LOGINLight, sound, and heat collapsed into nothingness before slamming back into form with brutal force. When sensation returned, it did so unevenly, breath first, then pain, then the awareness of earth beneath their feet.“Where are we?” Kyle gasped, clutching his head as the aftereffects of teleportation crashed over him. It had been too much – far too much for the mortal body.When no one answered, he opened his eyes, about to speak again, but the she-wolf nipped the collar of his shirt and dragged him away.“Hey—”“We must give them privacy,” she said sharply into his mind, continuing to pull him deeper into the trees.Alinta and Orion remained locked in each other's arms, their bond surging and settling all at once, like a living thing finally finding its place. It felt unreal to both of them, a fragile dream they feared might shatter if they breathed too hard.Angela raced toward Silas. The moment she was close enough, she leapt at him, knocking him off his paws as tears of joy strea
“Okay,” Alinta whispered, steadying herself. “I trust you.”“Good,” Angela purred, briefly softening as she doted upon her human counterpart. Then her expression hardened. She turned her gaze upon the monster before them, Draven, who prowled within his own anticipation, eyes locked on her like a predator savouring its prey.“You can cut the crap, flea-bag,” Angela snarled, feathers and fur bristling, every inch of her poised for violence. “Nothing you do will ever make us even consider the thought of you as a worthy suitor. Now yield or prepare yourself for the long-awaited arse-whooping!”“We really need to work on your language, my mate,” Draven hissed, his features sharpening as his anger grew. “I won't repeat myself, my rose. You are–”He vanished.In the blink of an eye, his form dissolved into lightning, a violent violet streak tearing through the air straight towards her.Angela reacted on instinct, flames whooshing as she darted aside, but the moment she halted at a safe dista
Adorus was hunched over now, out of breath, his body revealing the same cracks that had split through Alinta. His left arm was gone, and his once fierce flames flickered in a fragile glow.Draven panted, relentless despite his fatigue. With a sweeping motion, he summoned a massive gust of wind, driving it into Adorus’ weakened fire, until the flames split apart, granting him passage to the Sun God. He leapt high, his large form arcing through the air– A sudden, blinding light swallowed the chamber.“Finally,” Adorus wheezed, a smile tugging at his cracked lips.Draven recoiled, fearing the light might be a final, lethal blast.But the brilliance softened. Winds circled the room, forming a vortex that pulled in both Adorus' lingering fire and the drifting ashes of Alinta. The moment her remains touched her father's flames, power sparked, embryonic embers blooming within the chaos. The fire brightened, heat swelling until the room grew molten, objects melting and bursting into flame.A
Alinta gasped for air as she found herself in a strange room. Everything glimmered in shades of gold, orange and crimson. Heat pressed against her skin, yet she embraced it, stretching lazily across a large, glittering orange pillow. She remembered what had happened, and yet she did not care. This peace, this serenity was exactly what she needed.She knew this was not her body but her spirit. The realisation that she was dead settled over her like dusk. It saddened her that she might never see Orion again, and yet there was a quiet calm in the knowing.If this is the afterworld, then surely I will find Angela… Mother… Oscar… or even my little one Draven took from me... Her heart raced at the thought. She rose from her cosy place with sudden haste and made her way out of the chamber.Something felt different. Strength thrummed through her, sharper, keener than even her werewolf form before Angela disappeared. She came upon a large mirror and studied her reflection. Her clothing was str
Draven stood upon the vast balcony of his castle. Half the forest had been cleared, granting him a perfect view of his stolen kingdom. More werewolves had been turned to mindless servants; most of the country now lay ensnared beneath his rule. Like a plague, his dominion spread, swift, subtle, so much so that the rest of the world had not yet noticed.But the animals had. They always did. And they knew he was preparing for war, to claim the lands beyond his borders.Though his conquering advanced smoothly, unease gnawed at him. For days now, a heavy, oppressive presence had lingered in the air, crawling across his nerves like frost.Adding to his restlessness were the three goals that remained out of reach.The first was Kyle. Draven knew he still lived, wandering and hiding. He had saved him for last, believing him to be the easiest to capture. Kyle’s spirit was essential: the Green Bellatores' gift was not raw strength, but endurance, rejuvenation and a rare communion with nature it
The following morning, the day began as usual: Adorus and Orion clashed in the arena, locked in one-on-one combat. Yet today, there was a notable change.Adorus was taken aback by how much Orion and Silas had improved. Their creativity shone through as they wove an elegant fighting style, interchanging forms, shifting to and fro to disorient their opponent. Silas moved with grace that demanded attention, like water, fluid as the Silver River, yet carried a presence as commanding and unyielding as the full moon’s gaze in a clear sky. Even so, it was not enough to make Adorus abandon his mortal guise.Orion, too, fought with newfound confidence. His body seemed to move on its own, as though guided by an ancient, hidden memory etched into his very bones. He closed his eyes, focusing on Alinta, on the pain and torment she had endured.Ever since Silas had marked Angela, more of his memories had surfaced, chiefly of how Bellinor loomed like a dark eclipse over Alinta's light, smothering hi







