Zara’s POV The words were carved into the wooden training dummies like a message from the dead. I stood there, frozen, as the pack murmured around me. My heartbeat pounded so hard in my chest that I felt like I couldn’t breathe. A son? My son? It wasn’t the first time I had felt this ache—this emptiness inside me, like something was missing, like a piece of me had been stolen. Because it had. The memory was gone. Ripped from my mind like a page torn from a book. But my heart knew. Somewhere, deep in my soul, I had always known. I had a son, and I had lost him. “Zara?” Ryker’s voice cut through my thoughts. His hand was on my arm, grounding me. “Are you okay?” I wasn’t. I could barely hear him over the pounding in my skull, the whispers of something just out of reach, something that I should have remembered but couldn’t. I turned to him, my throat dry. “Who wrote this?” His jaw clenched, his fury barely restrained. “We don’t know yet.” Of course, we did.
Zara's pov The air in the room shifted, thickening like the moment before a storm. I felt it before I saw him—a strange, pulsing energy that made the hairs on my arms rise. The dim candlelight flickered wildly, shadows stretching unnaturally along the walls. Then he appeared. A tall, lean figure cloaked in white was standing in the doorway as if he had materialized from thin air. His presence was overwhelming, radiating an aura of raw power that sent a shiver down my spine. His long white hair cascaded over his shoulders, his silver eyes piercing into mine with an intensity that made it impossible to look away. I clutched the baby tighter to my chest, my heartbeat hammering in my ears. He stirred in my arms, but he didn’t cry. It was as if even he could sense the weight of the presence before us. “Who are you?” I demanded my voice firm despite the fear coiling in my gut. The man took a single step forward, his gaze never wavering. “My name is Arcturus,” he said, his voice deep a
Zara’s POV For too long, I had lived in the shadows of my past—haunted by memories I couldn’t grasp, by an emptiness I couldn’t explain. But now, I remembered. I knew the truth about his whereabouts. I had a son. And no one—not Mia, not the pack, not even Ryker—could change that. My son was safe, hidden away where no one could reach him. And now, it was time to let the pack know the truth. Without fear. Without regret. “Call for a pack meeting,” I said firmly. Ryker’s head snapped up from where he sat at his desk. His eyes flickered with something between surprise and suspicion. “Why?” I crossed my arms. “I have something to say.” He leaned forward, studying me carefully. “Zara, if this is about—” “It’s not up for discussion, Ryker.” My voice was steady and controlled. “Call the meeting.” There was a long pause. Then, slowly, he nodded. “Fine,” he said. “We’ll meet in the clearing at sundown.” I turned to leave, but his voice stopped me. “You’re different,” he murmur
Zara’s POV The pack meeting was over, but the air still crackled with tension. I had done what needed to be done. I had told them the truth about my son, shut down their doubts, and made it clear that no one would question me again. But despite my victory, I couldn’t shake the unease settling in my bones. This wasn’t over, Not by a long shot. I barely made it halfway back to my house before I heard footsteps behind me. I sighed. “What do you want, Ryker?” He fell into step beside me, hands in his pockets, green eyes sharp. “You didn’t hesitate, did you?” I glanced at him. “Why would I?” He scoffed. “Most people would have softened the blow. Given the time to process.” “I’m not most people, Ryker,” I said simply. His lips quirked up slightly. “No, you’re not.” We walked in silence for a few moments before he spoke again. “I meant what I said back there, Zara. I won’t push you to tell me where he is.” I studied him carefully, searching for any deception. But all I saw was…
Zara’s POV The banner with Mia’s threat still hung at the entrance of the Crescent Moon Pack’s territory, a constant reminder that she wasn’t done. She wanted my son. She was willing to burn everything down to get him. But she would fail. Because I wouldn’t let her win. And she had underestimated one thing—my son wasn’t just any child. He was being protected by forces she could never understand. The moon was high in the sky when I finally allowed myself to rest. The pack had doubled their patrols, warriors were stationed at every corner, and Ryker had personally ensured the borders were sealed. Still, sleep didn’t come easily. I turned in bed, staring at the ceiling, listening to Ryker’s steady breathing beside me. The weight of the pack, the war that was coming, the fear of what Mia might do next—it all pressed down on me. I exhaled, closing my eyes, trying to force myself into sleep. Then, suddenly— A shift in the air. The temperature in the room dropped. And I felt
Zara’s POV The moment Arcturus vanished, a strange silence filled the room. The weight of his words lingered in the air, pressing down on me like an unseen force. "When the time comes… you must be the one to end her." Mia. My own sister. My greatest enemy. I exhaled sharply, trying to steady my breathing. Ryker was watching me, his golden eyes unreadable. “Are you okay?” he finally asked. I wanted to say yes. I wanted to pretend that the knowledge of my fate didn’t shake me to my core. But I was shaken. Because deep down, I knew the truth. Mia wasn’t just going to fall. She was going to take everything with her if I didn’t stop her first. The eerie silence didn’t last long. Because a second later, a deafening boom shattered the air. The walls trembled. The glass windows cracked. Ryker and I exchanged a sharp look before sprinting toward the door. Outside, chaos had erupted. The night sky was painted red with flames. Smoke billowed from the western side of the pac
Zara’s pov I didn't sleep that night. Mia’s face haunted me—her rage, her twisted conviction, the chilling emptiness that had replaced the sister I once knew. Her words echoed in my mind, each syllable a thorn I couldn’t dislodge. By morning, I felt hollow, a shell of nerves and guilt. The sun broke through the window of my cabin, washing everything in harsh, indifferent light. The pack was already stirring outside, but their presence felt distant. I didn't know what to do. Arcturus’s warning weighed heavy on my chest. Mia’s threat was real, and if I didn't stop her, Black Ridge—everyone I cared about—could be dragged into the chaos she was willing to unleash. And yet, the thought of raising a hand against her, of becoming her executioner, twisted my stomach into knots. I forced myself to the training grounds, hoping that physical exhaustion might drown out the conflict in my head. Wolves of all ages gathered in clusters, sparring and practicing, their laughter and banter cut
Zara’s POV The air was crisp as I stood at the edge of the territory, my heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and nervous excitement. It had been six months. Six months of silence. Six months of peace. No threats, no whispers of Mia, no shadows lurking in the corners of my mind. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I was free. And I was ready to go home. Atlas stood before me, his golden eyes burning with unspoken emotion. He hadn’t changed—still as strong, still as breathtakingly commanding as the day we met. But there was something softer about him now. Something that told me he had waited for this moment, hoping, yet never forcing me into a decision I wasn’t ready to make. But I was ready now. “I never thought I’d see the day,” Atlas murmured, his voice deep and rich. “Zara, you’re back.” I stepped closer, inhaling his familiar scent—pine, rain, and something uniquely his. “I never should have left in the first place.” His jaw tensed, his hands
Thorold’s POVThe next few days passed in a haze of routine — training, lectures, patrol assignments — but beneath it all, a quiet hum of tension had settled in my chest. Like a wire pulled too tight.And I couldn’t shake the feeling that it had Damon’s name all over it.He hadn’t done anything wrong. Not exactly.He hadn’t asked too many questions.He hadn’t stepped too close.He hadn’t touched the subject of my fire, or the trial, or the stories whispered through the Academy halls.But sometimes, that was the problem.Everyone else stared too long. Asked too much. Or avoided me like I was cursed.But Damon? Damon knew exactly when to look away. Exactly when to say just enough.And lately, my wolf had started to grow restless around him.It was during combat drills that it happened.We were paired together — again — which shouldn’t have surprised me. Damon and I had somehow become a convenient duo. Sparring partners. Study allies. Quiet company in an otherwise loud, watchful world.B
Thorold’s POVThe world didn’t feel quite right anymore.It wasn’t the nightmares. It wasn’t the silver fire still simmering under my skin, or even the whispers in the halls that followed me like shadows. No, this was something quieter. Subtler.Something just beneath the surface.Like being watched.I caught it sometimes — a flicker of a presence just out of view, a scent I couldn’t trace, a silence that arrived too quickly when I entered a room.And yet… no one said a word.The instructors treated me like any other Alpha candidate. A few were colder than others, but that wasn’t new. I was the Veilborn. Every step I took cracked someone’s sense of safety.But still, the sensation lingered.So when he arrived, I wasn’t sure if I should be relieved… or alarmed.His name was Damon Vale, and he joined the Alpha program three days after my trial.“Transfer from the Blackpine Pack,” Headmistress Calista had announced. “Late acceptance due to unusual aptitude scores and a request for specia
Third-Person POVThe chamber was hidden deep beneath the cliffs of Morwyn Hollow, far from any known packlands. The stone was ancient, veined with gold and ash, pulsing faintly with the kind of old magic that predated even the Moon Goddess herself.Here, no wolf howled. No birds sang. No wind stirred.Only whispers.Twelve figures stood in a circle—hooded, masked, and silent as the grave. Each bore a different insignia across their chest: crescent moons, fanged wolves, serpent coils, thorned roses, and one with the simple mark of flame.These were not just Alphas.They were the Council of Balance — a coalition formed centuries ago to safeguard the natural order of the supernatural realms.They had no name in history books. No official seats in court. But they were everywhere. Watching. Guiding. Intervening when power threatened peace.And tonight, they gathered for one reason.The Veilborn had awakened.A circle of flame flickered in the center of the room, casting long shadows. One f
Zara’s POVI felt it before the messenger arrived.A crackle in the bond. A ripple in the magic that wove between mother and son — thin, faint, but unmistakable.Something had happened.I was in the private garden behind the Stormfang manor, barefoot in the grass, letting the last of the morning dew kiss my toes. I had been trying to find peace — the kind that comes when you know your child is finally where they belong.But instead, the earth trembled beneath my feet.I turned toward the east. Toward the direction of the Academy.And my breath caught.I didn’t see him. But I felt him. Power. Surging. Bursting through something buried. Something ancient. And for one terrible second, I wasn’t sure it was him anymore.I staggered, pressing a hand to the nearest tree, heart racing. The wind carried his name to me like a scream caught between realms.Ryker was already in the foyer when the scout arrived — his hair damp from training, his shirt half-buttoned. He’d sensed it too. We didn’t h
Thorold’s POVThe night air bit through my Academy uniform as I stepped into the open proving grounds. Torches lit the perimeter, casting flickering gold across the training arena. The full moon hung low, unnaturally large in the sky—like it had come closer just to watch.I wasn’t the only one summoned.At least twenty others stood in a wide circle, all around my age, dressed in various Alpha candidate uniforms. Some wore their pride like armor, others with practiced humility—but their eyes, all of them, gleamed with the same hunger.To lead.To win.To be remembered.I stood alone. No allies. No packmates. Just a name whispered in hushed tones—Thorold, the Veilborn.Caelan appeared beside me, grinning. “Didn’t expect the Trial to happen so fast, huh?”“No,” I said truthfully.“Good. That means it’s real.”Before I could reply, Headmistress Calista appeared at the far end of the field, flanked by a handful of instructors cloaked in ceremonial silver. When she raised her hand, silence
Thorold’s POV The Academy gates swung open just after dawn. The guards stiffened, straightened—then bowed Because no one mistook the two wolves who rode through the mist on black and silver horses, their presence turning the air electric. My parents. Alpha Ryker and Luna Zara. Stormfang’s Alpha and Luna. My blood. My legacy. They came like thunderclouds — silent, powerful, inevitable. And they were here for me. I sat upright as soon as I heard the approaching footsteps down the marble hall. Pain shot through my side, but I forced myself to stand. I wasn’t going to meet them lying in a bed like a broken thing. I was Thorold of Stormfang. Son of Ryker and Zara. Veilborn. When they entered, my chest clenched painfully. Zara saw me first. Her eyes—bright blue, the same shade as mine when I wasn't filled with Veilborn silver—filled with tears immediately. Not weakness. Not sorrow. Relief. Pride. She crossed the room in three strides,
Thorold’s POVThe world blurred at the edges.Colors twisted. The mist pulsed with a heartbeat not my own. And deep in my bones, something ancient howled to be set free.The Keepers hesitated—sensing the shift, the raw magic boiling in the air.But it was too late for them.Too late for any of us.The Veil inside me snapped like a whip—and the storm inside broke free.I felt my body stretch and shatter all at once.Silver energy poured from my skin, splitting the ground beneath my feet. The trees bent toward me, roots tearing free from the soil, writhing like hungry serpents.The Keepers tried to move. Tried to run. Tried to *fight.*But the earth answered me.I raised my hand—and the very ground exploded upward, throwing them through the trees like rag dolls.The wind howled in my ears, deafening, carrying whispers in languages older than the Moon Goddess herself.I couldn’t stop it. I didn’t know how.The power wasn’t flowing *through* me.It *was* me.I saw shapes throu
Thorold’s POV The Academy halls felt different after the trials. Students avoided my gaze now—some out of fear, others out of grudging respect. The instructors watched me more closely, their smiles tighter, their movements more rehearsed. The enemies hiding in plain sight had seen us win. And they didn’t like it. Which meant it was time to move first. We gathered again that night—me, Callen, Caelan, and Lyra—deep beneath the Academy in a disused archive, surrounded by dust and forgotten histories. A perfect place to plan rebellion. “We know the Keepers have someone on the inside,” Callen said, voice low. “Maybe more than one.” “They’re too organized,” Lyra added, tapping the hilt of her dagger against her thigh. “The attack wasn’t a random assassination attempt. It was a message.” I paced in front of the cracked stone fireplace, thinking. “They want to isolate me,” I said. “Make the other packs doubt me. Maybe even turn the Academy against Stormfang.” Caelan whistled s
Thorold’s POV The Academy’s golden halls felt colder the next morning. Every glance, every whispered conversation, every casual bump in the corridors—it all had a new edge. Paranoia. Suspicion. The attack in the hallway had changed everything. The Keepers had infiltrated the Academy. And they were hunting me. “You can’t fight this alone,” Callen said firmly as we walked through the stone gardens after our morning training. “I’m not hiding,” I growled. “No one’s asking you to hide,” Caelan said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “But if they’re going to play dirty, you need your own team. People who have your back.” I hesitated. I wasn’t used to relying on anyone but myself. Trust was dangerous. Trust got people killed. But... I glanced at them—Callen’s fierce loyalty, Caelan’s wild, unbreakable grin. Maybe not trusting was just as deadly. I exhaled sharply. “Fine. We build our own pack. A secret one.” Caelan clapped me on the back. “That’s more like it.” Callen’s bl