As I stared at the ground-glowing symbols, my heart beat raced in my ears. Like they were alive, the strange, twisted lines flashed a faint pulsating light. I was surrounded by the pack, some of them frozen in fear, some murmurings, Grandmother's words floated in the air.She had stated, "The ancient ones... they're coming."Who were they, though? And what do they have in mind for us?Grandmother Selene moved forward, her fingers hovering above the symbols as if she could sense their energy. Her lips were straight and pale on her face. The wind picked up, and whipped around us, it had a metallic tinge of terror and confusion."What... what does it mean?" I asked in a low voice.Because she was focused on the symbols, she did not respond immediately. She said to herself, "This is not what I thought," as she murmured.Lucas stood by my side with a clenched jaw. Now would be a good time to inform us if you know what this is.Grandmother gave a straining glance upward. This... is ancient
My entire world spun around. I was unable to breathe as the stranger's dark energy engulfed my body and soaked into my bones. Even though I had no idea what it was, I felt his power tugging at something deep within me that I knew was dangerous.“Daisy!” The distant sound of Lucas's voice sounded like he was shouting through the water. My body refused to respond when I attempted to reach for him. The stranger fixed his cold eyes on mine, as if he could see right through me."Don't fight it, Omega." It hurts more the more you resist, his voice echoed in my head.I thought I was going to pass out for a moment because my vision was blurry. But then I saw something with tiny and far-off eyes following from the forest. I had never seen anything like that before.The stranger also noticed. I could feel his panic rising as he tightened his grip on me. Tonight, he wasn't alone in the forest, and no one else here was friendly."What… what is that?" I was able to speak through the pressure in my
Every nerve in my body was tense as soon as I slipped back into the pack's territory. Every step I took to get closer to the den felt like it was carrying a new weight in the pitch-blackness of the night, the kind of darkness that eats at you. The stranger's gaze on me, as if he knew every dark nook and cranny of my mind, was something I couldn't shake.Dahlia, on the other hand, now bothered me the most.As soon as I got close to the pack grounds, she waited, as if she had been watching for hours. Her eyes gazed straight and sharp at me, as if she were trying to find out what happened.Where have you been? Daisy. She spoke in a manner that was too soft. That was a rare conversation between Dahlia and me.I stabilized myself by taking a breath. Out, just... Had to get some air.The silence thinned as she observed me, this night? On your own? I don't believe that.My jaw clenched. Dahlia was always able to see through me. What's the point?'"When did you last go out on your own?” She t
I pushed deeper into the forest, away from the prying eyes and constant questions, and the air was thick. Dahlia's suspicion had hovered over me like a shadow, serving as a constant reminder of what I was concealing. However, I was done hiding as of tonight. If I was ever to shake this sense of helplessness, I needed to know what I could do.From the edge of a clearing, I stopped and took in the night sky. Everything was illuminated by the moon's bright light. It seemed to be alive and watching me. I closed my eyes and tried to reach the strange new part of me that I had been trying to bury deeply. I wanted to be heard and let out whatever it was that changed in me."Daisy, you shouldn't be out here," I said.With my heart racing, I whipped around. Kai, one of the fiercest warriors in the pack, was the one. With the same recognizable frown he always wore, he stood a few feet away with his arms crossed. He looked at me with his dark eyes, curious but cautious.I swallowed the nervousne
I walked through the pitch-black forest, shadows extending in every direction. As if it was anticipating something, the air was thick and almost electric. That same inner fire was still burning, but it was now stronger, hotter, and nearly impossible to control. I was still processing Kai's words. He advised me and said that I was unprepared and lacked knowledge of the situation at hand. However, he was unaware of the feeling of powerlessness to be nothing at allMy heart was beating so hard that I stopped breathing. Silver was shining everywhere as the moon rose high above. It seemed to be calling to something deep within me, and I felt drawn to it. The others had talked about their first shifts and the moon's pull on them. But for me, it was more like a need that I couldn't ignore, a demand."What do I need to do?" I said something to the empty forest.I spun around as my senses sharpened when a nearby branch snapped. This time, it wasn't Kai. A wolf's eyes sparkled from the gloom, l
As I emerged from the den, my heart was pounding and the night air was chilly. The full moon cast a cool glow over the forest as it lay still. Their murmured voices barely reached me, and the eerie figures gathered in the distance were barely visible to me. Despite this, I was able to detect their impatience, the tension in their whispers, and something both strange and familiar.Kai's outline emerged from behind a tree and called softly, "Daisy."I jumped, trying to keep from gasping in shock. Kai! Where are you going with this?” I tried to keep my voice steady as I whispered.He cautiously surveyed the area with a finger raised to his lips. Shh. They haven't heard that you're here yet. His face became more relaxed. I knew you would arrive."You knew" What's going on, Kai? Who are these individuals? With my eyes narrowed, I whispered, " Is this a secret meeting of some kind?Kai looked at me with a hint of conflict on his face. It's… muddled. However, you must listen to what is being
I knew it wouldn't be a good idea to sneak back into the den at night. However, the moment I entered, the sound of my father's deep, irate voice hit me. In the dim hallways, he let out a low growl that blended in with my mother's usual nervous tone. In the hope of not being noticed, I stopped abruptly, barely breathing, and remained close to the dim corner."This... nonsense prophecy!" My father yelled, I've given it all in exchange for this pack! And now they dare to inquire about us and Dahlia's location?My mother's voice was measured and calm. Please, Rylan. Talk is all it is. The pack is always uproariously stirred up by Mira.He moaned in a low, simmering voice. Maybe. However, I cannot continue to ignore this. She is affected by it.I was punched by it. Again, the focus was on the dahlia. She was always. However, there was something different about their protective and almost desperate demeanor.As Mira's words came flooding back, I clenched my fists to fight the resentment in
Kai held my hand tightly as we sped through the trees, and I could hardly keep up. With every step, my heart pounded in time, and I could feel someone or something coldly watching us through the darkness."Daisy, stay near!" Kai's voice was tense as he whispered. "We must remove you from view.""Me?" I looked over my shoulder and gasped, half expecting to see bright eyes in the darkness. "Why me?"With his grip tightening and his eyes darting around, he muttered, "It's not just a rogue wolf." "They have a specific person in mind.""Like...me?" As though uttering the word aloud made it real, it tasted bitter. Kai's silence, however, only strengthened my worst suspicion.“Yeah. You.”I reduced my speed and escaped his hold. "Hold on. Why would anybody want to find me? Here, I am nothing. Remember the useless Omega?He came to a halt and turned to face me, his expression almost beseeching. "You're not worthless, Daisy. You are... significant.I shuddered at the way he said it. "How impor
The world had contracted to the area between my arms and Dahlia’s motionless form. The turmoil of the battleground was a faint buzz, the shattered howls of wolves a subdued resonance. The only noise I could perceiving was my uneven breath while I held her, the blood on my hands had begun to dry yet still felt warm. “Dahlia,” I murmured, nudging her softly as if that would revive her. Her head tilted to one side, her formerly sharp eyes half-shut, the spark in them lost. No, no, no. My chest rose and fell as I held her tighter, pressing my face into her stained hair. "You must not abandon me." "Not in this way." A soft rasp emerged from her lips, and I paused. Gently, I withdrew, my heart racing. Her eyes partially opened, just a crack, and for an instant, she gazed at me not as an opponent, not as a competitor, but as my sister. “I’m here,” I stated, tears flowing down my cheeks. "I am here." Her lips were in motion, yet no sound emerged. I moved in nearer, eager to catch what s
The atmosphere was charged with crackling energy, a heavy weight that bore down on my chest with each breath. With each step I made toward the ritual chamber, the weight felt greater than before, as if the ground itself was plotting against me. On the battlefield, I observed Dahlia stumble, her body suffering from the same magic that consumed me. Our gazes locked for just a fleeting instant, and I noticed a spark of fear, a silent request, and something indefinable. “Dahlia!” I yelled, my voice consumed by the wailing gusts of the eclipse’s force. Before she had the chance to respond, Castor's voice boomed across the battlefield, intensified by the ominous magic enveloping him. “Wolves of Silvermoon, behold the beginning of a new age!” he declared, positioned at the heart of the whirlwind. His body started to change, the contours of his shape fading as the ritual took over him. “What is he up to?” Rowan yelled, tripping over to join me. I could hardly reply, my attention fixed o
The battlefield was filled with confusion. Wolves collided, fangs exposed and claws tearing in the strange glow of the eclipse. Shadows contorted strangely over the terrain, with the sun’s dim corona being the sole source of light on the bloodied ground. My heart raced in my chest as I battled through The Forgotten’s ranks, with Rowan alongside me. “Daisy, right behind you!” Rowan yelled, rushing ahead to block a rogue who had approached too near. I whirled, cutting through yet another foe before facing Rowan again. "We must continue to advance!" "Castor isn’t going to wait for us to discover him!" Rowan cleaned the blood from his face, his eyes filled with resolve. "We'll reach him." “However, if we don’t halt their armament, none of this will be important.” I nodded, looking at Soren, who was guiding a few people toward The Forgotten’s supply cache. His expression was determined, his actions exact as he and his group disappeared into the turmoil. "Best of luck, Soren," I whispe
The initial sliver of shadow moved across the sun, enveloping the battlefield in a strange dusk. The previously overwhelming clamor of readiness and whispers of anxiety turned quiet, supplanted by a silence so profound it seemed to breathe. My breath caught as I looked up at the sky, the universe seemingly pausing for what lay ahead. “We have no time left,” Soren stated next to me, his tone quiet yet determined. I agreed, clutching my weapon more firmly. "We proceed now." "Without any doubt." The initial howl shattered the quiet, a call from our scouts marking the commencement of the assault. The noise was instinctive, unrefined, and it sent a chill through my body. "Let's wrap this up," I snarled, spearheading the attack. Within the stony confines of Silvermoon, Dahlia glided like a shadow, her movements stealthy and precise. She trailed Castor through twisting hallways, her senses amplified as the eclipse's power coursed through her. The murmurs in her head grew louder, nearly
The sky was unsettled, marked with shadows that grew darker with each passing moment. I remained at the perimeter of the battlefield, the heaviness of the air compressing my lungs. The eclipse approached, its energy surging through my veins like a warning I was unable to overlook. I tightened my fists, steadying myself as the ground beneath my feet shook. Surrounding me, the whispers of my companions broke the silence, a soft resonance of anxiety, resolve, and the delicate hope that this wasn’t the conclusion. “Daisy,” Fenris’s voice shattered the quiet. He positioned himself next to me, his expression serious yet composed. "The rest are waiting." I nodded, pulling my eyes away from the dimming skyline. “Let’s complete this.” Within the war tent, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. A temporary table displayed a map of Silvermoon, its landscape outlined with quickly sketched lines and circles. My most reliable companions Fenris, Rowan, Soren, and several others gathered around i
The moon loomed large in the heavens, its borders engulfed by darkness as the eclipse started. Shadows swelled across the battlefield, not merely a physical darkness but an overwhelming, alien presence that weighed on my chest and screamed in my ears. I sensed it deep within me, a chilling vibration of energy that ignited every nerve. By the way the fighters near me tensed up, I realized they sensed it as well. “This feels unnatural,” Fenris growled, exposing his teeth. He stood next to me, his knuckles pale gripping the handle of his sword. “No, it isn’t,” I replied, my voice scarcely heard over the increasing wind. I raised my eyes to Silvermoon, its lofty walls a striking outline against the crimson sky. Somewhere in that space, Castor was orchestrating the movements, and Dahlia... Dahlia was expecting. "Postures!" I yelled, compelling myself to concentrate. “Gather together and maintain your position!” The group quickly arranged themselves, with wolves transforming into their
The breeze cut sharply across my face, bringing the aroma of pine and the faint buzz of unease. We advanced together like a pack of wolves in human and altered shapes, their breaths misting in the frigid air. Each step seemed weightier than the previous, making us feel as though we were being pulled toward the conclusion. “Silvermoon is located just over that hill,” Soren stated, speaking softly. He gestured toward the uneven row of trees in front. "The external defenses will be dispersed, yet they will be aware of our approach." "They consistently do." Fenris walked alongside me, his shoulders rigid and his jaw clenched. His typically serene demeanor had fractured in recent days, exposing something unrefined beneath the exterior. "You're really silent," I remarked, looking at him. He made a grunting sound but didn’t reply. "Fenris," I urged, softening my tone. “What are you thinking about?” He reduced his speed, letting the others move in front of us. When he finally began to s
The evening atmosphere was heavy with unease, the far-off cries of wolves cutting through the stillness. Daisy positioned herself close to the camp's border, gazing at the shadowy horizon. The burden of her decisions weighed down significantly on her heart. Each choice she faced seemed like another risk, and she was losing time to wager judiciously. Footsteps stirred behind her. Fenris drew near, his face faintly illuminated by the flickering flames. “We have an intruder,” he stated, his voice taut yet composed. "An elder hailing from Silvermoon." States he has something to convey to you. Daisy's forehead creased. "A senior?" Here? “From Silvermoon?” Fenris agreed. “He states it’s critical.” Daisy promptly accompanied him to the heart of the camp. The fighters had assembled, whispering to one another while they watched the hooded individual by the flames. The old man's hands shook gently, his face etched with years and fatigue. “Who is it that you are?” Daisy insisted, moving ah
The campsite was still, aside from the muted moans of the wounded. Daisy sat close to the fire, gazing at the dancing flames. The burden of the ambush enveloped her like a dense mantle. Surrounding her, the warriors still present murmured in low voices, their uncertainty slicing through the atmosphere like a knife. “She's powerful, but is that sufficient?” one voice whispered. "Another person mentioned, 'We’ve already lost countless others.'" "Perhaps we ought to minimize our losses and depart." Daisy’s jaw grew tense. She compelled herself to appear composed, yet her heart was racing. Fenris drew near, his expression serious. "You've listened to them," he remarked, taking a seat next to her. "I've listened," Daisy responded, maintaining her tone calm. He moved in closer. "They aren't mistaken, Daisy." We’re outnumbered, outclassed. Perhaps it's time to retreat and gather in a more secure location. "We cannot protect Silvermoon in this manner." She faced him, her eyes burning w