Kyara's POVI, not Eric, moved into the light. A darker, shattered version of myself. Her eyes, or rather my eyes, shone with an uncanny, molten gold as if carved from fire and shadow. Every motion she took was purposeful and measured as if the universe bowed to her command.The air altered, thick with something ancient and unpleasant. She came to a halt only a few steps away from me, her head cocked and a ghostly smile on her lips."You look surprised," she continued, her voice a chilling reflection of mine. "But you shouldn't be."My breath caught, and the words seemed stuck in my throat. Victor and Darius were both motionless, their gazes shifting between me and... me."What...what are you?" I finally whispered.She gave a venomous chuckle. "Kyara, I am you. You refuse to accept yourself. The you who desires power, control, and escape from the chains you've enslaved yourself with. And, unlike you, I'm not afraid to take what I want.""That's not true," I said, my voice wavering des
Kyara's POVThe air felt thick, pushing on my skin like a warning that even victory may taste like ash. Eric’s last word—remember—hung in the quiet, a whisper that refused to vanish. I knelt where he had disappeared, my hands hovering over the faint mark of his presence. The warmth of his dying light remained, but the questions it left behind were colder than any gloom I’d experienced.Victor crouched beside me, his touch hesitant but grounding as his fingers brushed my shoulder. “Kyara, we need to move. The ground here—”“It’s unstable,” I finished, my voice raw. I wasn’t sure if he meant the physical ground or the fragile balance of my emotions. Either way, he was right. The fractures beneath us were spreading, each crack glowing faintly with residual energy from the battle. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to stand.Victor’s hand found mine, his grip firm but careful, like he was anchoring me to the present. “We’ll figure out what he meant, but not here. Please."I turned to see the to
Kyara's POVThe void extended indefinitely, absorbing all sounds but the faint echo of my breath. It was a stillness that did not provide me serenity but rather pushed the boundaries of my sanity. My other self—this twisted reflection of myself—stood still, her eyes molten gold, her presence a torrent of strength and terror."You're trembling," she murmured, cutting through the silence like a razor. "Are you afraid, Kyara?""No," I lied, my hands trembling at my sides."Liar." Her smirk broadened, but there was no enjoyment in it. "You should be." This location... This is not for the faint of heart. "It does not reward hesitation."I straightened my shoulders, disregarding the pain in my chest and the weight of her stare. "I've fought my way through worse."Her laughter was low and unpleasant. "No, you have not. Not yet. "But you will."The nothingness rippled, a wave extending outward as if her words possessed a force I could not perceive. It was then that I discovered the truth abou
Kyara's POVThe creature loomed before us, an amalgamation of darkness and flame, its shape altering like smoke caught in a whirlwind, while the murmurs it emitted crept into my ears, winding around my thoughts like poisoned vines. It wasn't simply speaking; it was searching for flaws and fissures in my resolve.Victor stepped in front of me instinctively, his blade drawn and his stance rigid. “Stay behind me,” he said, his voice low and steady.“No,” I replied, brushing past him, my gaze locked on the creature. “This is my fight.”The monster cocked its head in a strange expression of interest. "How brave you are," it snarled, its voice like a thousand shards of glass grinding together. "But bravery does not save those who are already broken."The words sent shivers down my spine, but I didn't show my terror. "I've faced worse than you," I said, my voice firm despite the ache in my chest.The thing chuckled, a hollow, echoing sound that seemed to originate from somewhere and nowhere.
Kyara's POVThe figure before us was unlike anything I’d ever encountered. Its very presence bent the world around it, a force so overwhelming that the air became a searing weight against my skin. Heat rolled off it in waves, distorting the ground, and warping reality itself. My breath caught in my throat as its eyes—molten, swirling embers—locked onto mine."You survived the shadow," it said, its voice a low, vibrating growl that seemed to resonate within my chest. "But the shadow was merely the first test. I am the fire that will burn away your weakness. Let us see if you can endure."Victor quickly stood in front of me again, blade at the ready, his shoulders set as if he could shelter me from this beast. “Kyara, we don’t have to fight this alone. Let me —"“No,” I answered firmly, shutting him off. My voice astonished even me, clear and firm despite the pandemonium surrounding us. I stepped beside him, not behind. “This fight is mine. I need to confront it.”Victor’s hand brushed
Kyara's POVAs I stood at the brink of the Silver Fang area, the air was thick with tension, my body shivering from the weight of my failures rather than the cold. The full moon shed a pale glow over the woods, and silence settled in like a smothering blanket. I had always imagined that this would be my home, but it suddenly felt more like a prison—one from which I was finally being released.But not by choice.I drew a trembling breath and tightened the straps on my purse, the leather biting into my palms. Victor stood a few feet behind me, gazing in frigid silence. The mate link we previously had, which should have been holy, felt like a distant, bitter memory now. His rejection was like a dagger still embedded in my chest, twisting every time I dared to imagine what might have been."You were never strong enough, Kyara," he murmured, his tone as frigid as the night around us. "I need a mate worthy of being by my side, not…this."I winced, my heart twisted from his words. I'd heard
Kyara's POVThe roar reverberated throughout the night, sending shivers down my spine. I froze in place, clutching the doorframe as support. "We must move. He said, "Now," with a low but urgent tone. His tone was devoid of ambiguity."Wh-what was that?" My throat was dry, and I could stammer. My pulse accelerated as I returned to the modest stone hut, gazing out into the shadowy woodland beyond. The darkness looked to be alive as if it were watching and waiting for us."Not someone you want to meet," Eric replied abruptly. He stepped inside, grabbed my arm, and yanked me forward. His grip was powerful but not painful. "You are not secure here any longer. Whatever that is, it is on its way to you.""For me?" My gut tightened into knots as I murmured. I was having trouble comprehending it. How could something be pursuing me? I wasn't important; I was just a rejected, weak girl. But the terror in Eric's eyes made it difficult to ignore the truth: whatever was out there, it had me in its
Kyara's POVEverything around me froze as Victor emerged out of the shadows. His eyes, filled with a familiar, sickly brightness, fastened on me. I could feel the mate bond tugging at me again, a sensation I thought I had forgotten under the weight of his rejection. But this time, things were different. Darker. More demanding.Eric's growl rumbled low in his throat, and his body tightened as he stood protectively in front of me. "Leave now, Victor, before I tear you apart," Eric said in a hard, unyielding voice.But Victor simply smirked, his gaze shifting between us. "I'm not here for a fight, Eric," he remarked nonchalantly, but the stress in his voice belied his words. His gaze returned to me, and I felt the strain of his presence wrap around me like a chokehold. "I'm here for her."My pulse raced and panic rose in my chest. "I don't belong to you anymore," I mumbled, forcing the words out, but they rang empty even to my ears.Victor's sneer intensified, and his eyes narrowed. "Oh,
Kyara's POVThe figure before us was unlike anything I’d ever encountered. Its very presence bent the world around it, a force so overwhelming that the air became a searing weight against my skin. Heat rolled off it in waves, distorting the ground, and warping reality itself. My breath caught in my throat as its eyes—molten, swirling embers—locked onto mine."You survived the shadow," it said, its voice a low, vibrating growl that seemed to resonate within my chest. "But the shadow was merely the first test. I am the fire that will burn away your weakness. Let us see if you can endure."Victor quickly stood in front of me again, blade at the ready, his shoulders set as if he could shelter me from this beast. “Kyara, we don’t have to fight this alone. Let me —"“No,” I answered firmly, shutting him off. My voice astonished even me, clear and firm despite the pandemonium surrounding us. I stepped beside him, not behind. “This fight is mine. I need to confront it.”Victor’s hand brushed
Kyara's POVThe creature loomed before us, an amalgamation of darkness and flame, its shape altering like smoke caught in a whirlwind, while the murmurs it emitted crept into my ears, winding around my thoughts like poisoned vines. It wasn't simply speaking; it was searching for flaws and fissures in my resolve.Victor stepped in front of me instinctively, his blade drawn and his stance rigid. “Stay behind me,” he said, his voice low and steady.“No,” I replied, brushing past him, my gaze locked on the creature. “This is my fight.”The monster cocked its head in a strange expression of interest. "How brave you are," it snarled, its voice like a thousand shards of glass grinding together. "But bravery does not save those who are already broken."The words sent shivers down my spine, but I didn't show my terror. "I've faced worse than you," I said, my voice firm despite the ache in my chest.The thing chuckled, a hollow, echoing sound that seemed to originate from somewhere and nowhere.
Kyara's POVThe void extended indefinitely, absorbing all sounds but the faint echo of my breath. It was a stillness that did not provide me serenity but rather pushed the boundaries of my sanity. My other self—this twisted reflection of myself—stood still, her eyes molten gold, her presence a torrent of strength and terror."You're trembling," she murmured, cutting through the silence like a razor. "Are you afraid, Kyara?""No," I lied, my hands trembling at my sides."Liar." Her smirk broadened, but there was no enjoyment in it. "You should be." This location... This is not for the faint of heart. "It does not reward hesitation."I straightened my shoulders, disregarding the pain in my chest and the weight of her stare. "I've fought my way through worse."Her laughter was low and unpleasant. "No, you have not. Not yet. "But you will."The nothingness rippled, a wave extending outward as if her words possessed a force I could not perceive. It was then that I discovered the truth abou
Kyara's POVThe air felt thick, pushing on my skin like a warning that even victory may taste like ash. Eric’s last word—remember—hung in the quiet, a whisper that refused to vanish. I knelt where he had disappeared, my hands hovering over the faint mark of his presence. The warmth of his dying light remained, but the questions it left behind were colder than any gloom I’d experienced.Victor crouched beside me, his touch hesitant but grounding as his fingers brushed my shoulder. “Kyara, we need to move. The ground here—”“It’s unstable,” I finished, my voice raw. I wasn’t sure if he meant the physical ground or the fragile balance of my emotions. Either way, he was right. The fractures beneath us were spreading, each crack glowing faintly with residual energy from the battle. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to stand.Victor’s hand found mine, his grip firm but careful, like he was anchoring me to the present. “We’ll figure out what he meant, but not here. Please."I turned to see the to
Kyara's POVI, not Eric, moved into the light. A darker, shattered version of myself. Her eyes, or rather my eyes, shone with an uncanny, molten gold as if carved from fire and shadow. Every motion she took was purposeful and measured as if the universe bowed to her command.The air altered, thick with something ancient and unpleasant. She came to a halt only a few steps away from me, her head cocked and a ghostly smile on her lips."You look surprised," she continued, her voice a chilling reflection of mine. "But you shouldn't be."My breath caught, and the words seemed stuck in my throat. Victor and Darius were both motionless, their gazes shifting between me and... me."What...what are you?" I finally whispered.She gave a venomous chuckle. "Kyara, I am you. You refuse to accept yourself. The you who desires power, control, and escape from the chains you've enslaved yourself with. And, unlike you, I'm not afraid to take what I want.""That's not true," I said, my voice wavering des
Kyara’s POVThe atmosphere was thick with disbelief. My body was rooted to the ground, muscles stiff with a tension I couldn't shake as I stared at him—Eric, or whatever remained of him. His figure was a twisted reflection of the boy I once knew, his edges blurred by a dark aura that cracked like broken glass. And those fiery, hollow eyes were not like the ones that used to meet mine with tenderness.Victor's hand grasped mine instinctively. His warmth was the only thing keeping me from getting swept away in the storm of confusion and sorrow. Darius stepped in front of us, his body taut and ready, his wolf instincts tingling with unease."Eric?" I whispered, even though the name felt foreign now, like a relic of someone who had passed away.The figure cocked his head, a sinister smile curling his lips. "Eric," he repeated, his voice distorted and tinged with something ancient and venomous. "I remember that name. A fragile boy with delicate dreams. "So easy to shatter.""No," I respond
Kyara's POVThe moment went on indefinitely, an impossible decision perched on the edge of a knife. I could feel the fire and shadow battle within me, scorching my veins and demanding release. Eric's imploring look pierced me from one side, while Victor and Darius remained firm on the other. Both sides wanted to save me, but I couldn't shake the feeling that neither of them realized how much this choice would cost.Every step I took seemed weighted as if the cosmos was holding its breath. The golden-cloaked apparition approached, hand outstretched, promising salvation—or damnation. Eric was still kneeling, his voice raspy. "Trust me, Kyara. "This is the only way."Victor grabbed my wrist and spun me to face him. His emerald eyes blazed with desperation. "You don't need to do this. Whatever this ability is, we'll discover it together. Do not listen to him. "Do not listen to them."Darius, now in human shape, took a step closer, his face etched with dread, which I had rarely seen from h
Kyara's POVThe person in gold and black stood like a monolith against the horizon, their cloaked face unreadable, but the power emanating from them was unmistakable. It wasn't the crushing malice of the shadow guy or the strange attraction of the golden-eyed woman; it was something else. It wasn't just power; it was authority, the type you didn't have to say to feel."You've won the battle," they said, their voice smooth but menacing. "But the war is far from over."I moved forward, automatically covering Victor and Darius behind me. My body continued to vibrate with the merger of light and darkness, a fresh vitality that simultaneously pleased and scared me. However, in the presence of this entity, I felt tiny."Who are you?" I inquired, my voice firm despite the raging fury in my chest.They cocked their heads slightly, the curtain moving but showing nothing underneath. "Who I am doesn't matter. "What I represent does."Victor went to stand by me, his sword shaking in his grip but
Kyara's POVWhen the light faded, I was falling rather than standing. There's no ground to grab me, no horizon to guide me. Just limitless emptiness, as if the cosmos had split apart and cast me adrift in its hollow heart.The air was heavy with the aroma of ash and something metallic, sharp, like the aftermath of a tremendous storm. My body felt weightless, but not in a comfortable way. It was the weightlessness of surrender, the loss of all control. But the fire inside me raged on, and I couldn't stop my heartbeat."Is this it?" I muttered to no one, my voice scarcely heard over the rumbling abyss.The voice sliced through the darkness, smooth and mocking. "Oh, it's far from over."I twisted, or rather the space around me did, and there he was: the shadow man. His red eyes shone like dying stars, and his presence felt like a cold sword across my spine. He was not alone. The golden-eyed lady emerged from the cloud, her sneer sharper than before."You thought you could end this with a