Rey's eyes shot open, her heart racing as she heard Luna's urgent voice calling out to her. She sat up, a cold sweat clinging to her forehead, the remnants of a haunting nightmare still lingering in her mind."Luna... What is it?" Rey asked, her voice laced with a mix of fear and anticipation.Luna's eyes widened as she took in the distress on Rey's face. "Rey, I just overheard a conversation. The Lycans... they're coming. Deucalion and the others, they have plans to unleash chaos upon the realm."Rey's body tensed, her mind racing to process the gravity of Luna's words. The Lycans had always been a threat, but this sudden revelation filled her with a sense of impending doom."How do you know this, Luna? What did you hear?" Rey asked, her voice tinged with urgency.Luna took a deep breath, trying to calm herself as she recounted what she had overheard from Deucalion's conversation with the other Lycans. She relayed the information to Rey, the plans for destroying the mage alliance and

The capital had experienced a brief respite from the turmoil that had plagued it. The Crimson pack, along with the mage alliance and the loyal factions of the realm, worked tirelessly to restore order and rebuild what had been destroyed. For a few days, a semblance of calm settled over the city.Lucius, however, remained vigilant, knowing that the threat of the Lycans still loomed. He had grown accustomed to the tension that hung in the air, and his senses remained heightened. He could feel the underlying currents of unease, as if a storm was gathering just beyond the horizon.On the fourth night since their return to the capital, chaos erupted once again. The peace of the night shattered as the sound of battle echoed through the streets. Lucius, sensing the danger, swiftly gathered his pack and rushed towards the source of the commotion: the palace.As they arrived at the grand entrance of the palace, a scene of chaos unfolded before them. The palace guards fought desperately against

Rey and Seraphina walked along the pathway that led to the great oak.”Where are we going?”, Rey asked Curiously. She still had no idea why Seraphina had requested that she stayed behind while the rest of the pack left for the capital.”To the great Oak”, Seraphina replied.”What am I missing?, I am sure that I have been there before”, Rey said.”Of course you have. The Oak itself serves as a conduit for channeling nature’s energy and hence is the best place for me to teach you”, Seraphina replied.”Huh... Teach me what?”, Rey asked.”Something happened to you while you were on your way to the Temple. Something that none of you spoke of. Almost like you are trying to ignore the fact that it actually happened”,, Seraphina said as she turned and faced Rey.”I lost control, I got so angry but I am fine now. Haven’t lost my cool since then and I’m generally in control of my emotions”, Rey replied.”I see”, Seraphina said as she turned and kept walking.Rey wondered how Seraphina had found

Rey opened drifted away from her memories as she slowly regained sensation and Awareness of the real world returned. She slowly drifted back into consciousness as her body came afloat on the river.”What did you see?”, Seraphina asked.”I saw my mother, she was speaking to before she begun the ritual and I saw the markings she used”, Rey replied.”That isn’t enough Rey”, Seraphina replied. “Think carefully, what else do you remember?””Nothing else”, Rey said as she tried to recall anything.”Think carefully Rey!, what else could did you miss?”, Seraphina said.Rey paused as she looked at her reflection on the water trying to recall. She begun having flashbacks as all the memories of everything swarmed into her mind.”What do you see now?”, Seraphina asked.”I see it all. I know how she sealed it off and I know how to unseal it”, Rey said.”Good job”, Seraphina commented.”But.., but, what is this? Mother was terrified of it and now that I think of it you seemed wary of this ‘alter eg

Rey's heart sank as her alter ego's words penetrated her core. Despair wrapped its icy tendrils around her, choking her determination and sowing doubt within her mind. She struggled to comprehend the truth behind the alter ego's claims."What do you mean I've been in despair?" Rey asked, her voice trembling with a mixture of confusion and fear.The alter ego stepped forward, a twisted smile playing on its lips. "You hide it well, don't you, Rey? Behind your strength and resilience, there lies a deep well of despair. It has been eating away at you, whispering doubts and fears that you try so hard to ignore."Rey's mind raced, memories of moments when doubt had clouded her judgment and moments of overwhelming sadness flooded back. She had pushed those feelings aside, burying them deep within herself in her quest to protect others and maintain her image of strength."No," Rey whispered, tears welling in her eyes. "I can't accept that. I won't let despair define me."The alter ego chuckle