Something hunting werewolves in the cursed territory of Shadow Vale. They vanish one by one, their only legacy a pool of blood and the aroma of black magic. Blinded by rivalry and past betrayals, the packs reject to cooperate while the elderly hint of the reappearance of an ancient warlock. Though his father tells him to keep out of it, Damon Volkner, the merciless heir of Nightfang Pack, is driven to find the truth. Old scars reappear when fate drives him to collaborate with Tessa Morraine, the daughter of Silverclaw Alpha and his erstwhile closest friend turned sworn adversary. Tessa hated Damon for years, blaming him for the collapse of her family, but she now needs to trust him with her life. Deeper they dig, the more they discover a dark warlock seeking retribution on their bloodlines, an ancient curse, and a forgotten prophecy. Damon and Tessa have to decide between their obligation and their indisputable fate as mates when their packs are at war and their own lives is at jeopardy. But their relationship is cursed, hence giving in to it could mean the loss of all they have battled to save.
Chapter 1 The Shadows Stir
"Too quiet," she whispered, her breath coming out in a soft, shaky hiss.
Her wolf senses tingled danger was near.
A rustling sound came from behind, breaking the unnatural silence. Tessa turned, her instincts already on edge, her senses reaching out.
From the darkness, a figure emerged, stepping into the moonlight like a phantom a tall man with raven-black hair and eyes that glinted with a dangerous promise. Damon Volkner.
The breath caught in her throat. No, she thought, not him.
"Still lurking in these woods at night, Tessa?" Damon's voice broke the tense silence, filled with mockery and something darker. "You've changed little."
Tessa's hand twitched at her side, instinctively reaching for the hidden blade there. "What are you doing here, Damon?" she demanded, her voice cool despite the storm raging inside her.
"I could ask the same of you," Damon said with a tight smile. "The vanishings. I'm researching them. Same as you."
Tessa's eyes narrowed. "That's rich. The Nightfang Pack, looking into disappearances?" She scoffed. "Surely not your first time causing problems, Damon."
He didn't flinch, but his gaze sharpened, flicking with dangerous intent. "You're mistaken if you think you know me." His eyes glowed, and Tessa instinctively stepped back. "I don't owe you any explanations."
She didn't trust him never had, never would. But something in his gaze made her hesitate.
Before she could respond, a wolf's mournful howl pierced the air, echoing through the trees.
Damon's expression darkened. "The High Council's summons," he murmured, his tone hardening as he turned toward the path.
Tessa's heart raced. She wanted to refuse, to remain in the safety of the shadows, but the howl was undeniable the call to arms. She followed Damon, knowing that the answers she sought were not in the woods, but ahead. And with him.
Tessa walked into the dimly lit chamber of the Crimson Hold, her mind still reeling from the confrontation with Damon. Her father, Alpha John Morraine, sat at the head of the table, his icy gaze hardening when he saw her.
"Tessa," her father's deep voice cut through the silence. "We need answers. Now."
Her feet were heavy as she crossed the stone floor, every step measured, deliberate. Her father's commanding presence loomed large in the room, his cold eyes sharp as daggers.
"You've been investigating the vanishings," he said, his tone an unspoken accusation. "What have you found?"
Tessa's fingers clenched at her sides. "I don't know yet, but I can tell you this: The Nightfang Pack has nothing to do with it." Her voice rang out, firm, despite the knot in her chest.
Her brother, John Jr., snorted from across the table. "You're naive, Tessa. The Nightfang Pack has always been trouble. You're too close to them. It's obvious they're involved."
Tessa shot a glance at Damon, who stood by the door, silent and imposing. She could feel his eyes on her, like a pressure she couldn't escape.
"You can't blame Damon for this," she said, forcing herself to meet her father's gaze. "We don't have the evidence."
Her father's cold expression didn't change, but his eyes flickered with something unreadable. "We have no choice, Tessa. We'll cooperate with him. But if anything goes wrong, you're the one who answers."
The weight of his words pressed down on her like a stone. Her father's reluctant assent felt like a betrayal. But there was something darker at play something she didn't understand.
Tessa's pulse quickened. The real battle hadn't even started yet.
"Tessa," he said, his voice low and commanding, "we need to talk."
Her breath caught in her throat. Not now. She struggled to keep her emotions in check, torn between the rage building in her chest and the strange pull she felt when he was near.
"What do you want?" she finally managed, her voice a whisper of frustration.
Damon's eyes darkened, his gaze intense. "There's more at stake here than you realize. The vanishings aren't the only thing we should be worried about. Something's happening in Shadow Vale, and we need to find out what it is. Together."
Tessa's heart hammered in her chest. She could hear the urgency in his voice, but her instincts screamed at her to keep her distance.
Before she could respond, a howl echoed through the night again, louder this time. A call to arms.
Damon stepped closer, his voice urgent. "We don't have much time."
Tessa hesitated, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. But she knew one thing for certain: The answers weren't here. Not yet.
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