The ground buckled beneath Annabel’s feet. She stumbled, grabbing Elijah’s arm to steady herself. The swirling vortex below expanded, its edges glowing with malevolent energy. A guttural sound echoed from its depths, neither animal nor human.“Step back!” Elijah yelled, pulling her away as the cracks widened.Before they could retreat further, an enormous clawed hand emerged from the vortex, its surface dark and glistening. Annabel’s eyes widened. Whatever was climbing out wasn’t from their world.Damian swore under his breath. “Tell me this isn’t happening.”Elijah’s voice was grim. “It’s happening.”The creature pulled itself free, towering above them, its grotesque body heaving with unnatural strength. Annabel felt a cold certainty settle in her chest—this thing wasn’t just another pawn in the rogue’s plan. This was the rogue’s plan.“We have to stop it before it fully emerges,” Elijah said, his tone urgent.Annabel didn’t hesitate. “How?”Elijah’s gaze flicked to the remnants of t
Annabel’s fist collided with Damian’s jaw, sending him sprawling into the dirt. She stepped back, chest heaving, her knuckles stinging.“You’re out of control!” Damian spat, blood trickling from his lip. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, his eyes blazing with fury. “Do you even know what you’re doing anymore?”“I’m keeping us alive,” she shot back. “If you have a better plan, Damian, say it now—or get out of my way.”“Better plan?” He staggered to his feet, glaring at her. “Yeah, here’s one: don’t take advice from the hybrid whose entire life has been one betrayal after another!”Elijah, standing several paces away, didn’t flinch. His face was unreadable, but his voice was steady. “You’re free to leave if you think you’ll fare better on your own, Damian.”Damian advanced, pointing a finger at him. “Don’t test me, hybrid. We wouldn’t be in this mess if you hadn’t dragged us into your personal war.”“That’s enough!” Annabel stepped between them, her voice sharp enough to cut t
The guardian’s claw dug into Annabel’s shoulder, pinning her to the ground. Pain radiated through her body as she strained against the crushing weight. Above her, the creature’s glowing eyes burned with an alien fury. It leaned closer, its voice echoing inside her skull.“You defile sacred ground.”“I’m not leaving without what I came for,” Annabel growled, gritting her teeth. She shifted her legs, searching for leverage.The guardian snarled in response, opening its massive jaws. A low hum vibrated the air, growing into a deafening roar as a pulse of raw energy shot toward her.“Annabel, move!” Elijah’s voice rang out.A blast of magic intercepted the beam, deflecting it just enough for Annabel to roll free. Elijah’s hands glowed as he sent another spell hurling toward the creature, striking it in the chest. The guardian stumbled back, momentarily dazed.Damian rushed in, slashing at its exposed flank with a feral yell. His blade scraped against its thick hide, leaving only a shallow
The rogue wolf’s claws slammed into Annabel’s blade, sparks flying as the force drove her back. She grunted, her muscles straining as she held her ground. His laughter echoed in the chamber, taunting, venomous.“You think your strength can match mine?” he sneered, pressing harder.Annabel shifted her weight, using the momentum to spin free. Her blade arced toward his side, but he twisted, dodging at the last second.“Elijah! Now would be a great time for another spell!” she barked, her eyes never leaving the wolf.Elijah was crouched near the Nexus Core, his hands hovering over the artifact. The runes etched into its surface flared with light as he chanted under his breath.“It’s not ready yet,” he called, his voice tight with concentration.Damian darted in from the side, aiming for the rogue wolf’s exposed flank. His blade met resistance, but the strike staggered the wolf enough for Annabel to regain her footing.“Keep him off Elijah!” she ordered, lunging forward.The wolf’s eyes g
“Why are they retreating?” Damian demanded, his voice cutting through the chaos.Annabel didn’t answer immediately. Her eyes followed the shadowy mass as it consumed the battlefield in the distance, pushing back both her pack and the remnants of the rogue wolf’s forces. Those who didn’t move fast enough disappeared beneath the writhing darkness without so much as a scream.“Elijah,” Annabel said sharply, turning to where he stood frozen, his face ashen. “What is that thing?”“It’s not supposed to be here,” Elijah whispered. He took a step back, then another.“That’s not an answer!” Annabel snapped, grabbing his arm. “You brought us here! What did you unleash?”Before Elijah could respond, the earth trembled again, cracks snaking toward their position. The shadow surged closer, its edges sharp and alive with erratic movement. A low, guttural sound echoed from within it—a chorus of something not alive but not entirely dead either.Damian grabbed his sword, stepping in front of Annabel a
“Don’t move!” Annabel’s shout stopped Damian mid-stride. Her blade was out, her stance rigid, and her eyes locked on the fissure splitting the ground ahead of them.The earth shuddered again, a deep rumble reverberating beneath their feet. From the crack, a glow pulsed—red, alive, and entirely unnatural. Annabel tightened her grip on her weapon, her gaze darting between the fissure and Elijah’s lifeless body crumpled on the ground nearby.“It’s spreading,” Damian said, his voice low, his breath ragged.“No kidding,” Annabel shot back, her frustration barely contained.From the widening chasm, shadowy shapes began to emerge, crawling, slithering. They weren’t echoes this time. These things were solid—too real.Damian moved to stand beside Annabel, blood still dripping from the wound on his side. “We need to grab him and run,” he said, gesturing toward Elijah.Annabel didn’t move. Her focus stayed on the creatures forming from the fissure. “If we turn our backs, we’re dead,” she said bl
Damian’s fist connected with the rogue wolf’s jaw, the impact echoing through the fractured terrain. The rogue staggered but didn’t fall, his smirk widening as blood trickled from his split lip.“Is that all you’ve got?” he mocked, stepping forward, the ground beneath his boots seeming to ripple unnaturally.Annabel stepped between them, shoving Damian back. “Enough!” she barked. Her eyes didn’t leave the rogue’s face. “What’s your play here?”The rogue tilted his head, feigning innocence. “Play? I’m cleaning up your mess, Annabel. You were too weak to finish this, so I stepped in.”Behind him, the remnants of the rogue’s forces regrouped, their movements sluggish but deliberate. Damian drew his weapon, his muscles taut, but Annabel raised her hand to stop him.“Tell me something,” she said to the rogue. “If I was too weak, why did you need me in the first place?”The rogue’s grin faltered for the briefest moment. Then he laughed, the sound sharp and grating. “Because you’re the key,
The clash was instant and brutal. Annabel’s doppelgänger moved first, closing the distance between them in a blur of motion. Her strike was precise, aimed directly for Annabel’s throat.Annabel twisted away, barely avoiding the attack. “Who are you?” she demanded, her voice sharp, unwavering.The doppelgänger’s smile mirrored Annabel’s, but it carried a malice that felt foreign. “I’m what you could have been,” it said, its voice echoing with unnatural resonance. “And what you’ll need to become.”Annabel tightened her grip on her blade, her eyes narrowing. “I don’t need riddles. If you’ve come to fight, get on with it.”The doppelgänger’s smirk widened. “You don’t get it, do you? This isn’t just a fight. It’s the end of you—or everything you claim to protect.”Damian stepped forward, his weapon drawn, his eyes darting between Annabel and her twisted double. “She looks like you, but she isn’t you,” he said, his voice low.Annabel didn’t respond. Her focus was locked on the doppelgänger,
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