The meeting had been overwhelming, to say the least. The looks, the murmurs, the subtle shifts in the pack’s energy...it was all too much. I’d spent so much of my life flying under the radar, just trying to survive, that being thrust into the spotlight as their Luna felt… jarring.I hadn’t seen Octavius since the announcement. He’d spoken with Samson and a few others while I’d stood there, absorbing everything that had just happened. Now, as the hall cleared out and the crowd dispersed, I found myself looking for him.I wasn’t sure why. Maybe I just needed a moment to process everything with the one person who could possibly understand what I was feeling. Or maybe it was something else entirely, something I wasn’t ready to admit to myself.His scent guides me through the packhouse and it’s almost embarrassing how attuned I’ve become to it, how it seems to calm and agitate me all at once.I finally find him in a quieter part of the house, near the edge of the forest. He’s leaning again
My gaze locks on the path ahead of me as I walk behind Octavius. He leads us through the stone corridor that holds the underground cells... Victor's cell. It's silent here, except for the faint and distant sound of water dripping from somewhere in the passage. The sound echoes through the space, and each drop drives me absolutely insane as I try to ignore the silence around me.The cold dances on my skin, but I don't feel it. It's not how chilling the air is that puts me on edge, but the reason we're even down here: the anticipation of acing Victor.I glance forward at Octavius as we walk, and at that moment, he turns to face me, as if he could immediately feel my eyes on him.His expression is cold and focused, his jaw tight, and his demeanour tense, radiating with anger yet calmness. His presence should steady me, but it doesn’t... not this time. My wolf is restless, pacing in the back of my mind, her instincts screaming that something is wrong, telling me that no matter what happe
My face is frozen in shock as I blink at Victor, allowing his words to sink deep into my mind. My heart suddenly drops before racing sharply as I'm finally able to process what he's just said to me. I keep my eyes on him, and it seems my reaction only fuels his ego. A much more sinister expression now forms on his face as he eyes me carefully.My stomach turns, and I suddenly find it hard to breathe, my entire body becoming tense as I take in what he's told me. My pack... My family... Lycans?"That's not possible," I whisper, shaking my head as if the movement alone with dispel his claim."Oh... but it is..." Victor laughs, a grating, hollow sound that echoes in the damp cell.I turn to glance at Octavius, confused and uncertain about What Victor just told me, and once I meet his gaze, I find the expression. Not only is he in shock but he is also in disbelief."The only Lycans to exist, come from the only 3 royal bloodlines..." I shake my head at him. In werewolf society, Lycans are
I feel like at any point now, my feet may no longer be able to support my body. As if the things Victor is telling me couldn't have any more shock factor, he drops the final bomb.My sister...He claims she's alive... and he has her..."Another lie... y-you're lying..." I find my voice cracking as I fail completely at keeping myself together. That seems to give him some sort of satisfaction as his eyes glint with excitement."Am I?" He cocks his head slightly as he maintains his gaze on me."Tell me, Kaida... do you ever remember seeing her body... or did you just assume she was gone like the rest of your family...?" He asks and I fail to answer him. The more I think about that day, the more I remember that I didn't see her die... instead, I did as she told me and ran. I saw my parents, Jace, the rest of my friends and family get slaughtered, but before I could see what happened to Korra, I was out of there..."Octavius, you seem to believe me, don't you, cousin?" Victor asks. My eyes
The words sink in as I stare at him. Victor’s smirk twists something deep inside me as I finally convince myself that what is he is saying is actually true.My sister is alive.The necklace... He’s telling the truth. He has to be. My knees feel weak, and for a moment, I think I might collapse at the weight of this revelation.“Korra…” I whisper her name like a prayer, a plea, a desperate hope that this isn’t some cruel game Victor’s playing.Victor leans back against the wall, his satisfaction practically radiating off him. “Now you’re starting to see it, little Luna,” he drawls, his tone mocking but sharper, more dangerous. “But I can’t tell you everything all at once. Where’s the fun in that?” He ends up laughing and once again, I'm sent over the edge.“Stop playing games!” My voice cracks as I step closer to him, threatening to pick him off the ground just like Octavius did. “Where is she? What have you done with her?” I yell at him, my voice echoing through the hallways of the ce
Octavius tugs me out of there with such speed, I barely have time to react. In a matter of moments, we are out of Victor's cells, our footsteps echoing down the hallway as he continues to pull me forward.“Octavius, wait,” I protest, trying to tug my arm free, but his grip doesn’t falter and instead he continues to move forward with a quickness I can't keep up with.“Not here,” he snaps, his tone brooking no debate as he continues leading me down the dimly lit corridor.My mind races, Victor’s words still swirling like a toxic fog in my head. But all I can do now is follow Octavius, his presence both grounding and unnerving as we leave the cells, and Victor’s taunts, behind us.I barely wait until we’re out of the cells before yanking my arm free from Octavius’s grip. My blood is boiling, my mind spinning with Victor’s words, and my frustration with Octavius hits its breaking point.“Octavius, stop!” I snap, my voice sharp enough to echo down the hallway. He freezes for only a moment,
“As much as I want justice, and revenge for how they destroyed my family, I want things to be done the right way... I don’t want any lives unnecessarily lost. We have to be careful. We don’t have to play the way they do, where countless innocents die. And that’s what will happen if we rush into this.” He answers me quietly, opening his eyes to finally look at me, his voice calm again as he stares back at me.His words hit me like a wave, and for a moment, the fight drains out of me. I look at him, really look at him, and I see the weight he’s been carrying—the same weight I feel crushing my own chest...“Please,” he says, his voice soft as he looks at me, and listening to him ask me, makes my heart flip, creating a softness in my that I never even knew existed... “I’m asking you to trust me on this. And I promise you, Victor and Lucien will get what they deserve...”I stare at him, my mind racing. His words make sense, but my emotions are too raw, too overwhelming to process it all ri
I can’t keep still. Every second feels like torture as I try to get a grip on reality, my racing mind. Thoughts and scenarios collapse over each other. Thoughts of my sister, she has been all this time, how she's been living, how she's being kept, what has Lucien been doing to her...The idea that she is even still alive churns inside me, a volatile mix of hope and dread, causing my heart to thump at an abnormal rate as I struggle to contain my anxiety. Victor’s words haunt me, playing on repeat in my mind, and the necklace he pointed out feels like it’s burning against my chest...Is she really alive? Could he be telling the truth?My fingers twitch at my sides as we walk through the hallways of the packhouse. Octavius strides ahead of me, his steps purposeful and focused as he leads us forward. Samson and Miyuki flank him, their faces calm but focused as they both remain silent. Lucas is behind us, ever the carefree one, though even he seems more serious now.I follow, my gaze shifti
K A I D AThe next day...The morning air is crisp and cool, but the warmth of exertion burns through my limbs as I strike again. We're training early today. Octavius thought it would be best for us to waste no time ensuring we are in our best shape for when we face our enemy again. My foot slams against the wooden training dummy with a satisfying crack, the force sending it rocking backwards. I don’t stop. I pivot, fists up, and launch a second kick before following it with a sharp jab, my knuckles connecting with the hardwood.“Again,” Octavius commands from nearby, his voice firm but calm.I don’t hesitate. I strike again. And again.Around me, the training grounds are alive with movement. Warriors from both Raven Moon and Xarano Packs push their bodies past their limits, training harder than they ever have before. The intensity in the air is powerful, heavy with determination, urgency, and something sharper... fear.We all know what’s coming.Lucien is out there. Planning. Watchin
K A I D AA thick silence settles over us as my words linger in the air. Jace and the others exchange glances, but no one speaks right away. I’m sure they’re all just taking in what I’ve just told them… that we need to find out what bloodlines they descend from.I press my lips into a firm line, scanning each of their faces. “We need to figure out which bloodlines we all come from,” I repeat, my voice calm but urgent once I notice their reactions. “This isn’t just about heritage anymore. If the royal families were the originals Lycans, and Lucien is actively hunting Lycans down, then we need to know what we’re up against.”Jace tilts his head slightly, arms still crossed over his chest. “And how do you suggest we do that? It’s not like we have some magical family tree lying around.”“I’ll figure it out,” I say confidently, determination settling in my bones. “I’ve already been looking into Lycan history, and if I dig deep enough, I might be able to find something that connects us to t
M I Y U K IThe afternoon air is crisp, cool against my skin as I walk toward the training field, needing a moment alone.Needing space.Ever since the meeting ended, my head has been filled with too many thoughts—Lucien, Lilith, the upcoming battle. Kaida’s revelation about the royal families. And… Cole.I clench my jaw, shaking my head as if I can physically rid myself of the thought.He’s a distraction.And I don’t do distractions.I hear him before I see him.“Hey, princess.”I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to stay composed before turning around. Cole leans lazily against one of the wooden posts at the edge of the field, arms crossed, smirking like he owns the place.He always looks like he belongs anywhere he goes.It’s infuriating.I exhale, levelling him with a sharp glare. “What do you want, Cole?”He presses a hand to his chest in mock offense. “What, I can’t come check on my favourite Gamma?”I roll my eyes. “I’m the only Gamma here.”“Exactly,” he says, grinnin
K A I D AI find Jace on the other side of the room, leaning against the table like they have all the time in the world. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were completely relaxed. But I do know better. Even with their casual stances, I can feel the tension hanging over them like a storm cloud. They’re on edge.And considering the conversation we’re about to have, I can’t really blame them.Jace notices me first, a slow smirk forming on his lips as I approach. “You really couldn’t do without getting on Octavius’ nerves?” I ask.He chuckles in response. “You say that like it’s a challenge. I think I've come to like getting under your mate's skin...”"One day he's going to snap and I won't be able to stop what he'll do to you." I tell him seriously just as I finally reach them, my expression being enough to tell them that I mean all business.“Fine, fine... backing off.” He says casually, pushing off the table and standing up straight, his arms crossing. “What’s on your mind?”
K A I D AOnce the meeting ends, everyone disperses around the room, some warriors leaving to go about their business while everyone else remains lingering behind, each of us discussing the meeting, and what each of us is going to do now. Warriors, strategists, and allies scatter in different directions, each preparing for the battle ahead. The Raven Moon Pack is on edge, and the Xarano Pack, though powerful, is still an unfamiliar presence among us...They are still my people, but I'm now with the Raven Moon, I'm Octavius' mate, therefore the Luna of this pack. But I can't help but think what will happen when this is all over...I exhale deeply, rubbing the back of my neck as I step outside the meeting hall, my mind spinning as I think of everything happening.So much is riding on this.Lucien. Victor. My sister... Korra.I clench my jaw, swallowing the wave of emotions threatening to choke me. There’s no room for fear. No room for doubt.But still… it feels like too much.A familiar
K A I D AThe tension in the air hasn't simmered down since with started. Though no one is exchanging words currently, there's still the underlying feeling of the people in the room not liking each other. I sit at Octavius’ right, my arms crossed as I scan the room. Jace and the Lycans from my pack sit across from us, their expressions watchful as they pay careful attention to what's happening.. Lucas, Miyuki, Samson, and Cole are seated closer to us, across the conference table. Octavius and I thought that would be the best way to keep the peace. And so far it seems to be remaining. My mind begins racing, as we draw closer to figuring out what the hell we're going to do about Lucien.We’ve lost too much already. Every single person sitting here. Lucien has given us all a reason to want him dead. He has done nothing but destroy... my pack, my family, and now my people here. The recent attack still lingers in the air, the memory of blood and loss gnawing at the edges of my mind. The p
K A I D AThe air inside the packhouse is heavy. Heavier than usual.Jace and his people have been led inside, and though Octavius has accepted their presence for now, the entire Raven Moon Pack remains on edge. The Raven Moon wolves don’t trust easily, and the sudden arrival of outsiders, especially ones as strong as the Lycans from the Xarano Pack—has every wolf in the room on high alert. We make our way into the large meeting hall within the packhouse, a place where we can discuss things a bit more freely. The room quickly fills up as we all station ourselves around it. The quiet hum of low conversations carries in the air, but it’s the kind of quiet that’s too sharp, too strained. I can feel it in the way the warriors stand rigid, their bodies poised to react at the slightest provocation, their eyes glued on Jace and his people. Even Lucas and Samson, usually so composed, keep their gazes locked on Jace’s group with barely restrained suspicion.And then the doors swing open.Cole
K A I D AThe cool morning air settles over Raven Moon’s territory as I stand beside Octavius, my heartbeat steady but alert. The presence of Jace and his people is unexpected, and though I trust him to an extent, I can’t ignore the tension that crackles in the air like a brewing storm.Around us, several high-ranking Raven Moon wolves stand at attention, their eyes sharp, their postures rigid. Lucas, Miyuki, and Samson flank Octavius and me, their gazes trained on the group in front of us. Though they don’t outwardly bare their fangs or emit threatening growls, I can sense the barely restrained aggression simmering beneath the surface. After all, Jace isn’t just anyone... he's risen to be the leader of the Xarano pack. Though he is not outright calling himself an Alpha, I know he's stepped up where people needed him, where my sister nor I couldn't. He helped rebuild my pack when we weren't there, and for that, I owe him the utmost respect. However, his sudden arrival leaves me feelin
K A I D AStepping out of Octavius' room feels like the most difficult thing I've had to do in my life. I shouldn't be this nervous, right? I mean, people mate all the time. Back at my pack, there seemed to even be celebrations when two people finally completed the mating process. Everyone could actually tell when two people have finally mated.Great... just great... Meaning everyone in the house is gonna know I had my guts rearranged the night before."Just relax..." I hear Octavius voice snap me out of my thoughts, and that's when I remember that he is standing right next to me, and has been walking beside me this whole time as we make our way downstairs. I know my thoughts are probably too loud, and he can properly hear them..."Yeah, exactly..." He answers outloud and I sigh out of frustrattion and embarrasment as I look over at him."How are you so calm about this... Everyone is gonna know what we were doing last night..." I whisper to him, holding onto his hand for support as w