Episode 17

During training, Freya took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the challenges that lay ahead. Orion's voice echoed in her mind, firm and imposing.

"A wolf needs strength; a wolf needs to know how to control its strength. You are strong, I realized that when you punched Vincent", he exclaimed, looking at her with a serious and penetrating gaze.

"I want you to knock me down!", he challenged, his voice booming like thunder.

Freya hesitated, her heart racing.

"Orion, I... I can't do that... You're the Alpha, it's impossible for me to knock you down", she exclaimed nervously, the insecurity evident in her voice.

"Come on, Freya! Begin!", he exclaimed, challenging.

The young woman raised her guard, determination growing within her. Orion suddenly opened his arms, exposing his claws and fangs, a sight reminiscent of the ferocity of the wild.

She lunged at him, but Orion remained impassive, like an unshakeable rock. In an agile movement, he threw her to the ground with a precise blow.

Freya fell, but quickly got up, determined to try again. With a fierce look, she saw her claws emerge and lunged to attack, scratching Orion's chest. Even with the cut, he didn't move.

Tired, but unwilling to give up, Freya decided to go for a more brutal attack. She jumped on him, entwining her legs around his waist, trying to immobilize him. But the Alpha tossed her away, hurting her. Orion, worried, went to her and lowered himself to see if Freya was okay. But a quick movement from her made the Alpha fall, so that she was on top of him.

"I did it!", she exclaimed, a triumphant smile illuminating her face.

"That's cheating!", replied Orion, with a piercing look. In a quick movement, he flipped her over, placing himself on top of her.

Freya stared at him differently, her heart beating faster. Orion got up and said:

"Well, we're done for today!", he exclaimed, his voice firm.

Freya got up, brushing the snow off her clothes as they walked together towards the castle. Halfway there, Missandre appeared.

"Alpha!", she exclaimed, causing Freya and Orion to turn around.

Alpha looked at Freya and said:

"Go home." The order echoed like an echo, and the young woman, with a serious look, retreated.

Orion approached Missandre, who was watching him with an intrigued expression.

"You two seem to be getting along well!", she exclaimed, curiosity dancing in her eyes.

"Are you jealous?", he asked, stroking Missandre's face with a gentle gesture.

"A little," she replied, sincerity in her voice.

"She is the chosen one of the goddess", he said, with a tone of resolution.

"Is that all? Or are you feeling something more?", Missandre asked, frustration starting to show.

Orion hesitated, his expression serious.

"Freya is different than I imagined. She's not as weak as I thought. Plus, she's close to transforming!", he exclaimed, the admiration evident in his words.

"Does that mean your heart has accepted her as your mate?", Missandre questioned, frustration growing.

"Missandre, I'm fulfilling my obligations as Alpha. She is my mate now", he affirmed, the firmness in his voice leaving no room for doubt.

"No alpha has ever marked their mate with the intensity with which you marked her. I saw the marks on her. That means you desire her more than you say", exclaimed the young woman, nervous and frustrated.

Orion looked at her with a frown, the tension in the air palpable.

"She is my mate now, you will have to accept that! Go home, we'll see each other later!", he exclaimed, the final order sharp.

In an impulsive act, Missandre kissed him intensely. From afar, Freya watched the scene, feeling a sharp pain spread through her chest. She ran, hurrying to the castle.

Orion pushed the woman away, frustration washing over him.

"Don't do that again!"

"Orion, you said we would be together one day. Why are you acting like this now?", she asked, her voice choked with sadness, her eyes shining with the frustration of a love that seemed to be falling apart.

"Go home, I don't want to talk right now!", he exclaimed, turning abruptly and leaving her alone.

As he walked, Orion found himself in an internal conflict. The feelings he once harbored for Missandre seemed to vanish, like dry leaves blown by the wind, now that he felt so deeply connected to Freya. Pain and confusion consumed him.

Missandre watched him, fury burning in her eyes, while disappointment enveloped her like a heavy fog.

Freya, in her room, felt a sharp pain in her chest, as if a weight was crushing her heart. Tears streamed down her face, and she sat on the edge of the bed, trying to process everything that had happened.

With a heavy sigh, she decided she needed some time alone. She locked the door and allowed herself to cry, the tears being a temporary relief for the storm of emotions that was overwhelming her.

Meanwhile, Orion, after resolving some problems in the village, headed to the castle, exhausted and absorbed by the intense events of the day. He hoped that Freya would be in her room, but the silence that hung in the air was disconcerting. Time passed and she didn't appear.

With night already advancing, worry began to creep into his thoughts. Determined, he decided to look for her. Her scent, sweet and familiar, seemed to guide him to the room, but when he got there, he found the door locked.

"Freya, open the door!", he exclaimed, impatience growing inside him.

"I need to rest, I'm not up for it!", she replied, her voice muffled, but still clear enough for him to hear.

"Freya, let's not start this again. You know I'll come in there, and you know what happens next!", he threatened, the determination in his words like a thunderclap about to burst.

"Orion, by the gods, I beg you, give me a break!", she pleaded, the vulnerability evident in her voice.

Frustration washed over him, and in an impulse, Orion punched the door hard, making the walls tremble. He stepped back, his fists clenched, feeling anger and disappointment mix in his heart as he retreated from the room.

Sitting on her bed, Freya reflected on what she was feeling. Why did the image of Orion with Missandre bother her so much? What did this connection mean? She found herself lost in a sea of insecurities, questioning her own identity and what she really wanted.

Feeling rejected by Freya and consumed by the silvery light of the full moon, Orion decided to go to Missandre's house, leaving his mate alone in the imposing castle. Meanwhile, in her room, Freya began to experience an intense connection with Orion. She could smell him, as if he were right beside her, and, to her surprise, she began to notice his heartbeat, as if they shared the same pulse.

Freya, drawn by the moon's intense glow, looked up at the night sky. As her eyes fixed on the full moon, a deep, intense blue began to take over her gaze, and, in a moment of astonishment, her fangs began to emerge, revealing a transformation that was just beginning. Although not a complete change, the wolf within her was manifesting, pulsating with life and strength.

Unable to contain her pain, Freya let out a howl, a deep sound that echoed through the night, carrying with it the loneliness, pain, and despair that consumed her. This howl, in its essence, was a cry for liberation, an exhalation of the suffering that oppressed her.

A few miles away, Orion was lying next to Missandre when he was abruptly awakened by the distant echo of Freya's howl. His eyes, now red as fire, widened as he heard that sound: it was her. Immediately, he stood up, leaving Missandre behind, and headed toward the castle, his heart pounding.

As he approached the castle, he spotted Freya in the window, her expression etched with sadness. A weight of guilt settled in his chest as he realized how much he had hurt his mate, betraying her with his presence elsewhere. Freya, noticing Orion, turned away, no longer wanting to see him, and the wound he himself had inflicted on her deepened.

Orion, consumed with anguish, returned to his human form and walked away, disgusted with himself for his choices. The night passed, and when the next day arrived, Freya awoke with renewed vigor. She felt stronger, more vibrant, as if a new light were illuminating her soul. Entering the dining room, she sat down at the table with a gleam of determination.

"Liana, good morning!", exclaimed Freya, the cheerfulness in her voice contrasting with the melancholy of the night before.

"Are you all right, Freya?", asked Liana, concern evident in her gaze.

"I've never been better!", replied the young woman, a radiant smile illuminating her face. "I'm transforming, Liana! I can feel the strength growing inside me!"

Liana smiled, happy to see her sister-in-law so strong. However, the mood in the room changed when Orion entered, sitting next to Freya, who immediately closed her expression, her face becoming a mask of displeasure.

"Liana, I need to talk to Freya!", exclaimed Orion, causing his sister to retreat, sensing the tension in the air.

"I heard your call!", he insisted, looking directly at Freya.

"I didn't call you! I howled to the goddess!", Freya replied, the seriousness in her voice echoing like a challenge.

"Your transformation is starting to accelerate", said the Alpha, trying to find a point of connection. "The training is doing you good."

Freya glared at him with frustration and nervousness, her voice filled with indignation:

"You came here to talk about this?"

Orion took a deep breath, his expression confused.

"That was the last time!", he exclaimed, the determination in his words contrasting with the vulnerability he felt.

Freya's eyes lit up briefly, but soon turned into a smile of disappointment and frustration. She got up, deciding to leave the conversation.

Freya headed to the garden, seeking a moment of peace as she contemplated the black rose that had not yet bloomed, symbolizing her own hopes and fears. Orion, on the other hand, was in the midst of an intense internal conflict. He stood up abruptly and decided to go after Freya.

Orion pulled the young woman's arm towards him, his firm and protective hand resting on the nape of her neck. In a surge of passion and desperation, he sealed his lips to hers in an intense kiss, as if trying to convey all the pain and desire he felt. Freya, taken by surprise, struggled to break free, but Orion's strength held her captive, as if he were determined not to let her escape again.

In a moment of contained fury, Freya managed to break free and, with a swift movement, slapped Orion across the face, the pain of betrayal reflected in her gaze. However, his reaction was immediate; he grabbed her again, his dominant presence enveloping Freya, and kissed her again with an intensity that left her breathless, his hands grasping her possessively.

The scene did not go unnoticed. From afar, Missandre watched, her heart clenching as fury enveloped her like a storm. At that moment, she realized that she had lost Orion forever, which consumed her in a mixture of jealousy and despair.

"Don't touch me!", Freya exclaimed, breathless and nervous, her voice trembling with indignation as she tried to pull away from him.

Orion, seized by a wave of emotions, growled fiercely, a primal sound that made Freya recoil in fear. His gaze, filled with conflict, mixed desire and anger, but also a deep vulnerability.

Unsure how to handle the intensity of the moment, Freya turned and ran to her room, her heart racing and her mind in turmoil. Orion, still filled with conflicting emotions, started to follow her when he was suddenly surprised by the arrival of his wolves: Lucky, Vincent, and Dareos. They advanced towards him, their eyes alert, as if they sensed the tension in the air.

The Alpha hesitated, realizing that the situation with Freya needed to be left for later. The presence of his friends made him focus on what really mattered at that moment.

In the Pack Hall, the wolves conversed in hushed murmurs, the tension in the air palpable. Lucky, with a glint of worry in his eyes, exclaimed:

"Alpha, Thorne is the leader of the Southern Pack. He's bloodthirsty! They say he hangs the heads of his enemies on stakes, surrounding his territory like trophies."

Orion, unyielding, responded with a determination that resonated in his voice:

"Send an eagle with a message to them. If they don't retreat from our territory, South and North will go to war."

"Very well, Alpha!", replied Lucky, the reverence in his voice clear.

With a slight smile, Orion concluded:

"Today is the last day of the full moon. Enjoy yourselves and have some fun!"

As he retreated, his words echoed through the hall, bringing an air of anticipation and adrenaline.

In the room, Freya was immersed in her own turmoil when Liana rushed in, beaming.

"He arrives tomorrow!", Liana exclaimed, her eyes shining with joy.

"That's great, my friend! I'm so happy for you!", Freya replied, infected by her friend's excitement.

"Can you help me choose an outfit?", Liana asked, already dreaming of the encounter.

"Of course! Let's go!", Freya said, ready to help.

The two went out towards the village, in search of the perfect dress. After a few tries, Liana finally found a fabric that enchanted her.