KAELIt wasn’t possible. It couldn’t be possible. I stood at the edge of the balcony, hands gripping the rusted railing, eyes fixed on the city below. The night stretched wide, swallowing the streets in its cold embrace. Streetlights flickered, casting long, wavering shadows over empty sidewalks. Tesla. **She** had done this. The destruction. The flames. The bodies left in the aftermath. It didn’t make sense. Not herNot TeslaMy mind replayed the scene over and over, searching for something—**anything**—that could make it make sense. I had seen her standing there. The wreckage spread out before her, smoke curling from the ruins. Her hands trembling. Her breath ragged. And her eyes— God. Those eyesNot hers. Not the ones I knew. They had been darker. Deeper. Something else had been staring back at me. Something wrongI exhaled sharply, dragging a hand down my face. My skin felt cold despite the night’s humid air. Tesla had always been unpredictable.
KAELThe trees blurred past us. Shadows stretching. Branches clawing at the sky like bony fingers. The air was cold, thick with something heavy. Something old. Fang territory wasn’t just dangerous. It was cursed. I had sworn I’d never come back. And yet, here I was. Running straight into their jaws. Like a fool. Like a man with nothing left to lose. The path narrowed. The scent of damp earth filled my lungs. The sound of running water echoed somewhere in the distance. Henry moved ahead, his steps quiet, careful. He knew this land well. Lina kept glancing at me. Her fingers twitched at her sides, itching to grab a weapon. I understood the feeling. Because **every step** we took was another step closer to death. Another step toward **them**. And they were waiting. They always were.The trees ended. The land opened. And there it was. Fang territory. Lit by torches.The smell of wolves filled the air. And blood. Always blood. I clenched my
KAEL The metal bit into my skin. Cold. Tight. Final. I didn’t flinch. Jarek watched me, waiting. Expecting me to resist. To fight. But I didn’t. Not yet. Not when the scroll was still in play. Not when she still needed me. Lina clenched her fists. “This isn’t right.” Jarek chuckled. “It’s more than fair.” His gaze flicked to Henry. “Take your damn scroll and go.” Henry’s expression was unreadable. But he didn’t argue. He couldn’t. Not without risking everything. So he exhaled, turned away, and walked toward the tent. Lina hesitated. Her lips parted like she wanted to speak. To protest. But I shook my head. Go.Her eyes burned with fury, but she swallowed it down. For now. Jarek sighed, tilting his head. “Shame, really.” I didn’t react. Didn’t rise to the bait. I just stared at him. Unblinking. Unmoved. That only made him smirk. “Oh, this is going to be fun.” Henry returned quickly. Too quickly. His steps were sharp. Sti
TESLAThe crash came first. Sharp. Sudden. A shatter of glass and the unmistakable crack of wood splintering. I froze. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag. My heartbeat kicked up, quick and frantic, drowning out the silence that followed. Then—voices. Loud. Demanding. “Where is she?” I exhaled through my nose. Not now. Not here. I stepped toward the window, careful not to make a sound, and peered through the thin gap in the curtain. They were tearing through the reaction room. Tables overturned, chairs smashed against walls. The bartender cowered against the counter, hands raised, face pale. The leader—a thick-set man with silver streaks in his hair—grabbed someone by the collar. Pulled them forward. “Where is she?” he repeated, slower this time. More deliberate. My stomach twisted. I already knew the answer. The man they were holding—an old trader who had been sitting near me earlier—lifted a shaky hand. Pointed straight at my door. Shit.
KAELI couldn't believe my eyes.Tesla.Here.In this hellhole.She stood before me, her chest heaving, eyes wide with a mix of fear and determination."Tesla," I rasped, my voice raw. "What are you doing here?"She swallowed hard, glancing over her shoulder at the chaos outside the cell. "I was being followed," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't know where else to go. I thought I could lose them... but I ran straight into Jarek."Damn it.I clenched my fists, the chains rattling softly. "You shouldn't have come here."She shot me a glare, her fear momentarily replaced by anger. "You think I wanted to? I was trying to survive."I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "We need to get you out of here."She nodded, her eyes darting around the cell. "How do we get out?"I lifted my wrists, the metal cuffs digging into my skin. "These chains are laced with rosemary. They suppress our abilities."Her face paled. "So, we can't—""Shift," I finished for her. "No enha
HENRYThe candle flickered beside me, casting long shadows over the aged parchment spread across the wooden table. My fingers traced the ancient symbols inked onto the scroll, my eyes scanning each word with growing frustration. It all came to the same answer. Over and over. There was no way to break Tesla’s bond. I clenched my jaw, rubbing my temple as the exhaustion settled into my bones. There had to be something I was missing. Something hidden between the lines. The silence of the room shattered as the door banged open. My body reacted before my mind could catch up—I shot to my feet, my hands curling into fists, ready to fight. Then I saw them. Kael. Tesla. What the— "You both are here?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. Kael’s chest rose and fell, still catching his breath. He looked at me, then at the scroll on the table. "It’s a long story." Tesla, standing beside him, exhaled and crossed her arms. I studied them. Bruised. Worn out. Smelling of
Silence stretched between us. The wind rustled through the trees, carrying the lingering scent of fear, blood, and something else—something ancient. Tesla’s breath was uneven beside me. She didn’t speak, didn’t move. Neither did I. Aldric. The name meant nothing to me, but the way he looked at Tesla, the way he *knew* her, made my gut tighten. "You know how to break the bond?" My voice came out sharper than I intended. Aldric tilted his head, studying me with those unnerving golden eyes. "I do." Tesla’s hands curled into fists at her sides. "How?" Aldric exhaled, slow and measured. "Not here. Not now." He turned, motioning toward the trees. "Come with me." I took a step forward, then stopped. Something didn’t feel right. "You expect us to just trust you?" I asked. "After everything?" Aldric’s smirk didn’t reach his eyes. "I expect you to survive. If you stay here, Jarek’s men will be back. And next time, they won’t run." He wasn’t wrong. I glanced at Tesla. Her
KAELI pushed the door shut slowly, the hinges letting out a quiet creak as the wooden frame settled in place. My fingers lingered on the handle for a moment, my mind still restless. The dim glow from the fireplace barely lit the room, casting long shadows that flickered with the flames. The old man sat at a worn wooden table, his hands steady as he ladled steaming porridge into a bowl. His face was aged, his skin marked with time, but what unsettled me most was his confidence. He moved with ease, as if his blindness meant nothing. “Do you care for porridge?” he asked, his voice calm, almost inviting. I hesitated before shaking my head. “No, thank you.” My stomach ached with hunger, but I ignored it. Getting comfortable wasn’t an option. Not here. Not anywhere. The old man gave a small, knowing smile. “It will help you feel relaxed.” “I’m fine.” I stepped toward a chair and lowered myself into it stiffly, my body still tense. He nodded, unsurprised. “Alright.” He lifted
The old man’s smirk widened at Kael’s accusation. His sharp, calculating eyes gleamed in the dim firelight, reflecting the carnage around them. His hands, still clasped behind his back, twitched slightly—just enough for Kael to notice. Tesla’s trembling grew more violent. “You…” Kael’s voice was low, almost a whisper, but filled with restrained fury. “You did this to her.” The old man inclined his head, as if entertained by Kael’s discovery. “Indeed.” Kael clenched his fists. His body ached from the battle, but rage burned through him stronger than pain. “You turned her into… *this*.” A slow, amused chuckle rumbled from the old man’s throat. “Turned her?” He shook his head. “No, no, boy. I simply *unleashed* what was already there.” Tesla snarled, her body still locked in place, trembling, fighting something unseen. Her silver eyes flickered between recognition and complete void—between her and the monster clawing for control inside her. Henry gritted his teeth. “We’re s
The battlefield was still. Only the crackling of burning trees and the heavy breaths of wounded wolves filled the night. Scar, now in his monstrous wolf form, towered over Tesla, his golden eyes gleaming with malice. He took slow, deliberate steps toward her, his massive paws sinking into the bloodstained ground. Kael and Henry stood at a distance, watching tensely, their bodies aching from battle. “This isn’t good,” Kael muttered. Henry growled lowly. “She’s strong… but Scar is something else.” Tesla’s white wolf didn’t move. Her silver eyes burned with something primal, something ancient. She stood firm, shoulders squared, her fur bristling as the wind swept through the clearing. Scar bared his fangs. “You think because you unlocked some hidden power, you can stand against me?” His voice was deep, laced with arrogance. “I am your end, little wolf.” Tesla didn’t respond. She lunged. The force of her attack sent shockwaves through the ground. She was fast—unnaturally
The air grew tense. The moment Henry and Kael heard the snapping of branches behind them, they knew—Scar had caught up. A low, guttural growl rumbled through the darkness. Kael barely had time to shift before something massive slammed into him, knocking him sideways. Henry roared, his body already shifting mid-motion. Bones snapped, muscles expanded, fur sprouted along his skin. By the time he landed on all fours, his white fur gleamed under the moonlight. Scar’s men came like a storm, their snarls ripping through the night. Shadows moved fast, fangs flashing, claws striking. Kael barely had time to dodge the first attack before another wolf lunged. He twisted, kicking off a tree trunk, launching himself into his enemy with deadly force. His jaw clamped down on the wolf’s shoulder, his claws raking down its side. A yelp. A thud. But there was no time to breathe. Another came at him—then another. Henry was already deep in battle, his powerful form tearing through en
The night stretched long and cold, the air thick with the scent of blood and damp earth. The battle had ended, but the war was far from over. Scar emerged from the shadows, his towering frame moving with deadly grace. His fur, a deep shade of charcoal, gleamed under the moonlight. Scars littered his body, marks of past battles, proof of his dominance. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable as he stopped in front of the crumpled figure on the ground. Aldric. He was barely conscious, his breaths ragged, his body sprawled in the dirt, the wooden shard still embedded in his ribs. Blood pooled beneath him, dark and thick. He had lost. Scar tilted his head, a slow, measured movement. Then, without a word, he crouched down, gripping Aldric’s throat with one clawed hand. “Where are the others?” His voice was low, dangerous. Aldric’s lips curled into a weak snarl. He was in no condition to fight, no strength left to even lift his head. But he still had his pride. Sca
The wolves lunged. A blur of furs clashed under the moonlight, fangs bared, claws tearing at the earth as they collided with bone-crushing force. A snarl ripped through the air. Henry struck first, fast and brutal, his jaws snapping dangerously close to Aldric’s throat. But Aldric was faster. He twisted at the last second, his massive paws striking Henry’s side, sending him skidding across the dirt. Lina let out a small cry behind me, but I didn’t turn. I couldn’t. My eyes were locked on the battle unfolding before us. Henry recovered in seconds, his white fur now streaked with dirt and blood, but he didn’t hesitate. He launched himself at Aldric again, jaws snapping— Aldric dodged, but Henry was relentless. He struck again. And again. Each attack more brutal than the last, his fangs sinking into Aldric’s shoulder— Aldric snarled in pain, but it didn’t slow him down. If anything, it only made him angrier. With a vicious growl, he twisted, his claws sl
The blade came down. A sharp gasp lodged in my throat, but before I could make a sound, something clamped over my mouth. A hand. Strong. Unrelenting. I thrashed, my fingers clawing at the grip, but Aldric’s hold was ironclad. "Shh," he whispered against my ear, his breath cool, his voice eerily calm. "You don’t want to wake them just yet." The old man lay still. Unmoving. For a moment, my chest seized with fear, but then I saw it—his shallow, uneven breaths. He wasn’t dead. Not yet. Aldric must’ve realized he didn’t finish the job because his grip on me tightened, his frustration seeping through. I bit down. Hard. He let out a sharp curse, his hand jerking away just enough for me to suck in a deep breath— But I didn’t get the chance to scream. Because before I could, he yanked me backward, dragging me toward the barn doors with inhuman strength. I kicked, elbowed, fought— But he was faster. Stronger. I barely registered the doors swinging open b
The forest had a way of making you feel small. The towering trees, the endless darkness stretching beyond where the eye could see—it swallowed you whole, made you feel like you were nothing but a fleeting presence in a world that had existed long before you and would continue to exist long after. I sat with my back against the rough bark of a tree, Lina curled up beside me, her breathing deep and even as sleep finally claimed her. I wished I could rest as easily. But exhaustion was a weight on my shoulders, pressing down, dragging me toward unconsciousness, yet my mind refused to let go. I wasn’t the only one. Kael sat a few feet away, sharpening a blade absentmindedly, his eyes trained on the trees, as if daring something to step out. Henry was on the other side of the clearing, lying down but not quite asleep, his arm resting over his eyes, lost in thought. Aldric sat against another tree, silent, unmoving. He hadn’t said much since earlier, and I wasn’t sure if I preferred
TeslaOur footsteps were quiet, barely rustling the undergrowth as we moved through the forest, but the silence between us was louder than words. I kept my focus ahead, keeping close to Lina, who clung to my hand. Henry walked on my right, his jaw set in quiet determination, while Kael led the way with an unshaken confidence that made it seem like he always knew exactly where we were going. Aldric was behind me. Not too far. Not too close. Until he moved forward. I tensed. “I know you don’t trust me,” his voice was calm, even. “But you have to believe me—I didn’t do anything.” I didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at him. But he kept walking, his presence drawing closer, his voice lower now, just enough for me to hear. “I don’t expect you to trust me, Tesla,” he murmured, as if reading my mind. “But at least don’t see me as an enemy.” My fingers curled into a fist. “I never said you were my enemy.” Aldric exhaled softly. “But you think I could be.” I didn’t
TeslaScar’s growl echoed in the night as he ran off, his wounded pride as deep as the gash across his chest. His brother limped beside him, their figures disappearing into the darkness like ghosts, leaving behind only the scent of blood and bitterness. I watched them go, my breath still uneven, my muscles aching from the fight. But there was no time to dwell on it. Henry shifted back into his human form beside me, his skin still marked with the traces of battle. Without hesitation, he crouched down, lifting the blind old man onto his back. “We need to move,” Henry said, his voice firm. Aldric gave a small nod, silent as ever. We left without looking back. Kael took the lead, moving through the darkness with his usual quiet precision. Aldric walked beside me, his senses sharp, still wary of another ambush. I kept my eyes ahead, my mind a whirlwind of unanswered questions, lingering doubts, and the weight of everything that had just happened. But the moment we stepped int