Liam’s POV**
The tension in the pack house was thick, palpable, and impossible to ignore. My children, especially Daryl, were furious at Elaine and me for keeping the truth from them all these years.
The prophecy, Daryl’s true lineage-these were secrets we had held for their protection, but the time for secrecy had passed.
I had known this day would come, though. Sooner or later, the truth always finds its way into the light.
For years, we’ve shielded Elaine and Daryl from the rumors that circulated about the Waterfall Pack harboring the lost princess and her son. Vercus Gunther, the evil Lycan king, knew better than to strike here-at least until now.
We’d heard whispers over the years that Vercus had gone into hiding, but I knew better. He was always plotting, always looking for ways to destroy his only grandson before the prophecy could be fulfilled.
My spies had confirmed that the king was rarely seen, a ghost among his people, leaving behind only the scent of death wherever he went.
But now, with the council’s verdict demanding Daryl’s head for the killing of Alpha Razam, the world was closing in on us.
The children had avoided us all day, not even Mara, my usually bubbly daughter, would meet my eyes. I understood their anger, and even their silence was punishment enough.
In my office, I sat with Greg, my Beta, and my wife, Luna Macy. The three of us were deep in discussion about what steps we needed to take next.
Just as we were about to finalize a plan, a knock at the door interrupted our thoughts.
To my surprise, Daryl, Leo, Mara, and Aria entered the room. Their expressions were set in grim determination. This was no longer just a family issue. This was war.
“We need to know how to stop him-Vercus Gunther,” Leo said, his tone sharp and unwavering.
The weight of the situation had sunk in for him, just as it had for Daryl.
“Yes, Father,” Daryl added, stepping forward. “With Razam’s death, the council turning against us, and now this revelation about the king, we need a strategy. How do we stop him?”
I met my son’s eyes, seeing the confusion, anger, and purpose swirling within them.
He was struggling with the burden that had been thrust upon him, but I knew he was ready. He had no choice but to be.
“You’re right to be angry,” I said, my voice low but steady. “But I give you my word, this storm will pass. Daryl, this is your destiny-to stop your grandfather, free the people of the Lycan tribe, and end his reign of terror once and for all.”
Before I could say more, Serai, the witch who had brought this news to us, entered the room.
Her presence alone commanded attention, and she moved with an elegance that belied the gravity of her words.
She turned her gaze toward Daryl, her eyes glowing slightly as if she saw more than the rest of us.
“Prepare yourself, child,” she said in a voice that seemed to echo in the silence. “The storm is coming, and it’s coming fast.”
—
Author’s POV
The news of Vercus Gunther’s impending strike on Daryl weighed heavily on the pack. Everyone was on edge, preparing for what felt like an inevitable battle.
Serai had spoken about getting Daryl ready for the confrontation, and now even Leo and Mara had resolved to stand beside their brother, united in this fight for survival.
Serai began training Daryl, pushing him harder than ever before. The witch had a way of coaxing out his raw power, teaching him to harness the dormant Lycan strength buried deep within him.
Leo trained alongside his brother, their bond growing stronger as they prepared to face Daryl’s evil grandfather together.
Mara, though less experienced in combat, insisted on being part of the battle, driven by her love for her brothers and pack.
Days passed, and the tension only grew. Everyone in the Waterfall Pack was readying for war.
One afternoon, Daryl, Leo, and Aria left the pack territory to handle some routine business-checking on a nearby outpost.
The sun shone warmly through the trees, but an unsettling feeling nagged at Daryl. His instincts, always sharp, were on high alert, but he couldn’t quite place what was wrong.
Suddenly, the car jerked to a halt. Dark figures emerged from the surrounding woods, blocking the road.
There were six of them, faces hidden under hoods, their muscular bodies radiating danger. The attackers moved with precision, their steps coordinated, as if they had rehearsed this.
“Stay in the car,” Daryl ordered Aria, his voice low but commanding.
His eyes flashed with the raw power of his Lycan side as he leapt out of the vehicle, Leo right behind him.
The air crackled with tension. The attackers pounced, but Daryl and Leo met them head-on, shifting mid-movement into their wolves.
Claws slashed, fangs bared, and the fight began in a flurry of growls and snarls.
Daryl tore into the nearest attacker, ripping through the man’s torso with deadly precision. Beside him, Leo’s wolf tackled another, pinning him to the ground with brutal strength.
They fought fiercely, their wolves ferocious, but the attackers were prepared. These weren’t just rogues-they moved with the skill of mercenaries.
Despite Daryl and Leo’s strength, something was off. The attackers weren’t going for the kill. They were trying to restrain them.
Daryl growled in frustration as he slashed at another man, but the attacker dodged, agile and quick. Before Daryl could react, a sharp pain shot through his side.
He roared in pain, turning to see one of the hooded men holding a syringe, the contents now coursing through his veins.
Leo let out a furious snarl as another needle found his neck.
He stumbled, disoriented, his vision blurring. Whatever they were injected with, it was working fast.
“Aria!” Daryl shouted, his voice desperate as his legs began to buckle beneath him. “Run!”
But it was too late. The attackers had surrounded the car. Aria shifted into her wolf, ready to fight, but one of the men produced a collar-enchanted with dark magic.
As soon as they clasped it around her neck, she let out a pained yelp, her body reverting to human form, helpless.
Daryl’s vision swam as he tried to fight off the effects of the drug. His limbs felt heavy, his wolf’s strength fading. Leo collapsed beside him, unable to move.
The attackers worked quickly, binding their hands and gagging them, preventing any chance of escape.
Through his blurred vision, Daryl could see Aria struggling against her captors, her eyes filled with fear and rage, but the collar prevented her from shifting or using her wolf’s strength. They were all trapped.
One of the attackers approached Daryl, crouching down beside him.
The man’s face remained hidden under his hood, but his voice was cold and emotionless. “You’ve made it far too easy.”
Before Daryl could respond, darkness overtook him.
—
*Later that night…*
Daryl awoke in a cold, damp room. His wrists were bound with silver chains, the burning sensation sharp against his skin.
He groaned, his body still weak from whatever they had injected him with. He tried to shift, but the silver prevented any transformation.
He glanced around, panic rising in his chest. Leo was slumped against the wall, unconscious but breathing.
Aria was shackled a few feet away, her head hanging as she struggled to stay awake, the enchanted collar still locked around her neck.
Daryl’s heart raced.
They had been captured, taken to an unknown location, and the worst part? They still didn’t know who had sent these men-or what their captors wanted.
As Daryl fought to clear his mind, one thing was certain: this was just the beginning of the nightmare.