Chapter 1
The night was thick with whispers — storms brewing beyond the dark clouds.
Inside a vast chamber lit by sapphire flames, Diego, the heir of the hybird King and queen , tossed in his sleep.
A vision gripped him.
He stood in a battlefield of shadows — torn banners, black mist curling around his feet.
Creatures with dark wings and crimson eyes lunged toward him. He moved like lightning, claws ripping through them. The ground trembled with each strike.
But then — everything stilled.
From the smoke stepped a woman — tall, with raven hair flowing like ink, eyes cold as frozen lakes. Her fangs gleamed, dripping blood.
When she spoke, her voice echoed like a curse,
“You cannot fight destiny, my king of chaos.”
Her words sank deep into him — then pain. A flash of blood. A scream not her’s not his .
Diego jolted awake. His chest heaving. Sweat clinging to his skin.
The sapphire flame beside his bed flickered wildly as if sensing his power.
He rubbed his temples, eyes still glowing faintly, he rubbed the mark of his triple bloodline and Castleronia realm’s .
“Who was she…” he whispered.
The name hovered on the edge of his mind — forgotten yet familiar.
Outside, a howl echoed through the forest — a wolf .
Diego’s breath steadied, though his heart still raced from the echo of that haunting dream.
He pushed off the silken sheets and strode toward the tall arched window. Moonlight bled through the glass, silver and cold.
Outside, beneath the pale glow, he saw Reika, his cousin — her aura blazing gold. A faint shimmer surrounded her, the mark of her Protector Spell. Sparks danced around her feet, dust rising in thin swirls. She was shielding herself from something unseen.
Diego’s eyes narrowed.
“Reika?” he muttered.
Without hesitation, he let the change take over. His bones shifted, his form stretching — fur black as obsidian burst from his skin. The air around him trembled with the crack of magic and might.
“Blaze,” he called through their bond, his wolf spirit answering with a growl that rumbled deep in his chest.
In one powerful leap, he crashed through the window, glass scattering like diamonds in the air.
He landed soundlessly on the courtyard stones, muscles tense and senses flaring.
At the castle gate, Reika’s wolf, Shira, stood braced against an invisible force — her silver coat glowing under the moon.
“What happened?” Diego mind-linked with her, his voice edged with command.
Shira’s eyes flicked toward the dark forest beyond the gate.
“They’re back,” she growled. “The shadow-born — they’ve crossed the barrier.”
Diego’s hackles rose.
The same shadows from his dream.
How many?” Diego’s growl rippled through the link.
Shira’s fur bristled as her silver eyes scanned the treeline.
“Maybe three… but there are ravens too — not from our world.”
Her voice trembled slightly through the mindlink. “They’re huge, wings blacker than night. Their eyes burn red.”
Blaze snarled deep within Diego.
“Shadow messengers,” he muttered. “They shouldn’t be able to cross the wards.”
The air grew colder.
Above them, the ravens circled, their cries echoing like whispers of the dead. Shadows stretched along the ground, reaching toward the castle walls.
“Damn,” Shira hissed. “They’re moving back…”
Diego’s gaze sharpened, following their retreating forms.
“Seems they sensed me,” Blaze replied through a rumble, his voice laced with power.
The ground pulsed faintly beneath Diego’s paws — a warning.
The wards hadn’t broken completely… but something was testing them.
Diego shifted back into human form, silver hair falling over his glowing eyes.
He looked toward Reika, who was still panting from holding her spell.
Reika lowered her shield, the golden aura fading into sparks that vanished with the wind. The night returned to its uneasy silence — only the faint rustle of the trees and the distant flap of dark wings remained.
Diego’s eyes stayed on the horizon where the shadows had disappeared. His wolf still growled beneath his skin, restless.
“I don’t know what they wanted to deliver,” he said at last, his voice low and steady, “but sooner or later… we’ll find out.”
He turned toward Reika, his tone shifting to command.
“Now head inside. We need to report this to the King.”
Reika nodded, shifting back into her human form — her long brown braid glinting silver in the moonlight.
The soft glow of candlelight flickered across shelves lined with ancient scrolls and spellbound tomes.
King Zane stood near the tall arched window, his dark hair falling slightly over his golden eyes as he stared into the night. The moonlight caught the faint mark of the wolf etched on his wrist — a silent reminder of the blood he carried.
Without turning, his voice filled the room, calm but edged with authority.
“So… they wanted to deliver something?”
Diego stood a few steps behind him, Reika by his side, both still in partial battle form.
“Perhaps,” Diego replied. “I don’t think they meant harm — but when they saw the Protector’s seal on the gate…” he motioned toward Reika, “they turned back.”
Reika lowered her gaze respectfully.
“Uncle, I only did what my instinct told me,” she said softly.
Zane turned at last, his expression softening. He placed a firm, fatherly hand on her shoulder.
“You did well, Reika. But next time—” his tone gentled, “—don’t face anything unknown alone, sweetheart.”
A faint smile curved his lips before a new presence entered the chamber.
The scent of lavender and frost filled the air as Queen Sable stepped in, her silver hair loose, cascading like moonlight over her shoulders. Her blue eyes flicked between them, concern shadowing her delicate features.
“Are you all right, Diego?” she asked, her voice warm but urgent. “My lycan sense caught a disturbance… something dark, near the forest. I came as soon as I felt it.”
Diego bowed slightly, offering a reassuring smile.
“Everything’s fine, Queen Sable. Just an unexpected visit from the shadows.”
Zane walked closer to his queen, wrapping an arm around her waist with quiet authority.
“It’s quite late,” he said softly. “There’s no need to worry — not tonight. We should all rest while peace still favors us.”
The candle beside the King flickered once more — then suddenly, the flame turned blue, casting ghostly light across the room.
Zane’s lips curved into a knowing smirk.
“Ah… it seems we’ll soon be having guests,” he said calmly.
Sable frowned, her brows knitting in confusion.
“Guests? At this hour?”
Before Zane could reply, Diego chuckled softly.
“Grandma, probably,” he teased.
Zane shot him a playful wink.
“Family time, indeed. They’re coming… and not alone.”
He turned toward the window again, golden eyes gleaming.
“Your aunt and her family are on their way.”
Reika’s smile faltered instantly, her expression twisting into dread.
“No. Please — not him again.”
Sable couldn’t help but laugh gently, shaking her head as her silver hair shimmered in the blue light.
“Oh, Reika,” she said warmly, “you should welcome them. They’re family, after all.”
Reika crossed her arms, muttering under her breath,
“Family or not, that cousin of mine brings chaos wherever he steps.”
Zane chuckled, the weight of the earlier tension easing.
