LUCY The days without Chris had stretched into a relentless battle of emotions for me. My heart ached with longing, and the weight of uncertainty pressed upon me. I knew I couldn't stay away from him forever but my search for the truth had consumed my thoughts and my every waking moment.Each day, I would find myself at the edge of the path leading to Chris’ treehouse, the magnetic pull of his presence almost too much to resist. But something held me back, a relentless determination to uncover the truth before I could face him again.Then came the pivotal conversation with Cade. His revelation of the secrets that had haunted me, the truth about my father’s innocence, and the suspicions that had shrouded Chris’ father’s death over the years. My heart raced with anger and determination as I rushed to find Chris, to share the revelations that had shaken my world.I knew those were just mere words until we found proof, but I could tell that Cade meant every word he said. My urgency was p

CHRISThose words Lothar said got me confused. How could Cade be this cruel to everyone? First, he killed my father out of greed then he killed his close friend, Lucy's father too. All for what? The throne. A throne that was never his, to begin with, a throne he will never covet.There was more to this story about Cade and Lucy's father that I needed to know. How did Lothar happen to know all of this and keep it a secret from us? I approached his with a weighty concern gnawing at my heart. "Lother, I need to know the truth, the whole truth about Cade and Lucy's father," I said. "You mentioned his involvement, but there's more, isn't there?"Lothar lifted his gaze, his eyes met mine. His gaze was somber. "Yes, Chris. There's more to it. I didn't want to say anything considering Lucy's reaction. But Cade's actions that night were not just about your father; it was part of a larger, darker scenario. Lucy's father stumbled upon something that posed a threat to some individuals within our

CHRISThe tormenting dream that had plagued my nights still continued but I had learnt to bear its weight without letting it consume me. It was a constant reminder of the danger that loomed over me.The alpha summit was at hand and I had been summoned by the council of elders through my guard. It was time for me to be briefed on the preparations they had made on behalf of our pack towards the summit. As much as I hated to be summoned by those vile men, I understood that it was a crucial meeting to attend and to gather support for the actions I was planning.In the council chamber, the elders sat in solemn deliberation. Their eyes fixed on me as I took my place at the table. From their expression, I could tell that their attention was focused on the impending summit and the role I was expected to play.“Chris, the alpha summit is by the corner and it is important that you attend as our new alpha. As you know, we need the support of other packs to ensure that our main objectives are met

CHRISI sat amidst a circle of other alphas, their voices blending into an indistinct murmur. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, twirling like an unrelenting hurricane. My focus had wandered far from the tactful negotiations and strategic pacts as the summit’s discussion echoed around me. My pack and Lucy were the only images etched in my mind.I was surrounded by older and distinguished alphas and was meant to participate actively, engage in conversations, and assert my presence as the newly crowned alpha of the Hallowed Manes pack. Nevertheless, my mind was lingering with responsibilities and the recent turmoil that had occurred within my territory.The other alphas noticed the distance in my demeanor and furrowed their brows in displeasure. They attempted to draw my attention to their conversations, steering the discourse toward my pack and the recent challenges we’ve faced.“Chris, our new alpha from the Hallowed Manes, we were discussing the rising issues within your territory,

CHRISWith a new sense of resolve, I returned to my pack with the hope that things would fall into place. I, my beta, Glen, and my other guards who had accompanied me to the alpha summit journeyed back to our pack territory. Alpha Dylan’s words continued to echo in my mind, those words gave me the reassurance I needed. But what troubled me more was the mage's words which never left my mind for once. I failed to mention it to Dylan cause I had felt it wasn’t necessary to do so. The air was thick as we rode back to the pack through the dense forest, the distant chirping of birds, rustling of leaves and other sounds of wildlife provided solace. There was a sense of unease in the air as we journeyed like something was amiss.I immediately stopped our carriage and began to scan the environments, my instincts heightened. “Glen, something feels off here. Keep your senses sharp,” I ordered.Glen nodded, his head instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword. “I sense it too, alpha. There’s