Rhea POVMy heart pounded against my ribcage. "This is how you powerful wolves behave. You take advantage of the weak female wolves, use them as toys for your satisfaction, and send them away like a disdain—disrespecting the bond entirely." My tone rose, carrying years of pain and humiliation. "Not that I even feel any bond after what Damon did to me." I muttered bitterly, my hands curling into fists. I heard the cricking sound of the door slam open after he had left seconds ago.“What did you just say?” he said, closing the door behind him. “We both know you are a failure. A rejection of a past that can't be fixed. Just be thankful to the Moon goddess you met someone like me.” the distance closing between us.The fragments of my heart being dumped away at a site that felt like me taking my own life.“I am not attending any training of yours.” I said, my tone stern with the ounce of confidence I couldn't yet fathom.“Would you keep quiet? Shut those gutters you call a mouth and not
Damon's POVEven though the morning air was chilly, it was nothing compared to the chill that crept into my veins when Garrick barged into my office. He had a pale face and a rapidly rising and falling chest. The guy who had fought next to me in innumerable conflicts now stood in front of me, trembling, waves of anxiousness washing over him. Without any niceties, he said, "My Alpha, have you heard?" His tone was piercing, tinged with something that caused my muscles to tense up in expectation. With my fingertips tapping the gleaming wood of my desk, I reclined in my chair. "And what exactly should I have heard, Garrick?" Even though I spoke in a measured tone, I felt tense because of the discomfort in his eyes.Garrick paused, looking at Luna Ria, who was standing at the window, glowing in the golden sunlight. Her auburn hair shone, and even though she maintained her composure, I could see that her head was tilted slightly—she was paying close attention. "With all due respect, Al
Writer PovWith frantic gasps, Damon's chest rose and fell as he lay stretched across the stone sidewalk. As he strained to push himself up, blood oozed from the severe gash on his cheek and stained his lips. However, Kael had already placed his boot on his shoulder, forcing him back down with such force that he let out a new groan of pain. As the event played out, Rhea remained motionless, her heart thumping in her chest. The battle had been vicious—one-sided, quick, and merciless. She would concede that Damon had tried, but he had little hope against Kael. The Lycan King had battled with a cold, calculated rage that allowed no space for mistake; he was too strong and too accurate.After spitting blood onto the floor with a cough, Damon looked up at Kael with a look that was equal parts angry and resigned. He uttered the words, "Kill me," in a hoarse but defiant voice. "Or are you too cowardly to complete what you began?"Kael's lips curled into something that seemed almost delighte
Writers POVThe walls were covered in long, agitated shadows from the soft crackling of the hearth fire. Rhea was motionless in bed, her breath irregular, her body drenched in perspiration. There was a problem. A fever burned deep in her bones, pulsing beneath her skin. The borders of the room vanished into void as her vision flickered in and out of focus. Then she heard it. A whisper that coiled through the air like mist, old and ethereal. *The Moon's Daughter...*Rhea opened her eyes. She sat up straight, her heart thumping madly against her ribs, her breath stuck in her throat. Although the voice had been quiet, it had a vibration that made her uneasy because it went right to the heart of her being. She looked about the poorly lit room, but she was alone. A dream. It had to be a dream.But as soon as her eyes landed on her palm, her stomach knotted. There was still the symbol. Silvery, faint, and faintly glowing in the dark. A deep, ominous feeling encircled her like chains, and
Writer POVAs Rhea stood in the open training yard, the cold seeped through her flimsy tunic, and the morning air was harsh and merciless. In sharp contrast to Kael's castle's polished hallways, the stone beneath her feet was uneven and rough. She was surrounded by warriors, whose faces ranged from inquisitive to downright contemptuous. She felt the pressure of their stares as she swallowed forcefully. It was more than just training. This was an opportunity for them to witness the alleged weak Omega's self-humiliation. With his arms folded across his wide chest, Kael stood at the edge of the yard. His voice was sharp as he spoke, but his face was still unreadable. "Rhea, do you want answers? Next, earn them. Here, strength is the only factor that counts.She was aware of this. An examination. A penalty. Perhaps both. However, she refused to give up. An imposing figure with a sneer on his face advanced as a warrior. She recalled his name: Garrick. One of Kael's most devoted warriors
Writer POVBreathing shallowly, Rhea leaned back against the chilly stone wall and tried to hear the angry voices coming from beyond the heavy wooden doors. The tension in the council chamber was evident as the elders of Kael raised their voices in a passionate manner, clearly frustrated. One of them angrily remarked, "She is dangerous." "What took place in the training yard was witnessed by you! She moves like something that isn't completely human or wolf. As if the term itself were filth, someone else spat, "She is an Omega." "Her presence is an insult to your court in and of itself." Although Kael's tone was cool, there was a warning in it. “She remains.”A murmur of discontent went across the gathered elders. Rhea’s hands curled into fists at her sides. They weren't merely discussing her as though she were their property; they were plotting her demise without getting her permission. "She is not your concern," Kael added in a calm, composed voice. "I own her." Rhea felt a knot
Rhea pov.There was an oppressive silence on the battlefield. The iron odor of death permeated the air, which smelled of blood and rot. Crimson seeped into my flesh like ink spread across paper as I stood in the middle of it all, my bare feet sinking into the slippery ground.In front of me, corpses extended in all directions; wolves, Lycans, and soldiers of all types, their bodies contorted in pain, their dead eyes gazing into space. I turned with cautious, hesitant steps, my pulse thumping in my chest, and a shiver ran down my spine.A whisper—a voice that seemed both familiar and alien—was carried by the howling wind.*Rhea.*I turned abruptly, and she was standing there.Originally, Jacqueline was the Luna Queen.At the same time, she was frightening and beautiful. Her dazzling golden eyes met mine with a ferocity that chilled me to the bone, and her silver hair fell over her shoulders. She was dressed in a flowing white robe that had not been touched by the blood all around us, b
Rhea POVWith the exception of the crackling of candles surrounding the stone walls, the training grounds were hauntingly quiet. Warriors stood in a broad circle, their faces displaying everything from curiosity to laughter, but the majority had a carefully veiled look of contempt. Kael stepped forward, his presence as dominating as ever, and I swallowed hard, keeping my shoulders square. His silver-blue gaze swept across the gathered fighters before focusing on me. "This is a test," he stated in a level but acerbic tone. Strength is not innate; it must be acquired in combat. She needs to prove herself if she wants to stay. The crowd echoed with a murmur. Some people laughed. Others grinned as though this were a mean joke.Fear made my stomach turn, but I fought the need to show it. I had made it through the rejection. I had survived the dungeon. And I'd made it through the agony of warriors who thought I was just an Omega who shouldn't share their air. I would also make it through
Damon’s POV The enormous hall of the Eclipse Coven's secret lair was filled with the smell of blood and burning herbs. The murmuring of dark-robed individuals blended with the crackling of magical candles around the walls, and they moved like shadows. The more I explored this area, the more I realized that this was more than just a group of witches vying for control. This was a destructive cult. As I followed my guide, a wiry man with hollow cheeks and eyes too black to be human, I maintained a neutral attitude. He guided me down the dark hallways until we came to an archway covered in dense purple smoke. Lilith waited outside.With onyx rings adorning her fingers that shone even in the dark, she sat on a throne of carved obsidian. As I got closer, her too-bright silver eyes stared at me. "You stand in front of me unharmed, even though you smell like a wolf." It was a venomous purr in her voice. "Damon, tell me why I shouldn't rip your heart out where it is."An inferior man would
Kael’s POV The wind carried the scent of damp earth and pine as I stood on the balcony of my war room, staring into the dark expanse of the forest beyond. It had been weeks since Rhea vanished, and every passing day ignited something raw and feral inside me. A hunger that I refused to name.I gripped the railing, my knuckles white. "She can't have gone far," I muttered, more to myself than to anyone else.Behind me, my Beta, Dorian, stood with his arms crossed, his expression carefully neutral. "We've scouted every known rogue hideout in the region. She’s a ghost, Kael. If she doesn’t want to be found—"I yelled, cutting off any further statements that escaped his mouth. "She will be found," moving to look at him. "Whatever it takes, I don't care. I want her back.” Dorian's eyes remained fixed. I both respected and despised him since he was one of the few who dared to challenge me. His voice was lower but no less forceful as he said, "Why?" "Why is it so important? You turned her d
Rhea’s POV Standing in the center of the exiles' camp, devoid of all except instinct and willpower, I felt the sharp, biting morning air. The soldiers were already assembled, creating a rough circle around me, even though the sun had just started to rise. They had skepticism and measured interest in their eyes, but no warmth. I was a wolf from a world that had rejected me, an outcast, an unknown. However, I was here to establish myself. To find the real root of my life. I was destined for more, to bring them all together, Mireya had declared. But how could I bring people together when I hardly knew how strong I was? I had lived my entire life adhering to the packs' regimented, regulated, and predictable fighting techniques. That was not the case with the exiles. They battled like shadows, adjusting to the turmoil and combining physical prowess with an almost imperceptible agility. I needed to learn. I also needed to learn quickly. The first obstacle arrived quickly. A man strode
Rhea’s POVAs I made my way through the thick woodland, the night engulfed me in its icy grasp. My limbs were sluggish from tiredness, and my breath came in ragged spurts. My deep wounds from the battle were burning with pain, and every stride sent a new wave of misery through my body. I touched my ribs, feeling the sticky wetness of blood under my ripped shirt. I didn't want to acknowledge how much harm Lilith's power had caused. But I was unable to stop. Not yet. I just needed to keep going; I had no idea where I was heading. I was surrounded by the smell of pine and moist dirt, and my only company was the sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. My vision was fuzzy at the edges, and my head swirled with vertigo. The fight, Kael's rage, and Damon's caution seemed far away now, like remnants of a past existence. Before I could catch myself, my foot slammed against a root and I fell to the ground. I felt a sharp pain that knocked the wind out of my lungs. With a moan, I turned over
Rhea’s POVPain. It was a harsh, persistent reminder of how near death I had been, and it throbbed through my body like a second heartbeat. My breath was ragged and shallow, and my limbs felt like stone. My senses were dimmed by the lingering effects of Lilith's black magic, and darkness that clouded the cage and my vision. The struggle inside of me had just begun as I looked through my blurry vision. Every clang of steel that fell on Lillith's scaly skin was a resistance to her pain. The fight was just between Lillith and Damon as my eyes caught Kael who stood at one end, his hands crossed across his chest, resting his eyes on Lillith. It was evident that despite the darkness Lillith exuded, Kael still had something for her. Something that gleamed like love.But on Damon's side was that of war and blood as every of Lillith’s hit were fluid and heavy on his skin, flinging Damon to the pillars of the coven. “Kael, what are you doing there?” Damon called out to Kael, blood flowing down
Rhea’s POV"Your entire existence is a mistake, Rhea." Through the chilly room, Lilith's voice crept like poison into my flesh. I did not flinch. I wouldn't let her feel satisfied. "You’re lying," I spat, battling the restraints. With each movement, the magic-infused metal that burnt against my wrists depleted my strength. Lilith merely grinned, a hint of amusement glimmering in her violet eyes. This was fun for her. She whispered, "Oh, Rhea," and paced me like a predator circles its victim. "You really don't know, do you? You've thought of yourself as unique your entire life. Selected. Foreordained to oppose me.”She stopped and cocked her head. "But tell me… who gave you that idea that you were able to stand Lillith the great leader of the Eclipse Coven." I tightened my jaw. "The prophecy—" "The prophecy was never about you." The chamber's air appeared to be motionless. "You’re lying," I said again, but the words didn't have the same bite. Lilith grinned more
Rhea’s POV It was too quiet at night. The first caution was that. Damp dirt, ash, and something wrong. Something twisted was the second scent. With no more than a breath, I muttered, "Do you feel that?" Beside me, Kael's body tensed, and he reached for his blade's hilt. A few steps ahead, Damon froze in mid-step. I could feel the same apprehension creeping down my spine as his piercing golden eyes flashed. Damon uttered the humble words, "We need to move," "Now." I gave a nod. However, when we walked for the first time— The earth below us moved. The earth split in two, surrounding us in a perfect, unavoidable circle as runes erupting in eerie violet flames. The magic tightened like a noose around my ribcage as it throbbed in the air. It was a trap. "MOVE!" yelled Kael. However, it was too late. As soon as I turned, the shadows appeared. Darkness shrouded the forms of figures that emerged from the trees. Lilith's instruction was evident in their eyes, which
Rhea’s POV The darkness seeped into the night. Before I saw it, I sensed it. A painful weight pushing down on my chest, a chilly pulse ripping through the air. Magic. Old magic. The type that consumed rather than merely seized power. The move was Lilith's. A wild wind blew through the trees, and the fire in the middle of our war camp flared fiercely. After a moment, the sky grew darker. From something much worse—an eclipse — not from storm clouds or the impending dawn. Kael whispered next to me, "No," his voice tinged with something that sounded like terror. I felt my breath catch as I followed his eyes. Across the valley, in the distance, a ring of violet light blazed against the darkness. The Eclipse Coven's insignia, a proclamation of war, burnt into the sky. "This is it," Damon said, squeezing his fists. Power dynamics had changed. Lilith had come out of hiding. They were responding when she called her forces to her—Damon paced the perimeter of the camp a
Rhea’s POV I was plagued by the name. Lilith. Long after the strange spy's body had become still, it continued to reverberate in my thoughts. For a long time, I thought that name was buried—forgotten. We were all unprepared for the storm that it brought with it when it battled its way back into reality. My thoughts were far away as I remained still and gazed at the fire that was flickering in our war camp. The one he lost. Kael's mate. The one he'd never mentioned. And the person who was now in charge of the Eclipse Coven, tugging the strings that had brought us to our destruction. I gently turned and looked directly at Kael. His normally keen face was dulled by something I couldn't quite put my finger on as he stood apart from us. Astonished? Pain? Fear? I had never before witnessed him in this state—unraveled. "Tell me the truth," I murmured, lowering my voice a bit. "Did you know?" Kael's jaw tightened. "Do you think I would have let this happen if I had?" T