The estate was suffocatingly quiet after the ambush. The only sounds were the occasional murmurs of Viktor’s men discussing strategies and the faint echo of footsteps down the hall. Amara sat on the edge of the bed in Viktor’s room, her hands trembling as she replayed the events in her mind. Roman’s chilling smile, his words, the gun pressed against her temple—it was all too vivid.She had faced danger before, but this was different. This wasn’t some abstract threat. This was personal.The door opened, and Viktor stepped in. His shirt was still smeared with soot and blood, his face a mask of exhaustion and fury. He stopped when he saw her, his eyes softening for a brief moment.“Amara,” he said quietly, walking toward her.She looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “He’s never going to stop, is he?”Viktor knelt in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Not until I make him,” he said, his voice low but firm. “I won’t let him hurt you again. I promise.”She searched his
The first creature lunged, its jagged claws tearing through the air, but Kael met it mid-strike. His wolf surged forward with feral precision, sinking teeth into flesh with a sickening crunch. The creature shrieked, its glowing red eyes burning with rage, and Kael flung its body into a nearby tree.“Sasha, run!” Kael growled, his voice primal, but Sasha stood frozen, her wide eyes locked on the chaos around her.“No!” she shouted, her voice breaking. “I’m not leaving you!”Ethan grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not unkind. “We need to go. He can hold them off, but if they get to you, it’s over!”Kael’s golden eyes burned as he locked onto Sasha. “Listen to him. Go! I’ll find you.”Tears blurred her vision, but Sasha nodded, letting Ethan pull her deeper into the forest. Her heart pounded with every step, the sounds of snarls and howls growing fainter behind her. But she couldn’t shake the feeling that Kael was fighting a battle he couldn’t win.“Where are we going?” she gasped, stru
The three of them stumbled out of the collapsing tunnel, their bodies battered and their breaths ragged. Sasha held onto Selena’s arm as the older woman limped beside her, blood soaking through her torn armor. Ethan, despite his own injuries, helped clear debris from their path as they emerged into the moonlit forest.For a moment, there was silence—just the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. But the peace felt hollow, fragile.Selena slumped against a tree, wincing as she pressed a hand to the wound across her chest. “We need to regroup. That thing… whatever it was, it’s not the last of them.”Ethan glanced at Sasha, his expression conflicted. “And you,” he said, his voice low, “you’re hiding something.”Sasha flinched, her grip tightening around the dagger still glowing faintly in her hand. She didn’t want to admit it—not to them, not even to herself—but the truth was becoming harder to ignore. The power she’d unleashed wasn’t just a weapon; it was a cu
Sasha stumbled backward, her breath hitching as she scanned the chamber for any sign of escape. The glowing sigils on the walls dimmed, their pulsing light reduced to faint whispers. The heavy air pressed down on her like a tangible weight, making it hard to breathe.“What the hell just happened?” Selena’s voice broke through the silence, trembling with both fear and anger as she helped Ethan to his feet. His face was pale, blood dripping from a wound on his forehead.Ethan’s jaw clenched, his gaze darting toward Sasha. “He’s trying to break you,” he said, his voice rough but steady. “Whatever this power is, it’s the key to his plans. He needs you to give in.”“I’m not giving him anything,” Sasha spat, though her hands were still shaking. She could feel the lingering heat of the strange energy that had surged through her, like an untamed storm clawing to break free. “But I don’t know how to stop him.”Selena leaned against the wall, clutching her side where blood seeped through her to
The world was dark when Sasha opened her eyes. Every breath she took felt like shards of glass slicing through her chest, the pain in her body a cruel reminder that she was still alive. Her fingers twitched, brushing against cold, damp earth. For a moment, she lay still, trying to piece together what had happened.Ethan.Her heart lurched, and she sat up abruptly, ignoring the sharp sting in her ribs. “Ethan?” she called, her voice hoarse and trembling. The sound echoed in the emptiness around her, swallowed by the oppressive silence.She was alone.Sasha’s chest tightened as panic set in. She pushed herself to her feet, wincing at the dull ache that radiated through her body. The cavern was gone, replaced by an endless expanse of mist and shadow. The ground beneath her was uneven and treacherous, and the air was thick with the metallic scent of blood.“Ethan!” she shouted again, her voice breaking.There was no answer.Tears welled in her eyes as she stumbled forward, her vision blur
Sasha stumbled back, her body trembling as Ethan stepped closer. He looked the same—the sharp jawline she’d traced so many times, the strong hands that had held her through the darkest nights—but his eyes were void of life. They were black holes that seemed to consume the light around him.“Ethan?” she whispered again, desperation clawing at her throat.He didn’t respond. His lips parted, but instead of the voice she loved, a guttural growl tore through the air, sending chills down her spine.The man who had sealed the deal stood off to the side, a smug grin plastered on his face as if he were enjoying the show. “You asked for him back,” he said, his voice laced with mockery. “Well, here he is.”“This isn’t him!” Sasha snapped, her voice breaking. She turned to face the stranger, anger and grief warring within her. “What did you do to him?”“I gave you what you wanted,” the man said with a shrug, his tone infuriatingly casual. “You didn’t specify how.”Sasha’s wolf snarled, clawing to
Sasha sat by Ethan’s side, her hands trembling as she held onto him. His body was warm, but his breaths were faint, barely audible over the storm of emotions swirling within her. The eerie quiet of the forest around them seemed to mock her desperation.“You’re not leaving me,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Do you hear me, Ethan? You fight. You fight for us.”But he didn’t respond. His face, once so full of life, was pale and gaunt, as though whatever darkness had claimed him was still leeching away what little strength remained.She tightened her grip on him, refusing to let go. The memory of the shadowy figure’s chilling words haunted her. He belongs to me now.“No,” she said aloud, her voice firmer this time. “You’re wrong. He’s mine.”The weight of the situation pressed down on her. She couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to slip further into whatever abyss the man had dragged him into. She needed help.Her mind raced, and only one name came to her. Jaxon.He was the only
The night was eerily silent as Sasha, Ethan, and Jaxon stood at the edge of the estate, the moonlight casting long shadows over the frost-covered ground. The stillness was deceptive, an ominous calm before the inevitable storm. Sasha’s heart pounded as she clutched the dagger Jaxon had handed her, its silver blade gleaming under the moon.“They’re here,” Ethan murmured, his voice low and cold.“How many?” Jaxon asked, his stance rigid, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.Ethan closed his eyes, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled deeply. When he opened them again, the flicker of darkness in his gaze was unmistakable. “Five. No, six. They’re circling us.”Sasha’s grip on the dagger tightened. “What are they?”“Not human,” Jaxon answered grimly. “But not entirely wolf, either. This is something else.”Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural growl broke the silence, echoing through the trees. Sasha’s breath hitched as a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows, fol
The air outside the cavern was thick with the scent of rain. Dark clouds loomed above the treetops, casting long shadows across the forest. The storm wasn’t here yet, but Sasha could feel it in the wind, the pressure shifting like an unspoken warning.Kai hadn’t said a word since they left the cavern. His jaw was clenched, his hands tense at his sides. Every step he took was purposeful, his body thrumming with barely restrained aggression.Sasha knew he was furious.Not just at Dorian, but at the entire situation spiraling out of their control.She wanted to say something—anything—to break the silence. But before she could, Kai suddenly stopped.His golden eyes flashed as he turned to her. “We need to leave the forest. Now.”Sasha frowned. “What? Why?”Kai’s muscles were tight, his shoulders tense. “That thing—whatever it was—it’s not done with us. And if Dorian is right, it’s only going to get worse.”Sasha swallowed. “So, what do we do?”Kai’s gaze darkened. “We go to the pack.”The
Sasha’s fingers trembled around the hilt of her dagger, her mind racing. Kai stood before her, his golden eyes now eclipsed by the abyss that had swallowed him whole. The shadowy figure loomed nearby, a dark presence that pulsed with power, its voice a whispered taunt in her ears.“There is only one way to free him… and it will cost you everything.”Her chest tightened. “What do you mean?” she demanded, keeping her voice steady despite the fear clawing at her insides.The figure stepped forward, its form shifting like black smoke. “His soul is bound to me now. You can break the bond, but to do so…” A pause. A cruel smirk. “You must take his place.”Sasha’s breath caught. “You’re lying.”“Am I?” The creature tilted its head, amused. “Feel free to test it. Strike me down, if you dare. Watch what happens to your precious mate.”Her grip on the dagger faltered. The cavern felt suffocating, the weight of the decision pressing down on her. If she killed this thing, Kai would die. If she too
Sasha’s breathing was ragged as she stood in the silent clearing, her fingers tightening around the dagger. The absence of Kai was a gaping wound in her chest, and the sinister laughter that had echoed through the forest still rang in her ears. The figure—whoever or whatever it was—had taken him.Her pulse pounded as she scanned the darkness, searching for any sign of where they had gone. The vortex that had swallowed the figure and Kai had vanished, leaving no trace behind. She clenched her jaw. I won’t lose him.The moment of stunned fear passed, replaced by a simmering determination. She forced herself to move, heading in the direction she had last seen the figure standing. The ground was disturbed, an unnatural chill lingering in the air. She pressed a hand against a nearby tree for balance, her body still aching from the blast of dark energy.A rustling noise made her snap around, dagger raised. Her heart leaped when she saw Ethan stumbling toward her, his face pale, his blue eye
Chapter 47: The Shadows StrikeThe air outside the collapsing chamber was heavy and damp, yet Sasha had never felt such a rush of relief. She and Ethan leaned against a jagged rock wall, their breaths ragged and labored. For a brief moment, the world around them was silent, save for the distant rumble of the collapsing ruins behind them.Sasha turned to Ethan, cupping his face with trembling hands. His skin was pale, his lips cracked, but his eyes were open—and alive. “We made it,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “You’re safe now.”Ethan gave a weak smile, brushing a strand of her hair from her face. “Thanks to you,” he said, his voice hoarse.But before they could savor their reunion, a chilling howl echoed through the forest surrounding them. Sasha froze, her heart sinking. That howl wasn’t human—or animal. It was something else entirely, and it was close.Ethan’s head snapped up, his eyes darkening with recognition. “We have to move,” he said, urgency returning to his
Sasha’s consciousness returned in fragments—flashes of searing heat, whispers in a language she didn’t understand, and the bone-deep sensation of being watched. Her body ached as if she’d been crushed under the weight of a mountain, and her head pounded in rhythm with a distant, echoing heartbeat.When her vision finally cleared, she found herself lying on a cold, blackened ground. Shadows danced around her, alive and shifting, their shapes ever-changing. The air was thick and suffocating, carrying the faint metallic tang of blood and fire.“Where… am I?” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the strange, haunting hum that filled the space.“You’re in its domain now,” a familiar voice answered.Sasha turned sharply, her heart leaping as she saw Solara standing a few feet away. The Guardian’s golden glow was dimmed, her once-brilliant form now muted and frail. She looked like a ghost of herself, her shoulders hunched and her eyes filled with weariness.“Solara!” Sasha scrambled
The passage narrowed with every step, its walls pressing in until they were forced to walk single file. The glow of the Heart lit their way, but its warmth felt faint compared to the oppressive cold that seemed to seep from the stone. The air was thick and damp, laced with an earthy, metallic tang that made Sasha’s skin crawl.“Stay close,” Alaric said, his voice low and cautious. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his eyes darting to every shadow that shifted along the walls.“I don’t think we’re alone down here,” Ethan muttered, his voice echoing ominously.Sasha’s grip on the Heart tightened. She could feel its power vibrating through her fingers, as though it were alive and aware of the danger surrounding them.“Is Lilith okay?” Sasha asked, glancing back.Ethan carried Lilith in his arms, her head resting limply against his shoulder. She hadn’t stirred since their fall into the abyss.“She’s breathing,” Ethan said, though his voice was tinged with worry. “But she’s not wak
The descent felt endless. The darkness swallowed them whole, disorienting and absolute. Sasha’s screams were ripped from her throat, lost to the roaring wind as they plummeted deeper into the void. The golden light of the Heart flickered in her grasp, struggling to pierce the oppressive black.Then, as suddenly as the fall began, it ended.Sasha hit the ground with a bone-jarring thud. Pain exploded through her body as the air was knocked from her lungs. She gasped, clutching her ribs, and looked around in panic. The ground beneath her was damp and cold, its surface slick like wet stone.“Ethan?” she croaked, her voice echoing eerily in the cavernous space. “Alaric? Lilith?”A groan came from somewhere to her left. Ethan staggered to his feet, shaking his head in confusion. His wolf form had receded, leaving him human again, his hair disheveled and his shirt torn.“I’m here,” he said, his voice hoarse. He moved toward Sasha, his eyes scanning their surroundings warily.Alaric was next
Lilith lay on the floor of Sasha’s small cabin, her breathing shallow, her face pale as moonlight. The room was deathly quiet, save for the faint crackle of the fire in the hearth. Sasha hovered over her, her trembling hands brushing damp strands of hair away from Lilith’s face.“Is she going to be okay?” Ethan asked, his voice low, though the tension in it was unmistakable. He stood in the corner of the room, still in his wolf form, pacing in short, restless circles.“I don’t know,” Sasha admitted. The Heart sat on the table beside her, dim and lifeless now, as though it had given everything it had in the confrontation.Alaric leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, his jaw clenched. He had barely spoken since they returned, his eyes fixed on Lilith’s motionless form.“She’s strong,” Alaric said at last, his voice quiet but firm. “She’ll fight her way back.”Sasha wanted to believe him, but the shadowy figure who had appeared just before they escaped the square haun
Sasha knelt on the cold, dust-covered floor of the now-silent library, the Heart of Eldara glowing faintly in her trembling hand. Her vision blurred, and a sharp pain throbbed at the base of her skull, as if the artifact itself was tearing into her soul. The room around her flickered, unstable, as though reality itself had been fractured by the ritual.“Alaric? Ethan?” she called out, her voice trembling.No answer.The stillness was suffocating, broken only by the faint hum of the Heart. She turned her head sharply at the sound of movement, only to see her reflection shimmering in the broken glass of the ritual bowl. But it wasn’t just her reflection—her eyes glowed faintly gold, mirroring the artifact’s light.Panic bubbled in her chest. Where were the others? What had she done?A faint, cruel laugh echoed in her ears again, making her heart pound.“I told you, Sasha,” Lilith’s voice cooed, disembodied and mocking. “You’ve made your choice. And now, so have I.”Sasha pushed to her f