Thorold’s POV I’d been told once that war didn’t begin with a blade. It began with whispers. Black Hollow was quiet now, but not calm. Since Maelen’s exile, the atmosphere had shifted. Wolves no longer trained with focus. Conversations felt heavier, looks lasted longer. It wasn’t fear anymore—it was expectation. Everyone waiting to see what I would do next. I wasn’t sure what they saw when they looked at me. A leader? A threat? A weapon they hoped would turn toward their enemies and not their homes? I stood at the center of the Basin, alone. The runes in the stone pulsed beneath my feet, sensing the change. The Veil, too, knew something was coming. And it was coming fast. Behind me, Lira approached in silence. “They’re gathering near the southern ridge,” she said. “Elyra says the Hollow has never seen so many wolves ready for battle.” “They’re not ready for what’s coming,” I murmured. She stepped beside me, her voice low. “Neither are we.” We both looked out toward the wood
Thorold’s POV We were three days from moving when the first arrow fell. It landed at the edge of Black Hollow’s northern cliffs—no message, no warning. Just flame. A Council mark, scorched into the shaft. They weren’t coming. They were **already here**. I stood with Kael at the watch post when the second wave hit. Not arrows this time—but mist. Thick, black, rolling like a storm tide, choking the trees below the ridge. Lira appeared moments later, breathless. “Scouts aren’t returning from the frostwood. They're being pulled—one by one—into the fog.” “Magic?” I asked. She nodded. “Blood-bound.” “Council-grade?” “Yes.” Kael’s claws extended instinctively. “They’re cloaking their army.” “No,” I said, my voice low. “They’re cloaking something worse.” We had to move. The command hall shook with urgency. Maps unrolled. Wards lit. Spells drawn into the air like threads across time. Elyra stood at the center, calm, but I could see the tension in her shoulders. The Council had n
Thorold’s POV The gates of Stormfang came into view just after sunrise. They rose tall and proud against the backdrop of pine-covered hills and silver skies, exactly as they had in my earliest memories—the ones that never quite felt real. I’d dreamed of this moment more times than I could count. But now that it was here, my legs didn’t want to move. The Hollow’s warriors flanked me in silence, carrying no banners, only purpose. Kael walked at my right, Lira at my left. As we crested the final hill, the watchtower horn sounded.The pack was waiting. They lined the walls and walkways, some in armor, some in robes, many in quiet disbelief. I saw every expression—curiosity, awe, fear. But none of it mattered. Because at the heart of them stood her Luna Zara my mother. She didn’t wear a crown or a ceremonial robe. Just dark leathers, dust on her hands, her braid loose in the wind. Her eyes—so much like mine—were locked on me and nothing else. And beside her, a presence
Thorold’s POV The Academy was different now Or maybe I was. The corridors no longer felt like chains. The shadows no longer whispered my name in fear. When I walked the halls, students didn’t flinch or scatter. They nodded. Some stared. A few even smiled. And for the first time since I could remember, I didn’t feel like a prisoner. I felt like I belonged. Even if only for a moment. I’d been given a guest room in the western dorms—small, with stone walls, a modest cot, and a narrow window that overlooked the lower gardens. It wasn’t the Hollow. It wasn’t Stormfang. But it was mine. No guards. No spells to bind me. No locks on the door Just me. Classes were optional for me now—no one dared insist otherwise. But I still showed up. Not because I had to. Because I **wanted** to. Because I’d never had the chance. I stepped into the Enchanted Runes lecture late, nodding to the instructor, who paused only a moment before continuing. I found an empty seat near the middle, beside
Thorold’s POV The quiet didn’t last, I woke before dawn the next day, not from a nightmare, but from something worse—emptiness. The kind that stretched too wide inside the chest, like a forgotten room filled with cold air. My wolf stirred uneasily beneath my skin, but not in warning. This was different. This was… listening. I dressed and stepped into the hallway, letting the silence of the early hour guide me through the corridors. The Academy was always strange at this time, hushed but alert, like it breathed slowly while the world slept. I ended up at the archives, not intending to. My feet carried me there like they remembered something I didn’t. The doors creaked open under my touch. Inside, the air was thick with magic and dust. Scrolls lined every wall, shelves full of whispered histories, most written by hands long since gone. I traced my fingers along the spines of old books without reading, trying to shake the feeling crawling under my skin. That’s when I saw it. A par
Mia’s POV They still whisper her name like she’s a legend. Zara. The blessed one. The healer. The mother of prophecy. Luna of Stormfang. Beloved of the Alpha Ryker. And me? I’m the one the Moon Goddess ignored. The twin who stood beside her in the womb, but never in destiny. It was always her. Even when we were children, Zara carried the light. She glowed in ways I never understood. Our parents praised her gentleness, her calm, her strange gift to soothe even the wildest wolf. I sharpened my claws in silence. I studied harder. I fought stronger. And still, I was never more than her shadow. Until now. I sit at the edge of a crumbling balcony in a fortress no one dares speak of. The ruins of a once-powerful rogue outpost that I now command. It’s cold here. The wind cuts like truth. But it’s mine. Below, wolves move through the shadows—silent, loyal, broken creatures I’ve gathered over the years. The Council pretends they don’t see me, but they know. They know I exist between
Thorold’s POV I felt it first in my dreams. A pulling—tight, low, like the weight of a tether I didn’t know I carried. The night was still, but my sleep was broken. No visions. No flames. Just a strange pressure in my chest and a whisper threading through my mind like smoke: **“He’s mine, too.”** I woke before dawn, sweat cold on my back. The window beside my bed was open, though I hadn’t touched it. The wind didn’t move the curtains. It just sat there—heavy, unmoving, watching. My wolf stirred beneath my skin. Not afraid. Alert. We weren’t alone. I stepped into the corridor, pulling a cloak around my shoulders. The Academy was quiet again. Too quiet. It wasn’t the absence of footsteps or voices. It was the way the stones seemed to hum. The wards lining the walls had shifted in color—just slightly. Gold to dull bronze. Warm to something colder. I made my way to the sanctuary near the eastern wing—the place where the Veil seemed to hang thinnest, where the runes whispered old
Thorold’s POVThe path Mia carved into the world didn’t appear on any map.No witches spoke of it. No seers dared name it. Even the Hollow avoided mention of what lay beyond the Weeping Range, where sunlight never quite touched and the trees bent in silence.But I could feel it.In my blood.It hummed in my bones like a compass that pointed only one way: home, and yet not.The Shadowlands.Where forgotten wolves drifted between what was once holy and what had long since become corrupted.Where Mia waited.I traveled alone.Kael had offered to come. So had Lira. Even Ryker had sent word, urging caution. But I knew this was something I had to do without an army.Mia wasn’t just a threat.She was part of me.And some truths could only be confronted alone.I crossed through the Ashveil Mountains under moonlight, descended past the gorge where no birds sang. The deeper I went, the heavier the air became—thick with old spells, regret, and something far worse:Expectancy.By the third day, e
LAUREN'S POV Logan was too hot my heart pounding and when I felt his fingers playing with my n**ples, it gave me a different sensation. it felt so good as if that was the first time we were making our downtown move slowly and grabbed my hard n**please, and sucked on it, he was such a baby. "Will you stop teasing me already?" I said to him angrily. Logan kissed me again with passion, his gue trailing down to lick my collarbone, then feature down to my n*please. Logan slipped his hand into my pants and started playing with my cl*****s "Baby you are already wet?" he said, whispering into my ears. he looked up into my eyes, " Bianca,l love you so much, and thank you for not giving up on me when I was lost. he touched my n**ples again, your n*ples are so hard and I love it when I turn you on. I looked him in the eyes, "Will you f**k me already and stop the talking?" my pussy throbbed and ached, he inspected his finger into my p**y and f**led me with his two fingers. it was so g
LAUREN'S POV The elders of the kingdom led the way, followed by the younger members of the pack, all dressed in their finest clothes. As we walked, we sang a beautiful song that celebrated the arrival of the full moon and the union of two souls.As the procession reached the centre of the valley, the elders stepped forward, and the crowd fell silent. They began to speak, their voices strong and clear, and everyone listened intently."We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the arrival of the full moon and the union of two souls. This is a momentous occasion, one that we have been waiting for, for many years. And our young wolves are allowed to explore and find their mates.""We are honoured to witness this union, and we wish the happy couple all the best."The crowd erupted in applause, and the pack elders stepped back, allowing us to step forward. we were both dressed in beautiful clothes, and we looked radiant in the moonlight. They stood facing each other, our eyes locked. "ou
LAUREN'S POV The elders of the kingdom led the way, followed by the younger members of the pack, all dressed in their finest clothes. As we walked, we sang a beautiful song that celebrated the arrival of the full moon and the union of two souls. As the procession reached the centre of the valley, the elders stepped forward, and the crowd fell silent. They began to speak, their voices strong and clear, and everyone listened intently. "We are gathered here tonight to celebrate the arrival of the full moon and the union of two souls. This is a momentous occasion, one that we have been waiting for, for many years. And our young wolves are allowed to explore and find their mates." "We are honoured to witness this union, and we wish the happy couple all the best." The crowd erupted in applause, and the pack elders stepped back, allowing us to step forward. we were both dressed in beautiful clothes, and we looked radiant in the moonlight. They stood facing each other, our eyes locked
LAUREN'S POV As the preparations unfolded, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation, and excitement was palpable. From far and wide, members of various packs journeyed to join in the festivities, eager to witness the union of two destined souls and perhaps even find their own mates amidst the throngs of wolves. The air was filled with the scent of roasting meat, and the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed through the forest. The clearing where the celebration was to be held was adorned with colourful ribbons, and a large bonfire had been lit in the centre. As the sun began to set, the sky turned a deep shade of orange, and the first stars began to twinkle above. At the heart of the clearing stood my mate and I resplendent in our fur coats and adorned with feathered headdresses. we exchanged vows of love and loyalty, and the packs howled in approval. It was a moment of pure joy and unity, one that would be remembered for generations to come. It was a one-week program for ev
LAUREN'S POV "Meet Reagan, your brother," my dad said to me with a smile. I couldn't contain my excitement. "there is no way is this big bad wolf my brother," I said with a smile before hugging him tightly. Reagan hugged me back with a warm embrace, and then kissed me on my forehead. "I'm so happy to know you're my sister," he said with a smile. I was over the moon to finally have found my brother. We spent the entire day getting to know each other, laughing, and sharing stories. He was everything I could have hoped for in a brother, and I knew that we would be close for a long time to come. Later that day, Jack, and his mate Harriet walked in. Jack was surprised to see Reagan there, and even more surprised to find out that he was our brother. "Are we missing out on something?" Jack asked with a smile. "Yes, meet dad's mate and our brother Reagan," I said, but Jack chuckled. "You're just finding out now that Reagan is our brother?" he asked incredulously. I nodded, pretendin
LAUREN'S POV As the preparations unfolded, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation, and excitement was palpable. From far and wide, members of various packs journeyed to join in the festivities, eager to witness the union of two destined souls and perhaps even find their own mates amidst the throngs of wolves. The air was filled with the scent of roasting meat, and the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed through the forest. The clearing where the celebration was to be held was adorned with colourful ribbons, and a large bonfire had been lit in the centre. As the sun began to set, the sky turned a deep shade of orange, and the first stars began to twinkle above. At the heart of the clearing stood my mate and I resplendent in our fur coats and adorned with feathered headdresses. we exchanged vows of love and loyalty, and the packs howled in approval. It was a moment of pure joy and unity, one that would be remembered for generations to come. It was a one-week program for ev
LAUREN'S POV As the preparations unfolded, the atmosphere crackled with anticipation, and excitement was palpable. From far and wide, members of various packs journeyed to join in the festivities, eager to witness the union of two destined souls and perhaps even find their own mates amidst the throngs of wolves. The air was filled with the scent of roasting meat, and the sounds of laughter and chatter echoed through the forest. The clearing where the celebration was to be held was adorned with colourful ribbons, and a large bonfire had been lit in the centre. As the sun began to set, the sky turned a deep shade of orange, and the first stars began to twinkle above. At the heart of the clearing stood my mate and I resplendent in our fur coats and adorned with feathered headdresses. we exchanged vows of love and loyalty, and the packs howled in approval. It was a moment of pure joy and unity, one that would be remembered for generations to come. It was a one-week program for ev
LAUREN'S POV On that fateful day, the atmosphere at the Silver Moon pack was charged with tension and anticipation. The trial of Sandra and Rhoda had been a long time coming, and everyone present could sense the gravity of the situation. The grand hall was filled with dignitaries from all over the kingdom, eager to witness what was about to unfold. As Sandra was escorted into the room, I couldn't help but notice how she carried herself with such poise and confidence, as if she still believed that the entire kingdom belonged to her and her alone. Her eyes were filled with a fierce determination, and her expression was one of pure defiance. "Lauren, you thought you'd won," she shouted bitterly across the room. "But trust me, you are yet to see the show of your life." Her words hung in the air like a thick fog, eliciting gasps and murmurs from the crowd. I knew that Sandra was not one to be underestimated. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I had seen firsthand the lengths
LAUREN'S POV On that fateful day, the atmosphere at the Silver Moon pack was charged with tension and anticipation. The trial of Sandra and Rhoda had been a long time coming, and everyone present could sense the gravity of the situation. The grand hall was filled with dignitaries from all over the kingdom, eager to witness what was about to unfold. As Sandra was escorted into the room, I couldn't help but notice how she carried herself with such poise and confidence, as if she still believed that the entire kingdom belonged to her and her alone. Her eyes were filled with a fierce determination, and her expression was one of pure defiance. "Lauren, you thought you'd won," she shouted bitterly across the room. "But trust me, you are yet to see the show of your life." Her words hung in the air like a thick fog, eliciting gasps and murmurs from the crowd. I knew that Sandra was not one to be underestimated. She was a force to be reckoned with, and I had seen firsthand the lengths