37. Running From Shadows.

Lucy's POV

I couldn’t believe what just happened.

My heart was still racing from the tension at the witch’s shrine, and my mind refused to slow down. Father’s fury had never scared me this much before, but today it did .... because for the first time, I saw him kneel, begging.

My own father, proud Rowan, bowing and pleading like a common criminal.

And it was all for me.

I tried to catch my breath as we stepped outside, the cool night air brushing my face. Everything around me seemed surreal ... the pale moonlight casting elongated shadows on the stone path, the wind whispering through the trees. Yet, despite the beauty, I felt trapped, like a caged wolf who didn’t belong in this world of magic, power, and unending demands.

“Dad,” I said, my voice trembling, trying to steady myself,

“I’m… I’m not interested.”

Rowan froze. I could see the muscles in his jaw tighten, his eyes narrowing.

“Lucy… don’t—” he started, his usual commanding tone cracked, almost like he didn’t know how to handle my words.

“No!” I cut him off, urgency and anger mixing with fear.

“This… all of this is too dangerous! You don’t get it, and I’m done pretending!” I could feel the energy building inside me, the wolf instincts rattling my bones, ready to burst free.

“If it’s just to fight vampires alone? Fine. I’ll do that. But being forced into… into this? No, Father. I won’t do it. Not because you say I have to. Not because the Council demands it. I’m not some weapon you can order around!”

The frustration, the anger, and the fear collided in my chest, making it hard to breathe. Every fiber of my being screamed to break free.

I could hear my father’s heavy footsteps behind me as he tried to step closer, to argue, to reason… or maybe to command. But I wasn’t listening anymore.

“I’m not your pawn!” I shouted over my shoulder, my voice breaking the quiet of the night. “I’m not anyone’s tool! Do you hear me?!”

I turned to face him for just a moment, eyes blazing, but then I knew it wasn’t enough. He wouldn’t understand — not yet. Not until I acted. And I couldn’t waste time with words. My hands and feet itched with power. The wolf inside me, born of a lineage centuries old, demanded release.

Without another word, I bent my knees slightly, feeling the ground beneath me. My pulse synchronized with the energy coursing through my veins. And then, I ran.

Not just run. I exploded forward, my legs carrying me faster than anything I had ever done before. The world blurred around me. Trees became streaks of black and silver; the wind cut through my hair, stinging my eyes, but I didn’t slow. I had no destination, just the instinct to flee, to reclaim control over my own life.

I could hear Father’s shout behind me, distant, frustrated, but powerless against my speed. “Lucy! Stop!”

I didn’t stop. Every step I took propelled me further from the shrine, from the threats, from the unnatural expectation that I would obey a destiny I hadn’t chosen. Every ounce of my training, every lesson from the council, every time I had restrained my powers, I unleashed now. The rush was intoxicating, the freedom overwhelming.

My mind raced as fast as my legs. I thought of the witch’s words — the tattoo, the ashes of the vampire general, the blood of the werewolf. It was dangerous. Deadly. And she hadn’t even told me how much it would cost me — my strength, my humanity, maybe even my life. No one had asked me what I wanted. Not the council, not Father, not anyone.

And then there was Adrian. Even as my feet pounded against the earth, his image flashed in my mind. That night in the woods, the rescue, the strange pull I felt toward him — it hadn’t left me. It was confusing, maddening. And yet, I had no time for those thoughts right now. Survival, freedom, choice — those were my priorities.

I darted through the trees, leaping over roots, sliding under low branches, my wolf senses guiding me through the darkness. Every sound was amplified — the rustle of leaves, the distant call of a night bird, even the faintest footstep on the mossy ground. I could smell the earth, the wetness of the grass, the faint scent of wolves in the distance. Everything felt alive, vibrant, mine to command.

Father’s voice was gone now, replaced by the howl of the wind, the rhythm of my heartbeat, and the exhilarating speed that made my chest burn and my lungs ache. I was free, if only for this night, if only for these moments.

I slowed only slightly when I reached the cliff near the edge of the enchanted woods surrounding the city. The city lights twinkled far below, distant and unreachable. I paused, chest heaving, hair plastered to my face from the sweat and wind. The moon hung high above, pale and cold, casting silver across the treetops and cliff edges. I felt the wolf inside me shift, stretching, yearning. It was alive, powerful, untamed.

I crouched, low to the ground, and let my claws dig into the earth. My breath fogged in the cool night air. I felt invincible and vulnerable all at once. The weight of everything — the council, the ritual, Father’s expectations, Lucy’s choices, the looming threat of vampires — pressed against me. And yet, this one thing, this one moment of freedom, was mine.

I howled.

Not just a scream of fear or frustration, but a full-throated, primal, pure wolf’s howl. It tore through the night, echoing off the cliffs, rolling over the treetops, carrying my defiance, my anger, my liberation. The sound vibrated through my bones, shaking every muscle, every nerve, every cell.

Somewhere in the distance, I imagined Father hearing it. I imagined him knowing — finally knowing — that I would never be controlled, never be forced, never bow to something I didn’t choose.

Back in the city, Caleb was pacing in Adrian’s mansion, trying to focus on some documents for the company. The silence was heavy, the kind that pressed against your chest, suffocating. And then, faintly, carried by the wind — a howl.

Caleb froze, pen hovering over the paper. His sharp wolf senses recognized it instantly. Not the ordinary howl of a regular wolf, but the deep, distressed, powerful cry of an alpha in pain. Adrian. His mind raced as he dropped the pen, standing abruptly, feeling the vibrations of that howl resonate through his body.

“Damn it,” Caleb muttered under his breath, straining to listen. Every hair on his body stood on end. He could almost feel the intensity, the anger, the turmoil of Adrian’s emotions in every note of that cry. “He’s out there. He’s… he’s hurting.”

Something inside him twisted. He knew Adrian better than anyone — the pride, the stoicism, the coldness, the alpha dominance. But that howl… that was different. Vulnerable. Painful.

Meanwhile, I was still running, slowing only as I reached the edge of the forest closest to the city’s outskirts. I felt a strange pull — something anchoring me, whispering through the wind, telling me I couldn’t escape forever. But not tonight. Not while the adrenaline surged. Not while my lungs burned, my heart raced, and my wolf roared in defiance.

I stopped, crouching low again, ears twitching, senses alert. I could feel the city, the humans oblivious to the war and the creatures living just above their sight. I could feel the lingering danger — vampires evolving, the council plotting, and Adrian’s own complications with the Luna. My life, my choices, my very essence, were entangled in all of this. And yet, tonight, I claimed a small piece for myself.

Caleb, still in the mansion, closed his eyes, focusing on the vibrations of the howl. He could almost see me — the blur of movement, the defiance, the need to be free. His lips curled slightly in a mix of exasperation and understanding. Adrian might be proud, stubborn, and cold… but this — this was Adrian like Caleb had never heard before. A mixture of fury, frustration, and a need for control that was human and wolf combined.

I finally stopped moving entirely, sitting on a large rock, my chest heaving. The wind whipped my hair across my face, but I didn’t mind. I closed my eyes, letting the wolf within me calm, letting the adrenaline fade. Tonight, I had run. Tonight, I had chosen myself. And no one — not Father, not the council, not Adrian, not the world — could take that away from me.

Caleb’s mind was still on the howl. “That alpha…” he muttered, pacing again. “He’s spiraling. He needs to regain control… and I need to make sure he doesn’t destroy himself in the process.”

I opened my eyes, staring at the moon above. It seemed to shine just for me, or maybe for the wolf that had claimed my soul. The night was silent now, except for the occasional rustle of trees and the distant sounds of the city. I took a deep breath, letting the tension leave my body.

The road ahead was uncertain. The dangers, the vampires, the council, the rituals, Adrian, the chaos — all of it was still there, looming, waiting. But for tonight… I had run. And for tonight, I was free.

Somewhere in the mansion, Caleb shook his head, a small smile breaking through his worry. He recognized the howl, recognized the pain behind it. “He’s alive,” Caleb whispered, almost to himself. “He’s alive… and he’s not giving up.”

And somewhere deep inside me, I knew Adrian’s howl would not be the last. The moon would watch, the night would witness, and soon, all the pieces — vampires, werewolves, the council, the Lunar god, and our tangled fates — would collide in ways no one could foresee.

But for now… I was running. And for now… I was free.