The scream tore through the ridge like a blade, sharp enough to slice through the night's uneasy quiet. Wolves snapped to attention instantly, claws scraping stone, growls rumbling like thunder.
Rylan was already moving.
He grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him as he sprinted toward the sound. "Stay close."
I didn't argue. Not this time.
The shadows were here.
We reached the center of the ridge where a young warrior—Tessa—was thrashing on the ground, her eyes rolled back, her limbs jerking violently. Two wolves tried to hold her down, but she fought with a strength that wasn't hers.
Her voice came out twisted, layered, wrong.
"He's coming…"
Rylan dropped to his knees beside her. "Tessa! Look at me!"
She didn't. Couldn't.
Her eyes snapped open—and they were black.
Pitch black.
Like Kael's warning.
Like the rogues.
Like the void.
Rowan arrived seconds later, breath ragged. "What's happening?"
Rylan's jaw tightened. "He's inside her mind."
Rowan cursed. "Your brother?"
"Yes."
Tessa screamed again, her back arching unnaturally. Shadows curled around her fingers like smoke, twisting, writhing, reaching.
I stepped forward. "We have to help her!"
Rylan grabbed my wrist. "Don't touch her."
"Why?"
"Because he'll use her to get to you."
My breath caught.
Tessa's head snapped toward me, her black eyes locking onto mine. Her lips twisted into a smile that wasn't hers.
"Found you…"
A chill shot down my spine.
Rylan moved instantly, placing himself between us. "Get out of her, Lucien!"
Tessa's mouth opened, but the voice that came out was deeper, colder, dripping with malice.
"Brother… always so dramatic."
Rylan snarled. "Leave her."
"Why?" Lucien purred through Tessa's lips. "She's such a lovely vessel. Strong. Loyal. And she's seen you, hasn't she? Seen the truth of what you are."
Rylan's claws extended. "Let her go."
Lucien laughed—a sound that made my skin crawl. "You can't protect them all, Rylan. You couldn't protect Kael. You couldn't protect your pack. And you won't protect her."
Rylan lunged.
But the shadows reacted first.
Tessa's body jerked upright, and a wave of darkness exploded outward, knocking Rylan back several feet. He hit the ground hard, rolling to his feet with a snarl.
Rowan barked orders. "Contain her! Don't let the shadows spread!"
Wolves formed a circle around Tessa, but the shadows lashed out like whips, forcing them back.
Lucien's voice echoed through the ridge. "You can't stop me. Not while you cling to the old ways."
Rylan stepped forward again, eyes blazing gold. "Get out of her!"
"Make me."
Rylan growled, then closed his eyes.
And the air shifted.
The bond pulsed—hot, electric, overwhelming.
Rylan's voice dropped to a whisper. "Lyra. Come here."
I froze. "What? Why?"
"Because he wants you," Rylan said. "And if he senses you're afraid, he'll push harder."
Rowan grabbed my arm. "Lyra, don't."
Rylan's gaze snapped to him. "She's the only one who can break his hold."
Rowan growled. "You don't know that."
"Yes, I do," Rylan said. "The bond connects us. And Lucien is trying to use it. If she stands her ground, he loses leverage."
My heart pounded. "And if I don't?"
Rylan's voice softened. "Then he wins."
Tessa screamed again, shadows writhing around her like living smoke.
I stepped forward.
Rowan cursed under his breath but didn't stop me.
Rylan moved to my side, close enough that our shoulders brushed. "Don't look at the shadows. Look at her."
I nodded, forcing my gaze onto Tessa's face.
Her eyes—black and endless—locked onto mine.
Lucien's voice slithered through the air. "Little wolf… come closer."
I swallowed hard. "Tessa. Fight him."
Lucien laughed. "She can't hear you."
"Tessa!" I shouted. "You're stronger than this!"
Her body trembled.
Rylan leaned in, whispering, "Good. Keep going."
"Tessa," I said again, louder. "You're not alone. We're here. I'm here."
Her lips parted.
A whisper escaped.
"Ly… ra…"
Rylan's hand brushed mine—steadying me, grounding me. "She's fighting him."
Lucien hissed. "Enough."
The shadows surged toward me.
Rylan moved instantly, pulling me behind him as the darkness slammed into his chest. He staggered but didn't fall.
Lucien snarled through Tessa's mouth. "You protect her like she's precious."
Rylan's voice was a growl. "She is."
The bond pulsed so hard it stole my breath.
Lucien screamed, shadows flaring violently.
Rylan grabbed my hand. "Lyra. Say her name again."
"Tessa!" I shouted. "Come back!"
Her body convulsed.
"Tessa! Fight him!"
Her eyes flickered—black to brown, brown to black.
Rylan squeezed my hand. "Again."
"Tessa!"
The shadows shrieked.
"TESSA!"
A final scream tore from her throat—
—and the shadows exploded outward, dissolving into smoke.
Tessa collapsed.
Rylan caught her before she hit the ground.
Rowan rushed forward. "Is she—?"
"She's alive," Rylan said, breathless. "Lucien's gone."
For now.
The ridge exhaled as one.
Wolves shifted back, trembling with adrenaline and fear.
Rylan lowered Tessa gently, brushing her hair from her face. "She fought him. She's strong."
I knelt beside her. "She heard us."
Rylan looked at me, eyes softening. "She heard you."
The bond pulsed again—warm, undeniable.
I looked away quickly.
Rowan approached, voice low. "If Lucien can do this to one wolf, he can do it to all of us."
Rylan nodded grimly. "He will. Unless we stop him first."
Rowan crossed his arms. "Then we hunt him."
Rylan stood, eyes burning gold. "Together."
Rowan hesitated.
Then nodded.
Rylan turned to me.
"Lyra," he said softly. "Stay close. He'll come for you
again."
I swallowed. "I know."
"And next time," Rylan murmured, "I won't let him get anywhere near you."
The bond pulsed.
And for the first time…
…I didn't fight it.