Chapter 18: The Clash Between the Alpha and His Omega

The night held its breath. This was it. The clash that could change everything. Our bodies were about to collide. The fight for survival was starting right now.

I didn’t know where the courage came from. Maybe it was fear. Maybe it was anger. Whatever it was, I didn’t back down.

Deucalion’s claws crashed against mine in midair.

The force exploded through my arms. Pain shot across my shoulders before I even realized what had happened. Then I was flying. My back slammed against the road with enough force to crack the concrete beneath me. A sharp gasp escaped my mouth.

Before I could get up, Deucalion was already above me. His massive fist came down. I rolled away just in time. The ground exploded where my head had been. Chunks of concrete scattered across the street like shrapnel.

I jumped to my feet, breathing hard. My heart hammered against my ribs. My claws stretched farther. My muscles burned. Everything inside me screamed that I wasn’t ready for this fight. But running wasn’t an option because it would only chase me the more.

Then he let out a loud growl that seemed intimidating. Something inside me snapped, I charged immediately.

Swinging my claws toward his neck. He caught my wrist with one hand. Just one. His grip tightened until I thought my bones would break.

Then he threw me. My body crashed through the wall of a nearby convenience store. Glass exploded everywhere. Shelves collapsed around me. I pushed myself up, coughing. Blood dripped from my forehead. My whole body ached.

Deucalion slowly walked through the broken wall. Every step made the floor tremble.

I looked around. This was bad. Way too bad. Every crash echoed through the neighborhood. Someone might come outside.

No… I couldn’t let innocent people get caught in this. I turned and sprinted. Deucalion, who was walking, quickly fell on all fours and chased me again. Running very fast.

My legs carried me through the dark streets. Buildings blurred past. Streetlights flashed overhead. I wasn’t just running away. I was leading him somewhere else. Somewhere I knew there was no one.

Heavy footsteps followed behind me. He wasn’t even trying to hide. He wanted me to know he was coming.

A parked car suddenly flew past my head. I ducked. The vehicle smashed into a traffic light. Metal twisted with a deafening crash.

I didn’t look back. If I slowed down… I was dead.

A loud growl echoed behind me. Then something hit my back. I flew forward and rolled across the asphalt. Before I could recover, Deucalion grabbed the back of my shirt and lifted me into the air and landed me on the ground. I bounced across the road before crashing into a bus stop. The roof collapsed on top of me. I shoved the metal away. Everything hurts.

Still… I forced myself to stand. Not yet. Not until I reached the school. I took off running again. A familiar building appeared in the distance. Beacon Hills High. I smiled despite the pain. Almost there.

The school gates stood open. I jumped over them without slowing down. The football field stretched ahead. The empty parking lot reflected the moonlight. No students. No teachers. Perfect.

A loud crash echoed behind me. Deucalion landed inside the school grounds. The concrete beneath his feet shattered. He looked around before turning back to me.

With full force he came at me. My eyes widened. Too fast!

Before I could turn and run, something slammed into my ribs. Pain exploded through my body. I crashed into the school entrance. Glass doors burst apart. My back smashed against a row of lockers. Metal bent inward.

Before I could breathe… he was already there. His claws slashed across my chest. I blocked with both arms. The impact still sent me skidding across the hallway.

I growled and lunged. This time my claws scraped across his shoulder. A shallow cut. Just enough to draw blood.

He grabbed my throat. My feet left the ground. I clawed at his arm. Nothing. It was like trying to cut steel.

He slammed me through the classroom wall. Desks exploded into pieces. Books flew everywhere. Dust filled the room. I couldn’t breathe. Still… I got back up. I wasn't ready to die yet. Not after I've reunited with the family I thought were dead.

He rushed forward. Even though I fought with everything I had… I couldn’t keep up. Every hit from him felt like being struck by a truck. My vision blurred. My legs shook. Still… I refused to fall.

Back at the house, silence filled the living room. Ryan was trying to get up from where Deucalion had slammed him on. Most of his wounds had already begun healing. He still felt weak, but he could finally move without collapsing.

Suddenly… a phone started vibrating on the floor close to a broken table.

It was Jax’s phone. He looked toward the table. The screen kept lighting up with Mike's name. It rang again. And again.

Ryan finally picked it up. “Hello?”

There was silence. Then a confused voice. “Jax where are you, didn't you get my text?”

Ryan glanced toward the door. “Jax isn't here at the moment, Who is it?”

“I’m looking for Jax,” Mike said quickly. “I’ve been texting him all night. He isn’t answering, my name is Mike I was there the night he got bitten.”

Ryan’s face became serious. “You’re Mike?”

“Yeah, I'm his friend.”

Ryan took a deep breath. “Listen carefully.”

Mike immediately noticed the urgency. “What happened?”

Ryan looked at the dried blood on the floor. “Jax left here not long ago.”

“Left? Where?”

“He was being chased.”

Mike froze. “What are you talking about?”

Ryan stood up. “Do you know where you first saw the beast that bit him? .”

Mike’s heartbeat sped up. “Yes, at school.”

“Beacon hills high?” Ryan asked, eyes widened.

Mike answered quickly. “Yes, is that where he is?”

“I think so.”

Mike didn’t hesitate. “I’m already on my way.”

Ryan quickly tried to stop him. “Mike wait don't—”

Mike ended the call immediately.

Ryan grabbed his jacket despite the pain. His wounds hadn’t fully healed. His body protested every movement. He ignored it.

He stepped outside. The night suddenly felt colder.

I couldn’t feel my left arm anymore. Blood dripped onto the hallway floor. Every breath burned. Deucalion slowly walked toward me. Not rushing. Not worried. He already believed he’d won.

I forced myself to stand anyway, but he rushed and came on top of me pinning me to the ground in the hallway. I was already beaten and had no strength within me. One massive hand held both my wrists above my head. I couldn’t move.

He stared directly into my eyes. Then… he lowered his face until it was only inches from mine. His jaws opened.

Then he let out a very loud roar

The sound hit me like a physical force. The ground trembled. Windows around the school rattled, lockers made noises. My ears rang. My vision blurred. Something deep inside my chest awakened. Hot. Wild. Ancient.

I looked straight into his burning red eyes. Then I roared back with every I had left in me .

The sound exploded across Beacon Hills. The football goalposts shook. The remaining school windows shattered. Birds burst from nearby trees. The air itself seemed to vibrate.

For the first time… Deucalion’s eyes widened. He stared at me in disbelief. His grip loosened. Just slightly. But enough for me to feel it.

Then he sprang backward in one powerful leap, and vanished. I lay there, barely able to breathe. My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

Why had he left?

What had he sensed?