Lycidas' POVMason's brow furrowed in confusion as he studied the tracks, his mind no doubt racing with a dozen different theories. "But how is that possible?" he wondered aloud. "And what's with all these strips of cloth and shirts?"I followed his gaze to where strips of fabric lay scattered along the forest floor, each one stained with rapidly fading blood. The sight sent a chill down my spine, a sense of unease settling over me like a heavy blanket."I don't know," I admitted, my voice barely more than a whisper. "But I have a feeling we're not going to like what we find."I don't think I would like to meet whatever is doing this either.With a silent nod, Mason and I set off into the forest, our senses on high alert as we followed the trail of tracks and bloodstained fabric deeper into the darkness. The air was thick with tension, each rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sending a jolt of fear coursing through my veins.Together, we gathered up the evidence of our findings, carefu
Amelia's POVAs I made my way through the forest, the familiar sight of the towering oak tree greeted me like an old friend. Its gnarled branches reached out to me, casting dappled shadows upon the forest floor as if beckoning me closer. With each step, the soft crunch of leaves beneath my feet echoed through the tranquil air, a comforting melody that soothed my restless soul. The canopy above filtered the sunlight into a dappled mosaic of light and shadow, casting a sense of enchantment over the secluded grove where the ancient oak stood sentinel.Finally reaching the familiar spot beneath the oak tree, I settled down on the moss-covered ground and waited patiently, a small bag of treats clutched in my hand. It wasn't long before I heard the faint rustle of leaves, and my heart skipped a beat in anticipation as not long later the wild mouse emerged from its hiding place.With a little delighted smile, I extended my hand, offering the mouse a handful of nuts and seeds as a token of gr
Amelia's POVWith a deft flick of my wrist, I scattered the treats onto the ground. It shot me an annoyed look but I only grinned at it and watched with amusement as the mouse eagerly scurried down my arm to snatch them up. It seemed to revel in the abundance of snacks, its whiskers twitching with delight as it gobbled them down.But its appetite was insatiable, and before long, it was back at my side, its bright eyes fixed expectantly on me as if begging for more. "You're lucky you are so adorable," I teased, producing another handful of treats to appease its hunger.I turned away from the mouse, settling into the comforting solitude of my room, the anticipation fluttering in my chest, I carefully unfolded the weathered parchment, the faint scent of earth and ink wafting up to greet me. My fingers trembled slightly as I traced the elegant script that adorned the page, each word etched with a sense of urgency that sent a shiver down my spine. Whoever wrote this could write really well
Amelia's POV Could I, in good conscience, extend my hand to someone who may be entangled in the web of palace politics? Someone who might as well go back on a promise so long as it suited her? I knew pack politics could be brutal and I imagined that the one in the palace would be particularly so. Not to mention that, in the grand scheme of things, right now they were more or less the bad guys as it were on the spectrum of the prophecy. It was no secret that the blood moon prophecy would bowl them head over heels and into a gutter somewhere.As I weighed the risks and potential consequences, my thoughts turned to Lycidas – a soul who had become entwined with my own in ways that transcended the boundaries of our world. The memory of his laughter, the warmth of his touch, echoed in my heart, and a fierce determination took root within me. If this cryptic sender could provide a means to help Lycidas, then perhaps their plea was not to be dismissed lightly.Yet, as I ventured further into
Amelia's POV "It is simply marvelous isn't it?" Gonzales exclaimed, oblivious to my incredulity. "With this, we can finally uncover the secrets that have eluded us for so long!"I shook my head in disbelief, a mixture of frustration and amusement bubbling within me. "Alpha Gonzales, this is no time for wild goose chases," I admonished, my tone firm as I tried to reason with him. "We have more pressing matters to attend to."But Gonzales was undeterred, his enthusiasm undiminished as he continued to prattle on about his latest discovery. With a resigned sigh, I realized that reasoning with him would be futile – some battles simply weren't worth fighting.As Alpha Gonzales prattled on excitedly about his latest discovery, I couldn't help but feel a sense of exasperation mounting within me. With each wild gesture and exuberant proclamation, it became increasingly clear that reasoning with him would be an exercise in futility."Alpha Gonzales, please, try to calm down," I urged, my voice
Mia's POVAs I dashed through the desolate, rocky landscape, an unsettling feeling gnawed at the core of my being. The barren terrain lay before me, devoid of life or color, amplifying the sense of isolation that gripped my soul. Each step felt heavy and burdensome, as if I were dragging the weight of ten decades of worries with me through the desolate wasteland.Yet, even as I ran, a nagging sense of unease persisted. What was I searching for? Something was wrong. Something was missing. Something important. Something very very important. What was it? The answers remained elusive, slipping through my fingers like grains of sand as I struggled to make sense of the turmoil raging within me.An unnatural sense of unease gripped me tightly, each jagged rock and barren expanse amplifying the emptiness that echoed within. My heart pounded in my chest as I pressed forward, driven by an overwhelming need to escape the suffocating isolation that seemed to surround me.The barren landscape stre
Mia's POV As the sun dipped below the horizon, the exhilaration of the run coursing through my veins, a strange sensation began to wash over me, starting as a tingling warmth in my limbs before spreading throughout my entire body. Despite the transformation unfolding within me, I didn't slow my pace, each stride propelling me forward with relentless determination.With each step, the sensation intensified, until it felt as if my very essence was being pulled and stretched, caught in a delicate dance between human and wolf. I glanced down at my hands, only to watch in awe as they morphed before my eyes, elongating into sleek, fur-covered paws that padded softly against the forest floor.A surge of panic threatened to overtake me as I realized what was happening, but I pushed the fear aside, allowing the transformation to unfold unhindered. With each shift, I embraced the duality of my existence, reveling in the sensation of freedom that came with shedding my human form and embracing m
Mia's POV As consciousness slowly returned, dragging me up from the depths of darkness, I was engulfed in a swirling whirlwind of confusion and panic. My heart hammered against my chest like a wild beast desperate to break free, and the air felt thick and suffocating, as if I were trapped beneath an oppressive weight.I jolted awake, my heart racing in my chest, I found myself gasping for air, clawing desperately at the sheets that tangled around me like a suffocating shroud. Panic surged through me like a tidal wave, threatening to overwhelm my senses as I struggled to make sense of the darkness that enveloped me.With a sudden gasp, I shot upright in bed, my body thrashing and convulsing as I fought to break free from the suffocating grip of my nightmares. I clawed even more desperately at the sheets, my nails digging into the fabric with a desperate urgency, as if trying to claw my way out of the darkness that threatened to consume me whole, and I distinctly heard it rip.But as I
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