Lyra.
The forest erupted into chaos.
Branches snapped. Leaves flew. The earth trembled beneath charging feet. The air was thick with growls, snarls, and the sharp scent of blood. My lungs burned as the first attacker lunged, fangs bared, claws slicing through air.
"Move!"
The Dark Alpha roared.
His hands wrapped around my waist, yanking me aside just as claws ripped through the space where my throat had been. Heat exploded inside my chest, raw instinct colliding with terror. My heart pounded so loudly I could barely hear anything else.
Another wolf leapt. Something inside me snapped.
Fire surged through my veins. I screamed as flames burst from my palms, slamming into the wolf mid-air and hurling it backward into a tree. The impact shook the forest. Silence fell… for half a second.
Then everything exploded.
They came from all directions rival pack warriors, shadow creatures, and beasts twisted by dark magic.
Teeth flashed.
Eyes glowed.
Blood sprayed.
"Stay behind me!" the Dark Alpha commanded, shifting partially. His claws elongated, shadow rolling off him like living smoke.
"I won't!"
I yelled back, dodging another attack. Twisting, power surging, I slammed both hands into the ground.
Fire erupted outward in a blazing circle, throwing enemies back in a wave of heat and force. The earth cracked. Trees ignited. Screams filled the night.
The Dark Alpha stared at me, shock flashing across molten eyes.
"You're awakening faster than I thought," he growled.
Before I could respond, a sharp presence sliced through the chaos cold, dangerous, calculating. The air thickened, suffocating, heavy.
A figure stepped through the smoke.
Tall, powerful, silver eyes gleaming with cruel amusement.
"So this is the rejected mate," he said smoothly.
"You're far more interesting than I expected."
My blood turned to ice. The Dark Alpha moved instantly, shadow flaring violently.
"Step away from her."
The silver-eyed Alpha chuckled.
"Or what?"
Their gazes locked, power clashing so violently the ground vibrated beneath our feet.
Then a whisper brushed my ear soft, familiar, deadly.
"Still running?"
My breath caught.
I spun around.
And froze.
A masked figure stood inches behind me. Eyes glowing through carved silver patterns, voice echoing with a familiarity that shattered my heart.