Chapter 75: Beneath the Storm

The rain began as a whisper.

It patted the rooftop of the old safehouse hidden deep within the Ebonwood forest, slowly growing louder as the wind howled through the trees. Inside, Serena stood by the window, arms folded across her chest, her mind lost in a tangle of thoughts.

Lightning lit up the room in flashes, revealing her reflection in the cracked glass—haunted eyes, tousled hair, and a heart weighed down by truths she wasn’t ready to speak.

Behind her, Elias watched.

He’d learned not to interrupt her when she got like this. Not because he feared her temper, but because he understood the way her thoughts needed space to breathe. She was not just a Luna or a forbidden mate. She was a survivor of betrayal, power, and the curse that still echoed in her bloodline.

“You’re doing it again,” Elias said finally, breaking the silence.

Serena didn’t turn around. “Doing what?”

“Carrying everything alone.”

The words struck something deep inside her, and for a moment, she felt vulnerable—naked in ways not even Elias had seen before. She exhaled, her breath fogging up the cold glass.

“I don’t know how to stop,” she admitted, voice barely above a whisper.

Elias crossed the room to her side. His presence was grounding. She didn’t resist when he placed his hand over hers, fingers intertwining.

“You don’t have to be strong all the time,” he said. “Not with me.”

Those words—so simple, yet so foreign—shattered something inside her. She turned to face him, and for the first time in what felt like ages, let herself truly see him.

Not the Alpha. Not the soldier.

Just Elias.

And it was that moment, that storm-laced silence, that did it.

She surged forward, their lips crashing together in a kiss that was all heat and hunger. Elias responded instantly, pulling her close, his hands roaming over her back as if memorizing every curve, every tremble. It wasn’t just passion—it was need. A raw, desperate need to feel alive, to hold on to something real amidst the chaos.

Their breaths mingled, heartbeats thundering louder than the rain. When they finally broke apart, both gasping, Elias pressed his forehead against hers.

“Whatever comes next,” he murmured, “we face it together.”

A loud knock shattered the moment.

Serena tensed. Elias immediately shifted into alertness, stepping protectively in front of her.

Another knock—three quick taps followed by a pause. It was a code.

Elias moved to the door, cracking it open.

It was Theron.

Soaked to the bone, his jaw was tight, eyes grim. “We’ve got a problem,” he said, stepping in. “They’ve breached the eastern ridge.”

Serena’s blood ran cold. “Who?”

“Ironfangs. And not just scouts. A full offensive unit. They’re looking for something—someone.”

Her.

Of course.

“We have to move,” Elias said, already grabbing the weapons he’d stashed beneath the floorboards. “How many?”

“Too many to fight head-on,” Theron replied. “They’re using dark trackers—ones that can smell magic. They’re getting close.”

Serena’s heart pounded. “Then let’s give them something else to chase.”

Elias shot her a look. “You’re not going to be bait.”

“I’m not bait,” she snapped. “I’m the target. And if I don’t lead them away, they’ll burn down every village in their path just to find me.”

“Then I’m coming with you,” Elias said firmly. “We do this together, remember?”

Theron sighed. “Then we make a plan. Fast.”

They gathered around the table, drawing a crude map with charcoal and scraps. Elias pointed toward a series of tunnels near the Shadow Ravine.

“We take these routes. I’ll create a diversion west. Theron, take the southern exit and lead the others to the Moonshade cliffs. Serena will take the high trail, circle back, and meet us at the edge of the cliffs.”

“No,” Serena said. “I’m not splitting up again. We’re stronger together.”

“We’re also more vulnerable,” Theron replied. “If they catch all of us at once, it’s over.”

Serena clenched her jaw. She hated it—but he was right.

Before they left, Elias pulled her aside, his voice low. “Don’t get yourself killed.”

She offered a sad smile. “I was hoping to say the same to you.”

He kissed her again—softly this time. A promise.

Then they were gone.

Serena ran through the trees, the storm pouring down around her. Every crack of thunder was a warning. Every shadow could be a hunter. She moved with supernatural grace, her senses on edge, her heartbeat syncing with the rhythm of the forest.

When she paused to catch her breath, she sensed them.

Ironfangs. Four of them.

Too close.

She didn’t wait.

Her wolf surged to the surface, silver eyes glowing as her bones cracked and shifted. Fur rippled over her body, and within seconds, she stood on four legs—strong, fast, lethal.

They saw her.

And she ran.

Led them through narrow trails, across bridges slick with rain, and over ledges that only a fool—or someone desperate—would dare cross. Her muscles burned, but she didn’t stop.

She couldn’t.

If she failed, they’d find Elias. They’d find everyone.

But then, just as she cleared a dense thicket, she felt it.

A sharp sting.

Her legs buckled.

A dart.

Poisoned.

She crashed into the earth, her vision spinning.

Voices echoed above her—foreign, cold.

“She’s the one,” a man said. “The prophecy lives in her blood.”

Then—

Darkness.