Problems at the border II

Thornak rode ahead of his men, the weight of his thoughts heavy. His horse's hooves echoed on the hard earth. The wind blew hard against his cloak, making the fur-lined edges flap like war flags. His senses were sharp, alert to every small change in the air. But what held his focus most was the feeling in his chest, the pull toward Lara, that kept him grounded.

He could still feel her warmth. His wolf stirred restlessly within him, a reminder of the bond that was both exhilarating and unsettling.

It didn't make sense. The Moon Goddess had chosen her for him, a wolfless werewolf. And he, a Lycan. Their worlds, their roles, were supposed to be as far apart as the moon and the earth. Yet when he had seen her in that forest, dying, when he had felt the surge of their connection flood through him like a torrent, everything had shifted. His kingdom, his purpose, they all seemed meaningless when faced with the undeniable truth.

She was his woman.

The weight of it was staggering. His mind wanted to focus on the mission and to find out who had attacked Lara, why, and how to prevent any further threats to the kingdom. But his heart was torn between his duty and the undeniable pull to be by her side.

"We'll be at Frostmere's border very soon Thorn," Ruvan called out from behind him, pulling Thornak from his thoughts.

Thornak nodded but didn't turn to face his Gamma. His gaze remained fixed ahead, the horizon barely visible through the thick trees. His wolf was alert, pacing restlessly within him, eager to return to the palace, to Lara.

"I've sent scouts ahead to confirm the situation," Ruvan continued. "But there's something about this that doesn't feel right. Whatever we're facing, it's more than just rogue wolves."

"I know," Thornak muttered, his jaw clenching as he pushed his horse forward, urging it to move faster.

But Thornak's mind was already far from the threat at hand. He could feel the pulse of the bond between him and Lara, distant yet undeniable, like an anchor in his chest. He knew he needed to focus, to be the king his people expected, but the call of the bond made it hard to think of anything else.

Thornak's horse kicked up sand as he approached the small clearing where his scouts were waiting. The group had fanned out across the perimeter, their eyes sharp and their bodies taut with the anticipation of battle. The scent of the forest still clung to the air, but it was the sense of something wrong, something out of place, that made the hairs on the back of his neck prickle.

He reined in his horse, his gaze sweeping across the group as they approached. His scouts, hardened by years of service, stood straight and alert. They were used to operating under pressure, but this felt different. There was tension in the air.

Karv returned a short while later with a pale face. "There's something we found, my King," he said, his voice tight. "There's an old ruin not far from here. We believe it's where they were hiding."

Thornak's brows furrowed. "Describe it."

"It's an old ruin deep in the western ridge, hidden by thick bushes and twisted trees. Inside there's a bloodstain near an altar. It looked new, not more than a day old."

Dain cursed low. "Ritual site."

The words struck Thornak like a physical blow. Dark magic. The kind that could only be conjured by those who understood the ancient, forbidden ways of power. His stomach twisted, a cold knot forming deep inside him.

"Lead the way," Thornak ordered, his voice clipped. "And make sure the perimeter is secure. We move now."

Ruvan, Dain, and Karv fell into position around Thornak as they began their journey toward the ruin.

As they neared the location, Thornak's mind raced. This was no random attack. It was a calculated strike, aimed at testing the strength of his kingdom. But why? And who had the power, or the audacity, to use such dark magic so close to Vargorath?

This place reeks of death, Jax snarled.

Thornak nodded slightly to himself. He felt it too.

As the first signs of the ruin came into view.

"Stay alert," Thornak growled, his eyes fixed on the ancient stones rising from the ground.

The forest thinned as they approached the ruin. What had once been stone walls were now broken down, half-buried under weeds and creeping ivy. The trees here were different, twisted, gnarled, their bark blackened.

As soon as Thornak got near a gust of wind swept through the ruins. It wasn't just cold, it was chilling. It carried a scent he couldn't place, a mixture of ash, blood, and something foul that kept his wolf on edge.

Ruvan and Dain followed closely, their eyes scanning the area.

Someone is here, Jax growled

Then he felt it.

It wasn't just a feeling, there was someone just beyond the trees.

"Don't move," thornak growled.

The others froze, ready to shift if necessary.

A shadow moved in the trees, quick like a blink. It wasn't a rogue wolf. It was taller, thinner, and looked smarter.

"Karv, signal the others. Ruvan, with me. Dain, flank left."

Thorn's voice was quiet and controlled but inside, his wolf roared, pacing under his skin. There was no fear in him, only focus.

He took a step forward, and just then, someone came out of the trees. They wore gray clothes, and their face was hidden under a hood.

"I wondered when the mighty King of Vargorath would show himself," the figure said, voice echoing through the wind.

Thornak's eyes locked on the stranger. "And who are you to desecrate my borders with this filth?"

The figure chuckled. "I am no one. Merely the hand of a greater force. One that remembers what you Lycans have forgotten."

The wind howled through the trees.

Thornak took a single step forward. "Then let your master hear this, Vargorath doesn't bow. Not to shadows. Not to blood magic. And not to ghosts either."

The figure tilted its head. "We shall see."

And then, it was gone. Just vanished.

Dain emerged a second later from the trees, snarling in his lycan form. "I couldn't get to him. He moved too fast."

Ruvan stepped beside him. "What do we do?"

Thorn's eyes burned gold as he looked toward the north. "We find out what in the goddess's name is going on here."