(Juriel)
The moon hung high in the sky, a luminous circle washing over the world in a silver glow. I stood at the base of the iron staircase leading from my underground realm to the outside world. The night offered a lush backdrop to the clandestine expectations of the evening. Beside me, Malik, my mate, loomed tall and imposing, yet his presence was a comfort. Together, we epitomized power, our relationship emblematic of unity amidst the chaos that hung thick in the air like smoke.
“Are you ready?” he asked, his voice a low rumble laced with both excitement and trepidation.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I replied, brushing a strand of midnight black hair away from my face. With Malik by my side, I felt imbued with the strength to face the werewolf king Axton and his mate Lyra, despite the
