The air around me felt… wrong.
Heavy.
Charged.
I could barely breathe as the strange energy continued to surge through my body, growing stronger with every second.
My knees buckled, but I forced myself to stay upright.
"I can't control it…" I gasped, clutching my chest.
Alpha Damon moved closer, his sharp eyes scanning me carefully.
"Don't fight it," he said firmly.
"How am I not supposed to fight this?!" I snapped, my voice breaking.
Another wave hit me—stronger this time.
I cried out as pain and power collided inside me, something wild clawing its way to the surface.
My wolf howled.
But it wasn't just her.
There was something else.
Something bigger.
Something ancient.
The ground beneath my feet trembled slightly, and the wind picked up, swirling around us in a violent dance.
Damon's expression darkened.
"This isn't normal," he muttered.
Panic rose in my chest.
"What do you mean 'not normal'?!"
Before he could answer, a blinding flash burst from my body.
I screamed as the force exploded outward, knocking everything back.
Damon staggered but managed to stay on his feet.
The training dummies nearby were sent flying, crashing into the ground with loud thuds.
Silence followed.
Heavy.
Unnatural.
I stood frozen, my chest heaving as I stared at my trembling hands.
"What… did I just do?"
Damon looked at me like he was seeing me for the first time.
"You released raw Alpha energy," he said slowly.
My heart skipped.
"But… I'm not an Alpha," I whispered.
His jaw tightened.
"That's where you're wrong."
A chill ran down my spine.
Before I could respond, a guard came running toward us, panic written all over his face.
"Alpha!" he shouted. "We have a problem!"
Damon turned sharply.
"What is it?"
The guard hesitated, his eyes flickering toward me.
"There are strangers at the border."
My blood ran cold.
Damon's expression instantly hardened.
"How many?"
"At least ten… maybe more. And they're not hiding."
A low growl rumbled in Damon's chest.
"They want to be seen."
My stomach twisted.
"They found me…" I whispered.
Damon looked back at me, his gaze intense.
"Stay here."
"No," I said immediately.
His brows furrowed.
"You're not ready."
"And running won't make me ready either," I shot back.
For a moment, we just stared at each other.
Tension.
Conflict.
Something unspoken.
Then he sighed sharply.
"Fine. But you stay behind me at all times. Understood?"
I nodded, even though fear was clawing at my insides.
We moved quickly toward the border, the guards forming around us.
The closer we got, the heavier the air became.
Danger.
It was everywhere.
When we finally reached the edge of the territory, I saw them.
Dark figures stood just beyond the line.
Still.
Silent.
Watching.
My heart pounded violently in my chest.
"Who are they?" I whispered.
Damon stepped forward, his presence dominating the space instantly.
"State your purpose," he commanded coldly.
One of the figures stepped out of the shadows.
Tall.
Dressed in black.
His eyes… locked directly onto mine.
And then—
He smiled.
A slow, terrifying smile.
"Well," he said smoothly.
"There you are."
My breath caught.
Every instinct inside me screamed danger.
Damon moved slightly in front of me, his body tense.
"You're trespassing," he warned.
The man chuckled softly.
"Oh, we're not here for you, Alpha."
His gaze never left me.
"We came for her."
Fear wrapped around my throat.
Damon's voice dropped, deadly and low.
"You're not taking her."
The man tilted his head, amused.
"Then I suppose…"
His eyes darkened.
"We'll just have to take her by force."
And just like that—
All hell broke loose. 🔥m