THE GHOST OF THE CRESCENT PACK

“What did you inject her with?” Valkira demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

The lead doctor stepped back, his hands shaking. “Who are you?”

“Answer me. Now.”

The head nurse trembled. “A paralytic toxin. She was too strong for our normal anesthesia.”

Valkira moved in a flash. She grabbed the nurse by her lab coat and pulled her close.

“Is the dose deadly?”

“No,” the nurse whimpered. “The effects will wear off completely in about half an hour. But—”

Valkira shoved her aside. The nurse crashed into the wall.

Valkira turned back to the table and pulled a small brown bottle from her leather vest. She opened it, filled a dropper with the purple liquid, and gently forced Yana’s mouth open.

Three drops fell onto her daughter’s tongue.

The change was almost instant.

Yana’s chest rose sharply. Her silver eyes came back into focus, and a soft sound escaped her throat.

Behind them, the medical staff realized they were trapped. Several nurses and the remaining doctor grabbed heavy metal tools and scalpels, preparing to swarm at them.

"We clear the room first," Valkira ordered, stepping in front of the operating table to protect Yana.

Chris spun his hunting knives, stepping up to guard her left flank. "Together, Alpha.”

Valkira began to shift.

Her spine bent with a series of sharp cracks. Her face pushed forward as her bones changed shape. Thick, midnight-black fur burst through her skin.

Her hands twisted into massive paws, each one ending in long, curved black claws. Her full wolf form was twice the size of a normal wolf, her silver eyes burning with pure fury.

The staff screamed. One of the assistant doctors ran for the side door, but Valkira was faster. She blocked his path and slammed her massive body into him. He flew into a metal instrument cart, knocking it over and sending scalpels sliding across the floor.

A nurse grabbed a heavy metal tray and swung it at Valkira's head.

Before the tray could connect, Chris threw a swift kick to the back of the nurse's knee, sweeping her legs out from under her.

Valkira ducked. Her jaws snapped around the falling tray and crushed it in half. She whipped her head to the side, striking the nurse across the jaw. The woman dropped instantly.

Another doctor tried to run.

Chris threw one of his knives. The heavy handle struck the doctor square between the shoulders, making him stumble forward. Valkira caught him by the leg with her jaws and dragged him across the floor. With one violent jerk, she threw him into a large medical monitor.

The screen cracked.

Sparks hissed from the broken machine.

A nurse made a desperate run for the door.

"I've got her!" Chris yelled. He leaped forward, tackling the woman to the ground and pinning her arms before she could escape.

Another nurse raised a syringe.

Valkira knocked it from her hand, then swung her paw into the surgery light above them.

The light shattered, half of the room fell into darkness.

With the room cleared of active threats, Chris quickly wiped his blade and moved to the table. He cut through the remaining restraints with his knife. He carefully lifted Yana into his arms.

She was light, far too light for a child her age.

“Go,” she ordered.

Chris turned and ran up the stairs.

Only one person remained.

The lead doctor pressed himself against the wall, shaking so badly he could barely speak.

Valkira slammed the broken door shut behind him, blocking the way out. 

The lead doctor raised his shaking hands.

“Please... Don't kill me.” His eyes were wide with terror. 

Valkira walked slowly toward him on all fours, her heavy claws clicking against the bloody floor.

Then she shifted back into human form.

Her bones snapped back into place as the black fur disappeared. Before the doctor could move, Valkira grabbed him by the throat and lifted him off the ground.

“Who owns this hospital?”

“The Bloodmoon Pack!” the doctor choked out, his eyes wide with fear. 

Valkira's grip tightened.

“Do you know the little girl you just tried to kill?”

“She's Alpha Hertos granddaughter. But he's dead. His pack is gone.”

“His pack is not gone,” Valkira whispered.

The doctor stared at her face.

Then his eyes widened.

Her silver eyes.

“You're her.” His voice shook. “You're Valkira Valerius. But Lucas threw you into the sea—”

“He did,” Valkira said coldly. “And I came back.”

She twisted his neck with one quick movement.

His body went limp, dropping to the floor. 

"I am Valkira Valerius," she said to the silent, bloody room. "And I am done hiding.”

She turned and walked through the dark basement tunnel. It led to a quiet alley behind the hospital.

She had pulled a stolen medical coat over her shoulders and still wore her heavy boots. Fresh blood covered her bare arms.

Her getaway car was parked at the end of the block beneath a broken streetlight.

Valkira started toward it, then stopped.

The car was rocking violently from side to side.

Something was happening inside.

Valkira's heart skipped, and then she broke into a sprint. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The getaway car was only twenty meters away, parked beneath a flickering streetlight.

The back door hung wide open.

Valkira slowed, expecting an ambush.

Then a small figure suddenly burst from the rocking car.

It was Yana.

The little girl ran straight toward Valkira, her thin arms stretched wide. Tears and black soot covered her small face.

“Mom!”

Valkira froze.

That one word broke through every wall she had built around herself for the past five years.

She dropped to her knees on the hard pavement, her guard finally gone.

Yana crashed into her arms.

Valkira held her tightly, wrapping her scarred arms around the little girl. She could feel every bone in Yana’s small body beneath her clothes. Her tiny heart beat fast against Valkira’s chest.

“I knew it was you,” Yana cried, clinging to her neck. “Grandma Helen showed me your picture every night. She told me stories about how strong you were. She said you would survive.”

Yana pulled back just enough to look into her eyes.

“You're Valkira. You're my mother.”

Valkira couldn't speak. Her throat tightened as the emotions she had held back for five years finally broke free.

Tears rolled down her face, cutting through the dried blood on her cheeks.

She pulled Yana closer and buried her face in the little girl's hair.

Yana sobbed against her shoulder, finally letting out all the fear she had been holding inside for months.

For the first time in years, Valkira held her daughter in her arms.

And she didn't want to let go.

Chris stepped out of the driver's side of the car, his hand resting on the hilt of his knife.

“She woke up a few minutes after we left,” he said. “At first, she didn't know where she was. She got scared and started fighting. She kicked and screamed and tried to get away from me.”

Valkira looked down at Yana, holding her even tighter.

“I tried to calm her down, but she wouldn't listen. Then she saw you walking down the street.”

Chris glanced at Yana.

“The moment she recognized you, she broke free and ran straight for you.”

Valkira gave him a single nod.

She pulled back and looked into Yana's face. The little girl had the same silver eyes as her mother. Even the sharp shape of her jaw was the same.

“I’m here now,” Valkira said, her voice firm. “And I'm never leaving you again. Never.”

But Yana grabbed the collar of Valkira's coat, her tiny fingers digging into the heavy fabric as she looked wildly down the dark street.

Mom, we can't stay here," Yana gasped, her small body shaking all over again. "We don't have time. They are going to hurt her.” 

Valkira's heart skipped a beat, and her inner wolf went on high alert. She gently held Yana's shoulders. "Who is going to be hurt? Do you mean your grandmother?”