"There are prisons that have no walls, chains that cannot be seen, and judgments that leave no visible scars. I am the heir to all of them."

That was the first truth I understood about who I was.

My lineage is not a legacy of glory, but of blood. A blood that many crave, but few understand. They say we are direct descendants of the first ancestor of the wolves, a blessing and a curse carried by every member of my family since the dawn of time. Our blood is special, immune to poisons, capable of healing any wound, and, for those bold or insane enough to drink it, a source of unimaginable power.

But uniqueness always attracts predators. Throughout the centuries, the Greys have been hunted, sold, betrayed by those they once called allies. To be the last bearer of this legacy is to live with a target on your back and invisible chains in your heart.

Today, however, is a different day. My destiny has always been to be something more, something greater. At 18, I will finally receive my wolf, a rite that marks the true ascension to my heritage.

I am Calyssa Grey,

daughter of Alpha Dominic Grey, leader of the Shadow Pack. Our clan is ancient, a united force of wolves that survived the extinction of other lineages. But only my family carries the blood of the ancestor. My father is the personification of strength, my mother, Lyanna Grey, the calm that balances the chaos. My older brother, Kael, is destined to lead the pack one day, while my sister, Evanna... Well, she and I have never been close.

Evanna Grey

Today, on my birthday, everything changes.

......................

The full moon was at its highest point in the sky when I knelt at the altar. The priest, an old and wise wolf named Theron, moved around me with chants in an ancient language, a language that resonated within me like a lost echo.

The ceremony was simple, but full of symbolism. Around me, the entire pack watched in a circle. My father was at the front, my mother beside him, and Kael right behind. Evanna was there too, but she kept her distance, as if my presence bothered her.

"Today, Calyssa Grey, you will become one with your wolf. She will find you, claim you, and together you will be complete," declared Theron.

He handed me a silver dagger. It was tradition that the ritual blood be mine, the blood of the Grey lineage. Without hesitation, I cut the palm of my hand, letting my blood drip onto the altar stone.

That's when it began.

A searing pain shot through my body, as if something was breaking through all the barriers within me. I fell to my knees, my heart felt like it was going to explode. My vision blurred, and for a moment I thought I wouldn't be able to endure it.

"Calyssa..."

The voice was soft, but full of strength, like the howl of a wind that blows through an ancient forest.

"I am Akira, your wolf. And now we are one."

I felt her presence before I saw her. When I opened my eyes, she was there, inside my mind, but as real as the world around me. Her fur was a silvery white, shining like the moonlight itself. Her eyes were golden, intense, and her fangs were long and sharp, a clear mark of the Grey lineage.

"Finally," she said, a mixture of strength and tenderness in her voice.

"Akira," I replied in thought.

The connection between us was indescribable, as if two halves that had always been separate had finally met.

The pain gradually disappeared, and when I got up, I felt as if the whole world was different.

"She did it," Kael murmured, a proud smile on his face.

My father nodded, while my mother wiped away a silent tear. Even Evanna seemed surprised, although there was a glimpse of something darker in her eyes.

When the ceremony ended, I couldn't hold back. I transformed for the first time, feeling Akira's power coursing through my veins. The feeling was pure freedom, as if no prison could hold me again.

Kael and some of the wolves ran with me through the forest. Among them was my best friend, Ryden, a loyal warrior and almost as stubborn as I was.

"You look much better as a wolf," he joked as we ran side by side.

"Say that again and I'll tear off your tail," Akira replied for me, and I couldn't help but laugh.

We ran until dawn, exploring every corner of the forest, testing my new strength. It was as if I had been born again, finally complete.

......................

When we returned to the fortress, the sun was already high in the sky. My body was exhausted, but my mind vibrated with energy. However, as I crossed the stone corridors, I felt something strange.

A scent. Intense, enveloping, and so striking that my heart raced.

Akira became alert. "Mate," she whispered in my mind.

Only one thought dominated me as I followed the scent. He was there. The man that the Moon goddess had chosen for me.

But then something was wrong. The scent was leading me the wrong way... to Evanna's room.

I pushed the door open, and what I saw took my breath away.

Evanna was there, her skin glistening with sweat, and on top of her was him.

"Damon?"

(To be continued...)

"They say the Moon goddess never errs. But today, she destroyed everything in me. Because destiny, even written by the stars, isn't always fair."

Damon was a beta warrior of our pack. Strong, fearless, and easily the most attractive among them. With amber-colored eyes and a smile that enchanted anyone, he was the dream of many women in our pack. Not mine. Never was. I respected him, but I never looked at him twice as anything more than a pack member.

Until now.

His scent hit me with an overwhelming force as soon as I entered the room. My heart raced, my chest tightened, and, at that moment, I knew. He was my mate.

But what I saw destroyed any hope I might have had.

He was with Evanna.

Evanna, my sister, the one who always had everything. And now, even this.

"Damon?" My voice came out low, almost a whisper.

He froze at the sound of my voice, his body tense as he slowly turned his head in my direction. His eyes met mine, and at that moment, I realized he felt it too. The bond.

"Calyssa..." He started, but his voice sounded confused, almost painful. He felt it, yes, but his mind seemed to fight against what destiny had decided.

"What are you doing here?" Evanna interrupted, getting up quickly, wrapped in a sheet. Her tone was sharp, full of superiority. "This is my room, Calyssa."

I ignored her provocation, my eyes fixed on Damon. "You are..." My voice failed. "My mate."

Evanna let out a cruel laugh. "Mate? No, dear sister, Damon is mine. He loves me. No matter what the goddess has decided, he will never be yours."

"Evanna..." Damon tried to speak, but she continued, approaching me with that victorious smile.

"Do you really think that, just because you were born into our lineage, you have the right to everything? No, Calyssa. Damon was going to ask for my hand in marriage tonight. He is not your mate, he is my man."

My legs weakened, and Akira remained silent, plunged into sadness. The bond pulsed painfully in my chest, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Damon..." I looked at him, a last plea. "What you feel... you can't ignore it. The connection is there. The goddess chose us."

He closed his eyes, as if trying to erase the pain. "I didn't choose this, Calyssa. I love Evanna. I've always loved her. And I will ask for her hand today."

His words were like a cold blade cutting through my heart.

"So that's it?" I whispered, struggling to maintain my dignity. "You're going to reject me?"

"Calyssa..." He hesitated, but then, he took a deep breath, as if trying to gather courage. "I, Damon Valerias, reject you, Calyssa Grey, as my mate."

The pain was instantaneous. A knife tearing through my chest. I felt the bond break cruelly, as if something inside me was being ripped out. Blood trickled from my nose, and my legs faltered.

Akira said nothing. Her presence was there, but it was as if she was shrinking in her sadness.

Even so, I refused to fall. I raised my head, even with the world spinning around me.

"And I, Calyssa Grey, reject you, Damon Valerias, as my mate."

I saw him stagger, the pain reflected in his eyes, but I didn't stay to watch.

"You never deserved him, sister," Evanna taunted as I walked away.

"He doesn't matter to me anymore, actually he never did," I replied, my voice cold. Even if it was a lie, I refused to give her another reason to smile.

In my room, I cried like never before. The pain of rejection was unbearable, but worse than that was Akira's silence.

"Akira... please... say something," I pleaded, but there was no answer. She was as destroyed as I was.

The Next Morning

Kael was the first to enter my room. He sat next to me, his eyes full of concern.

Kael Grey

"What happened, Calyssa?"

I told him everything. About Damon, about Evanna, and about the rejection. His expression turned dark, and he left the room to confront our sister.

My family gathered in the main room. My father looked furious, my mother was shocked, and Kael looked about to explode.

"This is unacceptable," my father growled. "He should never have rejected the bond. The goddess may punish us for this."

Evanna crossed her arms, defiant. "Damon and I have loved each other for years. Just because the goddess chose Calyssa, that doesn't mean he has to accept her. He was going to ask me to marry him tonight, and no one will stop us."

"Are you kidding me?" Kael shouted, anger flashing in his eyes.

"Enough," I interrupted, my voice low. Everyone looked at me, surprised. "Leave them alone. It doesn't matter anymore. The worst has already happened."

My father hesitated, but nodded.

......................

At night, the main room was decorated for Evanna and Damon's engagement. Her happiness was like a cruel spectacle, and I could barely stand being there.

When the announcement was made, I applauded mechanically, feeling more and more disconnected. Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. I stood up and left in silence, without looking at anyone, and went into the forest.

The forest welcomed me with its comforting silence. I ran until my legs couldn't take it anymore, the cold wind burning my face.

"Why..." I murmured, letting the tears fall. "Why me?"

Akira remained silent, but, inside me, I felt her suffering. We were trapped together in this pain.

Under the moonlight, I fell to my knees, hoping that the darkness would give me the answers I couldn't find.

"They say that pain shapes who we are. That, by losing everything, we are reborn stronger. But at that moment, as I ran through the forest, all I felt was the emptiness devouring my soul. Damon's rejection still burned inside me, but the destruction I would find later would be the true ruin of my heart."

I didn't know how long I ran through the forest. My legs seemed to move on their own, guided by a survival instinct I didn't even know I had. The pain of rejection and the broken bond still pulsed in my chest, but, at that moment, what dominated me most was confusion.

"Why?" I thought, feeling the tears run down my face. "Why would the goddess abandon me like this? Why would she give me a mate who was never truly mine?"

Akira remained silent. Her pain reflected mine, and that only made everything more unbearable.

When I finally stopped, I realized I was too far away.

I turned on my heels and returned to the pack.

The moon illuminated the clearing ahead, but something in the air made my chest tighten. An intense smell of blood.

"Akira?" I called, my voice trembling.

"Something is wrong," she growled, waking from her lethargy. "Something terrible has happened."

Before I could ask more, she took control. My body transformed quickly, and now we were one, running towards the origin of that metallic and suffocating smell.

As we approached the pack, the sounds became clearer. Screams. The roar of fire consuming wood. My heart raced, and Akira let out a howl of pure fury.

"No... it can't be," I whispered in thought.

When we got closer, I saw the chaos. Houses burning, bodies fallen to the ground. The vision was a nightmare, a scene I would never forget.

Suddenly, a staggering figure emerged from the trees. It was Ryden. His body was covered in blood, and he stumbled before falling to his knees. I immediately returned to my human form, running to him and holding him before he hit the ground.

"Ryden!" I screamed, my heart sinking as I saw him in that state.

He tried to speak, but blood bubbled in his mouth. Still, he held my arm tightly, as if he were fighting death to warn me of something.

"You... need to run, Calyssa," he said with difficulty, his voice hoarse.

"No! I won't leave you! What's happening? Where's my family?" My voice trembled, and tears streamed as I shook him lightly, trying to keep him awake.

"They're... they're all dead," he revealed, and those words cut deeper than any blade ever could.

My world stopped. The pain of rejection I felt before seemed insignificant compared to what those words carried.

"No..." I murmured, the tears falling uncontrollably. "It can't be... Who did this, Ryden? Who?!"

"The Bloodfang and Shadowclaw," he managed to say, coughing violently afterwards. "They... joined together. And massacred everything."

Rage took over me, burning like fire. "Why? Why would they do this?"

"Power... territory... revenge... It doesn't matter," he replied, his voice getting weaker with each word. "Calyssa... they will come after you. You are the last. The only one left."

My mind was a chaos. I couldn't process everything at the same time. "I won't leave you here, Ryden. I'll take care of you. I'll..." I began to look for something around me, desperate to help, to save at least one life. Even if I needed to use my blood to heal him.

"No... There's no saving me, we don't have time," he said, his hand holding mine with a weak grip. "Calyssa, please... run."

"No! I won't abandon you!" I screamed, but, at that moment, I heard voices. Distant voices, but getting closer and closer.

Ryden looked into my eyes with a desperate urgency. "Run, Calyssa! Now!"

"Ryden, no... please!" I pleaded, but he shook his head.

"Save yourself, Calyssa. Akira... take her away."

Akira roared inside me, and, before I could protest, she took control. My body returned to wolf form, and she began to run, carrying me away.

As we ran, I could hear the voices and howls of the enemy wolves chasing us. My eyes burned with tears, and my mind screamed to go back, but Akira gave me no choice.

"We need to live, Calyssa," she growled.

We ran for a time that seemed like an eternity, until we reached the edge of a cliff. I almost fell, my paws slipping on the loose earth, but I managed to stop in time.

I looked around. Wolves emerged from the shadows, surrounding us. Akira backed up to the edge, growling at the enemies who were slowly advancing.

"We have nowhere to go," she said, her voice laden with resignation and fury.

Loneliness doesn't bother me. I've always been like this, isolated, separated from the rest of the world. My pack, Nightbane, is a reflection of that. We are what the other packs fear: predators who do not hesitate to attack. We do not make alliances, we do not seek approval. We are living legends, and, like every myth, our name is whispered with respect and fear.

I am Draven Black, Alpha of the Nightbane pack.

My position as Alpha did not come from blood or privilege. I earned my place. I grew up an orphan, fighting for every piece of respect and for every drop of power I possess now. At 20, I challenged the previous Alpha and took the throne he never deserved. Since then, my word is law.

But, even among the most powerful, there are things that make us unique. My black fangs, for example. A deadly poison runs through them, a mark of something I don't understand. It has brought me countless victories, but also tragedies... like the death of my last mate.

Now, years later, I avoid ties. A weakness I cannot allow myself again.

I was walking that night with my betas, Caius and Axel, under the silvery light of the moon. The night was restless, the winds bringing unknown aromas.

"Do you think the Bloodfang will cause trouble again?" Caius asked.

"They always do," I replied dryly. "But they're not stupid enough to cross our borders."

Axel laughed, changing the subject. "Enough of war. Let's talk about better things. And by better, I mean women."

"Of course you would say that," I retorted, my voice filled with sarcasm.

"Maybe that's what you need, Alpha," Axel provoked. "A new mate to get you out of this constant cloud of bad mood."

"I don't need anyone," I replied coldly. "And don't forget what happened to the last one."

Axel insisted. "Don't you think it's time to reconsider? An alpha by your side would strengthen the pack. And, frankly, loneliness can be dangerous."

"Only if she falls from the sky," I retorted sarcastically. "Until then, you two will stop annoying me or do I need to remind you what happens to disobedient wolves?"

Axel let out a resigned sigh, but before he could answer, something changed in the air.

It was sudden. A sound cut through the night, a scream that echoed from the top of the cliff.

My attention was captured instantly, and my instincts took over. I looked up, to the top of the gorge. Something was falling. No, someone.

"What the hell."

I ran. The world seemed to slow down as my feet carried me to the exact point where the body would fall. There was no time to think, just act.

The impact was strong, but I didn't waver. I held her firmly, protecting her against my chest while absorbing the shock.

She was unconscious, her body covered in wounds and blood. Her hair was tangled, but there was something in her face... something that made me stop.

"Who is she?" Caius asked, the surprise evident in his voice.

I didn't answer. I just kept looking at her. My chest rose and fell as my mind processed what had just happened.