The Veiled Realm

nounced, and a ripple of unease passed through the room. The Lore Keepers were the guardians of the pack's ancient wisdom. They were historians and also served as prie

ess will last?" Cyrus, the bet

last nearly an hour. The connection to the Moon Goddess will wane completely durin

cles of the moon and their primal instincts, there was no greater danger. Elder Morrik looked at the t

bsorbed the weight of Morrik'

voice almost apologetic. "We wanted to consult with you firs

crossed. His presence was solid and grounding, a balance to Jarek's commanding energy. "They

at," Jarek said. He turned to Elder Mo

orders. During the eclipse, the veil between our world and the human one will thin.

en we will call a meeting. Tonight

on unreadable. "Let's hope they

k members stood in clusters, their voices hushed as they speculated about

asily across the clearing. "I've called you here be

crowd like a wave. He raised a hand, silencing the w

You all know what this means. During the eclipse, our connection to the Moon Goddess will be severed. We will not be able to shift. Our

, her face lined with worry, raised her voice. "But what if

e knew what she meant. Stories of creatures slipping through the veil during eclipses

The sentinels will guard the borders, and the wards will be reinforced

a weight. His uneasiness, just like so many others, was contagious, infecting his sister Cassandra, who sto

aid quietly, watching the anx

is voice low. "It's our job to make su

rs aren't helpi

ubbling to the surface. "It's the damn eclipse. Every time it

ust an eclipse this time, and you know it. T

ry time he thought about the dream, the way the moon seemed to pulse with an energy that didn't

tinels will be stationed at every border, and the wards will be reinforced. Nothing will enter

expectation settle over him like a mantle. He was the fu

"You have felt it, haven't you?" he asked, his words directed at the you

lore-keeper knew of his dream. "It was just a dream," he said, his voice tight

er Morrik said softly, his voice almost mournful. "The Moon

within him. "I don't have time for riddles," he said, his voice rising. "We

tepped in, placing a calming hand on his son's shoulder. "Enough," he said, his voice firm. "We

he tension that gripped the pack...it was all too much, a pressure building inside him that had no release

ustration and fear churned in his chest. He felt the pull deep in his core. The familiar, thrumming energy signalled the rise of his wolf. It was always there, just

the voice of his wolf, a presence he had come to know intimately over the years, one that was both a part of hi

their shared connection, and he remembered the last time this same feeling had cau

rry too much. You're always in the mood for something. Usually cont

nap," Luca muttere

You can't deny what you are. When was the l

"Not now. Not until

serious. "The dream... it's a warning, and you feel it. The moon calls to u

ys right, damn him. He couldn't deny the call of the moon, the way his body ached to shift, to shed the weight of

ice. There was no pain, only a sense of freedom, of clarity, as his senses sharpened. The night came alive around him. The scent of pine and damp earth, the rustle of a mouse digging underground, the distant murmur of the stream. He threw back his head and howled,

, his voice a low p

t, his own voice clearer,

e was no fear, no frustration, only the freedom of the night and the rhythm of their steps. But even as

change and mayb