Ravenna’s breath hitched as she stood at the edge of a Lake, the water glimring with an ethereal blue hue. The scent of the surrounding flowers, sweet and intoxicating, filled the air, while multicolored butterflies flitted over the surface, their delicate wings shimring in the moonlight. She had never seen a place like this before, yet there was an odd familiarity that sent a shiver down her spine.
The four figures who had led her here remained silent, their gazes fixed on her as if waiting for sothing. The air between them was thick with expectation.
Ravenna hesitated before finally speaking. "Where is this place?"
A woman with long silver hair and piercing green eyes took a step forward, her voice soft but resolute. "This is Eclipse Lake, where the Goddess Selene appears when a seeking werewolf is in need of her."
Another woman, standing beside her, nodded. "This place has always been your ho for the last four centuries, though you do not rember."
Ravenna’s brow furrowed as confusion swirled in her mind. "That’s impossible," she said, shaking her head. "I’ve never been here before."
One of the n, his sharp features illuminated by the lake’s glow, studied her carefully. "Do you know Astrid?" he asked.
The na struck a chord deep within her, though she couldn’t explain why. She had only ever heard of one Astrid, Alaric’s first mate. After a mont’s hesitation, she nodded. "Only in na. Astrid died a long ti ago."
The four exchanged knowing glances. "That," the second man said, his voice steady, "is where the story begins."
Before Ravenna could question him, he motioned toward the lake. "Step into the water, and all your questions will be answered."
Ravenna’s pulse quickened. Everything in her told her to be cautious, but sothing, an unexplainable force, compelled her forward. Slowly, she waded in.
The mont her feet touched the water, warmth spread through her, unexpected yet oddly comforting. The deeper she went, the stronger the pull beca. Then, suddenly, a surge of images burst through her mind, flashes of people she had never t, of places she had never been, of laughter, of pain.
She gasped, but before she could react, the force intensified. Her vision blurred, and she felt herself being swallowed by the lake.
Then, everything went dark.
**************
(Author’s Note: The next few Chapters [up to Chapter 104] will be about Astrid (Now Ravenna) and Alaric’s past.)
FOUR HUNDRED YEARS AGO
Laughter rang through the open fields as a young woman ran, her long white dress flowing behind her like a banner. The two boys chasing her, both around ten years old—grinned mischievously as they sprinted after her.
"Not so fast, Astrid!" one of them called, breathless but determined.
Astrid turned her head, her eyes twinkling. "You’ll have to catch first, Little Zeke!"
The other boy, Seth, lunged forward and managed to grab the hem of her dress. With a triumphant cheer, he tackled her to the ground, and Zeke followed suit, pinning her arms down.
Astrid burst into laughter, her lodic voice carrying through the field. "Alright, alright! You got ."
"Punishnt ti!" Zeke declared before both boys began tickling her rcilessly.
Astrid squird, giggling uncontrollably. "Not fair! You both against ?"
From a few feet away, another boy stood with his arms crossed, watching them with a grumpy expression. He was older than the two, around fifteen, his dark eyes brooding.
Astrid noticed him and smiled. Brushing herself off, she walked over and crouched before him, tilting her head. "Luke," she said, ruffling his hair. "Why are you being moody again?"
Luke looked away, clearly unimpressed. "I don’t want to play childish gas."
Astrid sighed in mock exasperation before pinching his cheek. "You’re always acting so serious."
Before he could protest, Zeke and Seth tackled him next, their small hands rciless with their tickling assault.
"Stop it!" Luke barked, but a reluctant chuckle escaped him.
Astrid grinned, watching them.
The mont was broken when a pair of voices called out from a distance. The children turned to see their parents approaching, baskets in hand.
Zeke and Seth wasted no ti running to them, each grabbing hold of one parent. Luke, however, remained by Astrid’s side, holding her hand.
"They abandoned ," he muttered, glancing up at her. "I shouldn’t play with them anymore."
Astrid laughed softly, shaking her head. "You say that now, but you love them too much to stay mad."
Zeke and Seth quickly ran back and clung to her dress, proving her point.
Their parents chuckled, ruffling Seth’s hair before handing the three boys. "Take this inside," he instructed.
Astrid’s expression shifted, her smile fading slightly, the monts the boys left.
Her father sighed. "Tonight is the night."
"I know," Astrid replied, keeping her voice steady. "Don’t worry, Father."
"How can I not?" he said, his voice heavy with concern. "We ran from power struggle, but if the other lycans and werewolves learn that a new Primal Alpha has risen, they’ll fight over you."
Astrid stepped forward, placing herself between her parents. "I’ll be fine," she assured them. "I shift tonight, and then we will figure out the rest."
Her mother reached out, brushing Astrid’s hair behind her ear. "Just co back to us," she said softly.
Astrid nodded. "I will."
That evening, after preparing a al for her family, she dressed in a dark blue gown and pulled a cloak over herself. The hood fell over her face, concealing her identity as she slipped out of the house and into the forest.
The air was thick with tension as she navigated the winding paths, her pulse thrumming with anticipation. She knew this was necessary, her destiny, but it didn’t make the fear any less real.
Finally, she reached the heart of the forest. A massive tree stood before her, its roots stretching like veins into the earth. Exhausted, she leaned against it and closed her eyes. Unwittingly, she drifted into sleep.
Then, pain. A searing agony tore through her body, jolting her awake. Her breath hitched as she clutched her chest, feeling sothing inside her shift, expand, break free.
Her eyes shot open, glowing a brilliant blue.
Then she saw it. A silhouette. Soone was watching her from a few ters away. Astrid’s breath ca in sharp gasps as she tried to process what was happening. The pain was overwhelming, her body caught between the familiar and the unknown.
Then, the figure stepped forward. And everything changed.
The figure walked closer, slow but deliberate, his movents calm despite the distressing scene before him. Astrid tried to stand, to push herself up and flee, but the pain gripping her body was unbearable. Her limbs trembled, her breath ca in short gasps, and when she attempted to take a step, she collapsed back to the ground.
A strangled scream tore from her throat as another wave of pain surged through her. It was unlike anything she had ever felt, sharp, raw, and consuming. Her bones cracked loudly, shifting unnaturally beneath her skin. Her fingers curled as claws sprouted, fangs extending from her gums. Her muscles twisted, reshaping as her body grew, fur bursting from her skin like flas catching dry wood. The agony blurred her senses, but through it all, she could still sense the man getting closer.
By the ti the transformation completed, Astrid stood on all fours, her breath heavy. A white wolf, sleek and powerful, faced the stranger. Her sharp blue eyes locked onto him, glowing in the dim moonlight. She felt vulnerable despite the newfound strength coursing through her body. Her instincts scread at her to protect herself.
The man stopped a few feet away. Instead of showing any fear, he knelt, his expression unreadable. There was sothing unsettling about his presence, calm, confident, almost expectant. He watched her for a mont before tilting his head slightly. Then, with a quiet murmur, he spoke. "Mate."
Astrid flinched at the word. His voice was deep, almost soothing, yet it sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine. Then, before she could react, he reached out and touched her snout.
A jolt of warmth spread through her body, catching her off guard. It wasn’t painful, no, it was sothing else entirely. His scent flooded her senses, crisp and earthy with a hint of sothing she couldn’t place. It was intoxicating, pulling her in, making her forget the pain she had just endured. Without thinking, she closed her eyes, allowing the sensation to wash over her as his fingers traced through her fur.
For a fleeting mont, it felt... safe. Then he spoke again. "What’s your na?"
Her eyes snapped open. Reality crashed back into her like a cold wave, and she stumbled backward, shaking her head. The connection was there, undeniable, but it wasn’t as overpowering as she had always been told. Mates were supposed to be an unbreakable bond, an instant force that consud the soul. But this, this felt different.
Astrid hesitated, her wolf staring at the man one last ti. He didn’t try to stop her, only watched as if knowing what she would do next.
With a final glance, she turned and ran. Her paws pounded against the forest floor, pushing her forward as fast as her legs could carry her. She didn’t look back, didn’t slow down. A howl tore from her throat, filled with emotions she didn’t understand.
The man remained where she had left him, watching as her white figure disappeared into the depths of the woods. A small smirk played on his lips as he whispered to himself, "I’ll find you, no matter how far you run, love."
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