Annabel blocked the blow with her forearm, the force sending her stumbling back. Leah’s successor—this new, towering figure—didn’t let up. It swung again, faster this time, and Annabel dropped to one knee to dodge.“You don’t look so invincible now,” the creature growled. Its voice dripped with mockery.Damian leapt at it from behind, claws outstretched. He raked its side, drawing dark, thick blood. The creature hissed in pain but barely flinched. It swung its arm, catching Damian mid-air and slamming him into the ground.Annabel scrambled forward. “Damian!”He groaned, rolling onto his side. “I’m fine. Focus!”She didn’t have time to argue. The creature turned its gaze back to her, its glowing red eyes narrowing. “You’ve been a thorn in my side long enough, Annabel.”“How do you know my name?” she demanded, circling it, trying to buy time.“I know everything about you,” it said, its lips curling into a twisted smile. “And soon, you’ll know what it means to lose everything.”It lunged
Elijah fell to one knee, his breathing ragged. Annabel reached for him, but his hand shot up to stop her.“Don’t,” he rasped. “Save your strength. You’ll need it.”Her eyes darted to the ash creature, which had taken on a new, sleek form. Its movements were quicker now, its strikes more calculated. It circled them like a predator sizing up its prey. Damian stood a few paces away, his claws extended, blood dripping from a fresh cut on his side.“Whatever you’re planning, Elijah,” Annabel said, her gaze locked on the creature, “do it now. I can’t keep holding this thing off.”Elijah didn’t answer. His head drooped, his body swaying as though even sitting upright was a struggle.The creature lunged at her. Annabel dodged, slashing its arm with her claws as she spun. The creature hissed but didn’t slow. It twisted its body, swinging a clawed foot toward her chest. She blocked with her forearm, gritting her teeth at the impact.Damian rushed in, striking from the side, his claws raking its
Elijah stumbled, gripping his side as the mist creature swirled around them, its laughter booming. Annabel clenched her fists, her eyes darting between the figure and Elijah.“You’re running on fumes,” she said, stepping in front of him. “You can’t hold this thing off alone anymore.”“I’m not trying to,” Elijah said through gritted teeth. His voice was low, controlled. “But if I don’t do something now, none of us walk away.”“Then let us help!” Annabel snapped, her frustration flaring. “You don’t get to decide that you’re the martyr.”The creature’s next attack came fast—a shadowy arm lashing toward them with razor-sharp precision. Annabel pushed Elijah out of the way and lunged, slashing at the mist with her claws. It recoiled with a guttural growl, but the force sent her skidding back.Damian stepped up, his face set in determination. “This thing doesn’t fight like anything I’ve seen. It’s reading us.” He flexed his claws, his gaze shifting to Annabel. “So we stop being predictable.
Annabel swung her arm up just in time to block the first strike. A heavy claw scraped against her forearm, forcing her to stagger back. She steadied herself, glaring at the shadowy wolves closing in. Their glowing red eyes burned with hunger.Damian roared, charging into the fray. His claws tore into the nearest creature, scattering it into a smoky mist. It reformed instantly, snapping at his leg. He kicked it away and spun toward Annabel.“They’re endless!” he shouted, voice raw.“Then we make them stop!” Annabel yelled back. Her eyes flicked to Elijah, still unconscious. “Damian, cover him!”Before he could respond, two wolves lunged at him. He ducked under one, driving his claws deep into the second, but the first latched onto his shoulder. He let out a pained growl and slammed it into the ground. Blood streaked his arm, but he didn’t falter.Annabel didn’t have time to check on him. A wolf was charging at her, its jaws open wide. She sidestepped, slamming her elbow into its ribs.
The beast’s shadow loomed over the clearing, massive and grotesque. Its eyes glowed, fixating on Elijah with a malicious intelligence that sent a ripple of unease through the group. Annabel stepped forward instinctively, positioning herself between the entity and Elijah, whose golden aura still flickered faintly.“You’ve led them to this point, little queen,” the beast growled, its voice a deep rumble that seemed to come from everywhere. “But it ends here.”Before Annabel could respond, it lunged. She met the attack head-on, slashing upward with her claws, her strike barely grazing its hardened skin. The impact threw her back several feet, and she rolled to a crouch, breathless but unyielding.Damian sprang into action, charging at the creature with a roar. His claws dug into its side, but it whipped its tail, sending him crashing into a tree with a sickening thud.“Stay down!” Annabel shouted at Damian, her focus darting between him and the advancing monster.The rogue wolf darted pa
Annabel barely registered the searing pain in her shoulder as she slammed into the creature again, claws ripping at its shadowy form. The shadow figure’s laughter echoed, mocking her. Behind her, Elijah struggled to maintain his footing, his aura flickering as the strain of containing the fissure’s energy drained him.“You can’t protect them all,” the figure sneered, swiping at her with tendrils of darkness. She dodged, barely missing a fatal blow.“I don’t need to protect them all,” Annabel snapped. Her claws glinted as she darted forward, slashing at its chest. “I just need to stop you.”The creature shifted, vanishing into smoke before reappearing behind her. Its voice was cold, cutting through the chaos. “Is that what you tell yourself at night? That you can bear the weight of their lives? Even when you’ve failed them?”Damian intercepted the next strike, growling as he shoved Annabel aside. His claws sank into the figure’s arm, but his strength faltered under its inhuman power. T
Annabel moved first, her claws gleaming as she stepped toward the figure in the clearing. Her eyes narrowed, her voice steady. “You’re supposed to be dead.”The woman smiled, tilting her head. “I’m full of surprises, aren’t I? Did you really think it would end with the pack’s rebellion? That I’d just disappear?”“Evangeline,” Damian muttered, his voice low and sharp. “What the hell are you doing here?”Evangeline ignored him, her gaze fixed on Annabel. “I’ve been watching, sister. Waiting. You’ve made such a mess of things. It’s almost impressive.”Annabel tightened her fists, every fiber of her being ready to strike. “You don’t get to call me that. You lost that right the day you betrayed the pack.”Evangeline’s smile widened. “Betrayed? Oh, Annabel. Betrayal is such a subjective term, don’t you think? I chose a different path, one with far more power. And yet, here you are, stumbling through the remnants of a broken pack.”“Annabel,” Damian warned, stepping closer. “She’s stalling.
“Damian, get him out of here. Now!” Annabel’s voice cut through the growing howl as she turned toward the edge of the clearing.“I’m not leaving you,” Damian snapped, his claws flexed. He pulled Elijah to his feet, steadying him. The younger hybrid’s face was pale, his energy drained from summoning the fissure’s power in their last battle. “We’re not splitting up again.”“You don’t get to argue!” Annabel’s eyes flashed gold as she pointed toward the woods. “That sound isn’t a call—it’s a summons. If the Ancients are waking, we need Elijah alive to close whatever she’s planning to unleash.”The rogue stepped between them, his teeth bared. “She’s right. You’re too weak to fight. We don’t need another martyr right now.”Elijah pulled away from Damian’s grasp, his voice hoarse. “I’m not running while you stay to die. There has to be another way—”“There isn’t!” Annabel roared, her voice shaking the trees. “I can’t protect all of you if you stay. Don’t make me choose.”The rogue’s ears twi
Damian hit the ground hard, the impact jarring every bone in his body. His wolf surged forward, dulling the pain as he rolled to his side, instinctively shielding Annabel. Dust swirled around them, choking the air.“Damian,” Annabel croaked, gripping his arm.“I’m here,” he said, helping her sit up. She was bruised but alive. Relief flooded him for a fleeting moment before the sound of footsteps—calm, deliberate—drew his attention.Elijah emerged from the shadows, his figure illuminated by a faint glow emanating from strange markings on the cavern walls. His confidence radiated like a predator circling its prey.“You’re persistent,” Elijah said, his voice low and measured. “But persistence without power is just stubbornness.”Damian rose to his feet, his claws already extending. “You talk too much.”Elijah tilted his head, unbothered. “And you’re too impulsive. That’s why you’ll lose.”Annabel struggled to stand, leaning against Damian for support. “You don’t need me to stop him,” she
The sound of Elijah’s laughter echoed through the darkness of the collapsed cave. It taunted Damian as he tried to focus on Annabel’s weak breathing. His wolf senses adjusted to the pitch-black surroundings, honing in on the faint heartbeat that kept him grounded.“Elijah!” Damian’s voice was raw, a command that ricocheted off the rocky walls. “Face me!”The only response was the steady drip of water from somewhere deeper within the cavern.“Damian,” Annabel whispered, her voice a frail thread. “Don’t—”He knelt beside her, carefully loosening the ropes that bound her wrists. “We’re getting out of here,” he said firmly. “Stay with me.”“You don’t understand.” Her eyes fluttered open, dim but focused. “This is what he wanted. He’s not here to fight. He’s here to break you.”Damian stilled, her words striking something deep within him. But before he could respond, the ground beneath them trembled, a reminder of the unstable cavern.“Then he failed,” Damian growled. “Because I’m not givi
The forest stood still in the aftermath of Elijah’s escape, the silence almost mocking. Damian stared at the empty space where Elijah had disappeared with Annabel, his breathing uneven. His claws dug into the dirt, his body trembling with the effort to hold back the wolf clawing for dominance. Kara staggered forward, clutching her injured side, but her gaze never left Damian.“Damian,” she rasped, her voice tight with pain. “We can still track him.”He didn’t answer. The pack around them waited, the weight of his next decision pressing like a storm ready to break.“Track him?” Damian’s voice was low, almost too calm. He turned to Kara, his eyes alight with fury. “Do you think he’s stupid enough to leave a trail we can follow?”“We can try,” she shot back. “Sitting here won’t help her!”Damian’s snarl silenced her, but it wasn’t just anger; it was despair. He ran a hand through his hair, pacing in circles like a predator in a cage. Finally, he turned to his second-in-command, Jacob.“S
Damian’s growl echoed through the silent room. His fists slammed against the worn oak table, splintering its edge. "You let him get inside your head?" His glare bore into Annabel, who still looked pale and shaken from fainting. Her silence, far from submissive, was deliberate—a choice to observe before reacting."I didn’t let him do anything," she replied, her voice hoarse but steady. "Elijah’s power isn’t something you simply shut out.""Don’t defend him!" Damian’s voice cracked, a mix of fury and pain. He paced the room, hands clenching and unclenching. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, desperate for release. "Do you even know what you've done? You handed him the one thing he needed—us divided."Annabel winced. She hated that he was right. Elijah’s manipulation had left fractures between her and Damian, widening a rift that already felt unbridgeable. She drew a shaky breath, steadying herself before she spoke again."I made a mistake," she admitted, her gaze meeting his. "But I did
Damian’s claws dug into the quarry floor, his stance protective as he stepped in front of Annabel. The beast roared again, its guttural sound echoing across the rock walls. The figure beside it moved with eerie calm, their smile never wavering as they studied the three.“Annabel,” the figure said smoothly, ignoring Damian and Elijah entirely. “I’ve been waiting to meet you.”Annabel’s heart slammed against her ribs. “Who are you?”The figure chuckled, tilting their head. “I have so many names, but for now, call me the one who holds the leash.” Their hand gestured lazily toward the beast, which snarled, saliva dripping from its jagged teeth.“Doesn’t look like you’ve got much control,” Elijah said, his voice cold. His eyes flicked to the beast’s hulking frame, scanning for weaknesses.The figure’s smile faltered for a moment before sharpening again. “It obeys enough. And when I’m done with it, it will obey her.”Annabel’s blood ran cold. “What do you mean?”The figure ignored her quest
The beast emerged from the shadows behind the hunters, its form larger than any wolf Annabel had ever seen. Its massive shoulders brushed tree trunks as it stalked forward, its yellow eyes glowing with an unnatural light. The hunters froze, their weapons shifting uneasily in their hands.The leader cursed under his breath. “What is that thing?”Damian didn’t respond. He stepped protectively in front of Annabel, his claws extending again. Elijah’s stance mirrored his, though his eyes never left the creature as it growled, low and rumbling, shaking the air around them.“They didn’t bring it,” Elijah said quietly, his voice calm but taut. “That’s not theirs.”The scarred leader gestured sharply to his men, who reluctantly repositioned, their crossbows trained on the beast. “Stand down!” he barked at the wolves they controlled. “Focus on the target!”The controlled wolves whimpered but obeyed, forming a wary line between their masters and the newcomers. Annabel gritted her teeth, gripping
Damian’s eyes locked with Elijah’s, the air between them charged with unspoken challenges. Annabel stood in the middle, her hand raised as though it alone could stop the inevitable.“Elijah,” she said sharply, her voice cutting through their silent exchange. “We can’t do this now. Not here.”But Elijah wasn’t looking at her. His hybrid features were sharp, predatory, and utterly focused on Damian. “He’s afraid to act,” Elijah said with a calmness that made the insult sting harder. “That’s why he hesitates. He knows if he crosses me, he won’t survive.”Damian stepped forward, his tone like steel. “You’ve underestimated me before. How did that work out for you?”Annabel’s frustration boiled over. “Enough!” She turned to Damian, her expression pleading. “This isn’t the fight we need to win right now.”Damian’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t break eye contact with Elijah. “You think he can be trusted to stay in line? Look at him.”“I’m right here,” Elijah interjected, a cold smile spreading
Damian’s shout came too late. The rogue leader’s massive jaws clamped down on empty air as Annabel twisted away at the last second, rolling to the ground. Elijah lunged, his claws slashing in an arc that forced the beast back, buying her a moment to scramble to her feet.Annabel’s breath came in short gasps. Her eyes darted to the pack, holding their line against the remaining rogues. “We can’t hold this forever,” she muttered, gripping the silver dagger she’d taken from Damian.“You don’t have to,” Elijah replied. His voice was eerily calm, but his gaze stayed locked on the rogue leader. “This ends now.”“Care to share the plan?” Damian growled, sidling up beside them. Blood streaked his face, and his sword was slick with gore.Elijah smirked, but there was no humor in it. “Keep it busy.”Damian swore under his breath. “Brilliant. Why didn’t I think of that?”Before Annabel could say anything, the rogue leader let out a guttural snarl and charged again. Damian moved instinctively, ra
Damian barely dodged the blow, the rogue’s claws swiping past his ribs. He twisted, bringing his blade upward in a brutal arc that caught his opponent beneath the jaw. Blood splattered, but there was no time to celebrate the kill. Another rogue was already charging.“Elijah!” Damian yelled, blocking the next attack with a grunt. “A little help would be great!”Elijah stood motionless, his sharp eyes fixed on Annabel. She was kneeling just behind them, her shoulders rising and falling with labored breaths. Her connection to the barrier was gone, but the remnants of her effort left her pale and trembling.“She can’t hold much longer,” Elijah muttered to himself.“Neither can I!” Damian barked, shoving the rogue back with a kick.Elijah’s expression darkened, and with a low snarl, he finally moved. He intercepted the next attacker with blinding speed, slamming the rogue into the ground with a sickening crunch. His hybrid strength was terrifying, even to Damian, but right now, it was the