Chapter 21 : Wolves in Town

Elena' s POV 

The cool night air wrapped around Elena and Sara as they stepped out of the bar, the echo of laughter and music fading behind them. Elena’s cheeks were warm from the cocktails, her spirits lifted by the evening spent with her best friend.

“I’m telling you,” Sara said, waving her hands animatedly as they walked down the cobblestone street. “Ben’s going to ask me out. It’s just a matter of time.”

Elena chuckled, her own thoughts drifting to Ren. She hadn’t heard from him since their date, but she wasn’t worried. Something about the connection they shared made her feel certain that he’d reach out soon.

The sound of distant shouts snapped her out of her reverie. She stopped mid-step, her brow furrowing as she turned toward the noise.

“Did you hear that?” she asked, her voice cautious.

Sara paused, tilting her head. “Yeah… it sounded like-”

A scream cut through the night, sharp and bloodcurdling.

Both women froze, their eyes wide. The streets, once lively with people spilling out of bars and restaurants, were now filled with chaos. Shadows moved in the distance, large and fast, darting between buildings.

“What the hell..” Sara began, but the words caught in her throat as one of the shadows burst into view.

A massive wolf, its fur black as midnight and its eyes glowing a sickly yellow, charged down the street, its fangs bared. People scattered in its wake, their screams echoing through the narrow alleyways.

Elena’s heart lurched, her pulse pounding in her ears. This wasn’t a regular wolf - its size, its speed, the sheer malice radiating from it - it was something else entirely.

“Run!” she shouted, grabbing Sara’s arm and pulling her toward a side street.

They sprinted down the alley, their footsteps echoing against the brick walls. Elena’s mind raced as she tried to process what was happening.

“Wolves?” Sara gasped, struggling to keep up. “What the hell is going on? Wolves don’t attack people!”

“These aren’t normal wolves,” Elena said breathlessly, glancing over her shoulder. The shadows were still moving, more of the creatures emerging from the darkness.

“Then what are they?” Sara demanded, her voice trembling.

Elena didn’t answer. She couldn’t - not without revealing the thoughts swirling in her mind. These wolves reminded her of the stories she had studied, the myths of shifters who had lost their humanity, consumed by darkness and bloodlust.

They reached the end of the alley and burst onto a wider street, only to stop dead in their tracks. Two wolves were circling a small group of people near a fountain, their low growls reverberating through the air.

One of the wolves lunged, its massive jaws snapping as it went for a young man trying to shield a woman behind him.

“No!” Elena cried, her voice instinctive and raw.

Before she could think, she grabbed a loose piece of wood from the ground and charged forward, her heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.

“Elena, no!” Sara screamed, but it was too late.

Elena swung the makeshift weapon with all her strength, striking the wolf across its flank. It let out a snarl, turning its glowing yellow eyes on her.

Her breath caught, her body frozen as the creature advanced, its fangs glinting in the dim light.

This is it, she thought, her mind flashing with images of Ren, of Sara, of everything she’d never get to say or do.

But then, a blur of motion filled her vision, and the wolf was gone, knocked to the ground by another, larger figure.

Elena stumbled back, her heart racing as she took in the new arrival. Another wolf - this one even larger, with thick, silver-gray fur and piercing amber eyes.

Her breath hitched. She knew those eyes.

“Ren,” she whispered, her voice trembling.

The gray wolf stood over her, his powerful frame bristling with tension as he snarled at the black-furred creature now scrambling to its feet. The air between them crackled with energy, a standoff charged with primal fury.

The black wolf lunged, but Ren was faster. He moved with impossible speed, his claws slashing through the air as he met the creature head-on. The clash of their bodies sent shockwaves through the ground, their growls echoing like thunder.

“Elena!” Sara’s voice broke through the chaos, snapping her out of her trance.

She turned to see her friend crouched behind a car, her eyes wide with terror.

“Go!” Elena shouted, motioning for her to run. “Get out of here!”

“What about you?” Sara yelled back.

“I’ll catch up!” Elena lied, her eyes darting back to the fight.

Ren was relentless, his strength and agility overwhelming the black wolf. With one final, devastating blow, he sent the creature sprawling to the ground, its body limp and unmoving.

For a moment, silence fell over the street, the air thick with tension.

Ren turned to face Elena, his amber eyes softening as they met hers. She took a shaky step forward, her heart pounding as she stared at him.

“It’s you,” she whispered, the words barely audible.

He dipped his massive head, his gaze steady and reassuring.

But the moment was short-lived. A distant howl pierced the night, followed by more movement in the shadows.

Ren growled, his body tense as he scanned the street. The fight wasn’t over - not yet.

“Elena!” Sara’s voice rang out again, pulling her attention.

“We have to go!” Elena called to Ren, her voice firm despite the fear coursing through her veins. “Come on!”

Ren hesitated for a moment, then nodded. As he moved to her side, she felt a strange sense of calm wash over her.

Together, they ran into the night, the sounds of chaos fading behind them.