[That man's POV] Altan was wiping Esen's tears, who was crying badly, into his shoulder when Zeta Eli came up to him and whispered into his ear, "Alpha Altan, tonight is our meeting with Ace Christ of Strigoi Grave Risen Coven. Don't forget that."Zeta Eli's words ran through his mind in a jumble, and he remembered his meeting tonight with the Ace of Strigoi Grave Risen Coven. The meeting was going to help Alpha Altan get an edge on his rivalry with the Vanara Pack, a chance for the Alpha to gain a stronger foothold over the other pack leaders."No, I mean, I remember this meeting," he said while looking at Esen's face. He can't leave her in this situation.At the question of Zeta Eli, Esen looked up at Altan, still crying a little. She was looking straight into his eyes with determination. He could see the fire burning in them, even though her eyes were still puffy from crying. She needed support in times like these. She was too strong to cry all alone. But he knew better than anyon
[That man's POV] Ms. Anastasia started to look at the thread tied on her left foot, which was tied after doing the witch rituals. "Just a few more hours," she thought while running her fingers on the thread and looked up back in the mirror, carefully. Very carefully, she was sitting each image in her mind, as if it might be the last time to see herself like this.And for the first time in her life, she wasn't looking good. She didn't have anything to hide anymore. She was free from hiding. Her long hair was loose again, not pinned in a tight bun, showing off the natural color. Her pale, soft skin was exposed without any kind of makeup."Don't be afraid. You have to fight for Emily, for your children, for your village," Ms. Anastasia said to her reflection. She tried not to sound sad because she wanted to give strength to her words and make them sound believable. She had to do everything to convince herself that this wasn't all fake."You are a mother. You can do that without any fear
[That man's POV] Zeta Eli was going to Saintmau without Alpha Altan. At night, he was running in his werewolf form through the Nagosia forest. His bluish silver fur was flying with air in different directions, and his golden eyes were fixed on the path ahead. His nose picked up the scent of blood as he ran over fallen trees and broken twigs.His ears flicked back, hearing his own breathing in his head. He could taste it too: metallic and bitter, like old metal from a car engine. It filled his mouth with saliva and made him want to vomit, but it also filled his throat and chest with a sense of pride. His teeth were sharp, as in he could rip any animal that came his way.Upon reaching Saintmau, he transformed back into his human form. The smell of death was so strong now that it almost choked Zeta's tongue, lingering in the air. The moon had been high up in the sky for hours. The Saintmau village was silent, not even the wind blowing through the tree leaves rustled. Zeta Eli took deep
[That man's POV] During the daytime, Nagosia forest looks like an endless maze of thick trunks and tall, slender trees that are just as hard to navigate through as the rest of it. The grass has been cut into long thin strips by thousands of years of frost and snowfall, and the trees have become so tall that they can almost reach through the clouds. There are no flowers in bloom yet, but the ground is filled with them. The sunlight cannot enter through leaves or branches here. This is the perfect place for a man with his mind and heart set on finding a lover to spend eternity with, but Eta Wolf Suzette was sitting alone there.As he saw Eta Wolf Suzette sitting alone in the Nagosia forest, even with just a glimpse of her face, it was enough to send shivers through his body. The feeling of adrenaline pumped throughout his body. His heartbeat increased so quickly that he could feel it reverberate in his throat. Even then, she didn’t see him as he slowly approached her. She sat there, st
[That man's POV] They woke up the next morning tangled up in each other's arms, limbs entwined and hearts beating steadily. For a few moments, they lay quietly, enjoying each other's warmth. Finally, he moved to pull her in for a kiss. She eagerly met his mouth with hers, letting herself be consumed by him.Their kiss deepened slowly until they both started to feel dizzy from lack of air. As she pulled away, their eyes finally opened, and they shared a look before bursting into laughter.“Oh my god, you are so cheesy,” she giggled as she nuzzled against him. “I can’t believe I fell for your stupid charms.” He wrapped his arms tighter around her, pulling her flush against his chest. He pressed another soft kiss on the top of her head.She sat up, stretching languidly and yawning deeply. She ran a finger along a smudge of mascara that had gathered on her cheek. He looked at her with a goofy grin. His eyes tracked the movement, lingering on the curve of her collarbone. She smiled softly
[That man's POV] Dhampir Silas took Ace Denzell away after the fight with Ultima Wolf Edric, but they had to stop halfway because Ace Denzell was bleeding profusely. When they arrived at a safe place, they sat down and Dhampir Silas tried to bandage him up as best he could. He got the first look at Ace Denzell's wound when he lifted his shirt to reveal that it was infected and swollen. He was careful not to touch any open wounds to prevent infections. His hands were shaking; he hadn't been able to heal people in years and was scared of causing pain.Dhampir Silas’ fingers brushed against a particularly tender spot on Ace Denzell’s back, and he winced at the feeling. Blood was running down from this particular spot. Dhampir Silas took his handkerchief out of his pocket and pressed it to Ace Denzell's wound, trying to slow the flow of blood. It wasn't working as well as he hoped.Dhampir Silas gently touched his wrist. "Is your pulse still going fast, or are you having problems breath
[That man's POV]As soon as Altan left, Esen started preparing breakfast. "I don't know whether Gran would have eaten anything or not?" This thought made her even more worried. At first, it was Emily who took care of her food and drink, but now, "I wonder how she spent her night?" she wondered as she rummaged in the cupboards for something that looked edible.When she opened the fridge, she saw meatballs, soups, and fruits. There were a few vegetables and some bread. "But what would she eat?" she thought to herself.When nothing came to mind, she put some rice into a pan and set it on the stove to cook. It smelled like it wasn't going to turn out quite right, but it was better than nothing. Then she went back for another pot of milk and water to keep at a low boil to make the tea. She was now comfortably touching the juice bottle because of the gloves. The gloves were her best bet with this situation. Now nothing can turn into ice after her touch.After a few seconds, she sniffed some
[That man's POV]In the Coven prison, many Moroi and Dhampirs are held captive for their crimes against the vampire community. The prison is usually hidden from the mortal world and can only be accessed by those who possess magical abilities.The entrance to the prison is guarded by powerful spells and enchantments to prevent any unauthorized entry. These prisons are dark and eerie places, with dimly lit corridors and cells made of stone.The cells are small and cramped, with no windows or natural light. The walls are covered in ancient symbols and runes, which are said to contain the magic of the prisoners.The prisoners themselves are dressed in tattered robes and are chained to the walls or floors of their cells. They are closely monitored by the guards, who are also skilled in magic and can neutralize any attempts at escape.They are often subjected to harsh punishments and torture, and many of them have lost their sanity after years of confinement. In the prison, there is a lot o
[Author's POV]She stood up, holding her injured arm, and slowly limped along the path which leads upwards. The walls were covered with small scratches and scrapes as she climbed the steep path up to the opening of the hole. She looked up at the top of the rocks towering over her. They were dark grey, and looked smooth like marble. They sparkled under the light, like the scales of some strange beast she’d seen once in a book. But unlike any beast she’d ever seen or even read about, there was nothing alive behind these cliffs. There is nothing to be afraid of.She looked down and saw that the trail leading up to the hole was covered in sand and stones. It led straight up to the top, but there was nowhere near enough room for a large animal like the Stalagtor to go through. The tunnel curved sharply to the right before turning around the corner. The tunnel was much smaller than the one she was used to climbing, but somehow she was sure that she knew exactly what she was heading towar
[Elara's POV]I continued coughing violently until my throat hurt, and I couldn’t even feel my legs anymore. Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled blindly along the cold tunnel. When I reached the end of the passageway, I collapsed onto the ground, still coughing uncontrollably. After a few moments, my breathing began to slow, and I rested my head against the cold floor. Stalagtor was nowhere to be seen. I lay there for a few more minutes before finally deciding that moving wasn’t an option. Even if I could stand on my own two feet now, I knew I wouldn’t make it to any place safe. I had run out of energy hours ago, when all my body wanted to do was collapse in relief. The only thing keeping me going right now was the faint hope of survival.I stood up and walked towards the edge, where I saw a huge sculpture of my face cemented in the water, stuck in place like a dead fish. Frowning, I knelt down and tried to touch the water slowly, but it kept slipping through my fingers. The water s
[Elara's POV][Lost her memory of past few days]I backed away as the creature launched its attack. Clutching the sword from the temple, I struck at it, but the blade passed through its misty fog as if it were nothing. I knew it wasn’t my mother. The Echo Wraith always appeared as a familiar face—a loved one, a long-lost friend, or a figure from the victim’s past—only to grotesquely distort and morph into a disturbing mask of anguish or malevolence. The expressions on its face are exaggerated and twisted, reflecting the lies and deceit it preys upon. One moment it might seem sorrowful, and the next, it could sneer with malevolence. Its misty form occasionally shimmers with an eerie glow that highlights its undulating contours and shifting visage, creating an unsettling contrast with the surroundings.The Echo Wraith’s movements are eerily silent and fluid, and its presence brings a numbing cold that enhances the sense of an entity from beyond, making its touch feel like the icy grip o
[That man's POV]The locket lay there, in the same dirt where the Pawn Clara had bumped into the Elf Trixie. Bishop Eloise watched carefully, moving her eyes around as if she were going to steal something, but she did not see anyone.She took a cold breath and instructed Elf Trixie to lay Pawn Clara down in the shade, as her body burned in the sun. It wasn't just her hands or arms; the entire rest of her was on fire. She could feel it burning through every cell that made up her body – inside and out.Bishop Eloise bends down and starts running her fingers through the dirt to pick the locket up. She quickly picks it up and moves towards Pawn Clara, cleaning the dirt off it. But she is surprised to see Rook Theia and Gobi Zalika from behind the tree.Elf Trixie first glances at the two of them and then glances at Pawn Clara. Blisters are forming due to burns on her body."It's okay, just relax. You're all right," said Elf Trixie, trying to calm Pawn Clara.Pawn Clara was not responding;
[That man's POV]It took a long time for the Gravefur Pack to reach Markkhstan Dari, as the town was quite far from the forest, and the entire pack had to be carried along. But they made it there with barely any problems, as if nothing terrible had happened while they were out there trying to find their pack mates.They arrived at the town with little fuss. The townspeople were still shocked over what had happened, but they managed to keep their shock hidden. Because this was the second time a werewolf had stepped into that place, no one wanted to see this happen again.As soon as they reached Markkhstan Dari, they spread all around. They did not know how their pack mates were doing or what their condition was.The smell of the town was a little strange this time, it was the same energy that Alpha Altan had felt in the pack house a few days back. It looked like they had found a strange new land.“This place is weird,” says Ultima Wolf Drik. “I’ve been here before. It smelled good, but
[That man's POV]Hearing the chirping of birds, it is time for the moon to go back to sleep in the sky where they belong. The sun has just set, and the light of dawn is beginning to illuminate the land from a distance. But today, it doesn't feel peaceful as usual; no one knows what news this day's sun is bringing. No one knows for whom this sun will be the cause of victory and for whom it will be the cause of defeat.A group of people gathered under the cover of trees in front of Dark Shadow Coven. It was Strigoi who had come to get their revenge. They had already waited a long time. One by one, they took out their weapons; some were armed with swords and knives, while others were holding sharpened stakes. Their expressionless faces showed no sign of emotion or mercy.Some were dressed in the dark robes of the vampires. Most of them carried a bow, a quiver full of arrows, and a dagger for each hand and they all stood ready to do battle. They were prepared and ready for the war.The St
[That man's POV]"Where is Gamma Kai?" Alpha Altan questioned Alpha Lowell with a roar of anger. In search of him, they were dispersed in two places: some wolves went to the city where he used to live, and some were looking for him in the Nagosia forest. But halfway, they saw the Vanara Pack, which was coming to attack them."Calm down, calm down," Alpha Lowell said to Alpha Altan with a sarcastic smile."You need to get ready for battle before we start it off. We have to take their numbers into consideration," Alpha Altan growled, his teeth bared and bloodlust evident on his face.Alpha Lowell continued to provoke him without missing a beat; he wanted to take revenge for the condition of Howl Wolf Thor, for the blood of Triple Changer Oz, and Theta Wolf Azeil.But Alpha Altan had no time for all this; he needed to find Gamma Kai. He needed to make sure that he was safe, that he was alive, that he wasn't hurt.But one thing still confused him: if Vanara Pack is here for the fight, th
[That man's POV]When they reached the north side, they saw that it was a different world, but there was not much hustle and bustle like the city. Silver lake with diamond ore looked so beautiful in the morning, and the rays of the sun falling on diamond ore under the silver water made it as if everything was covered in glittering stars.In the winter, when snow and ice were still here, it looked like a diamond trapped inside a glass jar. There were many wildflowers growing around the silver lake.The town was small but charming with small houses like huts made of transparent colorful stones and green trees surrounding them. Everything seemed to be glowing under the golden light. It was as if the whole world was made up of jewels and crystals. The townspeople seemed to live in harmony with each other. They didn't know that they were living in heaven.As they walked through the town, they couldn't help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility. The air was fresh and clean, and the soun
[That man's POV]The sun of the day had set with all its light and rays, but the moon was yet to rise. Far away in the clear sky, the little North Star was watching every scene happening on earth, as if someone had placed a spy to keep an eye on the earthlings, and was keeping them from discovering the secrets that lay beneath their beautiful surface.The North Star was a benevolent being who looked out over every life form that inhabited the earth. The North Star knew everything that happened on earth, and what went on in heaven.Zeta Eli was sitting in the packhouse looking intently at the open sky. A little more than three minutes had passed since he had started staring up into the clear blue sky.His face was calm, like when you are meditating; no thoughts, no worries, nothing to distract you, nothing to distract your mind. He could stay there for an eternity without even noticing that time had passed.Sometimes a gust of wind blew the hair in front of his eyes and tossed it from