Damon I clawed at the fallen rocks with desperate fury, my human hands already bleeding from the sharp edges. The sound of gunshots echoed from the other side of the collapse, Zoe was in danger, and I couldn't reach her."Alpha, we have to go," Kade urged, supporting a traumatized child who couldn't stop shaking. "The gas is spreading.""I'm not leaving her." My wolf snarled at the very suggestion. The mate bond pulled at me like a physical ache, every instinct screaming that Zoe needed me."She knew the risks," Sara said quietly. "We all did."More gunshots rang out, followed by an inhuman roar that made every wolf in the tunnel flatten their ears. Silver light blazed through the cracks in the rubble, so bright it hurt to look at directly."That's not human," Martha whispered, clutching two young children to her chest.I pressed my ear to the rocks, straining to hear what was happening on the other side. The gunfire had stopped, replaced by sounds of metal tearing and concrete crash
ZoeThe enhanced children's glowing eyes tracked our every movement like predators sizing up prey. My heart shattered seeing what Lucien had done to them, innocent faces twisted with unnatural rage, small bodies bulging with muscles that belonged to full-grown warriors."Stay back," Damon commanded, but his voice carried sadness instead of fear. "They're not in control."A little girl who couldn't have been more than eight years old snarled at us through the bars, her fingernails elongated into claws. When she spoke, her voice carried an eerie echo."Intruders must be eliminated," she said in perfect unison with three other changed children."They're linked somehow," Sara whispered behind me. "Lucien connected their minds during the transformation process. They share thoughts, instincts—""Pain," I finished, my enhanced hearing picking up the subtle whimpers beneath their aggressive postures. "They're fighting the conditioning."I approached the nearest cell slowly, hands visible and
Narrator's POV The war room buzzed with tense energy as Damon spread a map across the table. His jaw was set in grim determination, but Zoe could see the worry etched in the lines around his eyes. Twenty innocent children were missing, and every second that passed made their chances of survival slimmer."The tracking team lost their scent here," Kade pointed to a spot on the map near the old quarry. "It's like they just vanished into thin air.""They didn't vanish," Zoe said, stepping forward despite the hostile looks from several pack members. "Lucien's too smart to leave a trail. He planned this."Elder Marrok slammed his fist on the table. "This wouldn't have happened if we'd executed her when I said so. Now our children pay the price for harboring a Bloodmoon.""Enough." Damon's Alpha command cut through the rising arguments. "What's done is done. Right now, our only focus is getting those children back."Sara stood in the corner, silver chains around her wrists to prevent anothe
ZoeThe world tilted sideways. My little sister, my Sara, who used to braid flowers in her hair and chase butterflies through the meadows, stood before me with murder in her eyes."You're lying." My voice came out broken, desperate. "Sara died in the fire. I saw the flames take the east wing where the children slept.""You saw what Lucien wanted you to see." Sienna, Sara circled me like a predator stalking wounded prey. "He pulled me from the flames just as the roof collapsed. But not before they burned away everything I used to be."She rolled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in old burn scars that twisted across her skin like spider webs. My stomach lurched."Oh, Goddess. Sara, what did he do to you?""He saved me!" The words exploded from her with desperate fury. "While you ran away to save your own skin, Uncle Lucien pulled me from the fire and healed me with blood magic. He gave me purpose when I had nothing left."Tears streamed down my face. "I thought you were dead. I mo
ZoeThe silver energy faded from my skin as Damon struggled to his feet, clutching his wounded side. Lucien had vanished in the chaos, probably retreating to regroup. But my attention was fixed on Sienna, who stood in the doorway like a predator who'd just found her prey."Well, well," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "The little Omega has some interesting tricks."My blood turned to ice. The way she said it, the satisfaction in her eyes, she'd been waiting for this moment."I don't know what you're talking about," I lied.Sienna laughed, the sound sharp as breaking glass. "Please. Silver light, power that could level buildings, moving faster than any normal wolf? You're Moon-Marked, aren't you?"Damon stepped between us, despite his injury. "Sienna, whatever you think you saw..""I saw our Alpha's little pet reveal herself as the most dangerous creature to walk these lands in centuries." Sienna's eyes gleamed with malicious joy. "The pack elders will be very interes
ZoeThe packhouse shook like an earthquake was tearing it apart. Explosions rattled the walls, and the acrid smell of silver smoke burned my throat. Through the chaos, I heard wolves howling in pain and rage.My cell door hung open, twisted metal smoking from whatever had blown it apart. Silver light still danced under my skin, but I fought to keep it contained. The last thing anyone needed was me losing control in the middle of a battle."Zoe!" I spun toward the voice and my heart nearly stopped. Finn stood in the doorway, but he wasn't alone. Three rogues flanked him, their eyes wild with bloodlust. My brother looked older, thinner, with new scars marking his face."Finn." His name came out as a whisper. After all this time, seeing him alive should have filled me with joy. Instead, dread pooled in my stomach."Come with us, sister. Uncle Lucien is waiting."The way he said it, flat, emotionless, made my skin crawl. This wasn't the brother who used to sneak me extra dessert or teach