The forest was silent. Too silent.Smoke curled into the night sky, black and heavy, hiding the stars. The battlefield that had been alive with snarls and screams only moments ago now lay in ruin. Trees were scorched, the earth cracked open, and the smell of ash mixed with blood filled the air.Bodies—wolves, hunters, even some of their own—were scattered across the clearing. Some groaned, struggling to rise. Others did not move at all.At the center of it all, Lucian held Elena in his arms.Her head rested against his chest, her skin pale, her lips trembling as if she were fighting for breath. The faint glow from her hands had vanished, but he could still feel the warmth inside her, burning low like embers under ash.“Elena… stay with me,” he whispered, his voice breaking. His bloodied fingers brushed her hair back, leaving streaks of red across her face.Her lashes fluttered, her eyes half-open. “Lucian…”He leaned close, desperate to hear her, desperate for anything.“I… I did not
The battlefield was chaos. Wolves and hunters clashed in a blur of claws and steel, snarls cutting through the night like thunder. The scent of blood mixed with smoke and rain, heavy and suffocating. Bodies rolled across the mud, growls echoed through the trees, and sparks flew as blades struck stone and bone alike.But in the middle of it all, Elena stood frozen. Her heart pounded so violently it felt as if it would tear her ribs apart. The world spun around her, but she could see only two things—Lucian fighting like a beast unleashed, and the crimson-eyed stranger who never once looked away from her.Her hands shook violently as that strange fire spread through her veins. It was not just warmth anymore. It was a storm, a living thing clawing at her insides, begging to be free. The glow pulsed faintly through her fingertips, as though her skin was too thin to hold it back.Lucian tore through another enemy and whipped his head toward her, his golden eyes blazing.“Elena!” he roared o
The night air split with a chorus of howls and the thunder of running paws. The pack had already shifted, their wolves rushing to the borders where the warning cries had first sounded. The ground shook under their weight as they tore through the mud, their voices blending into one desperate, unified cry.Elena clutched the doorway of the Alpha’s den, her pulse racing so fast it felt like her chest might burst. She could see shapes moving in the mist, dark bodies racing through the trees, torches flaring, steel glinting. The scent of smoke mixed with rain filled her nose.Lucian stood at the center of it all, his broad shoulders squared, his golden eyes glowing fiercely in the dark. He gave quick commands, his voice carrying over the chaos with calm authority.“East patrol, cut them off before they reach the river. West line, hold your ground. No one lets them through.”Wolves obeyed instantly, their paws churning mud as they spread out. Some shifted back to human form long enough to d
Elena sat alone in the Alpha’s den long after the council had ended. The storm outside had eased, leaving only the steady dripping of water from the branches above. A faint mist curled along the ground, carrying the smell of wet earth and pine. Yet inside her, the storm had only grown heavier.She sat on the floor near the fire pit, her knees pulled up to her chest, her arms wrapped tight around them. The flames danced and cracked in front of her, but their warmth did nothing to drive away the chill that had taken hold deep inside. Every word the elders had spoken still circled her mind like sharp blades.“She should not be here.”“She endangers us all.”The way they had looked at her—with suspicion, with fear—made her skin prickle. She was not their enemy, yet already she was being treated like one.Her eyes stung, but she forced the tears back. She did not want to cry, not here, not where anyone might see. Crying would only make them believe she was weak, a burden. But the truth sat
The storm finally broke before nightfall. Heavy rain poured over the camp, drenching the earth and washing away the scent trails from the borders. Wolves took shelter under the trees and in the old wooden halls, but the sound of thunder kept everyone restless. It was as if the sky itself echoed the unease that already lived in their hearts.Lucian called the council together. Elena followed quietly, though she knew she was not truly welcome. The council chamber was a wide circular room carved into stone, lit by fire torches that made the walls flicker with shadows. The elders sat around the circle, their expressions grave.One of the oldest, Elder Garron, leaned forward, his gray beard damp with rainwater. “Alpha,” he said in a voice that was slow but strong, “you have returned with danger on your heels. The hunters did not follow by accident. Something has stirred them. Something tied to you and…” His eyes flicked to Elena. “…her.”Elena felt the air grow heavy. She lowered her gaze,
The next morning broke with a dull gray sky. Clouds hung low over the trees, and the air smelled of rain. The pack grounds were already restless. Wolves moved quickly, voices carried, and the usual calm rhythm of the camp was gone. Patrol groups were preparing to leave, while others argued about boundaries and routes. The night’s unease had not lifted with the sunrise.Elena stepped out of the Alpha’s den and felt the weight of their eyes almost at once. Conversations hushed. Wolves glanced her way, then turned quickly, whispering behind their hands. She could not catch every word, but she heard enough.“Why did he bring her back here?”“She carries danger with her.”“The hunters would not chase her without reason.”Her chest tightened. She wrapped her cloak closer around herself, as though it could block their stares. Lucian had warned her to stay inside until he returned from the early council meeting, but sitting alone in the den had only made her thoughts worse. Now, walking among