HALF-HUMAN AND HALF-WOLF

~~ ACE'S POV “The journey to the human world takes a lot of courage, Ace. I mean, you can get stuck forever. Your wolf spirit must be too powerful to survive it,” Lily's voice echoed as she followed me toward my chambers. “Someone has to go. And obviously, I’m the only one willing. My throne’s at stake and so is Alpha Ballows’ life.” Our home, BloodyMoon, situated further than the eyes of the mortal world, entangled within the cursed BLOODRUN Forest in Shammah City. Seamoon Pack captured its borders, sealed them with enchanted hills. Breaking the wings of its inhabitants. But it is a bond I live to break. A place where I didn't belong but had to be. It's a place where magic faded. The mortal realm. “Your life is at stake too, Ace,” she said, voice trembling. I paused, turning to look at her. Her eyes were wide with worry, her fingers clenched. But I couldn’t afford hesitation. A wedge rose in my throat, looking at my lover's face; fear. But I bit it down. I have no room for softness; not now. “I’ll come back. I must.” “Just don’t forget who’s waiting on the other side, Ace,” she whispered. I stormed into the wizard's shrine, my brown eyes glinting with mischief and resolve as I marched toward the dark inner chambers. The shrine stood carved into a jagged cliffside near the edge of Bloodruns villa, its stone walls pulsing faintly with ancient runes. Wind howled outside, but inside was a stillness that made my skin tighten. The air was thick with incense, the room dimly lit by red candles that cast flickering shadows up to the high, arched ceiling. Every corner whispered dark magic. The walls dripped with deep crimson, and in the center of the chamber stood the towering figure of Alpha Duca; my father. White candles circled an ivory altar, and behind it stood the Initiation Throne, carved from ancient oak into the shape of a wolf. Its presence was magnetic. I couldn’t help but reach out, my fingers brushing the throne’s carved armrest. “You can’t sit just yet, my Lord,” a voice warned behind me. I turned sharply. The wizard stepped forward, tall and draped in midnight-blue robes, silver runes shimmering across the fabric. His staff, dark wood ending in a glowing silver wolf’s head, pulsed with raw energy. The wolf’s sapphire eyes flickered like a living flame. “You want the throne. But without the staff, it’s not yours.” I clenched my fists, rage simmering beneath my skin. “I know. That’s why I need to find her. They were lucky I was just a boy when they attacked. They wouldn’t survive me now,” I growled under my breath. The wizard laid a hand on my shoulder. “The rituals are ready, my Lord.” We ventured deep into the woods. At the center, a darkened house springs like a wound in the earth. The trees of Bloodrun mangled unnaturally, their bark darkened by spells long forgotten. Fog clung low to the mossy ground, and the scent of wet ash filled the air. Thunder rolled across the sky. The air trembled. “No turning back now,” I muttered. At the door, the wizard inhaled a glowing white powder. His voice rasped with incantation: "Kranok zapt lucrainok vedikoro auutoo balee fciv.” The door creaked open. Inside, suspended in shimmering mist, floated Alpha Ballows. Even unconscious, his presence was commanding; half-man, half-wolf, carved with the scars of betrayal and battle. “Twenty-three years,” I murmured. “I pray to the moon goddess, hoping your daughter is ready.” The wizard turned to me. “let her learn the truth, her origin. And remember the most important thing; the pendant.” I blinked, my heart pounding harder. “Are you ready, my Lord?” “Yes, Zakuula. Let’s begin.” Liquid spilled across my skin. Sparks bit down. Magic surged. “Zakuuu zakuuu zakuuu ka hmm mma…” A full moon surged overhead. Power gripped me. I howled, and in a blink, shifted into my wolf form. Thunder cracked, the sky turned black and a portal opened. Alpha Ballows’ spirit rushed through. I leapt after him. I landed hard on cold concrete. My nose twitched; humans. The air smelled metallic and dirty; nothing like the crisp winds of Shammeh. Neon signs blinked on rooftops, and strange machines roared past on black streets. Glass towers pierced the sky. Before us stood a massive glass building. Lights flickered. The world buzzed, strange and loud. Alpha Ballows stood still, his nose in the air, then suddenly dashed forward. I followed. From the rooftop, She stood by the window, still. My breath caught. Even in this strange world, I knew. This was her. Alpha Ballows gave a single nod of confirmation I crept forward, our eyes locked. She saw me. Her fear hit me like a wave, heart pounding, breath shallow. She ran. “Wait……” The word stucked in my throat. But I didn’t call out. Not yet. I didn’t chase. I tracked her. Silent. Closer. “She will come to understand,” Ballows said beside me. “Her spirit knows us.” I wanted to believe that. But she kept running. Right toward a metal pipe. “No!” I barked, but it was too late. She tripped; crashed hard. I moved on instinct, scooping her up. Her terrified gaze locked with mine. Something ancient agitated inside; like a thread biting taut in my heart. Her terrified gaze locked with mine. For a heartbeat, the world fell silent. Just her breath, my pulse, and the haunting pull between us. “Who are you?” she whispered, voice small and broken. Her fingers shiver against my chest. She wanted to move, to run, but couldn’t. Her lips parted again, as if she had another question; but it never came. Her eyes widened, not just in fear… something else. Recognition? “You feel… familiar…” she breathed, the words barely audible. And then her body went limp. I held her. My heart thundered, not from the hunt. From her. We found her. I carried her, leaping above the buildings, avoiding attention from humans. Alpha Ballows followed behind. A feeling I can't hold on to. Feeling of finding someone dear. Someone connected deeply. We merge deeper into the mortal world, somewhere in rural northern Canada. Hint from the crisp pine air and cold bite of wind. We stand very far from home, but nearer with fate “We need her awake. We need her on our side,” Alpha Ballows hissed. “And if she’s not?” I asked quietly. “If she turns away from all this?” Alpha Ballows’ eyes darkened. “A Lot….. My Pack, Seamoon will lose its last heir……The throne falls to the wrong bloodline. And your throne too, your Pack BloodyMoon will lose its freedom forever and I stay trapped between realms, cursed to fade.” He paused, his voice low. “But worse, she’ll live her life not knowing who she truly is. And the darkness hunting her will find her unprepared.” A ran shivers down my spine “Then we remind her who she is. And who she could become.” “We will wait till she wakes up.” Her fragile body stayed there in my arms. She's beautiful. My wolf growled softly. This was her. The girl. Alpha Ballows’ daughter. The key to the throne.