rakovich F

he night, their dominion extending across the darkened territories where few dared to venture. Legends spoke of their origins-how the first of

s with terror. He was not just a ruler-he was a force, a specter that plagued the nightmares of mortal

vens as though reaching for something unseen. The keep was not just their home-it was a monument to their authority, a warning to al

lect was sharper than the most precisely honed blade. He manipulated monarchs, murmured into the ears of warlords, and orchestrated con

never withou

to resist the vampires' reign, a band of warriors who refused to be constrained by the Drakovich dominion. Fo

ed to conflict, but this ti

sent shivers through even the most seasoned of vampires. He was not like the Alphas before him. He was calculated, ruthless, and unrelen

eant. The age-old conflic

, there

ut never had she felt like a true threat-until now. After their fleeting but electrifying encounter in the moonlit field, Viadimir could not escape the sense that

The chamber was dimly illuminated, the flickering torches casting long shadows across the stone walls. Laziel Val

are growing. They have begun rallying the lesser groups under his

arm of his throne, his mind already calcu

ot behave like the others. She does not seek conflict, yet she does not shrink f

to a sneer. "Good. That m

brow. "You inten

he Howling Moon Clan will perish for her. And if she is uncertain of

was caution in his express

was icy, uncompromising. "Then she

ast. War was coming, and the Drakovich family would ascend once more-not

equilibrium had r

inds were

ould not be ca

wling Moon

l with utmost severity. They neither f

bed with the fervor of its warriors' wrath. Under the subdued illumination of the moon, the clearing was charged with palpable tension, as numerous werewolves, in both their human and feral forms, encircled the

with his long silver hair meticulously secured in substantial strands. His golden eyes, keen as a predator's, scanned his warriors with an expression sculpted from stone. In the background, the Council of Elders-vet

this gatherin

pires had transgr

nk we are weak. They believe we will retreat in the shadows while they plunge their canines into our lands." His gaz

ght sky. The fragrance of smoldering wood and moist earth mingled with the primal aroma of blood-wolves

skin as his fury barely kept him contained. "They ambushed us near the Black Hollow River," he snarled, spitting onto the ground as though to cleanse the t

gh the clan, their animosity f

ad heard the stories of vampire cruelty her entire life. She had trained for conflict and lived with the knowledge that one day she would hav

something diffe

that distu

her musings, his golden eyes penetrati

e, their ears trained on her

" she acknowledged, her voice steady despite the weigh

mention of his name. Garrick's grasp tightened around the pom

countenance. "He is dangerous, but we already knew that. He is no

tened. "And what did

the truth would not settle well wit

enc

enforcers of the clan. "What do you mean, he didn't attack?" His tone was infused wit

nowledged, her expression in

stant crackling of the fire. The Council of Eld

the congregated combatants, escalating his voice. "We will not wait for them to strike first. We will answer their cowardice with fire a

howling, their wrath rocki

repare for conflict, she couldn't escape the se

nale was, she feared it

Precari

est waiting to erupt. The Howling Moon Clan had made their stance clear-retaliation was inevitable. But so

relenting conflict for dominance. Yet, here they were, on the ver

sulta

rary ar

te stretch of land that separated vampire territory from the werewolf-controlled forests, was where this fragile arrangement wou

not have agreed to this," Laziel murmured, his crimson eyes scouring the darkness for

nowing sneer. "And yet, they ca

e. You should destroy them while they are vulnerabl

now that war was not always won with brute force. There were conflicts waged

hat moment bel

ilvered tresses capturing the moonlight, his golden eyes blazing with distrust. Beside him, Lyra Ironfang walked with measured steps, her prese

rest

rick who spoke first. "This is not my choice," he muttered, his deep voice tinged with frustration. "But my

and amused. "I would expect nothing l

ork, we need to speak plainly," she said, her voice bearing a rare authority that made even the elder canine

scrutinizing her. "And what middle

ut we are not fools-we know the cost of war." She gazed at her father, then back at Vl

what do you offer in

re. Both factions withdraw from the borderlands. No attacks, no searches. A time to gath

move he had not entirely expected. A reprieve from battle was a

vampire. My forbearance is limited, and my talons are keen.

eturned. "And if

lence was an

, considering the hazards. Then, with a deliberate assent, Viadimir

firm, devastating grip. The tension in the air crackl

had been

nines and vampires had

's gaze told Lyra that th