HazelThe burly intruder's defiant laughter echoed through the chamber. I tightened my grip on his throat, my eyes narrowing with determination. "Nightshade pack? What do you want with my pack?"He spat on the floor, a mocking glint in his eyes. "You're not the only one with secrets, Alpha. Nightshade has its own agenda, and you're just a pawn in the game."I growled, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "Enough games. Who sent you, and what are you after?"The agile intruder, still struggling against the ropes, sneered. "You think you're invincible, don't you? Nightshade won't rest until your precious secrets are exposed."I shot a glance at the chamber's entrance, ensuring no other intruders were sneaking up on us. "Secrets?"The burly one chuckled, a sinister edge to his voice. "We know more than you think, Hazel. Nightshade has eyes everywhere."My patience wore thin. "Tell me who leads Nightshade. What are they planning?"The agile intruder laughed, a mocking tone in his voi
MiaAmidst the chaos, I focused on the immediate threat in front of me—a cloaked figure lunging towards Mason. Reacting instinctively, Mason dodged the attack, his claws meeting the assailant's sword with a resounding clash."Nice try," Mason grunted, pushing back against the attacker.Lycidas engaged another cloaked figure, his movements fluid and precise. "You picked the wrong pack to mess with!"I glanced around, realizing that the cloaked figures outnumbered us. Fear crept in, but I couldn't let it paralyze me. Spotting an opportunity, I lunged at a distracted assailant, my wooden claws meeting their side. They staggered, momentarily thrown off balance."Take that!" I shouted, more to boost my own confidence than anything else.The leader of the cloaked group observed the chaos with a sinister satisfaction. "This is amusing, watching you pups struggle."As Mason and Lycidas fought with unmatched determination, I noticed a glint in the leader's hand—a small, shimmering vial. Before
MarthaI continued to stare into the now empty space where the mysterious wolf had disappeared. Michael joined me, his brows furrowed in concern."Martha, who was that? What's going on?" he asked again, a sense of urgency in his voice.I shook my head, still processing the encounter. "I don't know, Michael. It was a wolf, but not one of ours. There was something... different about it."A rustle in the bushes caught our attention, and Maya stumbled into the moonlit clearing. She looked weaker than ever, her fur matted and eyes dulled with exhaustion. I rushed to her side, my concern for her momentarily pushing aside the mystery of the stranger."Maya, what happened?" I asked gently, helping her to sit. Her response was weak, almost a whisper."I fought... Some wolves. Got injured," she managed to say, her voice strained.I exchanged a worried glance with Michael. "We need to get her back to the cave. She's in no condition to be out here."As we helped Maya back towards the cave, I coul
Selena's POVIn the dimly lit cave, surrounded by the worried faces of the pack, I couldn't shake the lingering unease that had settled in my chest. Hazel's distant demeanor, the revelation of Nightshade's plans, and the monstrous creature they had unleashed—all of it weighed heavily on my mind.As I stole a glance at Hazel, who stood stoically by the entrance, his gaze distant, I couldn't ignore the ache in my heart. The connection we once shared felt strained, and the unanswered questions lingered in the air."Hazel," I whispered, my voice barely audible amidst the hushed conversations in the cave. He turned to look at me, his expression guarded."Are you okay?" I asked, my concern evident in my eyes. He nodded, but the distance in his gaze remained."Hazel, we need to talk," I insisted, my voice quivering with a mix of frustration and vulnerability."Now is not the time, Selena. We have more pressing matters to deal with," he replied, his tone firm.I took a step closer, unable to
Hazel meets MiaHazel's POVSoon, the early morning sunlight filled the cave. I stood and stretched and looked around at all the people gathered. Despite myself, I could not help feeling a bit proud. In this time of danger, I had saved my people. That had to count, no matter how wicked they thought I was. Anyway, it was only the capital city that was evacuated, so it was really not that much of a problem to bring everything back to normal. But I would do that later in the day. For now, I want to go on the track of the beast I had seen last night. I couldn't shake off the feeling that it was more than I could afford to brush off. I just had to know what it is or else, I would never be at ease. For the first time in many days, I gave a sleeping Selena a kiss on the forehead, then walked out of the cave. The forest lay still in the early morning light as I ventured out, the pack members still resting in the safety of the cave. The not so distant memories of Nightshade's revenge surf
Mia's POVThough I tried to turn away coolly, my heart was beating very hard. My shoulders tensed, and I had a very intense urge to turn and keep my eyes on him as I walked backwards faster than any one living or dead had ever done.I could literally feel my skin tingle and goosebumps washed over me as I remembered all the tales from Lycidas about Hazel. Had he become that way because of me? I didn't care anymore. He broke my eyes once, and judging from the look in his eyes just now, he was ready to break it a second time no matter what he said.The first time, I had nearly died.All I wanted now was to get as far away from him as possible. "But I do want something you have," his voice rang out, and I paused in my tracks. After an intense personal struggle, I finally bit out a question. "What?" I felt his breath on my neck and tensed even more. I had not heard him close the distance between us. Despite myself, I turned my head so I could look at him. I wouldn't feel comfortable w
Mia's POVI let his hand slip under my dress, looking him all the while in the eyeballs. There was defiance in my eyes. As I watched, the subtle threat of seduction in his eyes changed to one of intense desire. An alpha wolf could never resist a challenge, especially when it involves dominating a strong headed female and getting her to submit. I smiled to myself as I saw the challenge come into his eyes. I was going to drive his wolf senseless with the need to dominate, addle his brain so he can't think straight, then I will make good my escape. Hazel's hand lingered on my inner thigh, his gaze fixed on mine. In that intense moment, I felt a surge of satisfaction, knowing that I had turned the tables on him. As his desire intensified, my plan unfolded."You think a little touch will break me?" I taunted, maintaining eye contact.A predatory grin played on his lips. "You underestimate the effect an alpha has, Mia."I chuckled, a hint of mischief in my eyes. "Well, let's see if you c
Lycidas's POVAs I waited, I couldn't help but notice that my heart was beating harder than normal. It had been more than an hour since Mabel sent Meli…Mia to go gather the herbs. I couldn't help wondering if the Nightshade lunatics had gotten her. Last night, as we fought, our opponents had be extremely talkative, and it didn't take much asking to learn that they're from the Nightshade pack, intent on revenge on the Blood Moon pack for the war waged on them by alpha king Hazel. It had been a bitter battle. Sighing, I tried to stand up, and immediately regretted it. Groans escaped me as I fell back on the bed, opening a few wounds. The room felt suffocating, and the passing time only intensified my apprehension. Mabel, had been calm and collected when she checked on me a few minutes earlier, but I had seen the worry in her eyes.With the way those two behaved around each other, one would never imagine they would be anything but pleased to see the other gone. But I was sure of wh
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