68JANETI watched as Annalise stepped into the portal, the swirling energy surrounding her like a whirlwind. The air crackled with electricity, lifting her off her feet. My heart raced, a mix of awe and fear flooding through me. This was it. She was embracing her destiny, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of danger looming just out of sight.“Hold on, Annalise!” I whispered, even though I knew she couldn’t hear me. The power surged through her, illuminating the cave, and I felt the energy pulse like a heartbeat.Suddenly, she vanished, swallowed by the light. I stood frozen, my mind racing. I had to trust her. She was strong, and she had come so far. But the thought of what awaited her on the other side sent a chill down my spine.Time seemed to stretch as I waited, anxious and restless. I closed my eyes, trying to center myself. “She can do this,” I repeated in my mind. “She has to.”Then, the cave rumbled again, and I felt the ground shake beneath my feet. I opened my eyes just in t
69ADRAINThe bright light from the cave pulsed like a heartbeat, drawing all attention. I felt the vibrations rumble beneath my feet as I turned to face the entrance. My instincts screamed that something was coming, and it wasn’t good.“Get ready!” I shouted to Janet and her guards, adrenaline coursing through me. I could hear the growls and snarls of Marcus’s pack outside, their footsteps echoing ominously as they rushed toward us.The atmosphere was thick with tension, and I could see Janet’s guards exchanging nervous glances. They shifted, their bodies rippling, and in an instant, they transformed into wolves, their fur shining like steel in the light. They formed a protective ring around me, ready to defend against whatever came next.“Stay close,” I urged, my heart racing. “We can’t let them breach our defenses.”From outside, the sounds of Marcus’s pack grew louder. The growls morphed into a chorus of howls that sent shivers down my spine. They were shifting too, preparing for
70ANNALISEThe moment I stepped through the portal, I felt the familiar rush of energy envelop me. The sacred cave loomed before me, vibrant with the power I had just experienced. I stood at the entrance, breathless, my heart pounding as I took in the scene before me.Marcus’s pack was there, a chaos of fur and growls, locked in battle with Adrian and Janet’s wolves. My instincts kicked in, and I blinked slowly, trying to assess the situation. My mind raced as I recalled the elder guardian’s words. I needed to maintain balance; I needed to act fast.“Enough!” I thought, focusing on the pack. With a surge of power, I directed my will toward them, feeling the energy ripple through the air. The atmosphere shifted, heavy with tension, and I felt the ground vibrate beneath me.In an instant, the wolves that had been so ready to fight were lifted off their feet, suspended in the air by an unseen force. I watched in disbelief, my heart racing. They were thrown over the edge of the cliff lik
71SPENCERThe alley was dark and cold, a perfect hiding spot for shady dealings. I leaned against the damp brick wall, the shadows swallowing me whole. I had just left another frustrating meeting, my mind racing with all the ways I had to regain control. This was not how things were supposed to go.Suddenly, I heard footsteps echoing off the cobblestone. A guard stumbled into view, bloodied and panting. His face was pale, and I could see he had been in a fight. I pushed myself off the wall, curiosity piqued.“What happened?” I asked, my voice steady, though anger simmered just below the surface. “You look like you’ve been through hell.”The guard leaned against the wall for support, wincing as he tried to catch his breath. “It’s Annalise,” he gasped, struggling to speak. “She’s back. And she’s regained her powers.”A chill ran down my spine. I felt my blood boil at the mention of her name. “What do you mean, ‘regained her powers’?”“Something happened in the sacred cave,” the guard e
72ANNALISEI stood in the sacred cave, feeling the cool air brush against my skin. It was time to act. I turned to Janet, who stood by my side, her expression serious. She needed to understand the urgency of what was coming.“Janet, we have a war ahead of us,” I began, my voice steady. “Marcus has a plan. He intends to use the portal to open all the realms. He wants to infiltrate Earth and rule over it.”Her eyes widened, absorbing the weight of my words. “How does he plan to do that? What does he think he’ll gain?”“He believes he can control everything,” I explained, pacing the cave’s rocky floor. “He wants to unleash chaos, to establish his dominance over both worlds. We can’t let that happen.”Janet nodded, determination flashing across her face. “What do you want me to do?”“I need you to mobilize all the packs,” I instructed, feeling a surge of urgency. “Every wolf must prepare for battle. We need to gather our allies, resources, and strategies. This is not just about defending
73MARCUSThe alley was dim, lit only by the flickering streetlight above. I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, waiting for Spencer to show up. He was always anxious, always worrying about something. I could feel it in the air. He rushed into view, his face pale and his breath quickened.“Marcus,” he said, glancing around as if the shadows might swallow him whole. “We need to talk. Annalise is up to something. She’s gathering support in the other realm.”I raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And? What of it? Does she think she can actually threaten us?”Spencer stepped closer, his eyes wide with concern. “You don’t understand. She’s more powerful than she looks. If she gets enough support, it could mean serious trouble for us.”“Trouble?” I scoffed. “What kind of trouble? She doesn’t have what it takes to challenge me. She’s all bark and no bite. You’ve seen it.”“She’s not alone anymore. She’s got allies,” Spencer insisted, urgency bleeding into his tone. “This isn’t just about her.
74SPENCERThe alley felt suffocating, shadows closing in as I faced Marcus. The tension was palpable, a brewing storm that mirrored the turmoil in my gut. Betrayal hit harder than any punch I could’ve taken.“Why, Marcus?” My voice trembled, laced with anger. “Why would you deceive me like this? I trusted you.”Marcus leaned back against the wall, a smirk plastered across his face. “Trust? Spencer, you’re so naive. You should know better by now. This was never about trust; it was about power.”“Power?” I echoed, disbelief washing over me. “You promised me the guardianship over our realm. You said I would lead. What happened to that?”“Guardianship?” He chuckled, a low, mocking sound that cut deep. “In the grand scheme of things, there should be no guardian. I will be the only guardian in all the realms. That’s the plan.”“No,” I breathed, shock gripping me. “You can’t be serious. You’re throwing away everything we fought for! You’re betraying me!”“I’m not betraying you,” Marcus repl
75I stood at the edge of the sacred cave, the air thick with anticipation and the distant rumble of thunder echoing in my ears. Adrian was beside me, his eyes filled with worry, searching my face as if trying to read my thoughts. The weight of what was coming hung heavy between us, a looming shadow that threatened to engulf everything we cared about.“Are you ready for what’s ahead?” he asked, his voice low and steady, but I could hear the tremor underneath. I knew he was trying to mask his fear, but it was there, lurking just beneath the surface.I took a deep breath, looking out into the darkness of the cave, the shadows dancing as the light flickered from the torches. “I am,” I assured him, though uncertainty lingered in my heart. I had to be strong, for both of us. I had come too far to back down now. “We have to face Marcus and his pack. It’s time to end this.”Adrian’s brow furrowed as he stepped closer, his expression turning serious. “Annalise, I—” He hesitated, searching for