr