Chapter 6 06

• The moon hung high above the canopy, casting pale silver streaks between the twisted branches of the forest. Shadows danced across the leaves, giving the woods an eerie, restless quality. It was well past midnight, and the air had grown cold—too cold for comfort.
• Lysander trudged forward, his breath misting in the chill. His legs ached, and his wounded heart pulsed with the heaviness of grief. Zane clung tightly to his hand, his small fingers trembling in his grasp. The boy's quiet sobs had faded to sniffles, but Lysander could still feel the fear radiating off him.
• “Please keep quiet, okay?” Lysander whispered gently.
• Zane nodded, but his lip quivered. “Where’s Mummy?” he asked in a broken voice. “And Sage too? They… they told me to stay in the cupboard. Why aren’t they with us? Did… did something bad happen to them?”
• Lysander’s steps slowed. He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat refusing to budge. He turned slightly toward his little brother, trying to find words that wouldn’t break them both. “Mum, Dad, and Sage are…”
• A low growl sliced through the air, cutting him off.
• Lysander froze.
• They weren’t alone.
• Red eyes flickered from the darkness between the trees, one pair… then two… then many. A shiver ran down his spine as he tightened his hold on Zane’s hand.
• “Stay close to me,” he whispered.
• From every direction, wolves emerged. Not ordinary wolves—these were rogues. Their bodies were lean, starved-looking, and their eyes glowed a sinister red. Their growls filled the night like a rising chorus of death.
• Zane whimpered and stepped closer to Lysander, burying his face in his brother’s side. The rogues began to circle them, their steps light but purposeful. Hungry. Angry.
• One of the wolves snarled and lunged.
• Lysander grabbed Zane and rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding snapping jaws. He scrambled to his feet, pushing Zane behind him.
• More came.
• One after another, they launched themselves forward, and Lysander fought back with everything he had—his fists, his feet, desperation. He swung at a rogue that got too close, landing a punch that sent the wolf stumbling back. Another sank its teeth into his arm, and he cried out, wrenching it away and kicking it hard in the ribs.
• Blood stained his shirt. His face was cut. His strength was waning.
• But he refused to let them get to Zane.
• “Come on!” he yelled, pushing Zane behind a fallen log. “Stay there and don’t move!”
• The largest of the rogues growled and charged, its claws raking across Lysander’s chest. He stumbled backward, nearly collapsing—but forced himself to stay up.
• Then something shifted.
• Another wolf leapt from a branch above, jaws wide open—and Lysander raised his arm in defense.
• In that moment, the bracelet on his wrist pulsed with light. A blinding, radiant crystal blue glow erupted from it, washing over his body in a heartbeat. He screamed—not from fear, but pain—as his bones cracked and shifted beneath his skin.
• His body twisted, reshaping with a force that dropped him to his knees.
• Zane peeked from behind the log, eyes wide in horror and awe.
• Lysander let out a cry as his limbs extended, fur burst from his skin, his jaw elongated. The transformation completed in seconds, and where the wounded boy had stood now loomed a massive white wolf—majestic and terrifying.
• His eyes glowed with the same blue as the bracelet, now fused to the thick fur on his front leg. His body was enormous, towering over the other wolves. Snow-white fur shimmered under the moonlight, and his sharp fangs gleamed like silver blades.
• The rogues froze.
• For a heartbeat, no one moved.
• Then Lysander released a roar-like howl that split the silence.
• Fear spread through the rogues like wildfire—but they were too many, and too bloodthirsty to retreat so easily.
• They attacked.
• Five launched themselves at him, jaws open, teeth ready to shred—but Lysander moved with impossible speed. He ducked, turned, and with a powerful swipe of his paw, sent two flying into the trees. Another tried to bite his flank, but he twisted mid-motion and crushed it beneath his weight.
• One after another, they came.
• And one after another, they fell.
• He fought like a beast possessed, primal and relentless. His claws slashed through flesh and bone. His teeth clamped down on necks and limbs. Howls of pain filled the forest as rogue after rogue collapsed under his fury.
• Some tried to run—but he chased them down, ensuring none would return to finish what they started.
• Then the tide shifted.
• The remaining rogues hesitated, their snarls faltering.
• Lysander stood tall in the clearing, blood staining his white coat, eyes glowing with raw power. He growled, deep and menacing—and that was all it took.
• With whimpers and yelps, the survivors turned and fled into the trees, tails tucked between their legs, vanishing into the dark like shadows.
• Silence returned.
• Lysander let out a victorious howl that echoed across the trees, then slowly stumbled back.
• His body trembled.
• His vision blurred.
• And then he collapsed beside Zane.
• In the same glowing light that had transformed him, his form shifted back—bones cracking in reverse as he returned to human form. Naked, bloodied, breathing hard.
• Zane had crawled out from behind the log, barely conscious, a thin cut across his forehead.
• “Lysa…” he murmured, his voice weak.
• “I’m here…” Lysander whispered, reaching for him.
• The bracelet on his wrist shimmered once more, glowing steadily. A soft hum filled the air as a protective barrier, like a translucent dome of light, emerged from it—encasing both brothers.
• Warmth flooded through them.
• Zane collapsed beside him, unconscious but safe.
• Lysander's eyes fluttered shut.
• They were alive.
• For now.
• —
• THE NEXT DAY
• The morning air was crisp, but Astra barely felt it as she stepped out of the pack house in her school uniform, her bag slung lazily over her shoulder. Her thoughts were distant, still entangled in the events of last night—the rejection, the tension, and the pain in Lysander’s eyes before he turned away.
• She sighed, ready to push the memory to the back of her mind, when a commotion at the training field caught her attention. A small crowd had gathered, guards standing stiffly in front of Alpha Wynter. Curious, Astra slowed her steps, then began to approach, keeping herself hidden behind a wooden post near the corridor that overlooked the field.
• Her breath caught as she saw what lay at the Alpha's feet—three bloodied, mangled bodies wrapped in torn clothing, dirt and dried blood covering their skin. Her stomach twisted, her fingers going numb.
• “What happened to them?” Alpha Wynter demanded, his voice sharp with disbelief and fury.
• “Someone reported finding them just outside their house,” one of the guards replied grimly. “They were attacked last night… by rogues.”
• “Rogues?” Alpha Wynter repeated, eyebrows knitting together. “That’s impossible. We have guards posted at every entrance to the territory. How could they have gotten in?”
• The guards glanced uneasily at one another. “We… we don’t know, Alpha. But the wounds are unmistakable. Claw marks, bite wounds—some even appear to have been mauled beyond recognition.”
• “We are sorry, Alpha,” another guard added quickly. “We will double the patrols. This kind of lapse won’t happen again.”
• Astra’s heart pounded as she watched the Alpha kneel by one of the bodies, his hand brushing over a torn pack crest still clinging to a shredded shirt.
• “Any survivors?” he asked, his voice lower now, almost hopeful.
• “We’re not sure. But… their two sons, Lysander and Zane… their bodies weren’t found. It’s possible the rogues took them.” The guard’s voice was hesitant.
• Astra’s eyes widened in shock. She took a step back unconsciously, her hand flying to her mouth. Lysander… Zane…
• “No,” she whispered to herself.
• “Find them,” the Alpha commanded, rising to his feet. “Search every inch of that forest. If they’re alive, we bring them home. If they’re dead—” he stopped himself, shaking his head. “Just find them.”
• The guards nodded and quickly dispersed.
• Astra turned and stumbled back toward the pack house, her vision blurry, her chest tight with something she couldn’t quite explain. She pushed open the door to her room and leaned against it, closing her eyes as everything spun around her.
• This is my fault, she thought. If I hadn’t rejected him… if I hadn’t been so cruel… maybe he wouldn’t have left last night. Maybe he wouldn’t be gone now.
• She sank onto her bed, holding her head in her hands. Her heart ached, a sharp pain clawing at her chest.
• “Feeling sad?” a voice cut through the silence.
• Astra’s head snapped up. Kieran was standing in her room, leaning casually against the wall, arms folded. She hadn’t even heard him come in.
• “What are you doing here?” she asked, wiping a tear before it could fall.
• “I heard what happened outside,” he said, walking toward her. “Everyone’s talking about it.”
• She turned her face away. “He’s my mate…” she said softly, more to herself than to him.
• There was a pause. “So you care about him?”
• She didn’t answer.
• Kieran chuckled dryly. “You know… I found my mate yesterday too.”
• Astra’s eyes snapped to his. “You did?”
• He nodded. “Some girl from the Moonshade Pack. Sweet, quiet… not my type.”
• “Oh…” Astra murmured, unsure of how to respond.
• “But I rejected her immediately.” His voice was firm. He stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands. “Because I only want you. I’ve only ever wanted you.”
• Astra’s breath hitched.
• “I love you, Astra. I don’t care what the Moon Goddess says, or fate, or any of that crap. You’re all I want.”
• “I… I love you too,” she whispered, though the words felt hollow.
• His eyes lit up. “Then let’s get married.”
• “What?”
• “Let’s get married,” he repeated. “Your father adores me. He’ll agree if you ask him. We don’t need a mate bond to prove we’re meant for each other.”
• “But Kieran… we’re still in school,” she said, her voice unsure. “Isn’t marriage too fast?”
• “I’ve never wanted anything more,” he said, pulling her into a tight hug. “I need you, Astra. I want you. We belong together. If the Moon Goddess won’t approve, then we’ll prove her wrong.”
• Astra stood still in his arms, her eyes staring blankly over his shoulder.
• “…Okay,” she said softly.
• Kieran pulled back, grinning. “Yes! That’s all I needed to hear.”
• He kissed her forehead, then pulled her into another embrace. “Thank you, Astra.”
• She didn’t speak.
• Her gaze remained unfocused as silent tears slipped down her cheeks, each one falling heavier than the last. She didn’t even know why she was crying.
• But deep down, her soul did.
• ---
• AT THE WOOD
• A group of men in white garments moved silently through the forest, the one leading them holding a glowing stone that pulsed brighter with each step. They followed its light until it stopped, glowing intensely before a shimmering shield.
• Inside the dome, Lysander and Zane lay unconscious, protected by a soft, blue light.
• “We have found the Alpha Prince,” one of the men whispered, awe in his voice.
• Without hesitation, they all dropped to their knees around the shield, heads bowed in deep reverence. The glowing stone continued to hum, as if confirming the truth.
• “The prophecy lives,” the leader murmured.
• “He has returned.” He added.