*Noah*
Darkness consud my n and once we stepped into the mysterious portal. It felt as if we were floating through space with the way our feet left the ground, and we moved weightlessly through a sea of nothingness.
Ti didn’t seem to an anything as we continued through the dark. I was only vaguely aware of the presence of my n. I thought I might have seen Caleb in front of , but I couldn’t be sure. It was almost like I was going in and out of consciousness.
I gasped as we were suddenly dumped onto a hard and unforgiving ground. My first thought as I ca to was that the dirt was darker, bordering on black. I pushed myself off of the strange ground and looked around.
Caleb and the rest of my n were doing the sa, looking startled as if they had just woken up from a dream.
“Is everyone alright?” I asked.
I had a sinking feeling that they wouldn’t be since I very suddenly and imdiately felt strange as soon as we arrived in the strange land.
Everything seed alien, from the strange dark tint in the sky to the oddly-shaped plants. Even the sound of the breeze through the exotic trees seed strange to my ears.
Welco to Embervale, I thought to myself a bit sardonically.
I tried to straighten, but my body felt extrely heavy. It was getting a bit difficult to breathe. I knew it was due to the hazardous journey as well as the strange toxic energies perating the alien environnt. We just weren’t built for traveling through different realms.
“Sir.”
I looked at Caleb, whose face was pale. He too looked as if he was struggling to breathe, his shoulders heaving with exertion.
“So of our n have collapsed,” he told , his eyes round with fear.
I cursed and surveyed my surroundings to see that he had not been exaggerating. A couple of our warriors lay passed out on the strange black dirt, their limbs spread out. I hurried toward one of them, relieved to find that he was alive and stable.
I straightened, shooting Caleb a serious look. “We need to find so shelter imdiately.”
Niva was tending to one of our other warriors who had passed out, checking him over and pressing a damp cloth to his head. “This man is burning up with a fever,” she said, standing up to face Caleb and . She looked grave but urgent. “We aren’t too far from a benevolent pack that will likely offer us shelter, but we must hurry.”
Fortunately, there were enough of us who were conscious that we were able to carry the few who were passed out. I gritted my teeth as Caleb and I carried one of our muscular warriors.
It felt as if my body was growing heavier and heavier, and I knew it wasn’t just because I was carrying a two-hundred-and-fifty-pound warrior.
“You should start to feel better soon,” Niva said to . “The land we’re entering into is much safer and more mild in terms of harsh energies.”
I felt as if I was close to passing out myself, so I highly doubted the ntor’s words. I was shocked when just minutes later, I felt a very small amount of my strength returning. Caleb looked a little less pale as well.
“There,” Niva said, pointing ahead of us. “We’ve arrived in Moonthorne.”
Caleb and I looked up toward where Niva was gesturing. Through so thick, dark trees was a mighty iron gate decorated with a large insignia of a wolf surrounded by thorny branches. The wolf symbol looked threatening. It gave pause.
“Are you positive that the Moonthorne pack will want to offer us aid?” I asked Niva doubtfully.
Niva glanced at and nodded. “Once they learn of the cause you are fighting for, I believe so,” she said, but I could hear a hint of apprehension in her tone. “Moonthorne is led by a notoriously ruthless Alpha female nad Luna Kiela.”
I felt my mouth tighten. Just that sentence alone made our cause seem futile. This Alpha female would likely be suspicious of us.
I glanced behind at the rest of my n. Many of them were carrying unconscious warriors just as Caleb and I were. I feared for my n. As their leader, it was my responsibility to protect them and think of their safety, but I knew their loyalty was powerful. They also knew the risks of venturing into this realm by my side.
I tightened my grip on the unconscious guy Caleb and I were lugging around. I needed to keep pushing ahead. I was determined to fight through any obstacle to reach Zara.
As we approached the gate, we were approached by a fierce-looking female shifter. She had bright golden eyes and a strong build that was shown off by the tight-fitting leathers she wore. She was flanked on either side by a couple of large imposing male shifters who looked like they could snap tree trunks with their bare hands.
“Outsiders,” spat the female, looking suspiciously at us. “State your business.”
Niva ducked her head respectfully, stepping forward to greet the intimidating female. “My na is Niva, and I am an Embervale native,” she said. She gestured to . “This is Noah Black, heir and future Alpha of the Drogomor pack. We are in dire need of so shelter. His n are weakened by the energy of our realm.”
Luna Kiela narrowed her eyes at us, causing the warriors at her sides to tense as if readying themselves to attack. “You dare to bring these weakened outsiders to my territory? Have you no sense at all of the potential danger you plague us with?”
Niva stepped back, her eyes widening with fear. I nearly dropped the man I was holding to quickly step in front of my mate’s ntor protectively.
“Please, hear us out,” I pleaded, keeping my tone even and persuasive. “We an you know harm. In fact, I would hazard a guess that we share a common enemy.”
Luna Kiela’s eyes showed interest, but she kept them slitted. “And what enemy are you speaking of?” Her stern tone didn’t make it sound like a question.
I glanced briefly at Niva, who nodded in encouragent. I faced the Alpha female fully. “The demon sorcerer, Malphas.”
I was not expecting the intense reaction that I got. The burly n on either side of Kiela gasped. A couple of them growled threateningly, baring their teeth. Kiela’s expression hardened even further, her lips pulling back from her teeth.
“Making an enemy of the demon sorcerer is suicide,” Kiela said flatly. “I am not foolish enough to put my entire pack community at risk.”
I was unable to stop myself from being accusatory, even though we needed the Alpha female’s aid. “Could it be that you approve of his tactics?”
Kiela’s n murmured amongst themselves, the sounds low and threatening growls.
Kiela scowled at . “I should say not,” she snapped. “He is a wicked tyrant who deserves to be brought to his knees.”
I felt the corner of my mouth twitch upward. “In that regard, we are in complete agreent with one another.”
I recognized the fire and determination in Kiela’s eyes. She was clearly such a fierce warrior that it would probably be shocking to learn she wasn’t actively planning an attack on Malphas’ castle.
But it wasn’t surprising at all.
I understood Kiela’s hesitation. It was the sa one I had when faced with the realization that I would have to put my n in danger to co to Embervale Realm. Luna Kiela was conflicted, longing to bring Malphas down but reluctant to put her beloved pack in danger. She was a fearless but benevolent leader. I was sure of it.
That’s when I knew that she would understand my side.
I straightened, even though my body was still screaming at to pass out. I looked Luna Kiela right in the eye. “I’m afraid that he is only growing stronger by the day,” I said gravely. “He has kidnapped my mate and daughter. I fear he is planning to use them to strengthen himself through the use of dark magic.”
Kiela’s hard resolve was faltering as she processed my words.
I continued in an even but serious tone. “He has been moving between realms. It is clear that he is no longer just a threat to your realm but to all realms.”
Kiela clenched her jaw, but I could see her eyes soften. I knew she was thinking about her loved ones and how she needed to keep them safe. It was a look I more than likely reflected in my own eyes.
The alpha female looked over and my n, her gaze lingering on the ones who were unconscious. “Co. You will stay in our safe house.”
I lowered my head in a grateful bow. “Thank you,” I said with much sincerity. “We are forever in your debt.”
She nodded once but then sent a hard look. “I am unable to offer you much more aid than that, Noah Black. I must look after my own.”
“I understand,” I said evenly because I truly did.
The guards watched us warily but allowed us to enter through the tall Moonthorne gates.
Moonthorne was a sprawling community, probably about the size of Drogomor. The buildings were made of a dark stone material that looked incredibly sturdy. Shops and eating establishnts lined the main plaza. The pack community mbers looked at us in astonishnt and montary fear but visibly relaxed upon seeing their fearless leader.
Luna Kiela had so important business to attend to, so she had us escorted to the safe houses by one of her burly guards, who watched us like a hawk as we walked up to the modest dwellings.
Luna Kiela was kind enough to send a healer over to look over our n.
“It will take so ti for your n to regain their strength,” the elderly healer inford , her bluish-gray eyes grim as she stepped away from one of our warriors.
“How long?” I asked, trying to keep the panic out of my voice. We needed to get to Zara and Briella as soon as possible.
The healer pursed her wrinkled lips. “I would guess a few days,” she said. “I will see about returning tomorrow to administer so healing spells that could speed up the process.”
“I would be forever grateful,” I told the old woman, ducking my head.
It would be days before we could launch an attack. It just wasn’t wise to do so without being at our full numbers.
Caleb and I talked strategy while we waited anxiously for our warriors to heal. Thankfully, many of them woke up after the first day, but they still weren’t up to full capacity. The old healer did return and helped our n through various exercises to aid in the process.
In the anti, all we could do was wait and prepare before launching an attack on Malphas’ palace.
I struggled inwardly over those days, gnawing fears of what tornt Zara could be enduring in Malphas’ cruel grasp.
I shut my eyes at night, calling on the mystical soul bond and praying that Zara sensed I was on my way to rescue her and Briella. I hoped she knew her loyal protector would tear through endless obstacles to bring her and our daughter back ho safely.
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