Chapter 5 up
The northern night wind felt different as I stepped away from the courtyard of the house I once called home.
The territory of the Ardhavarna Pack slowly faded behind me.
There was no farewell embrace.
No blessing.
No one tried to stop me.
Only stares—sharp, stunned, some filled with hatred.
Beside me, Alpha Kael Dravaryn walked with calm yet commanding steps. His hand no longer held mine like before, but his presence at my side felt stronger than any touch.
At my neck, his bite mark still pulsed warmly.
The bond was stabilizing. Every step I took seemed to fall in rhythm with his breathing. Even without touching him, I could faintly sense his emotions—alert, protective, and… satisfied.
A howl echoed again from the north.
It wasn’t a threat.
It was a welcome.
I paused at the border of Ardhavarna’s land. The dense forest before us was an invisible line separating two worlds.
Kael stopped as well and turned to me.
“If you hesitate,” he said quietly, “you can still go back.”
I looked at the forest.
Dark. Foreign. Uncertain.
Then I glanced behind me.
The grand house with its towering pillars. The torches burning in the courtyard. The silhouette of my father still standing far away, unmoving.
No.
There was nothing waiting for me there anymore.
“I’m not hesitating,” I answered firmly.
For a moment, the corner of Kael’s lips lifted.
“Good.”
We stepped into the forest.
The journey to Dravaryn territory was swift. Kael asked me to shift forms so the travel would be safer and more efficient.
I hesitated.
My wolf had only just fully awakened. I had never truly shifted before.
But when I closed my eyes and called to her, she came without resistance.
The transformation wasn’t as painful as I had imagined. There was pressure in my bones, heat in my skin—but not suffering.
When I opened my eyes again, the world looked different.
Sharper.
More alive.
I saw Kael in his wolf form—massive, jet black with streaks of silver-gray along his back. His eyes remained gold, glowing even in the darkness.
He lowered his head slightly, signaling for me to follow.
I glanced at my reflection in a small pool of water.
My silver fur shimmered softly beneath the fading light of the Blood Moon. My eyes… gold mixed with silver.
I wasn’t weak.
I ran.
Wind rushed through my fur, the forest floor felt light beneath my paws. We moved swiftly past towering trees and jagged rocks.
Several times, I sensed other wolves moving in the distance.
They didn’t attack.
They watched.
They escorted.
When dawn began to glow faintly along the eastern horizon, we arrived at Dravaryn territory.
This land was different from Ardhavarna.
Wilder.
Harsher.
High stone cliffs surrounded their central grounds. Large wooden houses stood solidly—not decorated with beauty, but built with strength and purpose.
At the center lay a wide clearing lined with tall wooden pillars—perhaps a training ground or ceremonial field.
As we entered, dozens of wolves emerged from different directions.
They formed a circle.
Surrounding us.
My old instincts nearly made me prepare to fight, but Kael stood tall and released a long howl.
It echoed between the cliffs.
Not a warning howl.
A victorious one.
One by one, the wolves lowered their heads.
I shifted back into human form, my breathing slightly uneven.
Their gazes were now fixed on me.
Some curious.
Some sharp.
Some… displeased.
An older man with gray hair stepped forward. His body was large, his face marked with scars.
“Alpha,” he said respectfully to Kael. “Is this…?”
“Luna of Dravaryn,” Kael cut in without hesitation.
I flinched slightly at hearing the title spoken so decisively.
Whispers rose.
“She’s from Ardhavarna…” “The Alpha’s daughter…” “Isn’t she the one who was rejected?”
That last word stung—but I straightened my shoulders.
Kael turned toward them.
“Anyone who questions my choice,” his voice turned cold, “may challenge me now.”
Silence instantly swallowed the clearing.
No one moved.
The old man bowed his head.
“We accept the Alpha’s choice.”
Kael looked at me.
“You’ll stay in the main house,” he said, his tone softer.
We walked toward the largest building in the center of the territory. It was built of dark wood and stone—large, yet without unnecessary luxury.
Inside, it was warm.
A massive fireplace burned in the center. The walls were lined with weapons—swords, spears, bows.
This truly was the domain of the God of War.
Kael closed the door behind us.
For the first time since the night began, we were truly alone.
I stood stiffly, unsure what to say.
He looked at me for a long moment.
“You’re tired,” he said.
“A lot happened,” I replied quietly.
He stepped closer—but didn’t touch me.
“I won’t touch you without your permission,” he said seriously. “Our bond may be formed, but trust doesn’t come instantly.”
His words surprised me.
I nodded slowly.
“Why me?” I finally asked. “You could have chosen anyone. You didn’t even know me.”
He was silent for a moment.
“I know you more than you think.”
I frowned.
“At the Clan Council meeting after the war, I saw you standing beside your father,” he continued. “You spoke about evacuation strategies. Supply lines. Defense.”
I froze.
He was there?
“You’re not just an Alpha’s daughter,” he said quietly. “You’re a leader who hasn’t been given the chance yet.”
My heart beat faster.
“And you don’t mind that I’ve never led a pack?” I asked.
A faint smile touched his lips.
“True leaders aren’t born from titles. They’re born from pressure.”
I lowered my gaze, absorbing his words.
“But not all of your pack likes me,” I admitted honestly.
“They don’t have to like you,” he replied. “They have to respect you.”
And that… I would have to earn.
Suddenly, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
Kael turned his head sharply.
“Enter.”
A young warrior stepped inside, his face tense.
“Alpha,” he said quickly. “An envoy from Ardhavarna has arrived at the border.”
My blood seemed to freeze.
Ardhavarna?
So soon?
Kael didn’t look surprised.
“Who came?” he asked.
“Alpha Liam.”
The room suddenly felt colder.
Kael glanced at me.
“It seems your past isn’t ready to let you go,” he said quietly.
I swallowed.
What did Liam want now?
Regret?
Or war?