the Forsaken Pack's sanctuary. The air still hung heavy with the echoes of last night's brutal batt

e forest around her was alive with quiet sounds: birdsong, rustling leaves, the distant c

s bruised and worn, yet resolute. The Alpha of the Forsaken Pack- the Luna who had awakened powers

ind ancient wards and protected by spells older than the forest itself. But the

only confirmed what she feared: there were darker forces weaving their threads beneath the surface of lycan societ

ish

His eyes, a piercing amber, held something deeper than concern- t

ed him, patting th

arrying the weight of the e

id, almost to himsel

o many have been h

lock of hair from her face. "An

lips. "It's the fire of

g moment, the water flowing b

hin the heart of their ancient stronghold-a cavern carved from the roots

Pack filled the chamber, their faces

d Alisha, his scarred visage

he began, voice steady. "But the Dark Howlers are

rom forbidden magic-ancient curses that even our ancestors feared. If they compl

k holds the key. But the ritual requires something more-a sacrifice of pur

led through

hand, silence fall

t be stopped, then we must understand it fully. We mus

"I stand with you, Alis

"Then we must train. Our pack needs to b

ing. The Forsaken Pack pushed the

oring the depths of their lycan abilities, and unlocking the secrets of the

arring, they sat by the fire, the embers

ged," Riven

him, surprised. "

e but uncertain. Now... there's a

his shoulder. "It's because I'm

r. "And you make me want to be

nd precious, until the distant howl of

y, scouts b

orted grimly. "They're rallying in the north

of determination. "T

e forest with practiced ease. The air was t

sha could feel the dark magic pulsing-an o

, the battle erupting in a whir

to back, their bond a beaco

d a figure cloaked in shadows-a witch

, chanting in a language o

rged toward Alisha, thre

her and the blast. The force threw him to the gro

eashed a torrent of light, shattering the d

wlers retreating into the shadows

ire, Alisha tended to Riven's wounds, her han

a fierce gratitude

one this without yo

ronger together. And we will need

d Moon's crimson glow lingering in her mind. The r

d a chance. A chance to reclaim their future. A cha

rees. The forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting, watching. Alisha sat by the campfire, t

he same mark that glowed faintly in the dark, a symbol of their

throbbed with a dull ache. Her hands had stopped trembling

magic so dark?" she whis

ause it's power born of pain and hatred. The Dark Howlers have no

not just for herself, but for the pack. For Ri

with th

. The sun was barely up when Alisha

sharp with expectation. Among them was Elder Mara, the oldest Luna in For

e bond you share with Riven is your greatest strength. But the ritual is a darkness that feeds

eeling the gravi

is a ritual of light- a counter to the darkness. But it requires complete tr

tes, teaching her to open her mind to the energy of the fo

g to balance the physical training with the spiritua

ing Da

ered signs of the Dark Howlers' increasing influence. Trees blackened by unnatural fi

ced the symbols. "They're expan

ol of the ritual's final piece, it could mean

ast element needed to complete the

h for the

one-a gem forged in the fires of ancient lycan battles, said to hold th

ns of Valen," Mara explained. "A place

d terror, rumored to be cursed and haunted by the spirits of those

ice steady. "If the Dark Howlers find th

her hand. "Then

into t

ut at dawn, the forest slowly giving way to jagged cliffs

ng walls, and the faint echo of dist

aelen warned, d

en arches and shattered statues. The Bloodstone's m

t of

merged twisted figures-shadows given form by dark

grip of fear, but she pushed it down, call

ight that shattered the shadow creatures, her

to the ruins, until they reache

odstone

rested on a pedestal, glowing with an in

ed through the chamber-a voice not hear

offer your bond willingly. Only the

side her, taking

," he sai

g brighter. The energy of their bond surg

lifting from its pedestal

behind the glow-a dark figure, the witch they h

f Light an

ic twisting into tendrils

rm, their combined power

, the chamber shaking with

ind as the witch sought to corr

oke through the chao

me. We are stronger

ed back the shadow, banishing t

hter, then settled into Al

to th

heavy with exhaustion

tears in her eyes. "You have

ne, the weight of their victo

said. "The ritual is incomplete,

, the bond between

fight.

lood, fire, and unbreakable love. The battle for their future was far from over