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
Last Updated : 2025-09-27 Read more