I saw it in Zane’s eyes before he said anything—the ground under our feet was already crumbling.“They’re regrouping,” he muttered, gripping his sword. His knuckles were white.“We don’t have enough left to hold them,” Aiden added, limping to my side. Blood smeared his face. He swayed slightly but stayed on his feet.“Then we don’t hold them.” My voice came sharper than I intended. “We push back, hard enough that they don’t get up again.”“You think that’s an option?” Zane shot back, his voice cutting through the chaos behind us. “Elijah’s—whatever he’s become—left us wide open. We’ve already lost half our people, Annabel.”My chest tightened, but I couldn’t let them see it. “Losing isn’t an option. Not now.”“Then we need more than desperation,” Gideon interjected, stepping out of the shadows like he hadn’t just left us to fend for ourselves. He looked far too clean for someone in the middle of a warzone. “I can get us that edge, but it’ll cost you.”“I’m done with your games,” I sna
Elijah lunged at Gideon with inhuman speed. I barely had time to react before the two collided, their clash sending a shockwave through the battlefield. Wolves scrambled to get out of the way, some tripping over fallen bodies in their haste.Gideon twisted, dodging Elijah’s claws, and drove his blade into Elijah’s chest. It sank deep but didn’t stop him. Elijah’s hand shot out, grabbing Gideon by the throat and slamming him into the ground.“You always underestimated me,” Elijah snarled, his voice reverberating with unnatural power. “That was your first mistake.”I moved without thinking. My blade caught Elijah’s arm, forcing him to release Gideon. He turned to me, eyes blazing.“You’re really going to challenge me, Annabel? After everything I’ve done for you?”“Everything you’ve done for me?” I repeated, my grip tightening on the hilt of my sword. “You’ve destroyed this pack. You’ve turned us into nothing but pawns in your game for power.”His laugh was low and dark. “And yet, here y
Zane’s yell snapped me out of my thoughts. “Annabel! Move!”I turned, barely dodging a blade aimed for my side. The rogue lunged again, his face a mixture of fury and desperation. His attacks were wild but strong, driving me back step by step.“Is this loyalty to Elijah or a bid for survival?” I asked, sidestepping another swing.He didn’t answer. His only reply was the grinding sound of his blade dragging across mine as I blocked him.From the corner of my eye, I saw Gideon lock eyes with another wolf, one of Elijah’s closest allies. They circled each other, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Zane, battered but relentless, tore into the fray, keeping the fight away from our injured.The pack was hanging on by threads. Elijah’s retreat had left a vacuum, and no one trusted anyone anymore. Even now, allies glanced at each other with suspicion. This fight wasn’t just about who held power—it was about who would live long enough to claim it.The rogue pressed forward, his
Gideon’s warning came too late.The ground beneath us shifted violently. Wolves scrambled for balance, some tumbling into the fractured earth left in Elijah’s wake. I turned toward the source of the sound—a heavy, grinding rumble, like stone being dragged across bone.A figure rose from the shadows beyond the battlefield. It was massive, its shape wrong, as if it couldn’t decide whether it belonged to this world or something far worse.“What is that?” Zane asked, his voice barely above a whisper.Gideon didn’t answer. His eyes stayed locked on the creature as it stepped into view. Its claws glistened, its face obscured by shifting darkness.“It’s what Elijah feared,” Gideon finally said, his voice grim. “And what he unleashed to stop you.”The creature moved faster than anything its size should. Wolves scattered, some bolting, others frozen in fear. The few brave—or foolish—enough to attack were swept aside like leaves in a storm.“Annabel!” Gideon grabbed my arm, snapping me into foc
Zane stumbled back, blood dripping from a fresh gash along his arm. “Annabel, it’s not stopping!”The rogue wolf surged forward, claws slashing the air. Its eyes burned with a cruel light, locking onto me as if everything else in the battlefield had disappeared.Gideon was kneeling near the ruins, trying to stabilize the ground that still pulsed with the energy I had unleashed. His voice cut through the chaos. “You need to control it now! Or it’ll take all of us!”I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress the power coursing through me. It fought back, wild and insistent, like it had a will of its own. Around me, wolves that had stood ready to fight moments ago now hesitated, caught between fear and fury.The rogue wolf’s growl deepened as it spoke for the first time. “Look at what you’ve become, Annabel. Just like Elijah. Worse, even.”I didn’t answer. Words wouldn’t save anyone now.It lunged again, its claws a blur. I met it head-on, slamming into it with all the strength I could summo
The silence shattered with a scream—Zane’s.I turned to see him fall to his knees, clutching his chest. His face twisted in agony as his body convulsed. I ran toward him, but something unseen threw me back, slamming me into the ground.“What’s happening to him?” I shouted, forcing myself to stand.Gideon’s voice broke through the chaos, panicked but resolute. “It’s the power you released. It’s latching onto him!”Zane collapsed, his breathing ragged, and his eyes snapped open. They glowed unnaturally, like embers burning too bright. He growled—a deep, guttural sound that wasn’t his.I froze. “That’s not Zane anymore.”The rogue wolf emerged from the shadows, watching with a twisted smile. “Well, this is unexpected. Seems your power has found a new vessel.”I glared at him. “You knew this could happen.”“Of course,” he said, unfazed. “You didn’t think that kind of energy would just disappear, did you? It’s alive, Annabel. It chooses its host.”Zane rose slowly, his movements jerky, his
Zane’s body jerked violently as the shadow poured into him, twisting his form. His face contorted in a mix of agony and fury. The air crackled around him. He rose, and when his eyes met mine, they were no longer his.“Annabel,” he said, his voice layered with something ancient, something inhuman. “You called, and I have answered.”I braced myself, forcing calm into my voice. “Who are you?”“I am everything you feared. Everything you hoped to control. And now, I am free.”The rogue wolf moved closer, a sharp grin cutting across his face. “Well, this is escalating nicely. Didn’t think you’d summon something quite so... ambitious.”Zane—or whatever he had become—snapped his head toward the rogue. “You should kneel. Now.”The rogue laughed but didn’t move. “I don’t kneel.”Before he could say another word, Zane raised a hand. The rogue wolf flew backward, slamming into a crumbled wall. He didn’t get up.I charged forward, pulling power from deep within, but Zane—or the entity inside him—m
The shadow lunged at me, massive and formless, but I stood my ground. I summoned everything within me, my power crackling in my veins like an untamed storm.“You can’t take what’s mine,” I shouted, pushing back with a surge of energy.The shadow recoiled but didn’t retreat. Its voice came again, deep and resonant. “You misunderstand. You were never its master.”Before I could respond, something slammed into me from the side, knocking me off balance. I hit the ground hard, rolling to avoid the sharp claws of one of the shadow creatures. Gideon rushed to my side, driving a blade into the beast’s neck.“Annabel, move!” he barked, hauling me to my feet.I glanced back. The rogue wolf had managed to stand again, bloodied but alive. He limped toward us, his gaze locked on the growing mass of darkness.“You brought this here,” I said to him.His laugh was bitter. “And yet you’re the one it wants. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”The ground beneath us began to crack and split apart. The massi
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