The Veiled Realm

ill feel the weight of the dream clinging to his mind. The faceless worshipers, the haunting chant, and the full moon watching him like a silent sentinel. He sh

live with movement. Members of the pack who had become his family, his people were sparri

pulse of the forest, their bark glowing faintly with the residue of old magic a

esponsibility. One day soon, they would look to him for guidance, prote

e lingering unease from the dream. Whate

d Luca could see the raw energy in his eyes, the kind he had once possessed before the weight of expectation had settled o

hadowed trees and the pale, ethereal light filtering through the canop

sn't the Alpha yet, but he was the Alpha's son, and his words held weight. He moved among them, inspecting their form and correcting the

mid-sparring match, gripping his shoulder and shifting it sli

pack was strong, capable, and growing under his guidance. But even as he trained them, he could feel the dream's e

n the back as they finished a particularly intense session. "Well

re smile, brief but genuine. Moments like this reminded

lm, which was the Alpha's Den. It was a sprawling complex hidden within the olde

the entrance, and stepped into the cool, shadowed hall. His father's presence

race of a hunter, her golden eyes-so similar to his own, were shining with mischief. "I saw you out there, pla

ry. "Just trying to make sure our pack

as they walked down the hall. "You worry too much

ca admitted, his thoughts drifting back

she gave him a searching look. "What

hook his head. "It's n

ey continued in silence until they reached the Alpha's stu

f power, a presence that commanded the room without speaking. Beside him, Luca's mother, Mara, sat in a high-backed chair, her gaze steady and calm, the embodim

inclining his head

I heard about the training session. You'r

ected, feeling the weight of

, his voice firm. "And you wil

ever, lingered at the edge of his thoughts, a shadow he couldn't ignore. "There's som

ned, and she leaned forw

ing chant, the faces that had stared at him without eyes. "There were... figures. Clo

father's expression remained impassive, but there was

ara said softly, her voice soothing. "I

dded, his tone grave. "Be vigilan

n't afford to be distracted by dreams. But as he left the study, his mind drifted back to the clearing, to th