The heavy doors of the Council Hall thundered shut behind Alpha Kaelion, but the rage within him didn't subside, it burned hotter.
Beta Darian matched his stride, silent as ever, until they turned into the inner corridor leading to the Alpha's wing.
"What are your thoughts Alpha?" Beta Darian finally asked.
"Someone is playing gods within my borders. And they think I'll stay blind."
He stopped walking, his jaw clenched. "Four bodies, Darian. Four wolves. Marked, sacrificed. And not even a scent trail?"
"It's deliberate," Beta Darian replied. "Whoever it is... they know how to cover their tracks. This isn't ordinary rogue work."
"No," Alpha Kaelion agreed, his eyes darkening. "This is someone inside. I feel it."
They reached the entrance of the Alpha's Fortress, massive obsidian doors carved with the sigil of Silverclaw: a lone wolf howling at a crimson moon.
Guards bowed as he passed.
Inside, the walls seemed to hum with old magic. The fortress was more than stone and strength, it held the blood of the old Alphas, and Kaelion could feel them tonight. Stirring.
Restless.
A howl echoed faintly in the distance. Then another.
Beta Darian looked up. "The border guards?"
Alpha Kaelion shook his head. "No. That's not a call for help. That's... mourning."
He clenched his fists again, a dull ache building behind his eyes.
And then it came, the voice.
Her voice.
Whispering.
Faint, like wind brushing silk.
"Kaelion..."
His breath hitched.
Not again.
He stumbled slightly, one hand gripping the wall. A vision flickered behind his eyes, a forest soaked in moonlight, a woman standing barefoot in the dark, her back turned.
But just as he tried to step closer,
Gone.
The pain behind his eyes vanished. Darian caught his movement but said nothing.
"Get the seer," Alpha Kaelion muttered. "Tonight."
"Alpha?"
"I want her to tell me what this is. The voice. The dreams. The deaths. Everything."
Darian nodded and vanished down the hall.
Alone, Kaelion walked into the great chamber of the Alpha's Fortress.
He poured himself a drink, then stopped, staring into the crimson liquid.
Something was stirring in the dark.
And for the first time in years, Alpha Kaelion felt it, not fear…
But fate.
And fate was never gentle.
---
Hidden deep within the misty highlands, far from the politics and power struggles of the united clans, lay the Moonveil Creed, a small Pack. Wrapped in enchanted woods and glowing streams, their land was whispered about in other territories, sacred, mysterious, untouched by time.
Unlike the larger packs, Moonveil thrived in loyalty, peace, and love. But even here, scars from the great war remained. Their Alpha and Luna had been lost to bloodshed, leaving behind three children: two sons, and a daughter born of prophecy.
After their father's death, Alpha Aaron, the eldest, rose to power. He is steady, firm, and honorable. His younger brother, Lucan, serves as Beta, sharp-witted, protective, and fiercely loyal.
Then there was Ravenna.
The last-born, the only daughter and the most feared.
Ravenna wasn't just powerful, she was different. Tied deeply to the moon's magic, she was a healer of unmatched strength. But her gift came at a cost. Every full moon, her powers spiraled out of control, untamed and her mind slipped into a trance no one could break.
Many believed she was blessed. Some believed she was cursed.
Inside the Moonveil Fortress, Ravenna layed on her bed, eyes closed, exhaustion pulling at her limbs. She had spent the night healing the wounded, her hands lit with the silver glow of her gift. Now, in the hush of early morning, she drifted into a shallow sleep.
Her beauty was ethereal. Skin kissed by moonlight. Raven-black curls sprawled across the pillow, strands slipping over her face. But her rest was uneasy.
Her breath hitched. Beneath her closed lids, the dreams returned.
Images flashed, Golden eyes, Fire, a voice calling her name.
Unfamiliar.
Unseen.
Yet achingly familiar.
She tried to hold the vision, to see the face, but it always vanished before she could grasp it. Only the voice remained. Deep. Wild. Broken.
Her mate.
At twenty-six, she remained unmated, an oddity for a she-wolf with such power. The pack's oldest Seer once told her: "Your mate will bring your balance… but he is someone you will fear. Someone your soul won't want, but your destiny needs."
She didn't know what that meant.
But lately, the dreams had grown stronger.
And darker.
Two knocks came at the door, bringing her back to reality.
"Ravenna?"
It was Alpha Aaron.
Alpha of Moonveil Creed and elder brother of Ravenna.
The door creaked open slightly as Alpha Aaron stepped inside. He didn't need to ask if she was alright, he could see it in her eyes. The exhaustion. The lingering trace of something darker.
"You were at the hospital all night again," he said, closing the door behind him.
Ravenna sat up slowly, brushing her curls from her face. "They needed me."
"You always say that." Aaron's voice was gentle, but there was a firmness beneath it. "You're healing everyone else, Ravenna, but who's watching over you?"
She didn't respond. Couldn't.
He stepped closer, folding his arms. "You've been overworking. And I know the dreams are still haunting you."
Her head lowered slightly, confirming it.
Aaron exhaled. "Take a break. Just a few days. Go explore the southern lakes or visit the moon gardens. Somewhere far from the noise... maybe it'll help clear your head."
"I don't think the dreams care where I go," she said quietly.
"Maybe not," he replied. "But your spirit does. And if your mate is really coming, you need to be at your strongest, not just in power, but in peace."
He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Rest, Ravenna. Make time for yourself."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked out, leaving her alone with the silence... and the storm inside her.
As the door clicked shut, Ravenna slowly laid back on the bed, eyes opened, staring ahead, into nothing and everything at once.
That voice was returning.
And this time… it whispered her name.