Sebastian had always exercised a lot, but now he was basically obsessed with it. Before sunrise, long after sunset, and when every sensible wolf was resting, he pushed his body beyond its limits. He punched with more force. He struggled to breathe harder. He couldn't calm down his thoughts. It wasn't just being disciplined anymore, it was feeling despair combined with anger.
And he didn't exercise on the group's territory anymore.
He chose the Wastelands of Rivendale, an old area destroyed by a past war beyond the cliffs, where the earth still smelled faintly of burned metal and it seemed like spirits were still present. The fields were damaged from battles a long time ago, with cracked ground, broken stone towers, and dead trees twisted by old spells. The older wolves told the younger wolves to avoid this place. Too many spirits are there. Too much remains of old magic.
But Sebastian didn't care.
He needed answers.
He needed power.
He needed a way to end the connection that he couldn't bear thinking about.
One evening, when the sky turned dark purple and the moon was low, Sebastian punched the ground until his knuckles broke open. Blood dripped down his fingers, steaming on the cold ground. He could hardly breathe, and his breath turned into small clouds in the air.
"Again," he said softly, hitting his fist against a big rock.
"Again."
The rock broke.
His skin tore even more.
He couldn't see clearly.
But he couldn't stop thinking about it.
Lyra, marked by another man.
It drove him crazy.
The wind moved behind him.
Sebastian spun around fast, baring his teeth.
But it wasn't a ghost.
A man was standing in the broken ruins, tall, wearing a cloak, with eyes that looked like melted silver. He had a small, cruel smile. He made the land shake, like it was waking up old magic deep in the ground.
"You're far away from your group, future Alpha," the man said slowly. "Or… former Alpha, depending on what happens."
Sebastian growled. "Who are you?"
The stranger lowered his head a bit. "Dioris. A magic user. A traveler. Someone who hears things that are forgotten." He looked at Sebastian's shaking hands. "And you, my friend, seem very desperate."
"I'm not your friend," Sebastian said sharply.
"No," Dioris said. "But you want something. And I'm here to give it to you."
Sebastian looked at him carefully. "I didn't ask for your help."
"You didn't need to." Dioris walked closer, his boots making noise on the broken stones. "The land whispers louder than you know. It told me about a boy who was supposed to be great but is now scared because of someone else. A boy who is losing his mate to a mark that should never have happened." His silver eyes shined brighter. "A bond that is cursed."
Sebastian caught his breath, not enough to show he was weak, but enough for Dioris to notice.
"It really bothers you, doesn't it?" the wizard said softly. "You can feel his presence. Not physically there. Not exactly. But you sense his nearness to her like she's been soiled."
Sebastian squeezed his hands tightly. "He shouldn't be with her."
"No," Dioris replied softly. "That's correct. What happens isn't always fair. Magic is odd. Life isn't always easy." He moved closer, speaking very gently. "But things can be altered… if you're ready to sacrifice something."
Sebastian stopped for a moment.
"What do you need from me?"
Dioris smiled slightly. "Just a promise. And perhaps some blood at the correct time." He raised his hand, his palm glowing faintly with dark red marks. "I know a magic trick… old and forbidden. A way to weaken the connection between the bad Alpha and your beloved Lyra."
Sebastian spun around quickly. "Can you stop it completely?"
"Make it weaker, not stop it," Dioris corrected. "But weaken it enough for the bad one to make mistakes. For the connection to be strained. For his mind to crumble from the stress."
Sebastian was unsure. "What about Lyra?"
The wizard's smile lessened. "She will experience it too. They are connected, aren't they? They share pain, they share fear, they share air." He shrugged a bit. "That's how forbidden magic functions."
Sebastian looked away, his jaw trembling. He imagined Lyra screaming, clutching her chest, wanting a man she didn't choose. Anger was more painful than any sword.
"What do I have to give?" he questioned, his voice very quiet.
Dioris circled him slowly, like an animal eyeing its food. "Magic requires a sacrifice. Something living. Something important. An animal connected to you somehow." He stopped behind him, whispering, "A blood offering."
Sebastian tensed up. "Whose blood do you want?"
"That," Dioris answered softly, "is your decision to make."
It grew silent.
Dioris smiled knowingly. "You notice him even when he's not physically there, right?"
"I'm not losing my mind."
"No," the wizard said. "You're just… falling apart inside."
Sebastian backed away, but Dioris's voice felt like smoke surrounding him.
"Let me assist you, Sebastian. Let me provide you the ability to reclaim what was once yours."
Sebastian's heart raced. The world felt more challenging recently. Each breath caused pain. Every memory hurt. Each time he saw Lyra, he felt agony, burning, and breaking.
He nodded once, slightly, but enough to make a deal happen.
Dioris's smile widened. "Good. Then your journey begins tonight."
And instantly, he vanished into the disappearing fog.
---
When Sebastian returned to Rivendale, it was late and peaceful. His eyes were intense, uneasy, filled with a new, odd focus. His emotions moved faster than before, but now they had a plan, a nasty, focused plan.
He went straight to the warriors' quarters.
"Wake up," he said.
Startled fighters jumped out of their beds. Sebastian's voice cut through the darkness sharply.
He stated strongly, "From this moment on, I want you to watch everything done by the people who are gone. Every scent. Every sign they left. Every piece of information. It is not important how small it seems."
One of the guards who watches for threats stopped for a moment. "Captain,"
"JUST DO IT," Sebastian yelled forcefully, his voice getting very loud.
The room became totally silent.
The guards who watch for threats lowered their heads.
"Yes, captain."
As they hurried away, Sebastian stared out at the dark night through the open door. He could almost see his reflection in the bright surface, his eyes looked darker than normal, changed by something bad.
He would not let Lyra leave.
He would ruin everything before that could happen.