Mia's POVThe shock of seeing Lycidas in the clearing, his eyes widening at my exposed state, was eclipsed by the sudden realization of my near-nudity. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I instinctively tried to cover myself with whatever remnants of my torn dress still clung to my body."Lycidas! What are you doing here?" I stammered, a mixture of embarrassment and surprise coloring my words.He shook his head, as if trying to clear his thoughts. "I came to find you. Mabel said you'd be fine, but I couldn't shake off the worry."A rush of conflicting emotions swirled within me—gratitude for his concern, embarrassment for being caught in such a compromising situation, and frustration at the circumstances that led us here.I hastily gathered the shreds of my torn dress, attempting to salvage some semblance of modesty. Lycidas, despite the initial shock, quickly averted his gaze, respecting my privacy."Are you hurt?" he asked, concern evident in his eyes.I shook my head, trying to ignore t
Martha's POVI woke up with a start. The sun's rays streamed into the cave.Wait…the cave? Hadn't I been back with Mabel just moment's ago? But as I looked around and spotted Michael's wolf just a few bodies from me and the other members of the Sulfur Hands, it really dawned on me that it had all been a dream. It was very realistically such that I forgot I was sleeping, which was a very rare occurrence. Reorienting myself with my surroundings, I stood up and looked around. Then I paused as I quickly realized something. In the dream, Mabel had not been in her cottage. She was in a strange place I had never seen. Where was that? And apart from that, Maya had been very sick too, said she fought some corrupted wolves. As the events of the dream came rushing back, a distinct unease settled on me. Confusion and disorientation gripped me as I tried to make sense of the abrupt transition from the vivid dream to the reality of the cave. The memories of encountering the mysterious wolf,
Lycidas' POVAfter Mia left, I descended into deep thoughts. There were many thugs running through my mind, and now, one more disturbing thought had joined them. The image of Mia half naked. It was my first time seeing her without the veil. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, especially when naked. Not that I had any memory of seeing any other woman naked, seeing as I lost my memory, but I simply felt that way. And that made me annoyed with myself. I had many things to think about, my development of unnatural powers, how to move the prophecy forward now that I've found my mate, how to save this pack from the Nightshade pack, and how to convince Mia to follow me home so I can tell Alpha Gonzalo that I have found my mate, which was one of the lines of the prophecy. Yet, all I am doing here was thinking about Mia's naked form, standing there all scared and arousing these protective feelings in me that I didn't even know I had. She had looked so scared and hassled, an
Mia's POVI watched in shock and not a little exasperation as Lycidas walked out of his cave, throwing back at me the same exact words I had used to escape him earlier.I stormed out of Lycidas' cave, frustrated and annoyed. The audacity of that wolf, walking away without letting me speak. It was beyond infuriating.Seeing Mason in the cave, I couldn't hold back my complaints. "Can you believe Lycidas?" I exclaimed, arms crossed. "He just walked out like I don't even exist."Mason looked up from inspecting his fingers, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Lycidas has his own battles, Mia. Maybe you both need to meet halfway.""Meet halfway?" I scoffed. "There's no common ground with him. He despises me, and I can't say I'm a fan either."Mason raised an eyebrow. "You know, there's this thing called chemistry. It's like an undeniable connection. You and Lycidas... there's something there."Rolling my eyes, I dismissed the notion. "Chemistry? Please. He's just an arrogant wolf who thinks h
Hazel's POVPain surged through every fiber of my being as I lay on the forest floor, writhing in agony. Mia's swift and precise knee strike had left me incapacitated, my alpha instincts momentarily overridden by the searing pain.The intensity of the pain was unlike anything I had experienced before. My mind screamed in protest, my body contorting involuntarily. Every breath felt like a struggle as the pain radiated from the epicenter of her strike.In those agonizing moments, my thoughts were consumed by a mixture of frustration and disbelief. How could she, a mere wolf, have the audacity to defy me, the alpha king? The echoes of her mocking taunts replayed in my mind, amplifying the humiliation.My initial plan had been to assert dominance, to bend her will to mine. But now, I found myself sprawled on the forest floor, weakened and vulnerable. The surge of pain made it difficult to focus on anything else.As the minutes passed, the pain began to subside, giving way to a seething an
Selena's POVThe dimly lit cave became a refuge for my shattered heart. As the tears streamed down my face, I mourned the loss of the love I had believed in with Hazel. The echoes of his reluctance to swear his devotion resonated in my mind, and the ache within me deepened."I wish I never forced myself on him," I whispered to the shadows, regret pooling in my heart. The urgency of Nightshade's threat had pushed me to seek reassurance, but the price had been the revelation of a fractured love.The pack, oblivious to the storm within me, huddled together. The whispers of Nightshade's revenge and the monstrous creature they had unleashed were distant echoes in my ears. All I felt was the void where our love had once thrived.An hour later, as the cave offered a respite from the impending danger, I wiped away the tears and steeled myself. It was time to set aside personal turmoil for the greater good. With a determined breath, I decided it was safe to go back and seek out the palace guar
Mia's POV As I walked, a strange pull led me deeper into the woods. The early morning sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting an otherworldly glow.Suddenly, I stumbled upon a clearing that had silver light. The eerie, silver light intensified, and I felt a subtle shift in the air.I had never been able to scent things like normal people, but I didn't know what else to call what it was I felt; as though there was someone nearby watching me. Someone powerful, but evil. Downright evil. I shuddered and looked around, but found no one. Suppressing the urge to tremble, I almost ran out of the clearing. I walked faster, the strange sensation of being watched clinging to me like a shadow. The silver light in the clearing behind me seemed to intensify, casting an eerie glow on the path ahead.The feeling of a malevolent presence persisted, making me uneasy. I quickened my pace, but the sensation of someone's eyes on me only grew stronger. It was as if a dark force trailed me through
Mia's POVI tossed the still beating heart unceremoniously on the still twitching body and took off at a sprint. By the time I ran past the clearing, I was full on running. Scents and feelings I hadn't been familiar with besieged my senses. Energy I had never felt before seemed to flow in my blood, giving me extraordinary strenght. I was running faster than I had ever run in my life, yet, I wasn't even feeling it. It was as though I was just jogging. Suddenly, I had fine control of my limbs and muscles. I could leap more than six feet if I wished. My vision became clearer, and I noticed I could see almost perfectly in the darkness. There was no need for me to be cautious as I usually whenever I walked through the forest. I could see everything perfectly, so there was no chance of crashing into an unseen branch or exposed root. Soon, I was back at the clearing with the silver light. Surprisingly, the silver light glowed. But that wasn'ty concern. Among the smell of earth and wood
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