Chapter 1: Blood and Howls

Chapter 1: Blood and Howls

The air was thick with the stench of iron and sweat, the howl of the wind mixing with the fierce roars of battle. The land between the Kingdom of Wolves and the Night Realm was soaked in blood—both human and beast. The moon, full and glowing, illuminated the battlefield, casting eerie shadows as warriors clashed. At the front of the battle was Princess Selene of the Wolf Kingdom, her golden eyes gleaming under the moonlight. She was a fierce, ruthless warrior, her long, silver hair tied tightly behind her head. Clad in leather armor, her twin blades glinted in the moonlight as she sliced through the enemies that dared stand before her.

Her warriors, the Lupine Guard, moved swiftly at her command, their connection to the wolves within them allowing them to shift at will. Half-human, half-beast, they were a fearsome force, and Selene, with her unmatched skills in battle, was their rightful leader.

Selene slashed through another enemy soldier, her face expressionless, her heart focused only on the battle at hand. She was the Wolf Princess, and her people depended on her. For years, the wolves had been at war with the Night Realm. The Night King and his son, Prince Kael, had sent their shadowy forces to invade the wolves' lands, driving them into this endless conflict.

She had heard tales of the prince—Kael, the ruler of shadows, whose dark magic could shroud the battlefield in impenetrable darkness. The stories spoke of his cold heart, his ruthless tactics. Selene had never met him, but she knew enough. He was her enemy, and that was all that mattered.

At the same time, across the battlefield, Prince Kael watched the battle unfold from the ridge above, his eyes glowing with an unnatural light. Clad in black armor, he was the embodiment of the night itself. His face was chiseled and calm, but his eyes were sharp, calculating. He observed everything—the way the wolves moved in unison, the precision with which they attacked, and the way they retreated only to strike again.

Kael lifted his hand, and from his palm, tendrils of shadow extended, wrapping around the legs of an enemy soldier. With a flick of his wrist, the soldier was dragged into the abyss, lost to the darkness. He was untouchable in his element, using the very night to command the battlefield.

But even as he surveyed the battle, his thoughts lingered on the one enemy who had managed to evade his forces for years—Princess Selene. He had never faced her directly, but he had seen her handiwork on the battlefield. He had heard the legends of the Wolf Princess—of her strength, her speed, her wildness. She was a warrior, through and through, a leader of beasts.

And though he would never admit it, he was curious about her.

A cry from his soldiers drew Kael's attention back to the battle below. The Wolf Kingdom was pushing his forces back, Selene leading the charge. She was moving with brutal efficiency, her twin blades spinning in deadly arcs. Kael clenched his fists, the darkness around him swirling in response.

“Enough,” he muttered to himself. With a surge of power, he extended his arms, sending waves of darkness crashing onto the battlefield. The night itself seemed to respond to his command, shadows spreading like a suffocating blanket. His soldiers rallied behind the wave of darkness, their weapons cutting through the fog with newfound strength.

But Selene was not deterred. She could feel the dark magic creeping toward her, threatening to engulf her and her warriors. She snarled, a low growl rumbling from her chest, and summoned the power of the wolf within her. With a howl, she shifted, her body growing larger, more beast than human. Her fur bristled as she threw herself into the shadows, her claws tearing through the darkness. Her Lupine Guard followed suit, their howls echoing across the battlefield.

Despite the shadows closing in, Selene pushed forward, refusing to be defeated. She would die before she let the Night Realm claim her land.

From the ridge, Kael's eyes narrowed as he saw the wolf-like figure tear through his dark magic. He had expected her to be strong, but this... this was something else. She was a force of nature, her strength fueled by the full moon above.

For a brief moment, their eyes met across the battlefield—Selene, wild and feral, and Kael, calm and composed. It was only a glance, but it was enough. Kael felt something stir deep within him, a curiosity that he couldn’t quite place. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. She was the enemy. And this was war.

As the battle raged on, the two leaders fought with all the power they could muster. But no matter how fierce their hatred, they were evenly matched. The battle ended in a stalemate, both sides retreating under the blood-red sky.

Back in the Wolf Kingdom, Selene paced in her war chamber, her frustration evident. The war seemed never-ending, and her people were growing weary. She wanted to strike directly at the Night Realm, to end this once and for all. But her advisors had other plans.

“Your Highness,” her chief advisor said, stepping forward. “There is another way. The Night King has sent a message. He proposes a... solution.”

Selene's eyes narrowed. “What kind of solution?”

“A marriage,” the advisor said quietly. “Between you and Prince Kael.”

The room fell silent, the words hanging in the air like a death sentence. Selene’s heart pounded in her chest, her fists clenched at her sides.

“Never,” she snarled.

But deep down, she knew this war couldn’t go on forever.

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