She could hear panicked voices, but she could not hear what anyone was saying as she regained consciousness. Her ears were ringing, and her eyes stung. She tried to move, but she was unable to do that. She tried moving her hands to the cause of the sharp pain in her neck, but they would not comply. Her arms flail about uselessly beside her. She could hear her uncle, Nick. The fog in her head cleared and she could finally recognize his voice and tried calling out to him, but it came out as a hoarse whimper. It was like a low whine. What was wrong? She wondered as she lost consciousness again. “She does not even know the complete origin of our existence,” Ophelia heard a familiar voice say. “She is completely unaware of anything. She has not even shifted yet. It would be detrimental for him now, especially since he marked her.” “Who did not know anything, and who was marked?” She wondered. As she tried to adjust her body to a more comfortable position, a sharp pain from her neck drew
CHAPTER 19 Ophelia sat down quietly as she gazed outside the window. It had been a tough couple of days. Waking up and realizing she had been forcefully marked by her mate filled her with resentment. She did not even want a mate, and he could not be a decent person and get to know her before forcing intimacy on her. If she had already shifted, her connection to him would have been stronger, and she would have been unable to stay away from him. However, the case was different for her, which she was grateful about. If anyone had ever told her she would be happy she had not shifted, she would have called out the person's bluff. However, looking back, she was relieved she had not shifted. At least she would not be forced to be around an inhumane mate. The oracle told her that she had not yet shifted because her soul had not fully merged with her body. However, when that happens, she would be able to transform, and that is when the mark on her neck would activate, and she would be
Marcus groaned. He sprawled on the ground due to exertions of training. He even considered mutiny at some point. Aaron had done a number on him in the last few weeks since his mate asked him to leave. God alone knew why?! He never said anything about the incident since then. All he did was train and sneak into the Pierce manor to stare at his mate from a distance, never approaching her. He would not even speak to anyone, and problems kept piling up. If Aaron continued like this, it would be disastrous. That fool! He goes animalistic and claims her without consent on the floor, in the middle of the woods, like a barbarian. Suddenly, he wants to be the proper gentleman and obey her wishes of not wanting to see him. The relentless physical exercise was draining, and he was tired of all the training. He could not keep this up any further. Each day's training drove him closer to being unconscious due to exhaustion by the end of the day. The only reprieve they got was when he
CHAPTER 21 One of the worst feelings is living and not knowing who to trust. The weight of suspicion was a heavy burden to bear. Having to look over your shoulder at any given point in time, thinking through every piece of information you share, and not being able to trust people you called allies, constantly expecting to be stabbed in the back, was heart-wrenching. Treachery always costs a lot to the one getting betrayed and to the betrayer. There was always a price to pay. Sadly, in this case, Ryan had paid the price with his life. It was sad. “You mentioned you lost contact with the scouts you sent, correct," Aaron asked Richard. “Yes!” “Where did you lose contact with them?” I last heard from them right before they crossed the western border.” Richard replied “Leon’s territory? Aaron queried. “That is right,” Richard affirmed. “And Leon called for my dethronement at the last summit?” “That is correct,” Richard affirmed again. “What are you thinking?” Richard asked, p
CHAPTER 22 Ophelia was still in the garden when Nick approached her. He had excused Aaron and his father to talk. “What got you so lost in thoughts?” He queried as he approached her with even steps. “It’s nothing,” she replied curtly. There was no way she would open up about her current thoughts to him. “There has been something I have meant to ask,” she added. “Shoot,” he responded. “When I regained consciousness at the temple, I overheard you all discussing. I did not completely understand what you were saying, but something stuck in my mind. I have heard it a lot since I got here and noticed something different about the wolves here in the North. Back in the temple, I heard you guys say that I did not know our true history. When we were on our way to the clearing the night of my birthday, you called my mom an ordinary wolf, and when I overheard your conversation the other night at the study, you emphasized “your kind” as if there was something different about you and oth
CHAPTER 23 “Come on! Do not be like that. I have gone out of my way to give you a nice place to stay, and you choose to repay my hospitality with a growl. Such a bad-tempered man you are,” the cloaked man said in amusement. Infuriated! Ethan growled louder and yanked at his chains with all the strength he could muster. He wanted to rip off the head of that bastard who locked him up and lacked the courage to show his face. What a disgusting coward. He thought. “Ooouuu!!! Let us reign in on that temper now, shall we? We do not want to hurt ourselves now. After all, we are still useful,” the cloaked man said. “I will kill you!” Ethan spat with clenched teeth. “That sent a shudder down my spine. I am quaking with fear in my boots.” The man mocked. “Get comfortable. You are going to be here for a while,” he said, making a move to leave. “Do you think no one will notice my absence?” Ethan threw behind his retreating figure. “I will give them more things to worry about. You w
CHAPTER 24 The past few days had been hectic for Richard. He had been training the wolves Aaron selected. He could not neglect Ophelia’s training, so his time was thin. It had been a while since Richard felt so alive. He was thrilled to be able to train young wolves. His servants had finally contacted him with news, and they would be back shortly. He could not wait for the report they had. Aaron and Ophelia had been taking things slow. She was slowly but surely opening up to Aaron. They were a lot closer now, and he was happy for them. No matter how little it was, it was still progress. “They have arrived, master,” one of Richard’s subordinates said, interrupting his train of thought.“ Send them to the study and inform Nick. I will be there shortly,” he responded. The scouts looked horrible and malnourished. They cleaned up, but there were glaring scars on their bodies. Who or what would be responsible for putting his men in such a condition? His heart ached for them. Aft
CHAPTER 25 “It will be okay,” he said after their passionate kiss. Her eyes flared with panic as she looked at him and shook her head, “No! Aaron, it will not be okay! I cannot do this,” she sobbed again. “I do not fit into your lives here in the North. It feels like we are worlds apart, and the distance still keeps growing,” she said. “I have been going down the hierarchical ladder, and now it feels like I am at rock bottom,” she rambled. “You do not have to fit into my life or any other life, Lia,” he said softly. “What exactly are you so scared of?” He asked. “Everything!” She cried out. “Their expectations and demands, their judgment and scrutiny. Look at me! I am a lone wolf. I cannot shift. I am weak, defenseless, and helpless. How do I become Luna to people who value strength when I am anything but strong? No one will accept me,” she voiced her fears. “The only expectation that matters now is yours, baby girl. It is now our life, and you are not alone. You have
CHAPTER 61The ground had caved inwards, taking them with it as shrieks of horror filled the air, and the only other sound was the grinding of distant gears.They fell for an unknown period before they finally landed on hard ground. Their figures were caked in dust as they coughed and heaved. Their eyes soon adjusted to their new environment. The lights lit up in this chamber, and they did not need to carry torches.The corridors were wide, and beyond them were bronze statues. Dozens of them, knight figures carved, each holding a weapon. At first, they looked decorative, but Cayla knew better. “Trap statues,” she whispered, “Probably motion triggered.” “That’s not possible. We just left the chamber of physical traps. We have never faced the same thing twice,” a warrior scoffed.“We did not leave the chamber of traps. We fell below the chamber we were in, so it is safe to assume that Cayla may be right,” General Cade interjected. Another warrior scoffed and moved forward, “They are
CHAPTER 60The stone door closed behind them and echoed loudly through the cavern and down their bones. A dull thud reverberated through the cave walls, throwing a dull vibration under their feet. The dust settled like an ancient breath as the torchlight flickered against the stone. Emperor Wudivra stood at the forefront of the group with his torch held high, his silhouette outlined by the golden flames of the fire that blazed in the darkness. The chamber stretched out before them, vast, looming, and silent. This space felt empty without logic, structure, or pattern. It was not like the previous chamber where the warriors had solved puzzles.This room was without markings or engravement on the walls or stone statues. There was a massive boulder ahead that seemed to hold a mechanical tool. It looked like a lever. If they pulled it, they would cross over or at least have a direction in this vast space of nothingness. With that thought in mind, Emperor Wudivra took a step forward, an
CHAPTER 59Cave of the Gods: Cryptic Symbols.The heavy air inside the cave seemed to press down on Cayla and her group as they ventured deeper into the cavern. They had just finished with the riddles, and a path opened for them. They were curious about what the cave had in store for them. They had only survived the first round.Their footsteps echoed in the silent hallway as they avoided the stalagmites protruding from below the cave. Their steps were the only sound from the water dripping in soft puddles from the stalactites above. Their torches flickered against the cold stone walls, casting long shadows around them that seemed to stretch and move with life. The cave was vast, its chambers filled with various wonders and dangers. It was clear to Cayla that this place had been untouched for millennia, and they wondered how it looked when the gods were in this plane. The statues seemed ancient, each crack and crevice on the stone walls telling a story from a time past. But it wasn’
CHAPTER 58They stepped forward together, and as they did, the stone plaque illuminated, revealing the first riddle carved into its surface."I cannot talk, but I always reply when spoken to. I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have nobody, but I come alive with the wind. What am I?"The emperor’s mind raced. The answer was just beyond his reach, like a word on the tip of his tongue, but it wasn’t coming to him. He glanced at the general, whose gaze was fixed on the inscription, as his fingers tapped against his chin.“I know this one,” he said, his voice steady. “It’s an *echo*. It speaks without a mouth and hears without ears because it reflects sound. And it comes alive when the wind carries the sound to bounce off surfaces. Just like the waterfall echoes around this cave.”The emperor nodded, impressed by his swift deduction. The general recalled the words that eluded. “Echo. That’s the answer.”The general stepped forward, placing his hand on the plaque. The stone sh
CHAPTER 57THE CAVE OF GODS: RIDDLE OF PASSAGE The entrance to the Cave of the Gods loomed before the emperor and his group. The air had grown heavy with the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. Ahead was a distant echo of dripping water, a waterfall maybe, that was reverberating through the dark cavern. That should be the location of the herb they came searching for.The cave’s jagged mouth appeared like the gaping mouth of an ancient creature or extinct beast. It was too big to be a creature they knew. But that was to be expected. It was the cave of the gods. The cave entrance did not look like it had been a natural formation etched into the mountainside. However, it seemed like it had been molded and half-hidden by thick vines and moss. But over time, it molded perfectly with the scenery.They would call it beautiful if it did not threateningly loom over them. There was an edgy feeling. Beyond the mouth of the cave lay something eerie and dangerous. No one knew what awaited them
CHAPTER 56The moon gently bathed the warriors in its ethereal glow as they emerged from the desert and appeared above the foot of the mountain. It’s gentle light cascading down the canopy of trees.The warriors released ragged breaths they did not realize they were holding. The last few days had been tough, but now, they were tired and weary. They looked around them to confirm if they made it across that treacherous desert. Their armor was battered and worn. They were gaunt and weary from the horrors they had endured, their faces marked by the scars of the horrendous battle they had fought. Their numb arms felt the weight of their weapons. They had endured so much, and yet somehow, they survived.Was this real? Or was this the desert playing tricks on them? Were they really out of the woods, or was this another torture conjured by the gods?They looked around and panicked. There was a hint of fear and trepidation in their expressions. It was safe to say they had been mortified, and
CHAPTER 55 They had finally made it to the caves. The rest of the warriors, whose flesh was turning to sand, gradually became normal. Being on the sand was turning them into sandmen. The weight of the revelation was heavy and unsettling. How could they escape? It was no wonder the leader of the sandman said they would not leave without a toll. Now that their numbers had further reduced, they did not know what would happen next. The apprehension weighed deeply in their chest. Did they want to know what lay further out there? Cayla had expended a lot of energy and needed the reprieve. She found a corner at the corner of the cave and lay down to rest. The silence was hanging in the air as the remaining survivors replayed the day's happenings. Cayla curled up against the cold, damp stone wall of the cave. Trying to quiet her breath for an unknown period. The echoes of the desert battle still rang in her ears, the roar of the sandstorms, the shrill cries of the dying warriors, the
CHAPTER 54 “Dammit!” The general cursed, backing away. It was futile. They couldn’t kill them, not in the traditional sense. Every time they struck one down, more emerged, sprouting from the ground beneath them. “Get ready!” He shouted as another wave of Sand Men surged forward. He swung his sword in a wide arc, slicing through the air with all the force he could muster. The blade cut through the sand, but it was like slicing through smoke. The creature collapsed into a mass of shifting grains, only to reassemble again, a new form rising from the dust. “Form up! Protect the king!” The second in command bellowed, his voice steady despite the chaos. His eyes were sharp, his old instincts kicking in. He had seen wars before, but never anything like this. The warriors pressed forward, their shields locked together, their spears aimed outward. They fought not to kill the sandmen but to keep them at bay. Each Sand Man that reappeared was a reminder of the desert’s ruthless power, its ab
CHAPTER 53But there was still a lingering question in their minds. Did they win? Was it a mirage? Or a hallucination? They did not have to wait for long before the answer became apparent. Their relief was short-lived as the tension returned to their weary bodies.By now, it felt like the gods were playing tricks on them. No, they were using them for entertainment purposes. The gods were peering down at them from their celestial plane and having a good laugh. Was it weird that they were getting chased by sand? Yes, it was. Was that the worst thing they witnessed? No. Was it the swarming sand locust that multiplied whenever they killed them that made them think so? No, it wasn’t. It was not even the two massive colossus creatures they conquered. The craziest thing that had happened was that their numbers had reduced, and they were not getting killed. No, they were not even getting captured. However, what they witnessed would give them nightmares. They had seen some of their comrades