The moon hung high in the night sky, casting a silver glow over the dense forest. A soft breeze whispered through the trees, carrying the scent of pine and earth. It was the perfect night for a hunt.

But tonight, the hunt was not what Xavier, Alpha of the Nightshade Pack, sought.

Xavier stood at the edge of the clearing, his sharp gaze fixed on the distant horizon. The pack members were scattered around the camp, preparing for the full moon that would rise within hours. His wolf stirred restlessly beneath his skin, the pull of the moon’s power always a reminder of his duties. Yet, his thoughts were far from the pack.

For weeks, his dreams had been haunted by a pair of hauntingly familiar eyes—eyes that didn’t belong to a wolf. They belonged to a human.

Raine.

The human woman had wandered too far into the territory of the Nightshade pack. She was a stranger—unimportant. But there was something in her gaze, something that sent a jolt through Xavier’s chest. He’d felt it the moment their eyes locked.

A bond. A connection. A pull stronger than the one to his pack.

Xavier had fought it, but deep down, he knew the truth.

The ancient laws of the werewolves were clear: humans and werewolves do not mix. Such bonds were cursed, bringing destruction and war. Xavier knew better than anyone the cost of breaking the rules.

And yet, as the moon rose higher, casting its light upon the world below, Xavier could no longer ignore the way his heart raced every time he thought of Raine. It was a dangerous path to walk, but he had already taken the first step.

Here's Chapter 33 – The Mask Beneath, where the truth behind "Ezekiel" is revealed:


Raine stared at the figure before her, every instinct screaming. This wasn't Ezekiel. It never had been.


The thing wearing Ezekiel's face grinned, its features distorting—melting—until only a hollow, pale mask remained. Crimson eyes glowed from deep within the sockets, and its voice echoed with a layered tone—half Ezekiel, half something ancient and cold.


"A shadow," it said. "A memory your ancestors tried to bury."


Xavier didn't hesitate. He lunged, claws slashing—but the figure moved like mist. It vanished and reappeared behind them, laughing as it circled.


"You think the Council is your enemy? They're pawns. Just like you."


"What did you do to the real Ezekiel?" Raine asked, fury building in her chest.


"Still alive... for now. But he saw too much. He found the gate."


The scroll. The prophecy. Her mark, Everything added up.


Raine's voice was strained. "The one between realms. My mother said it would awaken with my bloodline."


The masked being tilted its head. "And it has. You, Raine, are the final key. Your lineage is older than you've been told. Older than the Council. You carry the blood of the First Wolf."


But Raine already knew. She could feel it—something deep within her had begun to shift, a stirring older than the moon itself.


"Because the veil between worlds is thinning," the creature said, stepping closer. "And once it breaks, neither your kind nor theirs will survive unless you choose a side."


Then, it vanished—leaving behind only a trail of black ash and a single word burned into the ground:


Raine stood in silence, the forest around her holding its breath.


Xavier reached for her hand. "What does this mean?"


Her voice was barely audible. "It means this war is bigger than we thought. And I'm not just fighting for the pack anymore... I'm fighting for everything."


Chapter 33 - Chapter 33