The air buzzed with tension, thick and electric. Alitzel's transformation had brought a deadly stillness to the clearing, every wolf's gaze locked onto her monstrous form. She stood at the center of the circle, surrounded by the snarling Blackthorn wolves. Muscles coiled beneath her sleek, obsidian fur, her eyes glowing like twin flames of hellfire. Her lips curled back in a fearsome snarl as she slowly surveyed the pack closing in on her.
The Blackthorns hesitated, only for a split second, before Drake, one of their lieutenants, lunged forward, fangs bared. Alitzel's response was immediate and brutal. She twisted, her massive paw slashing through the air with blinding speed. Claws like steel blades connected with Drake's chest, tearing through flesh and bone. He yelped, a wet, gurgling sound, before collapsing onto the blood-soaked ground, his body limp.
The pack erupted into chaos. Growls and snarls filled the air as the Blackthorn wolves charged her, a wall of fur and fangs. But Alitzel didn't retreat. She welcomed the fight, throwing herself into the fray with a savage, primal grace. Each swipe of her claws sent wolves sprawling, their howls of pain echoing through the trees. Blood splattered across the ground as she ripped through the Blackthorns, one after the other.
Cassian watched in stunned silence from the edge of the clearing, his heart pounding in his chest. This wasn't just a fight — it was a massacre. Alitzel tore through their ranks like a storm of death, leaving a trail of broken bodies in her wake. He had never seen anything like it. She was faster, stronger, more ruthless than any wolf he had ever faced. And she was still just getting started.
"Fall back!" Cassian shouted, but his voice was swallowed by the chaos. The wolves around him barely registered the command, too consumed by their fury and desperation. He cursed under his breath, fists clenching at his sides. They needed to regroup, to come up with a plan, but there was no time. Alitzel was tearing them apart.
Milo darted forward, teeth snapping at her flank. Alitzel spun, jaws clamping around his throat in a heartbeat. The sickening crunch of bones breaking filled the air as she tossed his lifeless body aside like a ragdoll. Blood dripped from her muzzle as she turned to face the rest of the pack, her gaze cold and unflinching.
"Damn you, Alitzel!" Cassian growled, rage boiling up inside him. He started forward, but a blur of gray fur beat him to it. Zara leapt at Alitzel's back, claws extended, aiming for her neck. It was a desperate, reckless move, but Zara didn't seem to care. She let out a fierce snarl as she closed the distance.
Alitzel didn't even flinch. She reared up on her hind legs, towering over Zara, and swung her massive paw in a devastating arc. Zara barely had time to react. Claws ripped through her side, sending her sprawling to the ground. Alitzel was on her in an instant, jaws snapping down. There was a flash of fur, a spray of blood, and then Zara was still, her body crumpled and broken.
"No!" Cassian roared, his voice hoarse. He could hardly believe what he was seeing. Zara was one of their best fighters — fierce, relentless. But Alitzel had shredded her like she was nothing.
The remaining wolves hesitated, glancing between Alitzel and their fallen comrades. Uncertainty flickered in their eyes. And in that moment, Cassian realized the truth: this wasn't just any fight. They were facing something far more dangerous than they had anticipated. Alitzel wasn't just a rival alpha; she was a force of nature, a beast unlike anything they had ever encountered.
"Retreat!" Cassian shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone, fall back—"
But it was too late. Alitzel moved like a shadow, closing the distance between them in a blur of speed. She tore into the remaining wolves, her claws a whirlwind of death. One by one, they fell, their cries of pain swallowed by the night.
Cassian backed away, heart hammering in his chest. He needed to think, to do something, but his mind was a whirlwind of panic and disbelief. How were they supposed to stop her?
Then, as if sensing his gaze, Alitzel turned her eyes on him. The look in her eyes sent a chill down his spine. There was no mercy there, no hesitation. She was going to kill them all, and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Cassian swallowed hard, reaching for his radio. His hand shook as he pressed the button. "Reinforcements," he rasped. "Send more reinforcements now!"
The response crackled through the speaker. "Cassian, what's happening out there? We're stretched thin as it is—"
"Just send them!" he snapped, his voice raw with desperation. He turned his gaze back to the carnage, to the bloodied clearing where Alitzel stood alone amidst the bodies of his packmates. She lifted her head, her gaze locking onto his, and a slow, menacing smile spread across her wolfish face.
Cassian felt a surge of rage, fear, and something else — something primal that stirred in the pit of his stomach. "You think you can take us all?" he growled, his voice low.
Alitzel's eyes gleamed. And then, with a powerful leap, she charged straight at him.
The rumble of engines suddenly shattered the tense silence. Dust billowed in thick clouds as a convoy of vehicles sped toward the clearing, headlights blazing through the darkness. Cassian's heart leapt. Reinforcements. The Blackthorn pack was back in force. He felt a twisted sense of satisfaction watching Jack and his remaining lieutenants scramble away like cowards, leaving Alitzel alone to face what was coming.
She didn't seem to notice—or maybe she just didn't care. Alitzel's massive form loomed in the center of the battlefield, her fur matted with blood, both hers and that of her enemies. She stood defiantly, eyes narrowed, as the new arrivals spilled out of their cars. Twenty more Blackthorn foot soldiers, all shifting into their wolf forms with low, guttural growls.
"Get her!" Cassian roared, stepping back as the Blackthorn wolves surged forward. He kept his eyes on Alitzel, watching for any sign of fear, any moment of hesitation. But she met the charge head-on, a thunderous roar erupting from her throat as she launched herself at the nearest wolf.
The fight was brutal and swift. Alitzel's claws tore through the first attacker's flank, sending him sprawling. She spun and caught another by the throat, fangs flashing as she crushed down, the wolf's yelp cut off in a sickening snap. Blood sprayed across the clearing as she whirled, a whirlwind of muscle and fury.
But the numbers were against her. The Blackthorn wolves surrounded her, snapping and lunging from every angle. She lashed out, but for every wolf she threw off, two more took their place. Cassian watched, a grim smile spreading across his lips. This was it. Even Alitzel couldn't hold out forever.
And she was starting to tire. He could see it in the slight drag of her movements, the way her breaths came quicker, harsher. A powerful blow from one of the Blackthorns sent her staggering back, and she stumbled, just for a moment. The Blackthorn wolves pressed in, sensing weakness. They lunged at her legs, teeth and claws flashing in the dim light.
Alitzel roared, swinging wildly, but her strikes lacked their previous precision. One of the wolves managed to sink his teeth into her shoulder, holding on as she struggled to shake him off. Another darted in, biting down on her hind leg. For the first time, Alitzel let out a pained snarl, the sound low and furious.
Cassian's smile widened. "She's weakening," he murmured, almost to himself. The sight was thrilling. This ferocious beast, this unstoppable force, was finally showing cracks. He leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Don't let up! Bring her down!"
The Blackthorn wolves obeyed, moving in tighter. They snapped at her flanks, keeping her off-balance, while others lunged for her throat and limbs. Alitzel twisted, trying to throw them off, but the exhaustion was taking its toll. She swung her massive paw in a wide arc, knocking three wolves back, but staggered as more piled onto her.
For a moment, Cassian almost felt a pang of admiration. She was still fighting, still refusing to back down, even when the odds were stacked against her. But that only made her defeat more satisfying.
With a snarl, Alitzel reared up, shaking off the wolves clinging to her legs. She lashed out, catching one by the head and tossing him aside like a ragdoll. The move cost her, though. Two more wolves leapt onto her back, claws digging in as they tried to drag her down. Alitzel twisted, roaring, but her struggles were growing weaker.
And then, with a vicious yank, the wolves succeeded. Alitzel crashed to the ground, her massive form hitting the dirt with a thunderous impact. The Blackthorn wolves swarmed her, pinning her down as she thrashed and snarled, but they held firm.
Cassian stepped forward, a triumphant grin stretching across his face. He watched as Alitzel continued to fight, even now, even when it was hopeless. "Stubborn to the end," he murmured, almost with a hint of respect.
But the fight was over. One of the Blackthorn wolves locked his jaws around her neck, growling deep in his throat. Alitzel froze, chest heaving, and for the first time, Cassian saw something flicker in her eyes — not fear, but resignation. She knew it was over.
Cassian's smile faded. He stepped closer, his eyes locked on hers. "Yield," he said softly. His voice carried through the clearing, silencing the growls and snarls around them. "Yield, and I'll spare the rest of your pack."
Alitzel bared her teeth, a low, defiant growl rumbling in her chest. But she didn't move. The wolf holding her neck tightened his grip slightly, and she winced, the pain clear in her eyes.
"Yield," Cassian repeated, his voice hardening. "Or I'll tear you apart myself."
There was a long, tense silence. Then, slowly, Alitzel's growl faded. She lowered her head slightly, a subtle but unmistakable gesture of submission.
Cassian's grin returned, sharper and more dangerous. "Good," he murmured. He turned to his wolves, raising his voice. "Pull back. Give her space."
The Blackthorn wolves hesitated, then slowly stepped back, releasing Alitzel. She staggered to her feet, legs trembling beneath her. Blood stained her fur, matting her once-pristine coat. But even now, beaten and exhausted, she stood tall, her gaze never leaving Cassian's.
He took a step closer, his smile fading. "You're strong, Alitzel. Stronger than I expected. I could use someone like you."
Her eyes narrowed, and a low growl rumbled in her throat.
"Think about it," Cassian said quietly. "Join me. We could rule New Columbia together."
Alitzel's gaze burned into his, her breathing ragged. For a moment, neither of them moved.
Cassian ordered the men: "Bind her, she's our prisoner until she agrees to our terms."
Soon, the snarling and growling wolves gradually transformed back to humans, their bare bodies evident under the glistening sun. They immediately tied up Alitzel who was also transforming to human