179 Earlier...
Nathan
| stormed out of the pack house, my frustration bubbling to the surface.
Immediately, | shifted. Ragnar emerged with practised ease, his dark fur rippling in the moonlight as | caught
Lyla’s scent in the wind. The trails were fresh, tinged with blood from all the Ferals and Trinax she fought.
| followed her scent through the maze of mingling scents surrounding the White Moon Pack. My paws pounded
against the earth, as | pushed forward. | tracked her through the territory, following a path that tooktoward
the White Moon Pack’s borders.
Almost at the borders, it veered off to the edge of the dense forest surrounding the pack’s territory. As |
approached the tree line, my hackles rose, indicating that someone was watching me. | stopped for a moment;
my ears perked as | surveyed the area. There was nothing... no one except me. But something felt... off.
Shrugging it off, | prepared to enter the forest, since her scent was stronger in that direction. Just then, a chilling
sensation washed over me. | wasn’t alone. Ragnar let out a low growl, as he whirled, muscled bunched ready for
an attack only to find myself face to face with a familiar
figure.
Standing a few yards away was it the sbeing that had been hauntingfor a few months. now. Since that
incident with Lyla at the White Lake pack. Not only had | had several encounters with it, but It was also in my
head. Always suggesting devious motives. All attempts to fight it with resources | know about and heard have
proved abortive.
Hissing, | shifted back to my human form, ready for a fight as my expression hardened immediately.
“What do you want?” | demanded, glaring at the being. My voice was laced with irritation.
The being cocked its head, studyingwith an unsettling calmness. Then he approached me, taking measured
steps. | also noticed it had a thoughtful expression on its face.
“How long have you known about Lyla’s wolf?” it asked.
| hissed, stepping around him as | moved toward the forest. | had no tfor games, not with Lyla’s scent
growing fainter by the second plus the Harvest Moon would reach its peak any moment now, | had to reach Lyla
first before anything.
As | moved, the being followed after me, clearly unperturbed by my silence.
“I didn’t know anything about that, it continued, its volce carrying an edge of curiosity. “But your calmness... you
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtknew, didn’t you?”
| stopped abruptly, spinning to face it. “Why do you care?”
It smiled faintly as if it was amused by my hostility. “Because | have Lyla’s interests at heart,” a
179 Earlier...
today. | had instructed them not to harm the priestesses, but merely delay them. | wasn’t expecting a two-tailed
wolf to tear through them like they were nothing”
“That's life,” | said flatly, as | shrugged and tried to move past it again.
It blocked my path again, forcingto stop. “Have you made your decision yet?”
| let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair. “You're Xander, right? Or is it the Dark One?” | said
mockingly. “Listen carefully I'm not going to do what you want. You can ask
you're doing”
Xander’s lips curled into a grin, his teeth gleaming in the moonlight. “You say that now,” he said lightly. “But
sooner or later, you'll clooking for me.”
“Not on my life. Not in this lifetime,” | shot back.
His grin widened. “Fine,” he shrugged. “You can tell yourself that but when it happens, remember | already told
you. Also, because of how much we share in common, lettell you something.
His tone shifted to a conspirational glee. “Tonight, Ramsey will make a bold stance. He's going to announce to
the world that he loves Lyla.”
| scoffed. “Ramsey? He won't. Please, he’s too self-conscious to do something like that.”
“Want to bet?” Xander’'s smile widened, his eyes glinting with mischief.
| glared at his outstretched him, gritting my teeth in annoyance.
Xander continued. “No matter how hard you try to take Lyla for yourself or claim her, she'll never be yours,
Nathan. You will never have her. But if you join me...” he leaned in closer, spreading his hands in magnanimous
gesture. “... | would be kind enough to give her to you.”
“You mean join the suicide pogrom you have going on. Do you wantto help you steal the power of the White
Moon Throne? You wantto assist you to rule my world and that I'll be under you? You must be really insane. If
it worked in the past, it won’t now... because your ideas are as stupid as you are.
He didn’t say anything, he watchedfor a minute before sighing. “Nathan, | never said anything about ruling
you. | just want to create a world where everyone is equal.”
“That is not possible,” | said in a steely tone. “Nothing can be equal. Besides, this clickbait you have going on is
really lame. | thought you had your act together. | can’t wait for Lyla to get back her powers and end you?
“I intend not to be ended this taround, he said in a smug tone. “The last t| was ended, | had to wait for
10,000
s. | can’t again. Anyways, you cannot marry, Lyla. Your father is against
it. Luna Vanessa is against it. She clearly suggested you marry her daughter Clarissa.”
“You will not tellwho to marry, Xander, | continued moving, stopping to sniff the air. In my human form, | was
slower.
179 Earlier...
“When Lyla finds out you lied to her? What are you going to do about that? That day in the room, you lied to her,
to cover up the truth... how long...”
“STAY AWAY FROM ME!” | turned to him, shouting. “Leavealone. Stop followingaround like some
deranged gods. Are you truly the Dark ONE? Because | can smell your desperation. from a mile afar.”
He paused, staring atpointedly. After a few seconds, he disappeared back into the shadows, leaving me
alone.
| took a deep breath, shaking off the lingering unease before shifting back to Ragnar, letting hist senses guide
forest.
Eventually, | found her.
She lay at the base of a massive oak tree, still in her wolf form which was sprawled out in
exhaustion. Her chest rose and fell with laboured breath and her white fur was matted with dirt
and traces of blood. Her twin tails were curled around her like a shield.
As | approached her, her ears twitched and she lifted her head weakly to look at me. | changed back to my
human form; I didn’t want to startle her. Her eyes flashed with recognition when she saw it wasand laid back
down.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
| knelt beside her, reaching out to stroke her fur gently. “It’s okay” | murmured, with a low soothing voice. There
were several cuts and bruises all over her body and she seemed to be nursing her hind legs.
In this state, she won't be able to heal, unless she changes back into her human form. She nuzzled my hand with
her nose at spoint, staring atwith soulful eyes. As her breathing slowed, my free hand fished out the
vial Nanny had given me.
Carefully, | uncorked it, the sharp scent of herbs wafting into the air. Carefully, | held it to her mouth.
“Drink,” | urged softly.
The wolf hesitated, her eyes flicking between the vial and my face. Then as if understanding my intent, she
lapped at the poiton.
| glanced up at the sky, my heart pounding as | watched the moon inch closer to its fullest state. “Please” |
whispered, “Please let it work.”
Moments later, the transformation began. Fur receded, and bones shifted until Lyla lay unconscious in my arms.
When the transformation was complete, | quickly shrugged off my jacket, draping it over her to shield her from
the night's chill.
| cradled her carefully, one hand supporting her head as her eyes fluttered open. For a moment, she gazed up at
“Ramsey” she whispered. “Thank you.”
170 Earlier
Before closing her eyes again. | stared down at her, as a storm of emotions swirled
Within me. [ pulled her closer, trying to ignore the way my chest ached. Xander’s words echoed in my mind.
No matter how much you try to claim Lyla for yourself, you'll never truly have her.
But as | held her, | made a silent vow. | didn’t need Xander or his twisted bargains. Whatever was in front, |
would protect Lyla even if it meant knowing she would never choose me. | would let my heart break into a
thousand pieces before | let Ramsey have her.
66
Please, the update will be three chapters from tomorrow, I've already stockpiled. So it
updates automatically
See you all in a week.