Embers In The North

There was no stopping her. As she ran, her azure ability pierced the darkness around her. Nothing stirred save for the sound of her own paws striking the ground, matched by her steady beating of her heart. She put everything out of her mind as she attempted to understand Cridius’s characterization of this race as a “hunt.”

The initial rush of the run began to subside, replaced by a contemplative calm. Why had her mate marked her as his and yet subjected her to a race that could potentially lead to her burning if unsuccessful? His motives baffled her.

In frustration, she berated herself for letting her guard down and falling for Cridius’ manipulation. She had been enticed by the ‘wish’ he spoke of, and now she had to deal with the implications of being on this path.

Out of nowhere, an unseen force collided with her, sending her sprawling backwards. Helpless, she tumbled along the path, each impact reverberating through her. Struggling to regain her bearings, she discovered her ability to shift was now beyond reach.

A disdainful sound drifted through the air, a voice almost accusing. “You all are the same.”

Her head jerked up, and keen blue eyes swept across the area, desperately seeking out its source. Despite her heightened vision, whoever uttered those words eluded her.

“So eager to prove yourself that you run into the unknown, even with the possibility of death,” the voice continued, drawing nearer. Reyna forced herself back onto her paws.

“Did he promise you something?” the voice asked, its taunting tone echoing through the fiery path.

In a surge of anger, Reyna pushed her azure ability to its limits, skimming the blazing surroundings once more, but the invisible speaker remained elusive.

With a mocking laugh, he continued, “Oh, he did. Did you really think the son of Triston was unaware of your desires? That your wish, if granted, would be used to free the Maynord? What a gullible fool you are.”

Her frustration mounted even more than her anger as she tried to shift again, but whatever power he wielded prevented her transformation. The realization of her stupidity unsettled her – confined to her wolf form, her azure ability could only serve her to a limited extent.

“I will reveal why your Graypelt mate sent you on this path. Whatever abilities you possess or have gained from your mating ritual, we take as sport. That is the purpose of this hunt. When you return to your Alpha, and return you will, you shall be nothing more than an ordinary Luna. Devoid of the fight and abilities to challenge him,” the voice revealed. “A submissive mate to breed as you were meant to do!”

The bass of her heartbeat pounded in her ears, overshadowing all other sounds. It was clear what Cridius had intended when he sent her here - to break her down and make it easier for him to gain control over her. She howled in rage; she could kill him!

Coward.

Looking around anxiously, she waited for him to speak or show himself, but he didn’t.

Picking on females behind the cover of night! Show yourself, you miserable coward! If you think I’ll let you take my abilities, you’re the gullible one here, you miserable wretch!

In response, a shimmering figure materialized before her—tall, imposing, and undeniably not a coward. Laughter echoed as his black hair swayed in the wind, and his eyes were hollow voids of nothingness. Whether an emissary of death or a kin, the glint of his scythe’s blade caught the dim light as he ground his sharp teeth.

“I do not hide, Icehelm,” he spat. “You are even too feeble to see beyond the barriers that separate us. This should be over quickly.”

When he sidestepped instead of launching an attack, Reyna groaned, understanding the unfolding situation.

It was a hunt: he was giving her a head start.

After weighing her options, she cursed herself for her naivety and foolishness. The price now would be her abilities—the very ones that could have guaranteed her safety and given her leverage against Cridius. If she managed to escape this situation with her abilities intact, Cridius was as good as dead. Damn the consequences of harming her mate; she would unleash whatever power the Graypelt Luna possessed and crush him. Snorting with rage, she saw the fumes shoot out of her nostrils.

Perhaps she didn’t have to resist this. In truth, it seemed more fitting for him to strip her of her abilities. She was weary of the constant struggle. Aupheadia was lost due to her stubbornness and ignorance, and they were all now subjected to the rule of a heartless tyrant.

Taking a step forward, she defiantly seated herself in front of him.

I will not run. You won’t turn me into a bloody prey for your entertainment.

In a furious roar, he retorted, “Run the path, Moltenroar!”

She refused to continue with this absurd hunt, and if he wanted her submission, he would have to kill her. Reyna snarled in defiance, and he responded with a roar that sent a thick black column spewing from his mouth into the sky. Taking a cautious step back, she considered whether surrendering might spare her from the malevolence he was capable of.

She groaned and rubbed her head with her paw. No, she wouldn’t give in!

“This is your last chance. Run the path!” he growled.

Observing him, she suspected that perhaps he could only harm her during the hunt and not when she sat idle on it.

Odin’s ruins upon you, you despicable being!

Amidst the burning flames that flanked the path, his eyes now glowed with the same fire, and his black garb fluttered softly in the breeze of the flames.

“Do you think your puny gods have any sway here? Let me show you how worthless they are!”

He raised the scythe to strike at her, and she squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the blow to finally end her misery. Instead, the flames fizzled out, and smoke and darkness engulfed the path. Reyna peered around, trying to make out what lay ahead.

She tried to shift again, and this time it worked. Reyna rose, stretching her muscles as she looked around for the being. Curiously, Cridius was nowhere on the path, which was now shrouded in heavy fog.

As she ran her fingers through her hair, groaning at her nakedness, a distinct feeling settled in her mind — a realization that she would need to grow accustomed to this vulnerability. Amidst the fog, the scent of Eismum roses drifted toward Reyna, and her breath caught, anticipating his presence.

Within the murky haze that veiled her surroundings, she waited with bated breath for the mesmeric mismatched eyes to find her. In an instant, the fog dissipated, revealing Roth, scythe in hand. The malevolent being who wielded the ominous weapon was conspicuously absent.

Roth’s eyes traced her naked form as he approached, and a subtle smile graced his lips. Reciprocating, Reyna smiled, cupping his face in her hands and locking eyes with him. The relief and elation she felt was immeasurable.

Driving the scythe staff into the ground, Roth removed his black cloak and wrapped her in its comforting embrace.

“How are you here?” Reyna asked, staring at him in wonder.

“I knew he would send you to the collector as soon as you were mated. It’s how Graypelts initiate their mates,” Roth explained, stroking her hair with a sparkle in his eyes.

“You knew?” Reyna’s brows hiked as she asked.

“Cridius is the most self-serving cunt I’ve ever encountered. He was so eager to lay claim to you that he made the foolish mistake of bragging about it to me,” Roth stated. “I really like the new hair colour; it suits you.”

“I mean, you know about the Graypelts?” Reyna asked, unsurprised given that the Alpha of Aupheadia would be well-versed in such matters.

He nodded, cradling her face, staring at her as if nothing else existed. Reyna blinked rapidly, holding his gaze.

“It was a secret passed down through generations of Maynord,” he confessed. “The same one I was sworn to secrecy about.”

Reyna nodded, understanding the need for secrecy to avoid upheaval in the kingdom. Now, she looked around for Decker. Unable to detect his scent or sense his presence, she realized only Roth was with her.

“I don’t understand how you are here. Cridius had you locked up.” Reyna blinked as she withdrew her hands from his face. “Where is the original owner of that?” she added, pointing to the scythe with a blank expression.

He walked away with a shrug. “The Graypelts have grown more powerful than we are for one reason — the gods they pledged to. With Aupheadia lost, our gods no longer stand with us. Faced with a choice, especially when Cridius revealed his intention to complete the mating ritual, I knew sending you to the collector would leave no hope of defeating him with your powers gone.”

“You swore fealty to their gods to gain their favour,” Reyna whispered before he could elaborate. He seemed to struggle with saying it aloud.

“A deal was struck. If they brought me straight to you on the path, then me and the wolves of Aupheadia were his,” Roth murmured. “It solves the ancient strife of only the Graypelts swearing fealty to the old gods. Now it is only a matter of putting the strife for Alpha of Alphas to rest.”

“That isn’t the point right now,” Reyna replied. “What do we do now?”

“It is time for me to lead the wolves from here, and our charge against Cridius will begin soon.”

With a sigh, Reyna looked around; her head ached once again as she tried to keep calm.

“You only did that for me, Roth, and I am tired of being the cause of so much destruction.” She swallowed a lump in her throat. “Maybe this is the path for me, a subservient Luna who learns her place. I will only bring you war and loss.”

Roth came back to her and kissed her without warning. Reyna’s pulse pounded as she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and moaning as she did so. Kissing him was like the opening up of her soul, and in that moment, she knew she loved Roth. Bracing her against the nearest tree, he kissed her with all his strength, leaving her breathless.

“You are the most confident, passionate, and powerful person I have ever met. They come once every millennium, and I am glad to have met you. It’s not your curse, Reyna. It’s your power and why I love you.” He caressed her face. “Of course, I did this for you. War or whatever comes, I will only do it with you.”

Against his lips, she panted. “Roth.” Surely he knew Cridius already marked her.

“We must get moving.” He went back to retrieve the scythe, and when he turned back to see the question in her eyes, he said, “A gift from the gods to help me in this war against Cridius.”

“Aren’t you tired of fighting?” Reyna exhaled in frustration. “I am sick of it and I don’t want to do it any more.”

“I must, Reyna.” He walked up to her and stroked her cheek with his free hand, then he kissed her softly. “I assure you the only way he’ll ever have you as his mate is over my dead body.”

“There’s just one problem… Cridius marked me, and I did the ceremony with him.” Reyna sighed.

While she was elated at the prospect of leaving with Roth, it would have to be a life marred by war in a never-ending fray.

“That changes nothing. You are my Luna, Reyna. I give you my word, I will make this right.”

With a big swallow, she nodded at him. A radiant smile lit up Roth’s face as he whistled, summoning his Reaper, and the ground trembled at as he appeared. Reyna watched the magnificent Shadowbeast that had always left her staring in awe.

Roth mounted the creature, and Reyna approached the familiar Reaper, extending a hand to stroke its face in greeting.

“Reyna?” Roth called.

Glancing at Roth, she noticed his outstretched hand and the anxiety in his eyes. Was he afraid she wouldn’t join him? Even if she had reservations, what choice did she really have? He had forsaken Odin for her. He belonged to her, and she loved him. The prospect of destroying Cridius alongside Roth brought her a profound sense of satisfaction.

Taking his outstretched hand, she leapt onto the Reaper, and he pulled her onto the saddle behind him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, sensing his sigh of relief. With a soft smile, she whispered in his ear, “I’m with you, Roth.”

Under the cover of the night, the Reaper rose and took off with supernatural speed, vanishing from sight. Even with the promise of a life with Roth, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Cridius would pursue her, leaving destruction in his wake.