Share

Chapter 5- Awaken

Author: Byerly B
last update Last Updated: 2025-01-13 14:37:27

Lyra

As Lyra rushed through the village, smoke’s acrid bite stung her nostrils. Homes smoldered. Everything was in ruins.

She scrambled through collapsing buildings looking for signs of life. But the streets were vacant, eerie silence weaving through the heat. Then, a faint cry near the old well drew her attention. 

Aunt Maris lay on the ground. Blood stained her clothes. When she heard Lyra approach, her eyes fluttered open. Maris smiled weakly as she kneeled beside her.

The cold, damp ground sent a shiver through her, the metallic scent of blood making her stomach twist. Warmth faded from Maris’s hand as Lyra gripped it in her own.

“Aunt Maris!” She blurted, trying to stop the bleeding pooling beneath her.

Maris’s chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths. Lips tinged blue. 

“Lyra…” Maris gasped, her dull gaze filled with love.

Lyra’s heart throbbed in anguish. “Don’t talk. Save your strength,” she pleaded. 

Maris’s fingers twitched in Lyra’s grasp. “They took them…” she sputtered, “Your father… Selene and Seraphina... They’re prisoners now.”

Prisoners? Images of her father’s stern face, Selene’s cold eyes, and Seraphina’s cruel smirk flashed through her head. Lyra sighed, a knot releasing in her chest. 

Relief? Am I really relieved?

Maris coughed weakly and blood spurted up from her mouth. “I… I’m not long for this world.”

“No!” Lyra cried, her voice cracking with desperation. She stood. “I’ll find help!” She spun around, calling, “Someone—anyone! Help!”

But Maris spoke weakly. “No time... little wolf...”

Lyra froze. Little wolf. It was her aunts’ affectionate term for her. But it felt like so much more now. What did Maris see? Could she ever live up to it? 

“It’s up to you, Only you…” Maris's hoarse whisper faded as a cold sweat broke out across Lyra’s back.

Me? Her heart thudded in her chest, shaking her head in disbelief. I am nothing. An exile.

Maris’s breath grew more ragged, her body convulsed. She grimaced. 

“Kyline…” Maris whispered. “She’s… she’s with Alpha Veyron. You must find her.” 

The words didn’t make sense. Kyline... with him? He led the attack—why would she...?”

“What does that mean?” Lyra asked.

Maris’s grip tightened. “She’ll help you,” Maris rasped, “But the Alpha… you’ll need him… You have to save them, Lyra.”

“Save who?” Lyra asked. “My family?” 

Her heart beat heavier, enveloping her in panic. She had no power, no pack—only her broken heart and Maris’s dying plea. How could she face an army with nothing?

“You have to. The moon… wanes... goddess awakens...” 

“I don’t understand,” Lyra’s voice cracked, each syllable harder to form as tears ran down her cheeks.

Maris barely nodded, her grip weak but insistent. “The power… it’s in you, Lyra. The world… chaos, rebirth.”

Lyra trembled as she cupped her aunt’s face, slick with tears. 

“I wish I could’ve done more for you, Lyra…” Maris’s smile grew faint. “You’re braver than me... You’ll need that strength.” 

“Don’t go. Please, don’t leave me.” 

She pressed her forehead to Maris’s, trying to hold on to what little was left of her. Maris’s body grew unnaturally cold, and her breathing ceased. Lyra screamed, her misery echoing through the desolation. 

****

Lyra rushed through the forest, worn boots crushing emerald moss and scattering wildflowers. Bird song faded into the hum of insects.

She had to go. Had to find Kyline. 

At the edge of a crumbling outpost, stones veined with moss, Lyra stopped to breathe.There was something ancient about this place that she couldn't explain. 

Voices carried through the trees. Alpha Veyron’s patrols. Heart racing, she darted into the shadows of the ruin, pushing against the cold stone wall, as their footsteps grew closer.

The soldiers would attack first and ask questions later. They wouldn’t listen. She was a threat to be eliminated. 

Lyra grazed the rough-hewn stones, finding irregular grooves etched into its surface. She turned to look.

Faded sigils were carved, words half-obscured by time, but still legible enough to send chills down her spine.

When the moon grows dark, the Luna Stone bound to its heart, the goddess shall awaken…

The goddess awakens... Maris’s last words haunted her.

It reminded her of fairy tales Kyline would tell her at bedtime. Just Fantasy. Right?

Lyra followed the words with her palm, feeling an arcane pulse beneath the surface.

... a new age will begin...

What did it mean? She brushed the moss aside to read the next line, so faint she could barely make any of it out:

...time of chaos… or ruin… She shall decide… Destroy the world.

She gasped as the words ran through her mind, “The power… it’s in you, Lyra. The world… chaos, rebirth...”

Goosebumps tingled along her arms, and she jerked her hand back.

An end, a beginning... and a power tied to her. 

She stumbled back, and collided into something solid and unmoving. Molten panic ran through her veins as she whipped around. A patrolman loomed over her, eyes wide with surprise. 

Everything blurred. With a final, desperate inhale, her vision went black, and she crumpled into unconsciousness.

Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App

Related chapters

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 6 - Aunt Maris Is Gone

    LyraThe ground fractured. Dark clouds spiraled in a vicious storm. Buildings cracked and crumbled beneath the force of the wind, stones tumbling into the abyss. The scent of smoke and ash smothered everything except the howls of the wind. The world was splintering.Through the chaos, she saw a man. A tall pillar of strength amidst the collapse. His arms raised, body straining. He held the line between destruction and salvation. Their eyes met. Quiet desperation marked his features, restraining something far darker than the storm. A tense understanding neither fully grasped passed between them.Lyra’s heart beat a fierce staccato. Darkness grew, engulfing the realm, and sweeping away her father, stepsister, and stepmother. Silence swallowed Lyra’s screams.The storm’s center drew her forward. Despite the blinding glow, she couldn't look away. In the chaos’s nexus, a woman stood, obscured by the brilliance that radiated from her. But her power was undeniable. The Moon Goddess…As the

    Last Updated : 2025-01-13
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 7 - Your Lives Are Now Mine

    Veyron Vast stone walls enclosed the throne room, amplifying every breath. High ceilings disappeared into shadows. A massive tapestry hung behind the throne, depicting a wolf under a blood-red moon. Its eyes, glowing like embers, tracked every movement with chilling precision.Guards in polished black armor stood at rigid attention. Their faces were impassive, but their eyes betrayed unease. At the foot of the raised dais, disheveled captives knelt, their heads bowed low. Their clothing was torn, stained with the gore of battle. Chains hung from their wrists.The doors groaned open, reverberating through the chamber. The captives flinched, gazes dropping lower, some squeezing their eyes shut in a futile attempt to make themselves invisible.Veyron entered, dark titanium hair framing the jagged scar that carved across his brow, nose, and jawline. The cloak over his brawny shoulders swayed, whispering like shadows come to life. The scent of leather, iron, and blood carried the reminder

    Last Updated : 2025-02-08
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 8 - Much We Do Not Yet Know

    LyraIn the morning, Lyra and Kyline left on horseback. The greenwood Lyra had known her entire life gave way to deep, fertile topsoil. Trees thinned until they were little more than scattered clusters on the horizon. Tall, golden grass swayed in the ever constant wind, stretching endlessly before her, the horizon broken only by distant hills. Seeing Lyra shiver, Kyline handed her her cloak.The magic in the air shifted as they crossed the boundary into another alpha’s territory, forsaking the familiar hum of home. It felt like an unseen predator watching, warning her she was unwelcome.Kyline and Lyra exchanged only a few words throughout the day, small comforts about shared loss and reassurances that Lyra wasn’t alone. Lyra clung onto her Aunt’s kindness, but it couldn’t drown out her thoughts or Aunt Maris’s final words, tangling with her dream.Kyline wouldn’t answer her questions about the plan. “Not yet,” her aunt assured her every time. “There’s no use worrying until it’s time.

    Last Updated : 2025-02-08
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 9 - Here For A Reason

    LyraInside the Den’s office, a trace of lavender tempered the otherwise austere space. The den was what they called Alpha Veyron’s home. A sprawling fortress carving strength and primal elegance into the heart of the grasslands. The three storied structure, built from dark timber and reinforced stone, embodied the raw power of the wolves who ruled this territory. While it was large enough to house the pack, only those who served within its walls chose to make it their home. Instead of sharing quarters, most of Alpha Veyron’s people chose to move into their own houses. Such distance between pack members was strange. But if their alpha was as domineering as she’d heard, it was no wonder his pack didn’t want to be near him.Behind a large wooden desk, worn and polished to a near mirror-like sheen, the Keeper of the Den examined Lyra with a gaze that could pierce armor, white streaks ran through her dark braid.“Do you know,” the Keeper began, her voice smooth yet cold, “what happened t

    Last Updated : 2025-02-19
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 10 - Prove Your Worth

    LyraThe shared maid quarters were a chaotic swirl of movement as the maids rushed around preparing for the Alpha’s arrival. Lyra sat on the edge of her cot, straightening her new dress and trying to ensure every crease was perfect.The anticipation and friendly competition amongst them was undeniable. Lyra hadn’t said a word, simply observing, trying to stay out of the way.This would be her chance to finally belong somewhere, and make herself useful. As a maid, she could earn trust, and discover what she truly needed to know, what Aunt Kyline sent her here for.A knock on the door made her pause. The girls froze, wide eyes darting to each other. The single, confident knock came again before the door swung open. The other’s faces paled with recognition. Lyra's breath caught as she saw her for the first time. The Mistress of Shadows filled the doorway. Her black hair, sleek and straight, fell to her shoulders in a glossy wave. A long, delicate hand rested on the doorframe, slender fi

    Last Updated : 2025-02-19
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 11 - Ours

    VeyronVeyron entered his chambers. Eryx restlessly pacing his mind."Finally," Eryx growled. "The stench of fools lingers. Strip it away."Veyron ignored the beast’s impatience, focusing on removing his pauldrons. The gilded metal, scuffed with marks of combat, clattered onto the nearby table. Piece by piece, the rest of his armor followed, revealing the taut, scarred flesh beneath.From a side chamber, the Mistress of Shadows entered without announcement. She swayed up to Veyron with unspoken authority, her dark eyes gleaming with cunning. A sly smile carved on her face.“Veyron,” she spoke, low and silky, a secret meant only for him.“Mistress,” he greeted.She loosened straps and untangled layers of his attire with practiced ease. His flesh was hot beneath her wandering fingertips.Her touch was feather light, circling his throat to fasten his silver torque around his neck. Her fingers lingered, trailing down to adjust the folds of his cloak. There was no affection—only possession

    Last Updated : 2025-02-19
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 12 - Powerless

    LyraLyra’s breath was shallow and erratic as Alpha Veyron loomed over her. She couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Her lips parted, but her voice refused to come. The silence was absolute. Noone dared breathe.His chest rose and fell heavily as he stared her down, the golden intensity of his eyes burning into her soul. Those eyes… they felt so familiar. Where…? “Who are you?” He demanded again.His gaze roamed her face, his body rigid and trembling with restraint. The connection between them thrummed, wrapping tighter with every passing moment, drowning her in its rawness. Warmth spread through her abdomen.Her mouth opened again. Say something, she begged herself. Anything.But then, a graceful hand curved over Veyron’s broad shoulder with deliberate care. “Alpha,” the Mistress intoned.It took him a heartbeat too long to respond. Slowly, almost reluctantly, his head turned toward her, the hard lines of his jaw flexing as though it took all his will to drag his focus away.The Mistress

    Last Updated : 2025-02-19
  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 13- Cornered

    VeyronVeyron swept through the familiar halls, lit by flickering sconces. His heavy steps echoed the thoughts he struggled to organize. The council was concerned with unpredicted changes all around the territory.Scorpions venturing further than they ever had. Patrols returned wounded, the varying venoms claiming lives. Some never came back. But they weren’t the only casualties. The pack wars also plagued the edges of his territory.“You’re wasting time,” Eryx rumbled in his mind, interrupting his thoughts. “Let the council debate themselves into oblivion. Can’t you smell her?”

    Last Updated : 2025-02-20

Latest chapter

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 72- Territorial Magic

    LyraThe ride stretched on for the better part of the day, the steady rhythm of hooves against the earth a distant hum beneath their conversation. The forest behind them thinned into dry scrub, the scent of pine giving way to dust and sunbaked stone. Grass grew sparse. The air thickened with heat. In this desert, the land shed its vibrant green skin, surrendering to shades of ochre and gold.But as they crossed the invisible threshold marking the edge of Veyron’s domain, Lyra felt… lighter. The grip of his territorial magic released her like a breath she didn’t know she was holding.Yet Vespera’s magic still itched beneath her skin like a fever, her body betraying her with a thrum of desire any time her mind strayed too close to him, or she found herself the center of attention. Every bump in the road made her thighs clench tighter, her face hotter, her patience thinner. Yet, she tried to focus on Daphne’s teachings.“The more influential a werewolf is, the more land they can hold,”

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 71 - Time To Pack Up

    LyraWarmth. That was the first thing Lyra noticed as she drifted toward wakefulness, a pleasant heat cocooning her against the chill of the morning air. Then came the slow, steady rise and fall of breath—not hers. The rhythmic motion rocked her slightly, comforting in a way that sent her sinking deeper into the warmth before realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.Her eyes snapped open, and she stiffened.Oh gods.She was curled against Rivenn, his arm draped lazily over her waist, their legs tangled as if they’d spent the entire night like this. Her cheek on his chest, his steady heartbeat thrummed beneath her skin.What happened last night?Flashes of hazy memories surfaced—the warmth of the fire, the way the liquor had made her dizzy and giggly, the laughter that had bubbled up so freely. She remembered the taste of Brann’s awful liquor, the way they had cheered her on. But had something happened with Rivenn?Her gaze darted around the campsite, taking in the disarray.Da

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 70 - Like A Damn Pup

    VeyronVeyron stalked through the woods, his steps heavy, controlled, yet aimless. He didn’t know where he was going—only that he needed to move. To breathe. To get away from the sight of Rivenn’s hands on her, the sound of her laughter mixing with Brann’s deep, rumbling voice.His jaw ached from clenching it so hard. She’s laughing with them. The gate murmured. At us.His fists clenched, nails biting into his palms. A rustle behind him had him slowing, scenting who it was before she spoke.“You good, Veyron?” Eryssa’s voice was calm, but her eyes took him in with quiet scrutiny.He exhaled through his nose. “Just taking a damn piss.”She quirked a brow but didn’t push. “Right.”Another set of footsteps approached, and Veyron tensed as Delvin stepped into view.They know why you’re here. Eryx warned, low and wary. They know you’re upset over the girl. They’ve come to check on you—like a damn pup.Veyron sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. Delvin slung an arm around his shoulder. “Y

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 69 - Poison

    LyraLyra turned to Brann, flashing him a playful smile. “So, Brann, tell me—are all warriors as fearless as you, or are you just special?”Brann, caught mid-drink, nearly choked on his ale. “I—I suppose I’m just special?”Rivenn barked out a laugh. Across the fire, Veyron finally looked up.His eyes flashed feral, his muscles coiling with restraint. She smiled, letting her fingers graze Brann’s arm, a bolt of heat shot through her at the contact. If Veyron wanted distance, she would give it to him. But she wasn’t about to disappear into the shadows.Veyron abruptly stood. His shoulders rigid as he stalked away from the fire, disappearing into the darkness beyond its glow. Silence fell over the group.Brann hesitated before speaking, quieter than usual. “I’m worried about him.”Delvin nodded solemnly. “Yeah.” Rivenn exhaled, rubbing his jaw. “He’s much darker than we’re used to. More moody. More volatile.” Genuine concern replaced his teasing lilt.“We need to keep an eye on him.” E

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 68 - Embellisment

    Lyra The fire crackled, sending embers swirling into the night as laughter rolled through the camp. Brann was mid-story, tankard in hand, weaving an exaggerated tale with the kind of energy only he could muster.“And then…” Brann’s voice boomed over the crackling fire, “Veyron, not even flinching, just leaps right at the beast, his cloak billowing behind him like the wings of some dark omen! He—get this—grabs its horns and yanks it to the ground like it’s nothing! He looked like some ancient god of war, practically glowing in the moonlight!”Delvin gave a dry smile, his arms crossed, leaning slightly away from Lyra as she sat dwarfed between him and Rivenn, who casually stroked a lock of Daphne’s hair with one hand and subtly brushed the back of Lyra’s.. “He looked more like a man trying not to die, if you ask me.”Brann shot Delvin a glance, but didn't let it derail him. “No, no. His shirt shimmered under the light of the fire. It was magnificent, really.”Rivenn leaned in closer t

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 67 - Back To The Fire

    VeyronThe warmth of the fire heated Veyron’s back, the crackling flames filling the tense silence. “What did you say to her?” Delvin asked. “To make her run off like that?”Veyron clenched his jaw. “I said nothing, Delvin,” he snapped. He didn’t want to discuss it.Delvin hesitated, studying him. “She really needs to be careful in these woods,” he said quietly. “There are wild creatures out here. It’s the border of your territory, not sure what might wander over. Just… stay alert. We’ll find her.”If he came looking for her, she would run. A vision of Lyra fleeing from him flashed before his eyes. Her face full of fear as she ran, with the wolf in him chasing, taking over. The excitement that tore through him at the thought twisted in his stomach, nauseating him.“Do you need me to help?” he asked, the words heavy.Delvin shook his head, gaze softening. “Nah, we’ve got it. You just stay here. We’ll bring her back.”With that, Delvin turned and joined the others in the search for the

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 66 - I Found You

    LyraLyra stumbled through the woods, her chest constricting. Her breath came in shaky gasps, and she barely noticed the way the brambles tugged at her cloak until her foot caught on an unseen root. With a startled gasp, she tumbled forward, hitting the damp earth hard.For a moment, she stayed there, pressing her palms against the cool ground. Her vision blurred with unshed tears, and she let out a quiet, bitter laugh. Pathetic.A rustling sound drew her attention. Lifting her head, she blinked through the dark.A deer stood just beyond the trees, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the canopy. Its coat was white as freshly fallen snow, and its antlers stretched high and twisting, larger than any deer she had ever seen. A shiver ran down her spine.Lyra swallowed, wiping at her eyes as she sat back on her heels. “Why is Veyron like this?” she asked the deer. “Why push me away like I’m nothing, when I know he feels it too?”The deer watched her with unsettling still

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 66 - What You Are

    Veyron Veyron slid the dagger’s edge methodically against the whetstone with a slow, deliberate scrape. The sound sliced through the quiet night. His mind had no business straying. But still, it did.The motion of the blade against stone felt too familiar—like the feel of her body beneath him, his senses surging from their closeness. He tried to focus, but his thoughts kept circling back to the way she trembled under his touch. Everything about her made it impossible to hold back.Her approach tugged at his awareness before her scent even reached him. Eryx’s growl vibrated beneath his ribs, impatient with his hiding.She is coming to you. Let her finish the bond. She is ours.The ancient voice twisted through his mind, cold and insistent, filling the deepest corners of his thoughts. No. Let her ache. Let her yearn. She is already bound to you, whether she admits it or not. Veyron knew who spoke to him. He had used the crescent gate just before this journey. Though it had never comm

  • The Princess in the Shadows   Chapter 65 - Good Coin

    LyraThe night air carried the scent of burning wood and crisp earth as the group settled around the campfire. Shadows danced through trees, stretching toward the sky. Lyra sat near the flames, absently poking at the embers with a stick, her thoughts a tangled mess.Her skin prickled, flushed from more than just the fire’s heat. Magnetic fluid cloyed the air—or perhaps it was just her. Every shift of her cloak across her shoulders made her wince inwardly, growing more sensitive to even the smallest sensations the longer she went without satisfying Vespera’s magic, which smoldered under her skin.Veyron had been avoiding her all day, stealing glances at her as if ashamed to even look at her. He had dragged her into this journey, forced her along. The heat of last night replayed in her mind—the touch of his hands, the weight of his body, the bite that had sent something deep and ancient crackling through her. Her thighs still remembered the press of his hips. Her neck still tingled whe

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status