Chapter 5 - The mission begins
1043 Words
Kiara pov.
The road to the North felt endless. The trees here were taller, sharper — like claws scraping at the sky. The wind howled through them, carrying strange sounds that didn’t belong to animals or humans.
I pulled my cloak tighter and kept riding. The horse’s hooves crunched through the snow, steady but slow. The mark on my wrist — the Shadowmaster’s curse — throbbed faintly under my glove, like a second heartbeat.
Each time it pulsed, I thought of Sara.
Her pale face. Her trembling hands. The way her lips tried to smile even as the light faded from her eyes.
That memory was the only thing keeping me moving.
I whispered to the night, “Hold on, little sister. Just a bit longer.”
The cold bit deep into my bones, but I didn’t stop. Three days passed before I reached the border of Caeser ’s territory — the edge of the Northern lands. The snow was thicker here, the air colder, heavier, like it was watching me.
Then, without warning, the wind died.
The world went still.
And above me, the moon began to change.
It burned red. Deep, blood-red.
I froze. The world around me glowed faintly crimson, shadows stretching long and sharp across the snow.
It wasn’t normal. I knew the legends — when the Blood Moon rose over the northern mountains, it meant fate had chosen a path that could not be undone.
And now it burned for me.
A shiver ran down my spine, but I kicked the horse forward anyway. “Too late to turn back,” I muttered.
By the time I reached the fortress gates, my fingers were numb from cold. Two massive iron doors stood before me, guarded by armed men — not human guards, but wolves in partial shift, their eyes glowing gold even in the dark.
One of them stepped forward. He was tall, his shoulders broad beneath his fur cloak. “State your business.”
“I’m a mercenary,” I said, forcing my voice to sound steady. “Looking for work.”
He eyed me carefully. “These are not lands for the faint-hearted. Who sent you?”
“No one,” I said. “But I hear your Alpha pays well for warriors.”
The guard’s gaze flicked to the hilt of my blade, then to the way I stood — still, balanced, ready to strike.
He gave a small nod. “Wait here.”
He disappeared behind the gate, leaving me in the cold silence. The other guard didn’t speak. He just stared at me like he could smell the lie beneath my skin.
Minutes passed. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.
Then the gate creaked open.
“Follow me,” the first guard said.
I entered the fortress.
The air inside was warmer but thick with tension. Wolves — men and women — moved through the great hall, their eyes following me. Some looked curious. Others, hostile. The sound of boots and low growls filled the space.
I tried not to show how my pulse jumped at every glance.
I was trained to blend in. To be invisible. But here, among wolves, I felt exposed — as if every heartbeat screamed that I didn’t belong.
The guard led me through stone corridors lit by torches until we reached a wide chamber. At the end of the hall sat beta Darius.
The stories hadn’t lied.
He wasn’t just strong — he was handsome .
Truly, bloodfang pack is made of good looking men.
If the beta looks good like this how then is the alpha.
I smirked.
He sat on a small throne, one leg relaxed over the other, his posture calm but intimidating.
He was commanding warriors.
But it was his eyes that stood out — dark , sharp, like fire reflecting on a blade. They met mine for a second.
He spoke first. “Who dares walk into our territory uninvited?”
His voice was low, quiet even, but it carried like thunder.
“I’m Kiara,” I said, forcing the words out. “A mercenary. I heard you need fighters.”
“Need?” His lip curved slightly. “An bloodfang never needs. But we do enjoy testing the brave.”
He stood, and the room fell silent. Every movement he made carried weight. Strength. Control.
“Where are you from?” he asked.
“Nowhere,” I said. “And everywhere.”
A faint smirk touched his lips. “A liar, then.”
“I tell the truth when it matters.”
“You hide your hands,” he said suddenly.
My stomach clenched. The gloves.
“It’s cold,” I replied quickly.
“Hmm.” His gaze lingered a second too long, like he could see right through the leather and into the curse beneath.
Then he turned to his men. “Let’s see if the girl can fight.”
Two warriors stepped forward, both broad and armed with practice blades.
“Survive three minutes,” Darius said, his tone unreadable. “Then we’ll talk.”
One of the men lunged before I could even answer. His blade swung wide; I ducked and spun behind him, driving my elbow into his ribs. He grunted and staggered.
The other came fast — faster than I expected. Our blades clashed. The shock vibrated through my arm. He tried to twist my wrist, but I slipped under his arm and kicked his knee from the side.
He fell , shifting halfway— his claws tearing through his shirt. I backed up, sword raised.
“Enough,” Darius voice cut through the hall.
The man froze mid-shift, panting. Slowly, he pulled himself back into human form.
“You are hired”! He shouted.
The words hit harder than I expected.
“Very well,” he said at last. “You’ll stay. But understand this — in bloodfang pack, loyalty comes before breath. Cross us, and I’ll end you myself.”
And then he walked away.
That night, I lay on a thin bed in of the warriors rooms. My muscles ached, but it wasn’t the pain that kept me awake.
It was the vow. “The blood of Alpha Ceaser Clause “.
- Writer
