My legs wobbled as the bridge shook under the weight of the wind. I could feel it whistling again, and now actually as though it was singing a tune. Like an old farmer waiting for the rain to come, as he watched dark clouds grow over the sky before his eyes.I could see the pointed rocks glisten in the sunshine, and they seemed to even sharpen themselves in preparation for my downfall. But I kept on moving slowly, counting my steps to take my mind away from how stupid it was to be on a rickety bridge in the middle of nowhere.I was alone. And I suddenly realised it.I would die out here and no one would find my remains. No soul. No one. Asides the vultures. I didn't even know if the jungle ahead had any vultures. But I knew if it did, they'd be worse than the ones I knew.I gulped again as I kept moving across the creaking mix mash of wood and green ropes; holding the leafy railing like ingredients in a pot of steamy soup. I was scared, truly scared for the first time in all my life.
Noah's POVSuddenly I jerked upright, getting to my feet faster than the spear had flown. My eyes darted this way and that, searching for the source of the spear.Suddenly the bushes right in front of me rustled, and a figure stepped out. I looked up and saw a man, covered only with a robe across his genital area. The rest of his body was flecked with tattoos like a spotted leopard. I even recognised some of the tattoos as the same engravings I'd seen on the stones earlier."Who are you?" The man asked, his voice as hard as the boulders I saw earlier.My tongue was tied, and my eyes were fixated on his features only. The man was muscular, sporting green eyes, a broad jaw and a wide nose; having ears like a bat and dirty, uneven teeth."Who are you, I ask?" The man repeated. "What are you doing in my home?""What home?" I scoffed, my eyes darting from the hanging vines to the broken bridge behind me. "This isn't a proper home. This is nothing but a jungle.""It is not a proper home to
Noah's POVI watched as the rogue's eyes widened in slight fear. He spluttered and choked against my grip, but I held on. I was not going to let go until he told me where Myra had gone."Tell me!" I growled. "Where the hell is my mate?!""No need to...b...be so aggressive, Alpha!" The rogue wolf stuttered. "I will tell you where she is.""No!" I growled, feeling my anger rise to the surface. "Tell me, or you lose your tongue!""I can't tell you anything if your hands are around my neck!" Izon snapped.I stared at him for long minutes, then released my grip on the rogue wolf's neck. Still I kept a watchful eye on him. He was a cunning rogue, from what I had seen so far, and I couldn't afford to let my guard down. Izon rubbed his throat, coughing as he regained his composure. "Thanks for not choking the life out of me," he grumbled, his voice still shaky.I crossed my arms, impatience simmering beneath the surface. "You got what you wanted. Now, speak."Izon straightened up, his gaze m
Noah's POVThe howl continued for several unending seconds, and it seemed to come from all around me. Soon, more howls joined the first, until they became a discordant sound that stung my eardrums like angry wasps.Quickly I ran through the dense forest, my heart thundering in my chest. I desperately had to find Myra before it was too late. Her scent guided me through the forest, growing stronger with each and every step I took.The branches and twigs clawed at my face and body, but I pressed on, trying to ignore the pain that followed. Leafy branches clouded my line of sight, and I beat them away with my arms. I kept running, leaping over fallen trees, side-stepping large rocks and boulders, as sweat gathered on my already grimy body.Izon's last words continued to echo in my mind, like a haunting refrain. Myra was chosen by the Moon Goddess, he'd said. It was a concept beyond the realm of my understanding. Was all of this just tye ramblings of a deranged man? How well could I trust
Noah's POVMyra stared at me for long minutes as the howling of the wolves grew louder. Then she nodded. "Be safe." She murmured, then turned towards the rocks.I turned my back to her, facing the intrusion. Fear coursed through my veins as I turned to face the oncoming wolves. I couldn't let panic consume me, not now. I needed to protect Myra, and the only way was to face this threat head-on. I closed my eyes, silently pleading to the Moon Goddess to watch over us.I felt my fangs burst out of my gums, my claws stretch out of my raised hands. I closed my eyes as fur sprang from my body, as I slowly gave in to the wolf within me.The howls and growls of the savage wolves grew louder, closing in from all sides. I could feel their presence, their scary growls that sent shiver after shiver down my spine. My heart raced, and my grip on my alpha powers tightened as I prepared to confront them.But then, just as they were on the verge of breaking through the forest around us, the growling s
Myra's POVImmediately Noah slipped from my grasp, my first instinct was to scream.My yell of pain sent a few birds flying from the trees around me, as it ricocheted through the forest in loud echoes. My heart clenched with fear as I watched Noah hit the forest floor, his body limp and unconscious. Pushing aside all the pain I was holding within me, I rushed to his side, falling to my knees beside him. His face was extremely pale, his eyes closed. There was no movement behind his eyelids, no sign of life at all. The sight of him still felt like someone was tearing at my heart with razor-sharp pincers.I couldn't lose him.Goddess, I couldn't lose my mate."Noah, please, wake up!" My voice trembled as my heart ached. I shook him harder, my heart pounding in my chest, but his form remained unresponsive, his chest barely rising and falling with shallow breaths.Desperation clawed at me, threatening to engulf me in despair. I couldn't lose him, not after everything we had been through.
Myra's POVMy heart raced with a mix of hope and fear as three guards rushed towards me. They stopped before Noah, crouching beside his still body. I watched as one of them placed an ear against the alpha's body, listening for a heartbeat.An impatient sound slipped from my lips. "All of these won't help!" I snapped. "Please, get him inside and fetch a Healer.""Alright," the guard muttered, staring up at me with blue eyes.. He turned to the second guard. "You, get another guard and go and fetch a Healer." The guard bowed, then turned and ran towards the pack house.The blue-eyed guard then turned to the third one. "You, fetch a stretcher and bring it back here."Soon the guard raced to the pack house and emerged with a stretcher. Within moments, the both of them carefully lifted Noah onto it. Relief washed over me as they carried him away from the grassy field and through the gates of the pack house. Finally, he could get help. I couldn't afford to lose him, not after everything we'
Myra's POVThe dungeons?!"What—" I stammered, my heart beating erratically. "What did I do?"The woman stepped forward, her face inches from mine. I stiffened as she growled in my face; she was so close that I could see the blacks of her eyes grow even darker with every passing second."You're breaking the laws of our pack by simply existing, little Omega." She growled. "You are a walking crime!""No," I whispered, as a tear fell from my eyes. "No, please...."The guards dragged me through the pack house, their hands tight on my upper arms like strong vices. Fear gripped me—fear not only for my own life but for Noah's as well. With Noah unconscious and unable to protect me, I felt vulnerable, exposed and alone.Struggling against these guards was absolutely impossible. As they led me down into the dungeons, my heart pounded with anxiety. The dimly lit, dank cells seemed to swallow me whole. It was a far cry from what I had thought would happen, and it felt like a nightmare from which
Noah's PovThe last moments were glorious. The flash of white and the deafening sound of a strange ringing that pierced through my ears was divine.As a huge monster, and one bigger than anything I had ever laid my eyes on stood just ahead of me. Towering over seemingly all existence like a god in the flesh. It's height was closer to the sun than the clouds themselves; and if it made the effort, it's head alone in the right position could cause an eclipse. The sound of it's footsteps were like bombs dropping intermittently. And the claws that grew out of it's hands and body were the size of spears; the tips specifically sharpened for killing dragons. With it's skin white as chalk and scaly as a fish's hide.I laid flat on my back as Flanagan's blade had stopped halfway at the sound of the creature's roar. I was saved. And I stayed motionless; reeling in pain from the excess gratitude.The monster roared again, and the leader of the Rogues stood with his mouth agape as he dropped his
Noah's PovEverything else that happened after my claws tore through his flesh felt like a passing scenery. As I lost full control of myself, and my wolf instincts took full control of my entire being.Colin's loud yelling had attracted surprisingly hundreds of guards. But sadly they all ended in a similar fate. As I tore through and out of the dungeons with rage being my fuel and motivation. I chopped off heads and dismembered arms and legs, leaving corpses in my wake as I burst out into the sunlight. Only dimmed by smoke from burning houses and soldiers trampling stalls with maces.I roared loud and everyone's attention turned to me frantically. They all drew their swords with fear in their eyes as they looked up at me towering over them. I laid waste to more than I could count. As they kept coming in waves after wavesand kept dying in the same succession. My anger had reached a point never before seen, and now I was thirsty for blood.And blood did flow...As I tore through entire
Noah's Pov"Colin?" I asked, frowning."In the flesh..." he answered, gesturing. "And my oh my, isn't that such a dilemma..." he smiled."Your very own handyman turned against you?...""How could you do this?" I asked, groaning."It's simple really..." he shrugged. "Personal interest, isn't it obvious?..." "What did they promise you?" And now he laughed loudly. His voice booming as it reverberated across the hollow and cold walls of the dungeon. He chuckled and held himself with both hands clasped together, smiling. "They didn't promise me anything, Noah..." he replied. "Well they did. But that was simply a superficial desire. Because I'm not here for anything they can offer..." he answered. "They don't even possess anything of my interest to give. Because as it stands... everything is already mine." My hands were hurting and now my soul was burning. I was confused as to why Colin could be working with the enemy? I was losing blood flow in my arms as I wondered why my own frien
Noah's PovI regained my consciousness in pure darkness. The only light being the torches that spread out amongst gray walls, giving vision as little as bird seed.The side of my head hurt with a sharp pain as blood flowed down my face, trickling to the floor. I felt dizzy and every part of my body hurt. I couldn't see, so I tried to move my hands. But the only sound I heard was the creaking of bones and the jingling of metal. I frowned as I slowly craned my neck upwards. And found myself being held captive by a set of chains connected to the damp wall behind me. I shook my head in pain and frustration, realizing I wasn't just in this place, wherever it was. But I was stuck here too.My mind went through its own pain as I suddenly thought of what had happened? Where am I now? And if we had lost?The fight was something I vaguely remembered. And the only thing that stood out was the impact I made before everything went black. I looked down at myself now with the slightest glance and w
Noah's Pov I released a yell as I lunged forward; swinging my sword with all my weight behind it. I didn't aim. I didn't plan. I just moved to strike. And learnt too late that that was ignorant.As I saw him dodge the blow and myself become open for one. When I felt the full force of the steel fist he sent to my ribs. That cracked them in pieces like twigs.I fell to the floor, coughing blood. And air left my lungs as if it was being pumped out of my body. The pain was immense and it shot through my entire frame, making me keel over on the sand. Shellshocked. The horseman walked up to me till he got close enough to stand over me. I could see him smile down as I groaned in pain and his mouth revealed a row of jagged teeth. He held his sword by his side, then slowly sheathed it back. Now folding his arms and squinting at me.“Your time has come Alpha…” his baritone voice boomed. “I suggest you give up now while you still can, and maybe you'll be spared.” he said.”You are not winning
Noah's Pov I grinned as I stood up slowly. Then got up to my feet and smiled wide, nodding to the boy in respect. As he had just saved me the vain effort of chasing down a phoenix.He nodded back and as the man wanted to get up the second time; Danny instantaneously turned, aimed and fired again. Taking him to the ground in a louder groan.I was surprised at his speed. As I didn't see anything happen until the arrow had already hit its target. The boy folded his hand in a fist and gestured in victory. As the man on the floor now fell flat on his face.“I did it Alpha!” Danny yelled now. “I took him out!” he jumped, celebrating.“I did it!”He jumped and threw fists in the air, and even dropped his bow and did a dance in between. But I frowned as I would have loved to believe that too...Because the two arrows had landed closely together, and now looked like antennas sticking out of the man's back. And my brows raised in confusion and doubt. As I didn't believe he could be taken out t
Noah's PovTWO CYCLES LATERThe day the war began was one I would never soon forget. The day the morning sun became a gloomy circle in the sky. And the wind blew strong and rough; almost changing its form to the waves of a raging storm.I was out on the field with a regiment of men at the forefront, while reinforcements laid hiding in plain sight. I held my sword and shield, but they felt burdensome. As I hadn't held even a stick in a good year.Yet I stood at the gates of the pack house. Directly in front. Holding the fort as the leader. And desirous to land the first kill. My blood was pumping, adrenaline raging and annoyance building. I was here to fight alongside my men, and to the death if it meant it.We had spread out in units; some on the ground, some in the trees, and some underground. The plan had been relayed, reiterated, and understood. And the day to implement had come. It was finally time. The moment of truth.The day of Reckoning…I felt strange yet confident. As inside
Moon Goddess's PovEverything was finally unfolding. The foretold destiny was being unveiled. And soon death would rain like fire. Yet new life would be born and watered from its ashes.The birth of a new generation was already at its wake. The drums of fate and the inevitable hands of time have brought into the present the catalyst for a future never expected. The world would see new light and a new peace. But only if it can survive the old darkness.Great things come after arduous hardship. Great men are forged through the cold of trials and in the furnace of tribulations. And the stars of men can only shine under the cover of darkness.The Alpha had done well to heed my voice.He had done well to not people please, and was wise to not have chosen to do what would make others clap, over what his heart felt was right. A true man with a true heart. And with as many allies as enemies.Yet the deaths of the people he killed which have come and gone still linger in his mind… As he still
Flanagan's PovI rode back to the training field and boiled. With my anger reaching the clouds in the sky, yet its power originating from hell. I was angry, and wielding my sword with enough force to crack the hilt in two. And I gathered speed as I climbed up and came down the hill that led to the training area.I powered down the dusty path, seeing the hoof prints of the men who came before to inform me of my daughter's health. And it hurt me to see her sick and forlorn. Because she was important and I needed her. I could sense she had a versatile power in her. And one that would be important to our victory.Yet now she has been sidelined and put aside by illness...And Colin was to pay.My anger doubled as I powered down and reached the men. Who now looked at me with their eyes wide as I doubled in size in their vision. I rode even though close, and at full speed; only stopping after ramming into a soldier and sending him flying into a tree, landing with his back first. And from th