Supreme warriors? I used to think those half-human, half-bird creatures were the real warriors. But I was so wrong.
If those ones could hold me down like I was nothing, what would these so-called supreme warriors do?
Fear crawled through my skin. Cold sweat soaked my body.
I finally understood, I hadn't just traveled 500 years into the past. I had fallen into a world of magic, spells, and strange, powerful beings.
My wolf was just as weak as I was. All I could do was hope I survived whatever was coming.
Selene, please… I whispered in prayer. If she could save me.
The dark swirling cloud rushed toward us. I expected terrifying bird-like creatures with wings and sharp beaks, but instead, I saw something that froze my blood.
They were human, fully human. No wings. No feathers. No claws. Just people flying through the sky like the wind carried them. White robes flowed from their shoulders to their thighs. Their long, locked hair swayed as they moved.
I watched, stunned and afraid, as they floated down gently. The dark cloud faded around them, and they landed softly, their bare feet touching the earth.
They didn't look terrifying. No glowing light. No weapons. Nothing flashy or grand.
But I knew better. This was a world ruled by magic, and looks could lie. These people didn't need to look deadly to be dangerous.
Even the half-human bird creatures trembled when they appeared. That alone told me everything. I was staring at true power.
Then, one of them stepped forward.
She wore a white robe covered in drawings of different birds. Her long, locked hair was decorated with strange animal shells I couldn't recognize.
She didn't speak right away. Her eyes moved slowly, scanning everything around us, then she looked up into the sky. Her face tightened into a frown, and she shook her head.
"One from the future," she said.
Her voice wasn't loud, but the ground trembled when she spoke.
A cold shiver ran through me. She knew I wasn't from this time! How? I stared at her, horrified, my eyes wide with fear.
"You stained our land with your wolf blood," she growled, sniffing the air again and again.
I almost collapsed. She didn't just know I was from another time, she knew I was a werewolf.
"You've brought chaos, desecration. Now, you must be judged."
My throat was dry. I tried to swallow but said nothing.
Another stepped forward. Her loincloth brushed against the earth as she walked.
"He crossed the sacred veil and survived. He carries something dangerous," she said.
The first woman, the one with shells in her hair, spoke again. "Three rituals before your life can be used to atone. That is your sentence. You must face them. If you survive, we will decide your fate. If you die, the spirits will speak through your ashes."
"Yes, Supreme Lord," the second woman replied, bowing slightly.
My fists clenched, though my hands still shook. The wind had knocked the strength out of me, and my wolf was silent, weak.
But I lifted my head slowly and said a quiet prayer. I couldn't fight them. I was helpless. But I wasn't going to give up.
Ephraim. I cursed him in my heart. He dragged me into this nightmare. If I make it out alive, I swear, I'll make him pay.
Two supreme warriors grabbed me roughly and dragged me toward the sacred grove.
The place looked like a hollow circle, surrounded by twisted tree roots that curled like snakes. The ground beneath was cold and lifeless. But with a single clap of their hands, a glowing blue fire lit up, warming the earth and the space around it.
"Step in," the Supreme Lord commanded.
Empty and hopeless, I stepped forward. The moment I entered the circle, the blue flames rose high and wrapped around me.
Then came the pain, sharp, unbearable. It tore through my chest like a blade. I screamed from the depths of my soul.
Visions flashed before me. Vanessa, my mate, crying. My pack, burning to ashes. The sins of my past. My father's face twisted in disappointment. My own cruelty when I thought strength meant coldness.
Inside me, Durango howled, but even his voice faded into silence. I gasped for air, but there was none. I was choking. I was dying.
Still, I fought to stay on my feet. To stay alive. Then, just as suddenly, the flames disappeared. The warmth was gone, and silence returned.
"Step out!" the Supreme Lord shouted.
I stumbled out of the circle. My legs shook under me. Blood dripped from my nose. My chest felt cracked open.
"One broken truth revealed," she said.
"He survives the first, barely. Prepare him for the second." And with that, she walked away.
In my weak and broken state, they dragged me again, this time faster. Vines like snakes coiled around my arms and legs, binding me tightly.
They lifted me into the air, hanging me between two massive trees, each with deep hollows in their trunks. From those hollows, a thick mist rose. It was cold.
It surrounded me, freezing my skin, sinking deep into my bones. I shook uncontrollably.
The mist thickened and slowly turned to ice. The trees beside me froze too, turning white and solid like statues.
Terror gripped me, but it was nothing compared to the fear of the death I saw coming.
I was trapped in ice. I couldn't feel my fingers anymore. I tried to curl them into fists, but they didn't move. It felt like they didn't belong to me anymore.
The cold wasn't just outside, it had entered my bones, crawling through me, numbing everything. My breath came out in small puffs.
Then, my hearing began to fade. Everything grew quiet. Even the wind stopped.
My face stung. My heartbeat slowed. I was tired. I was dying. And worse, I might die frozen, my body turned to ice.
This wasn't a ritual. This was punishment. No, this was execution.
My eyes grew heavy. I didn't fight it. I let them close. Darkness swallowed me.
A scream pulled me back. I opened my eyes slowly. Millicent was by my side, pressing cool leaves against my face.
So, I didn't die? Thank you, Selene.
"Stop this!" Millicent cried, turning to the warriors. "He's not our enemy. He's lost, that's all!"
The Supreme Lord narrowed her eyes. "He must finish the ritual."
"Please," Millicent begged, bowing. "Give him another way. Let him live. He could help us. We need heirs."
Still lying on the cold ground, I heard the crowd murmur. The warriors looked at one another.
"A fair offer," the Supreme Lord finally said. "He shall bring the seed of our future."
"No!" I gasped, pushing myself up. Blood spilled from my mouth as I coughed. "I refuse the offer. I'll leave your clan right now."
I wasn't going to sleep with bird shifters centuries older than me, or be used to breed in some ancient world.
Millicent looked at me, shocked. But I didn't return her gaze.
"Coward," the Supreme Lord hissed.
"You either help bear heirs or go through the final ritual," the Supreme Lord said.
"No way!" I snapped. I steadied my hands on the cold ground, pushing myself up. My legs buckled beneath me.
"I'll leave right now," I gritted out, dragging my shredded body forward. But the Supreme Lord was suddenly in my way, blocking my path.
"You can't leave, stranger!" Her eyes glowed with red flames as she spoke.
She shoved me back hard, and I almost lost my balance. Furious, I glared at her, ready to push past, but she didn't move.
Anger swelled inside me. I felt a surge of strength return. Frustrated, I let out a roar.
"Move out of my way!"
My voice thundered, deep and powerful, shaking the earth beneath me. A force lifted my right hand, and I pushed her hard. She was sent flying into the air, crashing to the ground with a brutal thud.
Panic swept through the crowd, and many of them fled in fear. I didn't realize what had happened, I was exploding in rage.
"How dare you!" Another warrior stepped forward, her fists clenched. She raised them to the sky, and blue mist swirled around her hands.
My rage flared, and I locked my burning gaze on her. I reached up, gripping her fists tightly, and shouted, "Get out!"
My voice echoed like thunder, rumbling through the air. At that moment, a storm exploded above us, lightning struck the ground repeatedly, fierce and wild.
The wind howled as tree branches snapped and flew. Roofs of huts were torn off, and the sky opened up, pouring rain down on us in sheets.