Mia's PovAs panic tightened its grip around my heart, I scanned the river from the outcropping, desperately searching for any sign of Lycidas. The water churned below, its surface rippling with the remnants of his struggle, but there was no trace of him to be found. And the spreading red! Oh my goddess!Just as I prepared to dive in after him, I noticed a shadow creeping up on me from the side.Without even turning to face him, I instinctively issued a warning to Lycidas, my voice dripping with irritation and frustration."Hey, Lycidas," I called out, my tone firm, "don't you dare try to push me into the water."But before I could react, his laughter filled the air, and I felt his hands on my shoulders, propelling me forward with surprising force. With a startled cry, I tumbled into the water, my turban held tight against my head to prevent it from being swept away by the current.The shock of the cold water enveloped me as I plunged beneath the surface, my lungs burning with the nee
Mia's Pov I sighed, the tension draining from my shoulders as I realized it was in no way real blood. And truth be told, while it was annoying then, it was pretty fun to look back on now."Well, next time, maybe warn me before you decide to stir up the riverbed," I replied with a wry smile. "I was... I was scared out of my fucking mind."But before Lycidas could respond, a sudden shift in the air caught his attention, and he turned to face the forest behind us with a furrowed brow. Instinctively, I followed his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest as a sense of foreboding washed over me. I turned to see Lycidas's expression harden, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of danger."What is it?" I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest.Lycidas didn't reply, his attention focused on something in the cluster of trees behind us. And then, as if on cue, a corrupted emerged from the trees, its eyes burning with malice as it fixed its gaze upon us.As the corrupted creature pounced tow
Mia's Pov.As Lycidas and I began our run through the dense forest, every muscle in my body surged with a newfound energy, propelling me forward with a sense of urgency that bordered on desperation. The forest blurred past in a kaleidoscope of greens and browns, the rhythmic pounding of our footsteps echoing through the stillness of the woods.With each stride, I felt the weight of the world slipping away, replaced by a sense of freedom and exhilaration that was both intoxicating and terrifying. Branches whipped past us in a blur, the air filled with the heady scent of pine and earth as we raced deeper into the heart of the forest.But even as we ran, a sense of unease gnawed at the edges of my consciousness, a whisper of fear that refused to be silenced. The forest seemed to close in around us, the shadows growing darker and more ominous with each passing moment.As we navigated the twisting paths and tangled underbrush, my senses were heightened to a fever pitch, every rustle of lea
Mia's PovAs Lycidas and I hastily made our escape from the area where we had encountered the corrupted, fear and worry gripped me like a vice, squeezing the breath from my lungs and sending my heart pounding in my chest. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs seemed to echo through the forest like a death knell, each sound a rather unpleasant reminder of the danger that seemingly lurked just beyond our sight.The weight of fear and worry pressed heavily upon my shoulders, threatening to crush me beneath its suffocating embrace. The near brush with corrupted we just had seemed to solidify all the more the feeling that we were all alone in a forest teeming with malice.But even as fear threatened to consume me, a steely resolve took root within me, driving me forward with a fierce determination to survive. I knew that I could not afford to give in to despair – not now, when the stakes were so high. No matter how many times it happened, I don't think I could ever get used to my life b
Hazel's POVAs I sat in my dimly lit study, the only sound filling the room was the soft scratching of my quill against the paper. Deep in thought, I toyed with the idea of how to proceed with the experiment involving the corrupted. Acquiring more of them had proven to be a challenge, one that required careful planning and cunning maneuvers. While Phelan had encouraged the tests, he had not shared with me the exact method of turning someone into a corrupted. I could not seem too eager to carry out the tests - that was just too suspicious - and so am unable to simply request more of them from the stupid old man.I leaned back in my chair, allowing my mind to wander as I contemplated the web of alliances and betrayals that defined the world of Alphas. Underneath the façade of loyalty and obedience lay a dark undercurrent of manipulation and deceit, and I would not be the one to be lost to its depths. I had broken down the web of nonsense and nonentities to a basic format. There were onl
Hazel's POVI cursed under my breath, my mind racing as I considered the implications of this new development. The only one I knew who may have a large number of corrupted was Phelan. But what the fuck was he doing setting them loose in the forest? Was he dumb or something? Was he trying to ruin me? Keep me in check?I stood from my desk, my face grim.These creatures posed a direct threat to my pack's territory, and if left unchecked, they could spell disaster for me."Alert the rest of the garrison," I commanded, my tone leaving no room for argument. "We need to prepare for a full-scale assault on these creatures before they have a chance to spread further. I want every able bodied men at the forest pronto.""Shall we call a Hunt, Alpha?" The man asked apprehensively."Not a Hunt," I snapped. "I want soldiers and soldiers only."The soldier nodded, his expression grim as he turned to leave the room. Whoever was behind this, I still needed to do something quickly. "Also," I called,
Hazel's POVAs I emerged from the depths of the forest, the unconscious corrupted slung over my shoulder, a crowd of soldiers approached, their leather armor gleaming in the dappled light filtering through the trees. I narrowed my eyes at them, my expression stern and commanding as I assessed their readiness for the task at hand."Soldiers," I called out, my voice cutting through the air with authority. "Form up into groups of ten. You have a task to complete."The soldiers obeyed without question, falling into formation with relative ease as they awaited my next command. I approached them with purpose, my gaze sweeping over their ranks as I divided them into smaller teams."You," I pointed to a group of soldiers nearest to me. "You will patrol the eastern perimeter. And you," I gestured to another group. "Take the western flank. The rest of you will divide the remaining sectors between you. Move out and secure the area."As the soldiers dispersed to carry out their orders, I turned m
Hazel's POVAs I hurled the third corrupted toward the soldiers, their rough, weathered faces contorted in a mixture of disgust and determination. Their gruff voices filled the air, exchanging terse commands and coordinating their efforts to contain the threat. "Secure the perimeter!" one of them - the guard captain I think - shouted, his voice carrying over the din of battle. "We've got more coming!"The people I had doing experiments on the corrupted had pulled through and provided a kind of scented mixture that drew the corrupted like moth to a flame. As much as I did not want to leave any lurking in the forest, I also wanted them all.That mixture has just saved a group of people quite a few beatings."You there!" I called out to a young soldier, his eyes wide with fear as he glanced in my direction. "Go find Damian and bring him to me. Now!"The soldier nodded frantically, his movements swift as he darted off into the fray, disappearing into the tangled mass of bodies that now th
Mia's POVA stone struck true, pulverizing the creature's eye with a sickening crunch. With a howl of agony, the wolf collapsed to the ground, its lifeblood staining the earth beneath it. As the last vestiges of life faded from its eyes, I breathed evenly and transformed back. Running up quickly, I jumped and kissed my mate. The flames on his hair were hot but they were not unbearable and they died down as he held me and kissed me back. It took all my willpower to break free from him and let us breath. Strands of sticky saliva trailed our lips as we parted and I was flushed up to my ears, breathless."Mia?" He breathed, looking at me in surprise.I would have grinned at him if I were not too busy being stunned."Xavier?!" I exclaimed. "What in the world?! How? I thought...""You never did see me without my turban," he teased. And he was right come to think of it."So the memory loss...""I did lose my memory," he said, shaking his head. "But I guess could say that an eyeball helped me
Mia's POVHe was no corrupted - he was much worse.In a desperate bid to end the chaos, I shifted into my wolf form, my white fur shimmering in the dim light of the throne room. With a newfound agility, I darted around the monstrous creature, my speed unmatched as I evaded its savage blows.But Hazel was relentless, his attacks coming fast and furious as he sought to overpower me with sheer brute force. With each passing moment, the battle grew more intense, the clash of claw and sinew echoing throughout the chamber.I ducked and weaved, narrowly avoiding each blow as I fought to keep the creature at bay. But despite my best efforts, I could feel my strength waning, the relentless pace of our battle taking its toll on my weary body..The battle raged on, each blow striking home with deadly precision as I fought to bring Hazel to his knees. With a primal snarl, I launched myself at the creature once more, my claws tearing through its flesh with savage ferocity.With one final, decisiv
Mia's POV"Yeah," I grinned at her. "Now please someone tell me what is going on? How did everyone get here?""There is little time for that," Amelia said, a scary amount of hope alight in her eyes. "Alpha King Hazel has gone mad and he is turning people left and right corrupted." I could see that everyone was surprised to hear this. But the forest itself whispered to me that she spoke the truth. "But he also has a way to cure the corruption. It is a wand in beneath his throne."I smiled at her and gazed out at the Sulfur Hands gathered. I did not see Lycidas but that was not a problem. I was certain he was alright."Well guys, it is the night of the blood moon. I have to tell you that I've got a castle to storm so come on out all of you and get away already. You've all done your part for me. Let me do mine for you."I saw them off and turned to face the vague direction of the palace.The eyeball (I could not get its name) had told me; Blood Moon prophecy Layer 5: The Inheritor shall
Mia's POVWith a surge of adrenaline, I plunged the knife into the creature's main body, my hands steady despite the trembling of my limbs. The blade sank deep into its flesh, eliciting a guttural roar of pain as the creature thrashed and writhed beneath me. Each movement was a dance of desperation, a desperate bid for survival against an opponent that seemed unstoppable.But even as I fought with all the strength and skill I could muster, I could feel the tendrils of exhaustion creeping into my limbs, sapping my strength and clouding my thoughts. How many times had I faced this creature? How many times had I died, only to wake and face it once again?The creature's death throes were violent and chaotic, its massive form convulsing with the last vestiges of life as it fought against the inevitable. But I was relentless, my resolve unshakeable as I drove the knife deeper and deeper into its flesh, refusing to let up until the creature lay still and silent beneath me.With a final, ragg
Hazel's POVAs I stand in the dimly lit chamber, the vial of corrupted blood held delicately between my fingers, I can feel the weight of expectation bearing down upon me. Zion's eyes bore into me with a pensive gaze, his expression unreadable as he observes my every move. The air is heavy with anticipation, charged with the possibility of what is to come.With a steady hand, I bring the vial to my lips and drink deeply, allowing the thick, viscous liquid to slide down my throat. The taste is metallic, tinged with a hint of something dark and otherworldly. But as the last drop passes my lips, I feel no surge of power, no sudden transformation. I am not surprised.I never expected the corrupted blood to grant me any sort of supernatural abilities. My purpose in drinking it was not to gain power, but to align myself with the prophecy, to force my way into its narrative. And in that regard, I believe I have succeeded.As I lower the vial, I meet Zion's gaze with a sense of calm resolve.
???'s POV Amidst the vast expanse of the celestial realm, I found myself floating among the stars, my consciousness adrift in a sea of cosmic wonders. Suddenly, a commanding voice reverberated through the void, pulling me from my reverie with its otherworldly resonance."Little thing," the voice called out, its words echoing through the cosmos like the distant rumble of thunder. Startled, I responded tentatively, my voice barely a whisper in the vastness of space. "Who... who's there?"I was ignored as the voice continued to speak. I listened intently as the voice spoke of the troubles that plagued mortals, of the ebb and flow of life, and of the chaos that reigned in the mortal realm. The voice seemed to ramble on for a while, its words swirling around me like a whirlwind of cosmic energy. It spoke of mortals and their endless troubles, of how they always seemed to find new ways to bring chaos and destruction upon themselves. It seemed rather easy to notice that it was the 'eyeball'
???'s POVI opened my mouth to protest, to demand answers to the questions that burned within me, but she cut me off with a dismissive wave of her hand. "I don't want to hear it," she said coldly, her gaze hardening as she turned away from me. "Just go. Leave me alone. Go do whatever you want to. I don't care. My Lycidas is not here. Please, just... Stop. You truly are not Lycidas. I do not know who you are, but you are not my beloved."I stood there in stunned silence, the weight of her words hanging heavy in the air between us. Part of me wanted to press her for answers, to demand to know what she meant by all of this. But another part of me knew that it was futile – that she would not deign to repeat herself. And even though I could not claim to know much else, I knew somehow that she was hundred percent certain that I was not Lycidas. And not in a character or behavioural kind of way. As in, I was fundamentally not Lycidas.With a heavy heart, I turned and walked away, the sound o
Lycidas' POVThe soft glow of moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle illumination over Mia's room as I sat by her bedside, my fingers intertwined with hers as if holding onto a lifeline. The rhythmic rise and fall of her chest was the only indication of life, her face serene in slumber as she lay unconscious before me.I never realized how much I would miss her until now – the absence of her laughter, her vibrant energy, leaving a gaping hole in my heart that seemed impossible to fill. And yet, here she lay, so close yet so far, trapped in the grasp of an unknown darkness that threatened to consume her whole.I squeezed her hand gently, willing her to wake up, to return to me so that I could see the light in her eyes once more. But no matter how fervently I wished for her recovery, she remained still, her breathing steady but shallow, a silent reminder of the fragility of life.My mind drifted back to that fateful night when the ritual had gone awry, the memory of t
Amelia's POVI sat in the room with Alpha Gonzales and the injured Alpha Fenrir, my mind consumed by a whirlwind of thoughts and worries. The conversation between the two Alphas drifted in and out of my consciousness, the words fading into the background as I struggled to focus on the present moment.My thoughts kept returning to the letter I had received just before setting off with Alpha Gonzales—a missive that had filled me with a sense of foreboding unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The words were etched into my mind, haunting me with their ominous implications.In my mind's eye, I saw the image of the small mouse, my faithful messenger, as it hurried into my room with urgent purpose. Its tiny paws had trembled as it presented me with the letter, a sense of urgency emanating from its very being. With trembling hands, I had broken the seal and unfolded the parchment, my heart sinking as I read the words inscribed upon it.The once cryptic message had become alarmingly