Chapter 25The Mark Of ShadowsFiona's POVThe moment the wolf crashed into the cabin, time seemed to slow down. The sheer size of the beast was overwhelming, its red eyes glowing with a malevolent hunger that sent a shiver down my spine. It was no ordinary wolf—its fur was mottled with darkness, tendrils of shadow clinging to it like smoke. Every movement it made rippled with unnatural power, as though it was not merely flesh and bone but something far more sinister.Quinton stood in front of me, his stance protective, ready to fight despite the impossible odds. I could feel his tension, his breath coming in short, shallow bursts as he prepared to defend us. But I knew, in that split second, this was a battle we couldn't win head-on.The beast lunged, its claws extended, aiming for Quinton. He dodged with lightning reflexes, grabbing a piece of the broken wooden beam and swinging it at the wolf with all his strength. The impact sent the beast staggering back for a moment, but it quic
Chapter 26Whispers Of The UnknownQuinton's POVThe darkness that surrounded me was not the comforting silence of sleep but a suffocating void that pressed against my chest, heavy and stifling. It felt as though I was drowning in it, unable to claw my way back to the surface. The weight was unbearable, and yet, I couldn’t wake up. My body felt distant, almost numb, as if it no longer belonged to me.Then, gradually, there was a faint sound. A soft voice that pierced through the fog, a whisper that pulled me from the void. It wasn’t a voice I recognized, but it was calming, familiar in a way that made no sense. It grew louder, urging me to fight, to wake up.I jerked awake with a sharp gasp, sitting up so fast that pain shot through my chest. My breath hitched, and I winced as the memories of the attack flooded back. The wolf—no, the monster that had torn into me, its eyes glowing with that unnatural light. I’d fought it, but I hadn’t been strong enough.“Fiona!” I called out, my voic
Chapter 27The Gathering StormQuinton’s POVThe ash swirled around me, thick and suffocating, as I stood frozen in place, staring at the charred remains of what had once been our safe haven. The cabin was gone, reduced to rubble and smoldering debris. But none of that mattered. Not the destruction, not the fire that had ripped through the woods. All I could think of was Fiona.My chest tightened with a panic I couldn’t control. She was nowhere to be found.“Fiona!” I shouted, my voice hoarse as I ran forward, ignoring the heat that radiated from the embers beneath my feet.I could still feel her. She was alive, but her presence was weak, distant. The bond between us pulsed faintly, like a dying heartbeat, and it terrified me.I stumbled through the clearing, my eyes scanning the wreckage for any sign of her. But there was nothing—just ash and smoke. My hands shook as I sifted through the debris, frantic. She couldn’t be gone. She couldn’t.“Where are you?” I muttered under my breath,
Chapter 28The Beast WithinFiona's POVThe wind howled through the clearing, whipping the leaves into frenzied spirals as I stood frozen, heart pounding in my chest. The massive, black-furred creature loomed before us, its eyes gleaming with a sickly yellow light that sent chills down my spine. I could feel its power radiating, heavy and suffocating, unlike anything I had ever encountered.Quinton’s presence next to me was a small comfort, but even he seemed tense, his body coiled and ready for a fight. This creature—it wasn’t like any werewolf I had seen before. It was something darker, more primal. My wolf stirred anxiously inside me, growling at the intruder, but even she seemed wary of this monster.“Stay behind me,” Quinton growled under his breath, stepping in front of me protectively.I wanted to protest, to stand and fight beside him, but something about the way this creature moved—its sheer size and the malice in its glowing eyes—made me hesitate. I wasn’t sure if we could t
Chapter 29The Rising TideFiona's POVThe forest felt alive with danger. Every breath I took seemed to vibrate with the ominous energy crackling in the air, and I could feel it in the pit of my stomach—a storm was coming, and we were standing right in its path.The howl that had pierced the night moments ago still echoed in my ears, a haunting sound that sent chills down my spine. I tried to focus, to steady my breathing, but the fear gnawing at my insides wouldn’t relent. Quinton was right beside me, his presence grounding in a way I desperately needed right now. Yet, even with him here, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were walking into something far beyond our control.“What do we do?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper. It felt like the darkness around us was listening, waiting for a sign of weakness.Quinton’s eyes scanned the tree line, his jaw tight with tension. “We need to move, now. Whatever’s out there, it’s getting closer, and we can’t be caught out in the open.”I no
Chapter 30Dark HorizonsFiona’s POVThe world faded back into focus, and the first thing I noticed was the cold. I blinked, trying to shake off the dizziness that clung to my senses, but the chill bit through my skin like icy tendrils. My surroundings were unfamiliar, a stark contrast to the thick, vibrant forest we’d just been in. Instead, I stood in a dimly lit, cavernous space. Stone walls loomed high, casting shadows that seemed to move on their own.The man—no, the monster—who had kidnapped me still had his hand wrapped tightly around my arm. His grip was firm but not painful, as though he knew I wouldn’t—or couldn’t—run. I wanted to shift, to break free and tear into him with my wolf’s teeth, but my body wasn’t responding. Something about this place sapped my strength, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable.“Where are we?” I forced the words out through clenched teeth, trying to keep the fear from showing in my voice.He didn’t answer immediately, instead releasing me with a ca
Chapter 31Shattered EchoesFiona's POVThe cavern walls pressed in on me as I made my way through the passageway. Every step echoed against the stone, the oppressive silence only amplifying the sound of my rapid heartbeat. The air was colder now, and with each breath, I could see the mist escaping my lips. My mind raced as I tried to process what had just happened, but the harder I tried to make sense of it, the more tangled it all became.Alpha bloodline? The very idea seemed absurd, but Elian’s words clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake. What if he was telling the truth? What if everything I knew about myself—about my family—was a lie?I needed answers. And more than that, I needed to get out of here.The further I walked, the narrower the tunnel became, and I started to feel trapped. I hated enclosed spaces; it made my wolf restless, desperate to break free. My claws itched beneath my skin, and I had to take a few deep breaths to keep myself from shifting. If there was one t
Chapter 32Lurking ShadowsQuinton's POVThe night air was thick with tension as I paced in front of the cabin, my thoughts a tangled mess of frustration and worry. I could feel the weight of the moon above, not yet full, but enough to send ripples of power through my veins. The wolf inside me was restless, prowling just beneath the surface, and the longer I waited, the more impatient it grew.Fiona should have been back by now.I clenched my fists, trying to rein in the growing unease gnawing at me. She was strong—stronger than most—but something about this whole situation didn’t sit right with me. Ever since Elian’s cryptic message, I’d had this gut feeling that we were walking into a trap, and now, with Fiona missing, that feeling had only grown worse.“Where the hell is she?” I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the surrounding woods. The darkness seemed to press in on all sides, and even with my heightened senses, I couldn’t pick up any trace of her scent. It was as if sh