She tore away from the man beside her and ran across the clearing, her hair flowing out behind her. The tears shone brightly in her eyes, a large smile on her face, her arms outstretched.

Her companion - the woman called him Kalos - collapsed on his knees seeing his approaching mother. He looked up at her with rimmed eyes, his black hair pushed back messily. She reached him and grasped his face gently as if she was scared he would disappear if she blinked. He gazed up at her with a mixture of hope and dread.

"Kalos", she whispered as if in a trance. "You came".

He bowed his head in shame.

"I am sorry, mother", he whispered. "I strayed".

"But, you have returned", she sobbed. "My son".

She dropped down to his level and wrapped her arms around him tightly, weeping, drenching his shoulder in her tears. The man she stood with before hesitantly stepped forward and stood in front of them like he didn't know what to do with himself.

"Vio", she cried. "I told you our son would return to his people".

He dropped down beside them and wordlessly comforted his mate and son. He looked at Kalos - his son - as if he had come back from the dead. And in a way, maybe he had. Kalos had revived himself and was a far cry from the man he was last week. Judging by the way that Dark Magic clung onto people like a leech, Lykiana assumed that no one was able to break free of its hold until now.

Lykiana watched this thoughtfully, fully aware of the gazes upon her. She did have a ten-year memory gap but before she slept, she had remembered that Vio was the Beta of the pack.

"Is she really our Spirit?" A young pup whispered to his mother as he tugged on her robes. Lykiana gazed at the child and he flinched under the intensity of her gaze. The mother bowed her head respectfully and discreetly nudged her child back.

It saddened her how those born within the last decade did not know who she was. She would have to remedy that.

Lykiana strode forward to the centre of the crowd, everyone's attention on her.

"My subjects", she said, projecting her voice. "As you all are aware, the Spirit realm has been sealed by Dark Magic. That same magic kept me in slumber for a decade on this Earthly realm. I have seen the state of the other half of my kingdom and what it has been reduced to. For your unwavering loyalty, you shall be rewarded". A deathly silence settled over the people, as their fears were confirmed and they were reminded of the potential dangers that may come. "Come, Luna, we must converse", she said, scanning through the crowd of people.

The Luna bowed respectfully and ordered the people back to their duties. Lykiana was ushered into the settlement towards the largest residence which was situated in the middle of the pack.

A few women sobbed in rejoice as she passed, feeling a spark of hope, wishing that they too could be reunited with kin that deviated. Men bowed their heads, lowering their gaze in respect and children sang and danced, the gloomy cloud overshadowing their dark future lifted.

The house inside was beautiful but with a touch of melancholy. It was made carefully and with love, taking advantage of the natural lighting which lit up every corner of the room. Sat proudly on the mantle of the fireplace, without a speck of dust was the jewelled crown of the previous Alpha, Lampros.

"It was a challenge to the death?" Lykiana asked, feeling the lack of the ex-Alpha's presence.

"Yes, Spirit Mother", the Luna said sadly. "Skia issued the challenge shortly after Lykos escaped. Some backed him in his challenge, fearing that Lykos's curse would taint the entire pack and because they knew that I had a hand in his freedom. When I ran, I took the crown with me as Skia did not deserve to wear such an honour on his head".

"Was it an honourable death?"

The Luna seemed to gaze at the sky, drawing power from her ancestors.

"Yes".

"Then he shall be honoured and written in the fables of history. Fret not, no sacrifice in my name will ever be in vain".

"Thank you, Spirit Mother", The Luna breathed out in appreciation. Tears blossomed in her eyes as she felt a chance to breathe after all these years of hardship. "That is the greatest gift one can receive, thank you"

"I shall tell you why I am here, to give your aching heart respite", Lykiana said thoughtfully. "I was given a task by the Moon Mother, to undo what has been done to your son, the heir, Lykos".

For the first time since the death of her husband and the banishment of her son, the Luna smiled a sincere smile. She felt a burden - one as heavy as the mountains - lift of her shoulders. Her son would be forgiven. She feared that Lykiana would never forgive her son for killing her soul companion. She feared her son would live forever, sightless and in isolation, unable to claim his legacy.

"Why?" she asked, her voice cracking. "Why have you chosen to bestow such mercy?"

"There is a very high chance that he was under the influence of Dark Magic. There would be no other plausible explanation for his actions. The Moon Mother also has suspected as much".

"That is a relief", she said, smiling. "Will his curse be undone? His sight returned?"

"Indeed, it will be", Lykiana said. "First, I must find him, but it will be difficult as his ties to the pack have been severed".

"The most assistance I can offer is that he might have gone South to the river of Moira. I used to tell him tales of the secret paradise hidden behind its willows but none have been able to find it. He's always wanted to see it but he couldn't as he was restrained by his position as the Alpha's heir".

Lykiana gazed at the Luna. Despite her strong appearance, she could see the wariness pressing down on her bones. The ageless features had faint stress lines etched on from having to lead the rest of the pack alone. Her heart was heavy from losing her mate, her partner, yet she strived to make a safe place for her people.

"Rest easy, Luna", Lykiana said. "I can sense the turmoil you have been through and the responsibility that you carry. I shall reverse the curse that has been placed on your son and return him to your side. Once you have him by your side, you can regain the rest of the pack that Skia has control over".

"Thank you, Spirit Mother", she whispered. She felt an overwhelming emotion overtake her but she refused to cry. Since the day of her mate's death, she swore to shed no tears unless it was to welcome her son home.

They momentarily stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Why did you choose to split after Skia became the Alpha?" Lykiana asked, curiously. "It would have been much easier to fall into the trap of temptation".

"I could sense that something was not right. My mate was strong. Stronger than his brother by far. But that day, he was defeated too easily. Then I started to notice that tensions started to arise. People began to fight and argue. The elders and I got together and we decided that indeed something was afoot. I spoke to others in the pack and they agreed. Under the cover of the night, with those who wanted to come, we fled. None of us is strong enough to challenge Skia so breaking off was our only safe way out".

"Your actions are justified, Luna. Because of you, people still remember who I am. Skia, inexplicably, is trying to rid any traces of me. I have a strong feeling that this is all related to why the Spirit realm has been closed off. Finding Lykos will bring me one step closer to returning home and putting an end to all this madness".

Lykiana left the Luna dwelling on her thoughts and strode outside. Several children peeked at her curiously, trying to catch a glimpse of her powers. She gently walked towards them and her robes floated down as she sat on a small tree stump and beckoned them forward. Hesitantly the child from earlier did, encouraging others to do so as well. They formed a half-moon around her, looking up with a mixture of wonder and excitement.

"Children, do you know who I am?"

"My mother told me you are our Spirit Mother. Is this true?" The child asked eagerly.

"Yes, little pup", she said warmly. "I am the mother of all Wolves".

"You're- You're really beautiful", a little girl stuttered shyly. "Mother used to sing me to sleep with this song about how beautiful you are".

"Did she?" Lykiana asked, smiling. "Well, I think you are beautiful as well".

The girl blushed and hid under her hair, smiling shyly.

"Can you tell us the Third Prophecy of the Spirits? I love it when my mother sings that to me!"

"Oh, I certainly can. I can also show you using my starlight". The children whispered loudly in excitement and she hushed them kindly.

She waved her hand out, a stream of light appearing and dancing in the air. Twisting and turning her fingers, she shaped the light into a form of a wolf, proud and elegant. The pups looked, eyes wide with joy, awestruck.

Lykiana gazed at them affectionately and began to sing, her soft lilted voice gliding through the air. The light danced through the air, in rhythm to her tune, painting an ethereal picture of the scenes she set.

"When the Moon Mother created all,

She shaped and made, in the Spirit's hall.

Created beings never seen before,

Gave them life, some walked, some soared.

To guide her people, she assigned a role,

A Spirit for each to care, to bestow.

For each was companion, a part of their soul,

To accompany their Spirit, to partner, to console.

And when the night's deep shroud befalls,

And when the creeping darkness no longer stalls.

The founding stars in the sky will warn,

They'll remind the people of the ancient lore.

The darkness so dark, it creates a void,

Any light in its path, eventually destroyed.

But when the hope is at its low,

The fated one will remove the dark roots from below.

The Spirits and their companions be with us all".

The children watched, enraptured, mesmerised by her voice and the shimmering wisps of light.

Kalos watched her from afar, leaning against a tree. Lykiana was achingly beautiful, there was no other way to describe it. He couldn't tear his eyes off her and neither could anyone else. He watched as she sang, the hair rising on his arms from the resonance of her melody as her fingers depicted the scenes from the song with the light.

She finished and looked up at him, gesturing to him to come closer.

"You plan to leave, right?" He asked before she could. "Permit me to come with you".

"Kalos", she said gently. Hearing his name from her lips for the first time sent a desperate rush of headiness throughout his entire body. "This journey, I must travel alone. You have a duty here, to train to become the Beta of the reunited pack".

Kalos wanted to protest, beg to accompany her further, but the firm look in her eyes shut him down.

"Yes, Spirit Mother", Kalos said, bowing his head. "When will you leave?"

"Now", she said as she stood. The children mumbled in annoyance at her sudden departure.

"Do not worry, little ones", She said softly. "I shall return with your true Alpha and we will meet again".

"Before you go", Kalos said, quickly. "Take provisions with you".

"I cannot. A Spirit travels solely with themself and their companion. Nothing more". With that finality, she strode off. Kalos wanted to remind her that she didn't have a soul companion anymore so someone should be there. But he remained quiet in fear of crossing the line.

The pack watched as she wished farewell to their Luna and left their settlement as quickly as she had come. A strange quiet settled over them as they mourned the sudden departure of their Spirit. Her figure grew more and more distant, a silvery speck in the horizon until she vanished into the night and amongst the radiant stars.

So, any thoughts?

I need to do a mass update for this soon as I did for Captivated. (I can't give unfair treatment to one book).

I'm enjoying writing this now. Instead of rushing to update just before I'm supposed to, I've been writing a little everyday!

Question:

How did you find my book?

That's all from me, see you next week :)

Xx