Prologue Part 2

The words were barely out of his mouth before he raised his hand, a twisted magic crackling at his fingertips, and hurled it toward them.

The world erupted in chaos.

Gabriel, with lightning speed, shoved Zoe and her mother aside, shielding them as the dark blast struck. He shifted instantly, his own powerful wolf form unfurling in a burst of gray fur. “Run, Zoe! Get away from here!” he snarled in mind link, bracing himself as Philip’s warriors launched forward.

Zoe’s mother gripped her shoulders, her eyes blazing. “Remember what I said. Trust yourself. We’ll hold them off. I love you. Run, now !”

“But, Mom..” Zoe’s words were cut off as her mother shifted, her form melting into the sleek, silvery wolf that Zoe had always known - swift and strong, her mother’s wolf stood guard, a fierce protector.

Zoe stumbled back, her eyes darting to Philip, who watched her with a sick satisfaction as his warriors closed in. But she couldn’t stay, not if she wanted to survive even a moment longer. She took off toward the street, her own heart pounding as she fought to contain the panic clawing at her.

Behind her, she heard the sounds of battle, fierce growls, the ripping of fur, the clash of snarling wolves against each other, and the ominous roar of Philip’s dark magic tearing through the night.

She turned her head just in time to see a surge of dark magic strike her father in chest, the force sending him stumbling back, pain and shock etched across his face. Her gaze darted to her brother’s lifeless form sprawled in a pool of his own blood, his wolf body still and silent. The agony of loss clawed at her chest, threatening to pull her under, but her eyes were drawn back to the fight unfolding before her.

Two enormous brown wolves had her mother pinned, their teeth locked into her sides, holding her captive. She fought with every ounce of strength she had, her snarls and growls piercing the air, but they held her fast. And then, a third wolf - a massive black beast with a silver mark shimmering along his back - lunged for her mother’s neck, his fangs flashing in the dim light before sinking deep into her throat.

The world spun around Zoe as she watched helplessly, each heartbeat pounding like a war drum in her chest. The horror unfolding before her was both unbearable and all too real.

She had to keep running. She had to survive - for them and to get her revenge. Her family’s faces burned in her memory. Each look of love is a haunting reminder that she had to make it out alive. If she didn’t, they’d have died for nothing.

Behind her, two hulking wolves from the Ironclaw Pack snarled as they closed in, their red eyes glowing with a relentless hunger. Each pound of their massive paws against the earth sounded closer than the last. She barely had time to turn her head when one lunged, its breath hot on her neck. Instinct kicked in, and Zoe prepared to shift, to give her wolf Nila control. But then, out of nowhere, the roar of a car shattered the silence.

Headlights cut through the trees, blinding and bright. A black SUV skidded to a halt right on the trail, tires screeching as they bit into the dirt. Nikola. It had to be him. With everything in her, she bolted toward the SUV, desperate for safety, just as the back door swung open.

Inside, Dominic’s face appeared, urgent and unyielding.“Jump in!” he yelled, hand stretched out to her.

She didn’t hesitate. With one last push, she leapt into the vehicle, and Dominic’s arm closed around her, pulling her in as Nikola floored the gas. The SUV lurched forward, its engine roaring as the tires spun and kicked up a cloud of dust. Zoe barely managed to slam the door closed as Nikola sped down the forest road, the Ironclaw wolves giving chase for a few yards before fading into the darkness.

Dominic’s gaze darted to her, his face tight with concern as he took in her mud-streaked skin and bloodshot eyes.“Are you hurt?”His voice was rough with worry as he scanned her for any signs of injury.

Zoe took a shaky breath, barely able to speak. “No… no,” she managed, but her voice cracked under the weight of the truth: she was completely shattered, her entire world obliterated in a single night.

Dominic closed his eyes briefly, his grip on her shoulder tightening. “Thank the Goddess…” He didn’t finish, the relief in his voice giving way to something darker as he watched her. Just then, a deafening explosion shook the ground beneath them.

Zoe’s head snapped around, her hands trembling as she looked back. Through the rear window, she saw her house - a place filled with memories of laughter, warmth, and love - engulfed in flames. The fire roared, hungry and wild, consuming everything in its path. In that moment, Zoe realized the awful, heartbreaking truth: her home was gone. Her family was gone.

A sob broke free, raw and guttural, and she slumped against the seat, clutching her arms around herself as if they were the only thing holding her together. The tears came fast and fierce, each one carrying a piece of her shattered soul. Dominic slid closer, wrapping his arm around her, his hold gentle but unyielding. She buried her face against his shoulder, letting the comfort of his touch ground her, even if just barely.

From the front seat, Sara watched in silence, her face pale and her eyes wide with horror. Slowly, she turned around, her hand covering her mouth, her own eyes brimming with unshed tears as she tried to process the enormity of what they’d just witnessed.

Dominic held Zoe, his own gaze drifting to the rear view mirror, where Nikola’s eyes met his. In that shared glance, the unspoken grief weighed heavy between them.They had lost their father too, in a different way. Alpha Philip had been consumed by darkness, a man twisted by powers beyond his control. They both knew he’d never be the same. With no Alpha to hold the pack together, their home was at risk, and their futures uncertain.

After what felt like an eternity, Dominic shifted, keeping his arm around Zoe but speaking softly. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered, his voice firm with conviction even if his heart felt anything but certain. “Together, we’ll figure it out. You have us, Zoe.”

The car fell into silence as Zoe looked out the window, her tears subsiding into a quiet ache that settled deep in her chest. She had lost everything, her family and her home, and yet… she wasn’t alone. Not entirely.

Now, the only safe place they had left was Nighthaven.