Chapter one: Life in the shadows

Dusk was creeping over the forest, causing life to suddenly emerge from its depths. Its immense pines towered high like guardians. The heart of the forest, consisting of two feuding realms, namely Lunari and Umbra, was as much of a business as the rivers and roots that intertwined there.

Upon a hilly area that was drenched in sunlight, there was the Lunari pack, whose territory facilitated a cluster of cabins and enormous open areas. Although the settlement was somewhat makeshift, it still had a disciplined air to it. Each construct was made with an intention, every single inch of the land signifying their pack's historical undertakings.

Thane, the alpha of the Lunari tribe, stood on the wooden platform in the center of the village while the village elder trained the young wolves in sparring. ombination of both enabled him to master all fields as he possessed motivation. A mentor wielder, as Thane reeked of authority.

Thane had a son whose name was Luca. He was twenty-six and had built himself into someone with finesse, combat, strategy, and diplomacy. As survival at its core relied on physical combat, the lean, muscular form dodged an aggressive try to strike him while the sun shining down on him turned his yellow eyes almost golden.

“Enough,” Thane called. His voice radiated distinctly powerful, causing Luca to stop and straighten up effortlessly. He threw a glance at his father, a hint of defiance brewing on his face.”

“You hold back,” Thane commented. He stepped out of the platform slowly. “A leader, Luca, must give everything, and strength is what gets respect.”

Luca wiped the sweat from his forehead with an amused grin, holding the corners of his lips up. “Respect isn’t earned by being a bullock, father.”

Thane’s look turned stone cold. “Force is what has kept us strong. Always remember that.”

Under the pretty smile on his face, Luca was annoyed at his father’s words. Tradition was a chain that held him back all his life, its weight heavier with each passing year. Yet he nodded, masking how much it deprived him of doing the things he would want.

As the sun began to set, the village was filled with life. Wolves playing effortlessly between their human and wolf forms, carrying food supplies, tending to the young, the teenage girls practicing the moon dance and preparing for the night ahead. Among them, Luca walked, so lost in his thoughts he could not realize the ladies lusting over him and whispering how bold, tall, and strong he is.

Luca was the dream of every young female wolf in the Lunari pack; they all dreamed of marrying him someday; after all, he is the heir to the throne of the Lunari kingdom.

Across the river that divided their lands, there lay the umbra. It was different from the lunari. Hidden in the shadows of thick woods, their village was wilder, less trapped by formality; the people lived happily and went on their days quietly. Their wooden huts blended perfectly with the forest, grasses creeping along their walls. The Umbra wolves thrived in their natural and wild surroundings; their strength is born of the adaptive and cunning nature of their surroundings.

Aria stood on the edge of a cliff overlooking the river, her blonde hair catching the golden glow of the setting sun. Her piercing brown eyes looking at the landscape, a mix of determination and unease flickering within them.

“Lost in thought again?”

She turned to check and saw her sister, Maliya, approaching. Maliya’s blue eyes sparkled with naughtiness, though her smirk carried an edge.

“Just thinking,” Aria replied, her voice steady despite her sister’s probing gaze.

“About your grand destiny?” Maliya teased, leaning casually against a tree. “Or are you still hoping to find a purpose outside of being Father’s perfect heir?”

Maliya has always considered Aria her father’s favorite because she believes that her father favors Aria more than her. Is it when she had wanted a necklace their late mother always wore, she loved it so much she even begged her father for it, but instead it was given to Aria as a birthday present, or when they were kids and Aria always had the best toys and clothes she wanted?

Aria stiffened. “I don’t have the luxury of hope. You know that.”

Maliya’s smirk faded, replaced by something darker. “No, you don’t. But don’t think for a second that everyone believes you’re as perfect as you pretend to be.”

Aria ignored her and asked to go for a walk. Maliya agreed, and they took a walk in the gardens. As they walked, they stumbled upon a group of young wolves, playing and laughing together. Aria smiled, her eyes sparkling with delight, while Maliya’s expression turned cold and disapproving; she has always been the type not to mingle with ordinary wolves.

“These wolves are undisciplined and lazy,” Maliya taunted. “They need to be taught discipline and respect.”.

Aria rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on, Maliya. Can’t you just let them have a little fun?

Maliya’s eyes turned cold. “Fun is a luxury we can’t afford, Aria."

Aria sighed, knowing better than to argue with her sister, but as they walked, a scream echoed through the forest, summoning them back to the pack’s central ground. Orion, their father and alpha, stood tall at the center, his silver hair sparkling in the fading light.

“The full moon approaches,” Orion began, his voice carrying the weight of authority. “It is a time to draw strength from our unity and prepare for what lies ahead. The Lunari grow bolder with each passing season. We must be vigilant.”

As the eldest daughter, a lot was expected from Aria, not only by her father but also by the entire pack, yet she was worried with doubt if this was what she really wanted, but she owed it to her pack to be loyal. 

As night fell, the two packs prepared for their own routines. In the Lunari village, the fires burned bright, projecting warm light over the wolves gathered in a circle. Thane addressed his pack with the same unyielding confidence that defined him, his words a strong cry for strength and unity.

In the shadows of the Umbra woods, Orion’s voice echoed through the trees, urging his wolves to sharpen their instincts and prepare for the conflicts that may arise.

The night was dissimilar to Luca and Aria. These heirs-to-be shared a feeling of support and a sense of duty to uphold the honor of their houses. One wanted more in the dead, silent heart of solitude, while the other aspired to something far beyond the severe commitments of loyalty and tradition.

The moon, high above the treetops, basked in its silver light that cast the night in a pearlescent hue.Luca and Aria find themselves staring at the beautiful moon. Though from very different worlds and separated by rivalry and distance, still their hearts beat with the same cries: freedom, understanding, and maybe something else.

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