If there was one thing Naya trusted, it was the certainty that people could always turn their backs on her. The West Wood Pack was no place for the weak or for strangers. When she came face to face with the assassin, she instantly sensed that this person knew the territory too well to be an outsider.A cold dagger pressed against her throat as she was slowly dragged to the side, away from the carriage. The servant and the guard who had been with her earlier were nowhere to be seen. Had the assassin killed them, too? Or were they all working together? A rough grip on her arm yanked her attention back. With a rope tied around her hands, she let the assassin lead her to the falls. The sound of water crashing against the rocks below drowned out every other noise, creating a curtain of isolation around them.The assassin dragged Naya until they reached the cliff's edge, the wind harsh and cold. Naya glanced down, seeing the massive rocks below, jagged and unforgiving, waiting like silent
Naya felt as if she were dreaming. She found herself in the middle of an open field where the air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of wildflowers. Here, the grass, vibrant and lush, was greener than any she had ever seen, almost glowing under the bright, azure sky. The place felt almost magical, with a serene atmosphere that seemed to hum with a life she had never seen before. The wind blew gently, swaying the grass and flowers in a soothing rhythm, carrying a sweet melody that seemed to float on the breeze.A woman was singing in the distance, her voice soft and melodious, like a lullaby carried by the wind. With some hesitation, Naya followed the enchanting sound. It led her to a grand oak tree, its ancient branches stretching wide and casting dappled shadows on the ground. Beyond it, a river flowed, its waters sparkling in the sunlight and sending a cool breeze that caressed Naya’s face and filled her lungs with freshness.As she neared the tree, Naya couldn't help but wonde
Death was something no person could ever escape from. The reality of people who constantly fight to survive, to get a mission done, or sacrifice their own for a greater purpose was harsher than the truth of life itself. Options were not even given, and nobody in the list could dodge death freely as they would’ve wished to. Naya was the leader of the Midnight Seven. Naturally, her mission was greater than the rest of her group. In fact, she left without explaining her next plan to them. It was her own way of saving the people who didn’t have to do what she should and had to. Her feet were constantly a few steps away from death's door, but that didn't mean she would stop. It was similar to signing a deal with, of pledging your own life on the line - you couldn't really do anything about it but accept it when it comes. “I am prepared to die,” she always told herself whenever fear crept in her heart in some moments. Yet, in those moments, she would feel her knees tremble. With clenched
Alpha Jake sat behind his desk, a flash of lightning illuminating the room through the glass window. The storm outside was relentless, the rain hammering against the panes with unyielding force.Luna Sierra left the bed, her bare feet padding softly on the wooden floor as she walked up to him. "The rain hasn’t stopped since earlier," she said, her voice tinged with concern.Alpha Jake remained focused on the papers in front of him, occasionally picking up his pen to jot down notes. His brow furrowed in concentration, the flickering light from the storm casting shadows on his stern face.Sighing, Luna Sierra approached him. "Are you listening to me, Alpha?"Finally, the head of the pack lifted his gaze, his piercing eyes meeting hers. "The first reading from Sana Azalea stated our pack will suffer from a drought. This much rain is doing us a favor more than anything else," he said. "Why don’t you sit down and rest instead?"Luna Sierra felt a flash of irritation. She hadn’t forgotten
A sharp pain shot through Naya's head, like a flicker of lightning, making her wince. She panted softly, her lips barely moving as she lay on the damp, cool grass, its earthy scent mingling with the crisp morning air. In her mind, a familiar voice suddenly echoed, the words drowned in a static, stormy sound, except for three: “Luna Sandra’s daughter.”Naya’s heart raced and her frown turned deeper. In her dream, the face of Sana Azalea appeared. Bloodied yet with a smile, she looked at Naya and softly uttered her final words, “I’m glad… that I was able to meet Luna Sandra’s daughter.” Then, in an instant, Sana Azalea turned to dust, and darkness enveloped Naya. The oppressive blackness was suffocating, pressing in on her from all sides. She was trapped, unable to move, until a thread of white light appeared, pulling her towards it like a lifeline.Naya’s eyes snapped open as she gasped for breath, her lungs burning. As her vision adjusted to the soft, early light of dawn, she sensed
“You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Did something happen, Alpha?” Luna Sierra asked as soon as she saw Alpha Jake who stormed into their bedroom. It happened that Luna Sierra had also only arrived. “I have to go somewhere,” Alpha Jake said, pacing with a conflicted look. Luna Sierra frowned. “What’s going on?” But Alpha Jake didn’t turn to answer, moving fast towards the large cabinet by their bed. Frustrated, Luna Sierra walked up to him and blocked the wooden furniture. “Tell me what’s wrong, Alpha. If you don’t, I can’t help you.” Alpha Jake looked at her, seemingly at a loss. It was the first time for Luna Sierra to see her husband and mate appear this way. Just what shocked him to this extent? Curious and worried, she carefully gauged, “Is this about General Argus’ report this morning? I heard he reported about the dry spring plateau.” Alpha Jake shook his head. It seemed he realized he was being too rash with his decisions. He took deep breaths and plopped down the bed.
Naya looked away. Kael stared at her for some more before he let out a chuckle and let go. By now, he already figured out Naya's personality. In fact, she was so easy to read. There were times she almost showed her true emotions but most of the time, she would hide them. Even though she didn’t say anything, Kael could hear her thoughts. Just like now, when Naya was worrying about her dream. Although Kael couldn’t see it clearly, he sensed the confusion, shock, and somewhat longing in Naya’s head and heart. Still, these were things Kael didn’t like to speak about. He proceeded to his wardrobe, casually stripped naked and took whatever clothes he wanted. As he did so, he sensed Naya started to move. When he turned around, Naya had already gone to the bathroom. Kael smirked, but his smile dropped as he couldn’t help but think, “What was she dreaming about?” Suddenly, there was a knock, interrupting his thoughts. “Come in, Jed,” he ordered. Jed immediately walked in, carrying an a
News traveled faster than the wind itself in the West Wood Pack. Naturally, the fact that Kael had been discussing his terms of his mateship with the alpha princess of the Night Ridge Pack quickly spread like wildfire. Eventually, it reached the houses of the other alpha princes.Lorenzo, for one, was having breakfast when he heard the news from Rui. He stood up quickly from his seat.“What? He’s taking another mate?” he asked, aghast.Rui, Lorenzo’s beta, patiently explained what he gathered.“Alpha Prince, there’s nothing we can do about this,” Rui insisted. “And about the rogue, nothing has been confirmed about their mateship either.”Lorenzo spun to look at him. “Are you saying he still hasn’t marked Naya?”“Well… About that, everyone believes they have already bonded,” Rui said. “But it’s unsure whether she’s been marked.”Before he could continue, Lorenzo had already grabbed his clothes, preparing to leave.“What are you planning to do, Alpha Prince?” Rui asked worriedly.“I wil