Chapter 5

Crystal's POV

The forest didn’t feel like a prison. It felt like a place to prove myself.

The wind brushed my skin as I moved forward. My senses were sharper than ever. I felt every sound, every smell, every change in the air.

Hunger hit me suddenly. I hadn’t eaten, I crouched low and sniffed the air. A low growl broke the stillness.

I froze. My wolf stilled. Danger. Something in the shadows shifted. And then it stepped out.

A vampire!

It moved slowly at me, not rushing, not attacking immediately. Its pale eyes locked onto mine, not with hunger but with interest.

That made my stomach twist. “Well,” it said softly, voice cold and smooth. “So it’s true.”

I didn’t respond, but my wolf growled, uneasy. It knows something. The vampire took a step closer, studying me like I was something rare. “You don’t smell right,” it said. “Not just wolf, not just magic.”

My chest tightened. It wasn't a guess.

It knew.

Fear tried to rise, but I forced it down. I wouldn’t show weakness. Not again. “What do you want?” I asked, my voice low but steady. Its smile widened. “I was sent to find you.”

The words hit harder than any blow. My wolf snapped inside me, anger and fear crashing together.

Sent? By who?

“I didn’t think the stories were real,” it continued, circling me slowly. “A wolf who shouldn’t exist, power that shouldn’t be possible”

My magic flickered under my skin, reacting to its words. It lunged.

This time, there was no hesitation. Fear exploded in my chest but my wolf surged forward, stronger.

Fight. I leapt with my claws out, meeting it head-on. The impact shook through my bones, but I didn’t fall back. I pushed harder.

It was too fast but I was changing. Learning. Every movement became sharper. Every breath became clearer.

It struck. I dodged. I countered.

Golden sparks burst from my hands as my magic finally answered me, strong and alive. The vampire staggered, hissing in shock.

“You really are…” it breathed. “They’ll want you alive.” Ice ran down my spine.

They.

There was more. Rage burned through me. “No one is taking me anywhere,” I said. This time, I attacked first.

I moved faster, stronger, driven by something deeper than fear. My wolf and magic worked together, perfectly in sync. Its claws grazed my arm but the wound healed almost instantly.

I felt it. My power. I gathered it, focused, and struck. Light burst from me, slamming into the vampire and throwing it back.

It hit the ground hard, stunned. For the first time, it looked scared. “You don’t understand what you are,” it whispered.

“Neither do you,” I said, stepping closer. “Run.” It didn’t argue. It disappeared into the darkness. But its words stayed behind.

They’ll want you alive. The forest fell silent again but everything had changed.

I was being hunted.

Shifting back, I felt a prickling along my spine. My wolf growled, sensing a presence I hadn’t noticed before. Eyes. Watching. Waiting.

It was close, very close. “I know you’re there,” I said, my voice steady despite the tension building inside me.

Silence answered me at first. Then the air shifted. And he stepped out. My breath caught instantly.

He was tall, powerful, his presence alone enough to make the air feel heavier. His golden eyes locked onto mine, sharp and intense, like he could see straight through me.

My wolf surged forward violently. Mine. The word echoed in my head, raw and undeniable.

I staggered slightly, gripping my side as the bond pulsed between us. It wasn’t painful like before it was strong and alive.

“You’re” I started, but my voice failed. His gaze didn’t soften. It studied me. “You’re the one,” he said finally, his voice deep and controlled.

Something in me reacted instantly, a mix of relief, confusion, and anger all crashing together. My wolf leaned toward him, but I held myself back.

“I don’t even know you,” I said, forcing strength into my voice.

“And yet you feel it,” he replied. I hated that he was right. The bond pulsed again, stronger now, urging me toward him, but I resisted. I had just broken one bond, I wasn’t ready to fall into another.

“Stay back,” I warned, taking a step away. His eyes darkened slightly, not in anger, but in restraint.

“I’m not here to hurt you,” he said. My chest tightened at that. “Everyone says that,” I shot back.

For a moment, silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. He didn’t move closer, but he didn’t leave either.

Good. Because I didn’t know what I would do if he did. “You’re injured,” he said, his gaze dropping briefly to my arm.

“I’m fine,” I replied immediately. A lie. My legs trembled slightly, and the exhaustion I had been fighting finally began to surface.

The adrenaline was fading, and my body was reminding me of everything it had been through. His expression hardened not with cruelty, but with something else. Concern.

I didn’t trust it. “I don’t need your help,” I said, even as my vision blurred slightly. “You won’t survive out here like this,” he replied calmly.

“I already did,” I whispered. That seemed to catch his attention. Something flickered in his eyes, interest, maybe even respect.

“Who did this to you?” he asked, his voice quieter now, more dangerous. I hesitated. Bryan, Matthew, The pack.

The memories surged forward, but this time, they fueled me. “I handled it,” I said firmly.

His jaw tightened, like he didn’t fully believe me. Before he could respond, a sudden wave of dizziness hit me hard. My knees buckled, and the ground rushed up too fast. Darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

Strong arms caught me before I hit the sand. I tensed instantly, panic flashing through me, but I didn’t have the strength to fight.

The bond flared between us, warm and steady, wrapping around me like something safe. Something unfamiliar. “I’ve got you,” he said quietly My vision blurred, but I forced myself to look at him.

“Don’t” I whispered weakly. “Don’t lie to me.” His grip tightened slightly. “I don’t lie,” he said. For some reason, I believed him.

My body finally gave in. The last thing I saw before everything went dark was his golden eyes watching me. And this time they weren’t distant.