Annabel's ears rang as she hit the freezing ground, her claws scrambling for purchase on the jagged ice. The air howled with an otherworldly roar, vibrating deep in her chest. The chasm they had fallen into was lit with a sickly green glow emanating from cracks in the walls, casting twisted shadows across the cavern floor. A sharp growl snapped her attention forward.“Elijah!” she barked, twisting her head.He was slumped nearby, struggling to his knees. Before she could reach him, something dark and massive moved between them—a shadow so dense it seemed to devour the light. It coalesced into a shape: four legs, two glowing eyes, and a mouth full of jagged, unnatural teeth.“You think you’ve won,” the creature hissed, its voice slithering like oil.Annabel rose slowly, her claws gleaming under the eerie light. “You’re a sore loser.”It lunged.Annabel dove, barely avoiding the swipe of claws the size of small boulders. She rolled, her body tense with energy, and leapt onto its back. H
Annabel hit the frozen ground hard, gasping as the impact forced the air from her lungs. Pain surged up her side, but she couldn’t stop. She scrambled to her feet, her eyes darting through the swirling shadows surrounding her. The rogue wolf’s laughter echoed through the void-like space, a mocking cadence that seemed to seep into her bones.Elijah’s voice cut through the chaos. “Annabel, get to the center! We need to draw it out!”Her claws scraped against the icy surface as she turned to find him. He stood near a jagged pillar of black ice, holding the obsidian blade tightly, its edges glowing faintly with the same sickly green hue that had marked the rogue’s lair.“Easier said than done!” she snapped, dodging a lashing shadow that slammed into the ground where she had been moments before.The rogue wolf’s voice boomed around them. “Run, hide, fight—it doesn’t matter. You can’t escape what’s coming.”Annabel growled low in her throat. “Why don’t you stop talking and face me?”The sh
Annabel lunged forward as the creature began to emerge from the void. Its massive form towered over her, dark and shifting as if reality itself recoiled at its presence. Elijah stood motionless behind her, his face pale, his hand gripping the obsidian blade with a whitened knuckle.“Elijah,” Annabel snapped, her voice sharp, cutting through his shock. “You said we’d stop this. What now?”The creature roared, a sound that seemed to come from everywhere at once. Shadows spiraled from its form, spreading like roots across the ice, reaching toward Annabel and Elijah.“Run,” Elijah muttered, the word barely audible.“Not this again,” Annabel growled, stepping between him and the approaching darkness. “If you don’t have a plan, figure one out. Fast.”The creature turned its glowing eyes on her, tilting its head with an almost curious expression. When it spoke, its voice was a guttural snarl, layered with a hundred voices. “You are persistent. But persistence without power is meaningless.”A
The ground slammed into Annabel, the force jarring her spine. She groaned, pulling herself to her knees. Around her, chunks of ice and rock littered the cavern floor, dimly illuminated by the faint blue glow of the shattered core remnants.“Elijah?” she called, her voice hoarse.“I’m here,” he answered, somewhere to her left. She followed the sound, crawling over jagged shards of ice until she spotted him. He was sprawled on the ground, gripping the obsidian blade like a lifeline.“You good?” she asked, already helping him to his feet.“No,” he admitted, his voice strained. “But I’m alive. That’s enough.”A sound echoed behind them, low and guttural. Annabel froze, her eyes darting to the source. From the shadows, a figure emerged—tattered, bleeding, but still standing. The rogue wolf.“You think this is over?” it snarled, its voice layered with fury and desperation. “You’ve only delayed what’s coming.”Annabel positioned herself between Elijah and the rogue. “You talk too much for so
Annabel ducked, narrowly missing a clawed strike aimed for her head. She countered with a brutal kick to the figure’s side, sending it crashing into another attacker. The glowing runes on the walls pulsed, matching the rhythm of her heartbeat, as more shadowed figures poured into the chamber.“Elijah!” she shouted, sidestepping another lunge. “I need answers—now!”Elijah blocked an incoming blow with the obsidian blade, his movements precise and unyielding. “Later,” he snapped, slicing through the arm of one of the creatures. It recoiled, but its severed limb reformed almost instantly.“Later doesn’t work for me!” Annabel growled, catching another figure by the neck and slamming it to the ground.“They aren’t stopping,” Elijah said, his voice tight. “The core’s energy is feeding them. We have to cut them off at the source.”“And how do we do that?” she shot back, grabbing his arm to pull him out of the way of another ambush.He hesitated, glancing at the massive glowing core in the ce
Annabel clenched her fists, glaring at the grotesque figure in front of her. It wasn’t Elijah or any of her wolves—it was something entirely foreign, with eyes like voids and a shape that flickered between forms, struggling to settle. Its presence felt wrong, as though the space around it was bending under its influence.“Where am I?” she demanded, her voice steady despite the unease crawling up her spine.The creature’s face shifted, forming a mouth that stretched into a crooked grin. “The in-between,” it rasped. “Where pieces go when they no longer fit.”“Pieces?” Annabel took a step forward. “I’m not a piece. Take me back.”The creature’s grin widened. “You can’t go back, little wolf. Not until you face what you are.”She didn’t wait for it to explain. She lunged, claws bared, aiming for its throat. The creature exploded into smoke, reforming behind her in an instant.“Fighting won’t work here,” it said, almost amused. “This place doesn’t bend to you. You bend to it.”Annabel turne
Annabel didn’t wait for Elijah to answer. She advanced, holding the blade tightly, its weight unnatural but steady in her grasp.“What did you mean?” she demanded, voice firm but low, barely containing the storm roiling inside her. “What have I done?”Elijah tilted his head, his glowing eyes narrowing. “You broke it. The balance. The locks weren’t meant to be disturbed.”“You helped me!” she snapped. “You said we had to stop the rogue wolf.”“And we did,” Elijah replied, his voice unnervingly calm. “But you were too eager. You ignored the cost.”Annabel lunged, the blade arcing toward him. Elijah stepped aside with fluid grace, catching her wrist before she could strike again.“You don’t understand what you’re wielding,” he said, his grip tightening. “That blade isn’t just a weapon. It’s a key—and you’ve already turned it.”Annabel wrenched free, breathing hard. “If I’ve turned it, then why does this world still stand?”Elijah hesitated, his expression unreadable. “Because the door ha
Annabel hit the jagged ground hard, her grip loosening on the blade as the impact drove the air from her lungs. Darkness closed in for a heartbeat before the flickering red glow from the shattered fissures above cast an eerie light over the cavern.“Elijah?” she gasped, forcing herself upright.He landed beside her moments later, his hybrid form rippling with power as he scanned their surroundings. His eyes narrowed. “We’ve dropped straight into its lair.”The shadowy figure that had emerged from the gate loomed overhead, its amorphous body pulsing with malevolent energy. It spoke again, its voice vibrating with raw power. “You brought my prison to me. You’ve handed me freedom.”Annabel snatched up the blade, its glow flickering weakly as if sensing the overwhelming power before it. “We’re not here to free you,” she said, standing her ground. “We’re here to end this.”The figure laughed, a sound that sent a chill through Annabel’s bones. “You cannot fight what you do not understand.”
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