Evans' POVThe strange laughter from the figures still filled my ears long after they left, leaving behind a thick, unsettling silence. My pulse raced violently against my ribcage, every strand of muscles yelling of us being in danger. The air felt charged, as though the ground was unsafe.Kieran stood befuddled, the grip on his sword quivering. His eyes scan through the dark forest as though expecting another primal attack. The warriors reassembled in panic as they drew their swords. I could feel the fear, taste it in the lingering air.But what re-echoed deep inside my head were the last words of the dark shadow.*We want her blood.*For a flick second, I pondered on the blood they were insinuating about.My blood.A strange jolt rippled up my spine as I tried to steady my already trembling hands. My mind reeled with questions, each one more dark than the previous. What did they want from me? What was my relationship with them?Garrick was the first to break the wall of questions in
Kieran’s POVThe reverberation of the strange, ancient laughter still echoed in my eyes as we skittered our horses through the thick forest, our movements swift through the weighty undergrowth. The gush of wind howled against us, carrying with it the lingering scent of flesh and blood. Whatever lurked in the dark was still around. I could sense the presence in the air.Evans' horse was beside mine, her hood covering her face as she howled loudly in pain. She had seldomly altered any word since her encounter with the strange voice— *We need her blood*---which had resonated through the trees, sending cold down our spine. I had seen the way her fingers trembled below her reins, the way her wolf howled in agony.My jaw clenched, resting my gaze on what laid ahead.“Faster,” My commanding voice echoed. “We're not yet safe.”Garrick rode his horse at my flank, his sword still drawn out, ready for any impromptu attack. “That for sure wasn't a rogue. From what my eyes saw it was something une
Kieran’s POVThe howl then cut through the tensed air sent a shiver of fear through my spine, unease rising through my chest. It wasn't the yearning of a beckon or the cry of rogue—it was another thing, something that didn't exist. Something that sent my wolf, Soren snarling in fear.The warriors that assembled around me froze, their hands clenched to their already drawn sword, bodies coiling with panic. My mind raced as the sound of footsteps resonated towards us. The scout that had run to me was still swirling on the floor, catching the rush of air that escaped his lungs.“Did you hear that?” I asked one of the warriors beside me.“Yes, I heard…” The words were interrupted by another sharp howl, but this time grew closer. The ground beneath our feet trembled, and my heart throbbed from the surge of fear that clouded my heart. My wolf fought to hold control, but I laid it still. I need to understand. I needed to take the lead.Evans took a deliberate step forward, her cloak rolling o
Evans' POVThe council hall's air was oppressively heavy. A cacophony of voices rang out against the stone walls, piercing and relentless. The bloodstains that had not yet been removed from the flooring following Alpha Chris's passing blended with the smell of dread and anxiety. I stood in the middle of it all, their eyes piercing me like knives, and my skin prickled. With his grizzled visage contorted in suspicion, Elder Vaughn hissed, "The attacks began after she returned." "Death followed the instant she returned to this pack." The assembled council members were surrounded by murmurs of agreement, with some nodding and others talking to one another. I took a deep breath and forced myself to remain upright in spite of the pressure of their charges. My nails bit into my palms as I clenched my fists. Another elder narrowed his eyes on me and said, "She was present when the bodies were discovered." "How is it that she recognised those markings?" "This is ridiculous," Kieran sai
Kieran’s POVThe elders were in turmoil. The air filled with tension, a vulnerable mix of agony, fear and uncertainty. The death of Alpha Chris still lingered in our hearts, the pack laced on the edge of what ravaged the air. Voices clashed, warriors tugged, and the elders struggled to stay stern in their words.“We can't stand another war!” Elder Vaughn slammed the desk in front of him. “The darkness lurking around us is demanding for the blood of this omega, giving us the condition that if we don't oblige, we will all be gone. And I know you won't want to afford that, Beta Kieran.”A guttural growl erupted from my guts. “So you suggest that we let on one of our very own?”“Don't say that. She isn't one of our own,” another council member snapped. “She was rejected by her pack. Everything started becoming dark the moment her foot rested on this pack. Now the Alpha is dead, and Nightclaw is under the threat of war.”My jaw clenched, fighting the pull to erupt the turmoil that ate deep
Evans’ POVMy hands shoke its grip on the letter as I read it for the second time, my heart running in gasps as it throbbed against my chest. My parents words, written in desperate call-to-action, warned of a curse—one laced to the blood in my veins, one that could revive something I wasn't prepared for.*You are not a mere omega, Evans. The blood of the Lunar Queen runs in your veins, and with it, the load of many generations lies on your shoulders. But be cautious….comes great power comes great responsibility.*My fingers traced the faded ink, my stomach churned into knots. I had given my entire being like air, a trash to the pack. But this. This changed everything about my ideology. It meant that my past, my banishment, and even the strange occurrences surrounding me weren't normal. There were signs.The dimly lit archive room felt suffocating, the silhouette formed from the candlelight cast on the wall, reflecting shadows on the cracked walls. If my parents had known about all thi
Kieran's POVThe room was suffocating with its eerie tension. The air carried the pungent stench of sweat and panic, mingling with the weighty aroma of blood that clouded the collapsed warrior. His body was rigid, his breath shallow, and the words yet stealth at the back of his clenched teeth—*She must awaken before she runs out of time* —hung over us like a death penalty.I stood at the middle of the council court, my arms crossed as I lost patience from what ravaged my mind. The Elders whispered among themselves, their voices rushed in escaping gasps.“This is dark magic,” one muttered, his gaze resting on me“We can't continue letting this darkness lurk in our territory,” another added, his lips tugged in worry and panic. “We shouldn't had allowed her into the pack.”Evans leaned at a corner of the chamber, her face pale but composed. Yet, stealth in her carefully presented expression, I saw it–anxiety, fear and something even she couldn't fathom.The warrior groaned, his body thro
Evans' POVThe darkness clouded around us, the shifting like that of a viable smoke, and from within it, two gleaming piercing eyes penetrated mine. The Shadow Beast emerged from the clearing, its massive, malformed body writhing as though it was sourced from a real nightmare. A guttural growl erupted through the air, shivering my bones as its claws penetrated the ground, sending sparks through the earth.Kieran moved in front of me, his sword drawn for an attack. “Just remain still. Don't flinch.”But I remained motionless. The beast eyes piercing through me, making the air grow still in the running gasp of my lungs. It wasn't just staring at me—it was seeing through me. Something deep inside of me jolted, like an ember suddenly resurrected.The beast reverberated a low, guttural growl, its voice echoing like the cacophonous whispers of many figures layered over one another. “You are the very last….you must arise.”The words hit me like an impactful punch. My knees trembled, making m
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