CHAPTER FOUR: THE HUNT

LEILA'S POV

They moved me to a different room after the incident.

Not a cell this time. An actual bedroom on the third floor of the pack house, but the windows were reinforced with wards, and I could feel guards stationed outside my door.

Still a prisoner. Just a more comfortable one.

My mother had brought clothes, food, and apologies I didn't want to hear. Marcus had posted round-the-clock security. And the brothers...

The brothers kept trying to see me.

I could feel them through the incomplete bonds, thin threads that pulled tighter every hour. Maddox's barely controlled rage. Ronan's cold strategizing. Alec's constant worry.

But Marcus wouldn't let them near me.

"Too dangerous," he'd said. "If the bond strengthens before we find a solution, I'll lose all three of you."

So I sat alone in my gilded cage, counting down the days.

Seven days until Dane came for me.

Six now, actually. It was past midnight.

I couldn't sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw that message written in frost:

I'LL ENJOY BREAKING YOU.

My wolf paced restlessly inside my head. She wanted out. Wanted to fight. Wanted to run until we found the male who'd threatened us and tear out his throat.

"We can't," I told her. "We're not strong enough yet."

"We could be. If our mates would mark us. Complete the bond."

"And get them all killed."

She snarled but didn't argue. Even she understood the impossible situation we were in.

A soft knock on my door.

I sat up. "Come in."

Alec slipped inside, closing the door quietly behind him. He carried a laptop and several old books that looked like they'd been pulled from the pack archives.

"You're supposed to be at the strategy meeting," I said.

"I was. It was useless." He set the books on my desk. "Dad wants to evacuate. Ronan wants to call for reinforcements from allied packs. Maddox wants to hunt Dane down before he can attack."

"What do you want?"

"Information." He opened the laptop. "I've been researching Dane Corvus. His pack. His history. And I found something."

I moved to stand beside him, looking at the screen. It showed what looked like old pack records, scanned documents, some of them barely legible.

"What am I looking at?"

"Death certificates." Alec pulled up a file. "From eighteen years ago. Three Alpha-witch hybrids, all killed within a six-month period. All in territories bordering Shadowpine Pack."

My blood ran cold. "Dane killed them?"

"The reports say they died in 'territorial disputes.' But the timing is too convenient. And look…" He pulled up another file. "This is your father. Alpha-witch hybrid. Killed eighteen years ago in Shadowpine territory. Officially listed as a rogue attack."

I stared at my father's picture. He looked young. Strong. With the same violet-gray eyes I hid behind contacts.

"Dane murdered him," I whispered.

"I think Dane has been systematically hunting hybrids for nearly two decades. The question is why."

"Power?" I suggested. "You said hybrid magic is rare."

"It is. But killing hybrids doesn't give you their power. Unless..." Alec went very still. "Unless you're trying to eliminate competition."

"For what?"

He pulled up one final document. This one was older, ancient script, barely translated.

"The Prophecy of the Last Hybrid," he read. "When the old magic wakes, when wolf and witch blood merge in one vessel, the hybrid shall either unite the packs or destroy them. Three mates shall bind her power. Three Alphas shall…" He stopped.

"Shall what?"

"Either protect her or claim her." His eyes met mine. "Leila, I think Dane believes he's supposed to be one of your mates. That the prophecy is about him."

"But the bond formed with you three."

"Which means either the prophecy is wrong, or Dane is wrong, or..." He trailed off.

"Or what?"

"Or there's a way to break a mate bond and force a new one to form." He said it quietly. Carefully. "If Dane kills us, if he eliminates your current mates, the bond might snap to him instead."

The room spun.

"He's going to kill you," I breathed. "All three of you. That's his plan."

"Most likely." Alec's analytical calm was almost eerie. "Which is why we need to be smarter than him. Faster. More prepared."

"How?"

Before he could answer, an alarm blared through the pack house.

Not the normal security alarm. Something worse. The kind that meant the territory was under attack.

Alec was on his feet instantly, moving toward the door.

I grabbed his arm. "What's happening?"

"I don't know. Stay here. Lock the door. Don't…"

An explosion rocked the building.

The wards on my windows shattered. Glass sprayed inward. I threw up my arms, protecting my face.

When I looked up, something was coming through the broken window.

Not a person. Not exactly.

It was made of shadows and smoke, vaguely humanoid but constantly shifting. Its eyes glowed silver, the same color as the frost message.

Dane's magic.

"Alec, RUN!" I shoved him toward the door.

But the shadow-thing moved faster. It flowed across the room like water, blocking the exit.

Then it spoke. Dane's voice, carried through his magical construct:

"Hello, little hybrid. Tired of waiting, so I thought I'd send a proper introduction."

The shadow solidified enough to look almost human. Tall. Powerfully built. With platinum blonde hair and those eerie silver eyes.

A projection. Not the real Dane, but close enough.

"Get away from her," Alec commanded, alpha authority ringing in his voice.

The projection laughed. "The middle brother. The smart one. Tell me, do you really think you can protect her from me?"

"I'll die trying."

"How noble." The projection's attention shifted to me. "But unnecessary. I'm not here to hurt her. I'm here to make an offer."

"Not interested," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

"You haven't heard it yet." The projection moved closer. Every instinct screamed at me to run, but there was nowhere to go. "Your mates are going to die, Leila. Either the Council will execute them for illegal bonding, or I'll kill them for standing between us. Either way, they're dead."

"No…"

"But it doesn't have to be painful. I can make it quick. Merciful." Those silver eyes locked on mine. "If you come with me willingly. Right now. I'll give them clean deaths instead of letting them suffer."

"Go to hell," I spat.

"Wrong answer."

The projection raised its hand. Magic flared, not directed at me.

Directed at Alec.

He screamed as shadows wrapped around him, lifting him off the floor. His body convulsed. Blood started dripping from his nose, his ears.