CRIMSON OATHS

The forest burned.

Ash drifted like black snow, catching in Elora’s hair as she stood shoulder to shoulder with Joel. His golden eyes glowed, sharp and feral even in human form. Around them, Silverfang warriors shifted in and out of their wolf forms, snarling at the approaching threat.

Rowan’s forces emerged from the treeline—wolves with eyes like fire, their snarls vibrating in Elora’s bones. At their center stood Rowan himself, cloak tattered and claws stained with fresh blood. His face twisted in a sneer.

“You should’ve stayed in the shadows, Silverfang,” Rowan growled. “Now you’ll watch your precious hybrid burn.”

Joel’s lips peeled back in a cold, deadly smile. “Come and try.”

Elora’s chest tightened, fear and fury warring inside her. She could feel it—the raw power coursing under her skin, begging to be unleashed. But with every pulse of it came the memory of the Shadow Realm… of the beast she’d killed… of what she might become.

“You ready?” Joel asked without looking at her.

“I was born ready,” she lied.

Rowan raised a hand, and his wolves lunged.

“Protect her!” Joel roared, shifting mid-leap. His wolf form hit the ground with an earth-shaking impact, black and silver fur bristling. He tore into the first attacker, jaws snapping with brutal precision.

Elora’s hands glowed as she summoned her power. A blast of silver fire erupted, slamming into three wolves at once and sending them sprawling. She barely had time to breathe before another charged her, eyes wild with bloodlust.

“I don’t want to hurt you!” she shouted.

But the wolf didn’t hesitate.

Her palms flared. The blast came too late—claws raked across her arm, hot blood spilling down her skin. She screamed but held her ground, firing again and sending the wolf tumbling into the burning underbrush.

“Elora!” Joel’s voice thundered in her mind through the bond they now shared. “Stay close to me!”

“I can handle myself!” she shot back, even as pain throbbed down her arm.

Joel’s golden eyes flicked her way mid-fight, and for a second, she swore she saw something raw there—fear.

The Silverfang territory was no longer a sanctuary—it was a warzone.

Elora stumbled back as a massive wolf slammed into her shield of light, claws sparking against the barrier. Her breath came in ragged gasps, every muscle screaming in protest. Blood streaked her arm, her magic sputtering as exhaustion clawed at her resolve.

“Joel!” she cried out.

Across the field, Joel—still in wolf form—was a blur of black and silver, tearing through Rowan’s forces with brutal efficiency. Blood matted his fur, and his golden eyes glowed with feral rage. But even he was slowing.

“Elora—behind you!”

The warning came too late. A wolf twice her size tackled her to the ground, snapping its jaws inches from her face. She screamed, throwing her hands up. Light flared—blinding, searing—and the wolf disintegrated with a shriek.

But then came the smell. Burnt fur. Blood.

And betrayal.

Rowan stood just feet away, a smirk twisting his scarred face.

“You think you’re a savior? You’re nothing but a cursed half-breed.”

He raised a hand. Shadows curled around his fingers like living vipers.

“Joel!” Elora screamed.

Joel turned—too far, too late. Rowan’s magic struck like a hammer, slamming Joel’s massive wolf form into the dirt. He shifted back mid-impact, hitting the ground hard as a man. Blood trickled from his mouth.

“NO!”

Elora’s power exploded. The air warped, silver fire consuming everything within ten feet. Wolves screamed as their bodies turned to ash. Rowan staggered back, shielding his face.

“Child of moon and earth,” he sneered, “you’re finally awake.”

Elora’s hair lifted as her power flared uncontrollably. Her glowing eyes locked on Rowan.

“You hurt him.” Her voice was quiet. Deadly.

“You’ll regret it.”

She didn’t recognize the scream that tore from her throat as she unleashed everything—waves of raw, untamed magic that cracked the earth and sent shockwaves through the forest.

Joel’s POV

Through the haze of blood and pain, Joel forced his eyes open.

“Elora… stop…” he rasped.

But she couldn’t hear him.

She stood like a goddess of ruin, silver flames devouring everything in her path. Even the Silverfang warriors backed away in fear.

“Elora!” Joel tried again, dragging himself toward her. His claws dug into the dirt. “You’re stronger than this. Don’t let it consume you—”

But Rowan laughed.

“She’s already gone, Silverfang. Just like her mother.”

Joel’s vision tunneled as he watched Rowan raise his hand again, shadows gathering for a final strike.

“No…” Joel whispered.

Not her. Not again.

With a roar that tore his throat raw, Joel shifted back into his wolf form and launched himself at Rowan.....

And then the world went white.