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
That evening, Adorus retreated to his little corner, not the slightest bit interested in anything around him, only gazing into the heavens with a serious, calculative expression.Orion, too, was preoccupied; he and Kyle were in deep conversation, speaking of how, once Alinta was saved and Draven defeated, the world might finally be safe again.Silas and Angela were nestled together, tending to his mate, ensuring she was well. He still could not believe she was finally free of her hex.“Yes, I am fine!” she giggled shyly each time Silas found an excuse to touch her with his nose and muzzle. He was happy to see his mate well; this was nothing short of a miracle.“You have been through so much, my love. Though you have healed, I must be certain not a single trace of that rotten magic remains within you,” he said gravely, then cheekily licked her cheek. Silas was overjoyed to see Angela as her old self.“Ow!”“What is it, my love?” Silas asked at once, concern sharpening his tone. Angela
In the heart of the vast desert, two men clashed in hand-to-hand combat within an arena carved entirely from stone. The blazing sun bore down on them, conditions in which Adorus thrived, while Orion struggled. Yet he did not dare give up.Four days had passed since Adorus had begun his training, but Orion remained weak, worn down by the continuous backlash, showing little progress. The Sun God’s patience waned, his attacks growing fiercer as he swung his fiery cane with effortless precision, one hand mockingly folded behind his back.Relentless, he broke Orion’s bones and battered him to a pulp each day, only to heal him afterwards.Now, his movements driven by irritation, Adorus aggressively struck Orion’s chest with a swift jab of his cane, hurling him from the arena. Orion crashed onto his back, the impact knocking the wind from his lungs, yet he forced himself back to his feet, despite the pain.“You are useless! To think I would ever allow you to become my daughter’s mate!” Adoru
Days turned into weeks and weeks into months since Orion and Silas returned to Silver Forest. Whispers among the animals spread like wildfire, rumours that Rose Thorn Forest and its surrounding territories had fallen under the grip of a malignant, powerful force.Word also spread of the Valencia Lupus Bellatores’ disappearance, a young girl of only fifteen.Orion held his head in his hands, silent tears slipping through his fingers… just like his mate, his hopes and the will to go on had slipped away. Silas remained quiet, listening to his broken person’s thoughts while curled protectively around Angela.They were in a pitiful state, hollowed by the repercussions of betrayal. Orion's fated mark was gone, lost beneath festering flesh. At first, Silas had shifted into his wolf form, hoping it would heal as normal scars would, but it was no use; no magic could mend a defiled holy bond. The rot spread instead, Orion’s chest and shoulder turning a sickly grey, as his health worsened each p
The new year had settled into its fourth month. Draven had just returned from his hunt, his mood soured by failure, unable to find Silas, and unsuccessful in locating the final Lupus Bellatores. He had abandoned the tower entirely and taken refuge in the territory of his ancestral home. There, he restored the ruins of the castle he had once lived during Crustblood's reign. Deep in the dark forests, he began to reclaim the surrounding land as his own. He was preparing for war.He effortlessly teleported to the master chambers where his prize was fast asleep. A woman dressed in period clothing as a chambermaid bowed before leaving the room. Alinta was free to roam the vast castle, but because of her delicate state, she spent most of her time either in bed or in the library.“Breathtaking, as always, my sleeping beauty,” Draven sighed in utter satisfaction, his anger almost instantly diminished at the sight of her.He grinned as he gazed upon his desire. She looked radiant and flawless,