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 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 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,
Zara's pov I froze at the top of the stairs, watching in horror as Mia tumbled down. She hit the floor with a sickening thud, a deep claw mark across her chest bleeding uncontrollably. My hands trembled, clutching the pregnancy test results I had fought so hard to hide. Panic consumed me, and before I could stop it, my wolf had surfaced. My claws had struck her. My sister. Ryker, my mate the one I had loved since childhood, the one I had always dreamed of standing beside—was by Mia’s side in an instant. His face was a storm of fury, his jaw clenched as his piercing eyes locked onto mine. In that moment, he wasn’t just my Alpha, the leader of our pack; he was the man I had spent my whole life longing for, trusting, and cherishing. But the words he spoke shattered me. “What have you done, Zara?” he roared, his voice echoing with raw anger. “How could you be so cruel?” I flinched as though he had struck me. His accusation, his disbelief in me, cut deeper than any wound ever could.
Zara's POV When I woke up, the world around me was disturbingly quiet, punctuated only by the hum of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic smell infiltrated my senses, and my body felt as if it were weighed down by a thousand bricks. My chest ached—not just from physical pain, but from the void left behind by my wolf, compounded by the heavy guilt pressing down on me. As I blinked until my surroundings came into focus, I noticed the cramped room clearly wasn’t designed for a long stay. As my surroundings came into focus, I took in the cramped room around me. The walls were stark white, bare except for a small, outdated clock ticking quietly above the door. A single narrow window let in a sliver of pale light, partially obscured by blinds that hadn’t been adjusted in years. The bed I lay on was stiff, the thin mattress offering little comfort, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. Most wolves healed quickly; places like this weren't built for a slow recovery. “Zara,” a fa
Zara’s pov As soon as Ryker stormed out, slamming the door, the silence felt suffocating. I stood there, heart breaking all over again. “I knew it,” I said softly to Luna Diana. “He never loved me—just saw me as a friend. I thought I was different, but I was wrong.” Luna Diana's expression softened, allowing me to continue. “Even when we were younger, I convinced myself it wasn’t personal. But now, I see he never really saw me. And now…” I touched my stomach, where our child grew. “I need to leave this pack,” I said firmly. “Not just for me, but for my baby. If I stay, we won’t survive.” Luna Diana’s eyes widened, but she nodded. “What do you need, Zara?” “I have some savings from part-time work when i was in the university. It’s not much, but it’s a start. I just need help getting to the human world, somewhere I can hide and raise my baby.” After a long moment, she sighed. “I’ll help you. There’s someone I know at an art institution looking for someone with dance e
Zara's POV When I woke up, the world around me was disturbingly quiet, punctuated only by the hum of fluorescent lights. The antiseptic smell infiltrated my senses, and my body felt as if it were weighed down by a thousand bricks. My chest ached—not just from physical pain, but from the void left behind by my wolf, compounded by the heavy guilt pressing down on me. As I blinked until my surroundings came into focus, I noticed the cramped room clearly wasn’t designed for a long stay. As my surroundings came into focus, I took in the cramped room around me. The walls were stark white, bare except for a small, outdated clock ticking quietly above the door. A single narrow window let in a sliver of pale light, partially obscured by blinds that hadn’t been adjusted in years. The bed I lay on was stiff, the thin mattress offering little comfort, and the faint scent of antiseptic in the air. Most wolves healed quickly; places like this weren't built for a slow recovery. “Zara,” a fami
Zara's povThe rest of the flight passed in a blur, my thoughts consumed by the frozen bank account. I couldn’t relax, couldn’t enjoy the fleeting sense of calm that Adrian’s company had offered. I kept replaying the notification in my mind, the words administrative action echoing like a warning bell. Someone had deliberately blocked my access to the money I needed to survive here. I fought the urge to open my phone again, to check for any updates, but I couldn’t afford to let my guard down. There were too many unanswered questions. Who had the power to freeze my account? And why now, of all times? As the plane began its descent, I made a mental list of people who might be involved. Ryker was an obvious suspect—he was always protective of me, but his need for control had pushed him to do some dangerous things in the past. Then there was Mia, whose relationship with me had become more strained with each passing year. But no matter how hard I tried to think it through, there was one
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
Thorold’s POV The next morning, the Academy of the Moon didn’t hum with its usual routine. It buzzed. Tense. On edge. I caught the looks being thrown at me—half curiosity, half wariness. Whispers trailed behind me wherever I walked. "That's him..." "The Veilborn..." "Stormfang blood..." "Prophecy child..." And beneath the awe was fear. I couldn’t blame them. If I’d heard legends of a cursed heir who would either save or doom the world, I’d be wary too. Still, it was suffocating. Caelan and Callen flanked me like bodyguards as we crossed the main courtyard toward the Grand Assembly Hall. “You’re famous,” Caelan said with a grin. “You’re also probably one assassination attempt away from being infamous.” I snorted. “Thanks. Comforting.” Callen stayed silent, his blue eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk. He didn’t trust anyone—and honestly, neither did I. The Academy bell tolled once. Time to face whatever the hell they had planned for me. The Grand Assembly Hall
Thorold’s POV The proving grounds roared with energy. Torches blazed along the perimeter, casting long shadows across the circle of worn earth and ancient stone. A hundred young wolves gathered, all in gleaming uniforms, each scent sharp with nerves, ambition—and bloodlust. The bell tolled again, echoing through the night like a countdown to war. I tightened the necklace around my throat—the moonstone pendant my mother had given me—and stepped into the circle. Caelan appeared at my side, grinning like a lunatic. “First Trial is simple,” he said. “Knock your opponent out of the circle. Or make them yield.” Simple. Deadly. I glanced around, sizing up the competition. Wolves shifted restlessly. Some flexed claws. Others bared fangs. And their eyes—so many eyes—turned toward *me*. They knew who I was. Or at least... who they *thought* I was. The Veilborn. The Lost Heir. The Threat. Good. Let them see me. Let them know me. The Headmistress’s voice rang out over the proving
Thorold’s POVWhen I woke the next morning, there was something different in the air. It wasn’t the threat that had haunted me in my dreams. It wasn’t fear or battle-readiness humming through the walls of Stormfang.It was... excitement.And it terrified me more than anything else.I found my parents waiting in the war room—not dressed for battle, but dressed like this was a normal day. Zara wore a simple silver tunic, her hair braided back neatly. Ryker leaned against the table, arms folded, wearing dark leathers but no armor.Seris sat in the corner, sipping tea, a faint smile tugging at her lips.Something was up.Ryker straightened. “We’ve made a decision.”I stiffened. “About what?”My mother Zara stepped forward, her hands clasped loosely. “You need more than just fighting, Thorold. More than just strength.”I frowned. “I’m already training harder than most warriors.”“Yes,” she agreed gently. “But that's not all being an Alpha—or the Veilborn—requires.”I stared between them. “
Thorold’s POV Stormfang had welcomed me and my parents had embraced me. The walls I had built around my heart had cracked But peace had never felt heavier. Everywhere I turned, I saw what could have been—the boy I should have been, the life I should have lived. Training grounds where I would have sparred alongside future warriors. The great library where my mother would have read to me beneath the golden banners. The alpha's war room where my father would have taught me about duty and leadership. Instead, I was a stranger here. A ghost wearing flesh. And every time I breathed in Stormfang’s scent—the scent of pine, frost, and pack—I wondered if I could ever truly belong. Training in the Old Ways “You're stiff,” Ryker said, circling me in the empty training yard. The sunrise lit his golden eyes, turning him into a shadow and flame figure. “I'm adjusting,” I grunted, rolling my shoulders. “You don’t have time to adjust,” he snapped—not cruelly, but urgently. “You’re th
Thorold’s POV The gates loomed in the distance—tall, silver-capped, and guarded by two towering stone wolves that glinted in the sunlight. The name had always sounded like a myth to me. A distant place spoken about only in riddles and half-truths. The pack my blood came from. The home I was never meant to see. And yet… here I was. Riding between two legends—my father, Alpha Ryker, his expression unreadable; and my mother, Luna Zara, her presence radiating calm even as her fingers gripped the reins of her horse just a little too tightly. This was the place where I would have taken my first steps. Spoken my first word. Shifted for the first time. Instead, I was returning as a stranger. But not for long. I glanced sideways at them—my parents. Even thinking the word still felt foreign. Parents. I had said it aloud for the first time only days ago, and now it beat through my chest like a new rhythm I hadn’t learned to dance to yet. They were quiet beside me. But not distant. Not