My breath caught in my throat as I observed him from the shadows.
The Prince, usually adorned in the grand attire befitting his station, was now clad in more practical garb—a simple black tunic and trousers, designed for the exertion of training. I had never witnessed him in casual attire before. His appearance, in this context, was... different. He moved with an ease that seemed almost foreign to me, his usual royal bearing stripped away to reveal a man whose form was honed by years of practice and discipline. His sword sliced through the air with graceful precision, each swing accompanied by the low hum of steel cutting through the night. There was an intensity in his movements, a barely restrained energy that spoke of some inner turmoil—a struggle I had not seen in him before. I found myself unable to look away, captivated by the sight of him.RION POV I lay in my bed, restless and contemplative as the early hours of the morn pressed heavily upon me. Upon departing the training ground, I attempted to attain rest, but sleep remained elusive, seemingly beyond my grasp. My thoughts turned to Seraphina, the night’s training having stirred emotions within me, and to the soldiers who had ventured forth to battle while I remained confined by the constraints of my station. The thought of being left behind while my people engaged in battle filled me with an abhorrence that permeated my very essence. However, I possessed no agency in this matter. My father, the King, would never countenance my participation in the conflict. Despite my repeated pleas and entreaties since the war's commencement, my efforts proved futile, akin to attempting to reason with an unyielding force. He remained unmoved. His justifications centered around the notion that he could not risk sending his sole heir into the crucible of war, along with a pl
SERAPHINA POV I had been dutifully aiding the healers since the soldiers returned. The infirmary, a place teeming with the scent of blood, sweat, and suffering, had become a new battlefield—one I was determined to navigate. Yet, it seemed my every effort was met with resistance. Some soldiers grimaced at my touch, while others outright refused my assistance. One man, in particular, was more vocal than the rest. His voice, sharp and laden with disdain, cut through the already heavy air. "You reek of weakness," he spat, his face twisted in disgust as I tried to adjust his bandage. "No wolf in you. You don't belong here." I exerted considerable effort to resist the urge to flinch at his words. My apparent indifference appeared to enrage him, as his expression contorted in anger. But he didn't stop there. His voice grew louder, his insults more venomous. "You should leave," he snarled. "You're nothing but a burden." I once again ignored him and continued with my work.
It was dead quiet, like unnaturally quiet. Normally, it was all screams, or groans of pain, or the soldiers' loud voices as they got drunk, or the girls screaming while they were being abused.But it was never this quiet."Lyra," I said quietly, trying to find my little sister. She was the only surviving family member I had left. The war has taken everybody away from me. When the war started four years ago, my father and elder brother were dragged away from our home to join the fight. I haven't laid eyes on them since. I didn't need anyone to tell me they were dead. My father and brother had no skill for the battlefield. There were mere omegas in a world that valued only the top dogs. Their lack of combat prowess left them vulnerable and unprepared, as they never deemed it necessary to learn how to fight. After my father and brother were taken to go fight in the war, my mother took my sister and I to a pack where she thought the war wouldn't reach. It turned out she was very,
We heard the girl's scream up front. A loud, piercing wail that shook the very trees. What type of agony could cause such a scream?I didn't wait to find out and bolted in the opposite direction of the shriek. I wasn't going back to that camp. No, I'm going to find a way to survive with Lyra in these woods. I ran as fast as I could, not looking back to see if something was following me. The screams suddenly multiplied and grew louder. They were all coming from behind meMy legs were ready to give out, but I kept running, not stopping for a second. All at once, the screaming stopped. Everywhere went eerily quiet. It was that type of unsettling quiet like back at the camp. I think whatever this thing was, it got to the soldiers as well. But there was no screaming at the camp, so it must have drawn them out. I spotted a small hole and quickly jumped inside, not stopping to think about what could be in there. It had to be safer than whatever was chasing us. "Lyra, are you okay?"
"Seraphina, dear, you have to wake up now." "Mother?" "Yes, dear. Wake up now, it is not yet time for you to join us. Your journey is far from over." "But I don't want to live without all of you." "You must, dear. We weren't going to be in your life forever. Rise now, a grand destiny awaits you." I draw a sharp breath as consciousness flooded back, struggling for air as if my lungs were constricted. My mind felt foggy and every muscle ache. But I still remembered the dream clearly.I saw my mother. She came to me. I saw her sweet, soft face again. I buried my face in my palms, that was when I realized I've been crying. As clarity returned, I saw I was still alive, and in a tent. A surge of panic gripped me as the realization dawned that I might have returned to the camp. I didn't give in to the panic, and decided to look around.This tent was different. It was cleaner and much organized. I was sleeping on a very soft mat and was covered with soft fur.If I was back at the c
As the first ray of dawn broke through the trees, the army started their journey. The roar of military engines filled the air. A fleet of armored trucks and transport vehicles lined up along the edge of the forest.The soldiers, clad in tactical gear, moved with practiced efficiency, preparing for the final leg of their journey.I stood beside one of the transport trucks, my gaze scanning the rows of vehicles.The scent of diesel and the metallic tang of the armor were familiar.I was assigned to ride with a soldier with a stern demeanor but a clear sense of duty.According to what Alpha Kaelen mentioned, the trip to Wolfhaven could take up to five days, despite the vehicles, because of the army's size. We traveled all day, only stopping to rest and eat.There was no sleep at all, but I didn't voice any complaints. I was determined to prove myself to Alpha Kaelen. On the third night, Alpha Kaelen decided we should rest. Something tells me he did it because of me and I hated it. I
The walls in the women's quarters were thick. The air felt damp and cool. Aella guided me to my room, giving me a quick tour.Her words "Welcome to hell" echoed in my mind. But I wasn't afraid. I had just come from one hell, I could handle another. "This is the common room," Aella mentioned as she entered a large, dimly lit room. "Here, the women gather at the end of every day, to eat and just do what women do," Aella grinned as she spoke. "Even though we are soldiers, we're still women," she winked at me and continued leading the way.She pushed open a heavy double door, revealing a long hallway lined with rolls of door on each side. We walked until she reached what seemed like the middle of the corridor. She opened a door at the left and stepped inside. As we entered, I saw five girls who hurried to stand."Ma'am," they saluted Aella in unison. "At ease," she told them, but they remained standing."This is your new bunkmate and our fresh recruit," she indicated toward me. "Yo
I stood there amidst the other recruits, a motley crew of young men and women, all with the same haunted look in their eyes.They were war children, much like myself. Before us stood the man who had been addressing us, and his visage was clear to me. His hair was a wild, untamed mess of silver and black, long and flowing.His piercing green eyes scanned the group, settling on me for a moment. If I had found Alpha Kaelen intimidating, this man would have suppressed him by far. "Welcome, recruits," his voice resonated. "I am Captain Kael. Today marks the beginning of your journey. You will be trained in combat, survival skills, to become something more than what you are." He clapped his hands together, the sound reverberating through the area. "Let the training begin!" We were immediately thrown into a whirlwind of activities. We were taught basic combat techniques, how to move with speed and agility, how to use our bodies as weapons. I struggled. My body was weak. My hands tre