Evans’ POVThere was complete darkness in the temple. The burning pain in my hand subsided to a dull throb, and I began to breathe in shallow, short gasps. As if whispering secrets only I could hear, the hilt of the golden dagger, the **Blood Oath Blade**, was still firmly grasped in my fingers. Kieran was kneeling next to me, his hands firmly grasping my shoulders, his voice gruff with haste. "Evans! Speak up!” I made an effort, but my throat felt constricted, as if something invisible were pressing against it. My heartbeat pounded like war drums in my ears, and the pressure in my chest increased. The whisper then resurfaced. * "The Lunar Queen has made her decision. However, will she govern or burn? * All at once, the torches around the walls rekindled, illuminating the massive carvings that line the stone walls of the temple with flickering light. Beside me, Kieran tensed up, his silver eyes sweeping across the shifting darkness. "What the devil is happening, Evans?
Kieran’s POVLike an iron collar, the Nightclaw Alpha's mistrust weighed heavily on me. The pack was a broken entity, trapped between awe, dread, and the harsh truth of the war that was drawing nearer and nearer ever since the battle, when Evans' mark had blazed and wolves had bowed before her voice. Evans was at the centre of it all. She was evolving. In the energy that crackled around her, invisible yet sensed by every wolf that dared to stand too close, as well as in the way she carried herself, her shoulders squared as though she were carrying the weight of something invisible. In the past, I had witnessed her retreat, repressing whatever supernatural force was residing within her. Now, though? It was now becoming lost in the cracks. The pack sensed it, too. The Nightclaw Alpha, Gregor, strode in front of me in the dark council chamber, his annoyance obvious. "Kieran, you run the danger of being here. It's worse with Evans around. You expect me to let her stay
Evans’ POVThe warrior's eyes were fixed in a dead gaze as his body lay still on the floor of the war hall. My name, his last word, reverberated in my brain like a spectral whisper that would not go away. Beside him, Kieran knelt with his wolf barely contained beneath his skin, his fists clenched. I could feel the mistrust of the Nightclaw elders choking me as they stood in stiff stillness around us. With his eyes fixed on the marks etched into the lifeless warrior's arms, Gregor, the Alpha of the pack, had not yet spoken. Despite the lump in my throat, I swallowed. I knew I was going to be the next topic of discussion concerning this act. I felt it even if I didn't know how. When Gregor finally spoke, "Evans," his voice was low and tinged with an unintelligible word. "Are you aware of what this signifies?" My fingers clenched into the fabric of my cloak, I shook my head, shrugging my shoulders. "No Alpha Gregor. I am not aware." He looked at me like he was looking for a
Kieran’s POVI didn't hesitate when I heard the crash coming from Evans' chambers. My instincts sharpened as I tore down the corridors, my wolf charging forward. My stomach twisted into knots as the air was filled with the smell of blood. Evans dodged a dagger as I threw the door open, her golden eyes blazing with fury and strength.In the little candlelight, two shadowy creatures hovered above her. I knew it was her fault that one was already falling, but the other was relentless.The assassin was too quick. Too talented. He aimed his flashing blade toward her throat, seeing her eyes from the flick seconds already closed for the acceptance of defeat. I shrieked. “No!”I made a lunge at the figure.I tackled him in the middle of his blow, and a savage snarl tore from my breast. We rolled over jagged wooden splinters and smashed onto the floor. He got up fast and flipped over, but I was there immediately, my fists swinging, hitting his ribs with a crack that made my stomach turn.
Evans’ POVI couldn't get the message etched into the scout's body out of my head. * "Her awakening will bring the end of us all." * The words had echoed like a prophecy whispered from the depths of something ancient and relentless, and I had hardly slept since they were said out loud. I ran from the room, leaving Kieran to the strange figure as I held my head due to the loud muffled noises. *Evans. Your awakening will bring the end of us all.* I sensed it in every look and cautious stride around me, even though no one had stated it directly. The pack was terrified– war-afraid. Fearful of me, and already disdaining me. I was, too, for the first time. ******The aroma of herbs filled Briony's hut, strong and acrid. Dried roots and vials, cures for everything from a simple fever to wounds that would not heal, were piled high on the little wooden shelves. However, nothing in this place could make me better. With my hands clutching the borders of my cloak as though clinging
Chapter 55: The Eclipse’s WarningKieran’s POV “But what do you really do?” I asked the figure who by Evans was the *Eclipse Coven*He let out a guttural grin. “You act as though you don't know.” “I have passed the message to your leaders already.” he said, his tone stern and brave.I could feel the stench of every word. Every movement that seemed powerful as I couldn't dominate or gain control over the situation. “And….”“...And.” the warm smirk remained on his lips. “Oh! Don't worry. You will know soon.” He said, turning out towards the window when a knock hit at the door.“Beta Kieran!” A delta guard called from the other side of the door. “I have been looking for you and luckily I found you.”I lost patience from the guards words. “Just shut up! What do you want?” My voice was loud and stern.The figure called before flying through the window. “Goodbye beta Kieran! I will see you soon.” He said, before letting out a dark laugh.I darted my eyes back to the door. “And who is calli
Evans’ POVEverything around me was on fire. The moonlight was suffocated by thick smoke that twisted into black serpents and clawed at the sky. The smell of burnt flesh, blood-soaked dirt, and death filled the air. In the distance, flames blazed, devouring the remains of pack homes, villages, and holy places. In the middle of it all was me. Not as a rescuer. But as a leader. Thousands of wolves knelt in front of me, their throats exposed and heads bent in surrender. The golden flame of my mark—a fiery symbol that pulsed on my wrist, giving me supernatural strength—was reflected in their eyes, which were sparkling with both loyalty and terror. On my head, a crown of onyx and silver held the weight of complete control. My pulse was an extension of the battleground in front of me, and my heart thumped like a war drum. Then I caught sight of them. Kieran's soldiers, the fallen were scattered among the kneeling wolves. The elders of Nightclaw. The pack that protected me
Kieran’s POV I was disturbed by the mark on Evans' wrist, holding her wrist in awe and curiosity. “Any visions again?” I asked her.“Yes. I had one that was deadly.” “And it was about you.”“Me. What business do I have with your Queen's visions and dreams?” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Her eyes furrowed for a flick moment as she shrugged. “You were in danger, Kieran. You were bound and set to be killed by strange people.”I chuckled, ignoring her words as my eyes rested on her burnt wrist. “You are just a day-dreamer girl.” I said, parting her back. “That can't happen. I am the great Beta Kieran.”“Kieran, my dreams…..” I was interrupted by his hoarse voice.“Let's just forget about that and focus on the real thing. What's the meaning of the strange mark time on your wrist?” I asked, my voice stern and unwavering.The image was still etched in my memory as I stood outside the war chamber. As though branded by the Moon Goddess herself, the ancient, twisted symbol seared in
Evans' povSomething ancient, something alive, was thick in the ruins' heavy air. Draven moved closer, his silver eyes shining with a mixture of patience and hunger, and I stood motionless. My fingers were twitching at my sides, and my pulse was pounding in my ears. He said, "I have something to show you," The want to turn away was part of me. To give him a punch and run away. However, another aspect—the one that initially brought me here—kept me grounded. I required clarification. With his fingers hovering just above my temple, Draven raised a hand. Softly, "Let me in, Evans," he urged. "See for yourself." With a constricted throat, I swallowed. All of my instincts told me to turn him away and to fight whatever he was attempting.“You should stop that, you think it's that easy right?” My voice barely above a whisper as I cringed gradually. “I know it's not gonna be easy for you that was why I called here, Evans,” he moved closer to me, closing the distance between u
Kieran’s POV I sensed something wasn't right as soon as I entered Evans' vacant tent. The air was unspoiled and stuffy. The linens were still silky and unaltered, and the bed was still made. My chest coiled with a keen stiffness. I whirled around, looking around the pitch-black camp for her in the moonlight. My nostrils strained, searching for her aroma of wild rain and warm cedar, but it was too subtle. Lost. My throat rumbled with a roar. "No."With my heart hammering my ribs, I bounded out. She wouldn't have left me in the dark. Not after everything. Unless... I felt my stomach tighten with a horrible conclusion. She had gone to meet Draven. Just hearing the name made my blood boil. I pushed through the branches, moving quickly, my claws aching to reach farther. Every second since she had met him, every time I had witnessed her hesitating, every glimpse of something unreadable in her eyes—all of it was replayed in my head. I didn't want to accept it. Refu
Evans’ POV The smell of pine and damp dirt filled the cold night air. Long shadows were created over the thick woodland by the crescent moon, which was low in the sky and covered in floaty clouds. I didn't stop even though every step felt heavier than the one before. I was unable to stop from the moment the door slammed closed against me.Kieran walked in, as though my thought had beckoned him to return. But what I expected was a smiley face, only for what seemed like a cold expression shot back at me. “Evans, I have something for you.” He said, moving closer to me. A paper clenched at his hand. “What is that?” I asked, my eyes rested on the paper that he held.“She is now acting as though it is a surprise. But it's fine.” His voice was laced with mockery.“What are you talking—-” I was stunned by what caught my eyes. “Draven.” I muttered, taking the letter from Kieran's hands.“Ya, that's it!” I could not get Draven's message out of my head. L"Come to the ruins with me. By myself.
Kieran’s POVMy thoughts were loud, yet the forest was quiet. Even after leaving Evans last night, the pressure of what she had said still weighed heavily on me. *Something inside me responds to him.* The words that had escaped Evans lips earlier.The talk still hurt no matter how many times it resonated deep inside me repeatedly. No amount of reason or anger could make the deep, sluggish ache in my chest go away. All my life, I have been a warrior. Killed rogues. Killed wolves. Stood fearlessly in the face of monsters. However, this? In ways I never anticipated, this was shattering me. I leaned against the training post behind the barracks and clenched my fists, my claws cutting into my palms. I had to strike something. Shatter something. Anything to calm the raging tempest in my brain. But before I could, I felt a presence coming. I turned my faze to rest on the old woman, holding a walking stick. It was Briony. Even though she walked lightly, her presence was si
Evans’ POV Silence was thick in the night. That was not a calm kind. The kind that weighed heavily on my chest, stifling me and being dense with unsaid words. I could still feel Kieran's absence like a deep ache, even though his footsteps had long since gone into the night. Even though my wrist was no longer glowing, it continued to burn, as though the last of the power connected to Draven would not let me go. I placed my hand against it, like I could erase it, muffle the connection. But I was unable to since it was real and not in some sort of delusion. And I had told all the lies I could. I turned abruptly when a rustle of leaves pierced the stillness, my heart thumping. Standing at the edge of the clearing, partially obscured by shade, was Kieran. His stiff, inscrutable posture was characterized by his arms folded across his chest. I was shivering because of the intensity with which his eyes—those storm-filled, black eyes—were fixed on mine. He had returned. But w
Evans’ POV Even though the woodland was quiet once more, the storm inside of me continued to rage. My body buzzed with the lingering strength that wasn't really mine even after th scuffle was over and the Eclipse warriors had fled like shadows slipping through night crevices. I didn't know if it had ever existed. The heat that was still seething beneath my skin was not much relieved by the chilly night air. I had to fight every breath I took to suppress the energy, act as though nothing had changed, and ignore the fact that my wrist was still burning. However, I was aware that I wasn't the only one that noticed. Kieran was keeping an eye on me. His eyes, like twin shards of ice, had been fixed on me since the end of the battle, penetrating the darkness. It weighed heavily on my back, and I could feel the tension between us churning with unanswered questions. Focusing on the firm weight in my hand, I strengthened my hold on my dagger. I'll do anything to get grounde
Evans’ POVIt was too quiet at night. Silence was a predator that lurked just before turmoil broke out, but I had learned to trust it. The smell of pine and damp earth filled the air, but there was something more there as well. A hint of deterioration. A caution. Every muscle in my body tensed like a spring as I gripped my daggers tighter. The others gathered around me, anxious, anticipating. The warriors of Eclipse were near. I sensed it—a weight against my flesh, an invisible force scuttling through my bloodstream. A glimmer of motion. In between the woods, a shadow passed my vision. I whispered, just loud enough for the warriors beside me to hear, "Remain vigilant." I heard knives unsheathing with a gentle click. A few feet away, Kieran's presence served as a reassuring anchor despite the stress from our previous conflict at his room. However, I was unable to consider that at this time. A sigh. A change in the atmosphere. Then….A haze of movement. The ini
Evans' POVI could sense a problem as soon as I entered Kieran's quarters. He was standing by the fireplace, the walls framed by sharp shadows from the flames. He had his back to me, his fists clenched, his shoulders tense. The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. I gulped the lump that had formed in my throat, hoping my heart would calm down. With caution, I whispered, "Kieran," scarcely raising my voice above a whisper. He didn't look around. His eyes still blazed to the outskirt of his room. There was a dense, oppressive silence between us. I stepped closer, but his voice sliced through the silence like a sword before I could get close. "For what length of time were you going to conceal this from me?" I went cold. He spoke in a tone that was worse than anger. It was tinged with pain, treachery, and an untamed, raw quality that was hidden beneath the surface. I took a swallow. "What did I keep from you?" He laughed sharply and without humor. "Evans,
Evans PovTension permeated the war chamber's atmosphere. The weight of the revelation seemed to descend upon us like an unbreakable storm cloud, and the walls, adorned with faded banners and old maps, appeared to close in. Standing in the middle, Lucien's glittering eyes were piercing with power. Even though he was always an imposing presence, there was something about his posture today that seemed different—tense, cautious, as though even he wasn't sure how to say the words that would make all the difference. Briony's face next him was unreadable. She had always been hard to figure out, a lady who kept secrets like weapons and was selective about when and how to reveal them.They had both decided to share one of the most deadly realities of all tonight. With a calm but foreboding tone, Lucien started, "The return of the Eclipse King is not merely a possibility." "It is unavoidable." I tightened my jaw. "And what does that mean exactly?" Briony remarked, her emerald ey