Bella paced the edge of the garden, her mind racing. Luna's words clung to her like a curse, twisting her thoughts into knots. "The Abyss has a way of finding its own." What did it mean? Why now?
The howls in the distance grew louder, sharper, and closer. Her gut churned with the instincts she could no longer suppress. Waiting was impossible, especially with Xander out there facing danger.
"Stay here." His words echoed in her mind, but they felt like chains.
With a deep breath, Bella made her choice. She kicked off her heels and sprinted toward the estate's edge, her heart pounding like a war drum.
The forest loomed like a wall of shadows under the moonlight. Bella's senses sharpened as she crossed into the wilds, her wolf straining just beneath her skin, begging to be set free.
The scent of blood hit her first, coppery and fresh. It mingled with the acrid stench of rogue wolves, and her stomach twisted at the thought of what she might find.
She moved quickly but carefully, her footsteps silent on the forest floor. The sounds of snarls and yelps drew her closer until she reached a clearing.
The scene before her was chaos. Xander, in his massive black wolf form, fought like a whirlwind, his claws ripping through rogue after rogue. But he wasn't alone, several Silvercrest warriors were locked in combat, their numbers barely holding against the rogue pack's sheer ferocity.
Bella's breath caught as a rogue broke through the fray, charging straight for Xander's unprotected side. Without thinking, she shifted.
Her wolf exploded forward in a blur of midnight fur, intercepting the rogue just before its claws could sink into Xander. The impact sent them tumbling, but Bella was quicker, her teeth finding the rogue's throat in a brutal, decisive bite.
The rogue went limp beneath her, and Bella stood, panting and trembling. Around her, the battle raged on.
Xander's silver eyes locked onto hers, wide with shock. But before he could react, another rogue lunged at her. Bella turned to meet it, but this one was faster. Its claws raked her side, drawing a sharp cry from her.
Pain flared, but something else surged with it an unstoppable, searing force that felt like fire and light combined.
The world seemed to slow as the rogue raised its claws for another strike. Bella's vision blurred, and then the light returned. It poured out of her in a dazzling wave, throwing the rogue backward and searing its flesh as it hit the ground.
Everything stopped.
The battlefield fell silent as every eye turned to Bella. Her body glowed faintly, the golden light pulsing around her like a living aura. Even the remaining rogues hesitated, their snarls faltering as fear took hold.
"What the hell…" Xander muttered, his voice low and disbelieving as he shifted back into his human form.
Bella staggered, her knees buckling beneath her. Xander caught her just before she hit the ground, his strong arms steadying her.
"Bella?" he said, his voice urgent. "What just happened?"
She looked up at him, her vision still swimming. "I… I don't know."
The remaining rogues fled into the night, their resolve broken. The Silvercrest warriors regrouped, their expressions a mix of relief and unease.
"Is she… one of us?" one of them whispered, eyeing Bella with a mixture of awe and suspicion.
"She's under my protection," Xander snapped, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He carried Bella back to the estate, his steps quick and deliberate. She leaned against him, exhaustion weighing her down like lead. The golden light had faded, leaving her feeling empty and hollow.
Inside the safety of the Silvercrest mansion, Xander placed her gently on a plush sofa. His jaw was tight, his eyes stormy with questions he didn't know how to ask.
"What was that?" he finally demanded.
"I don't know," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Don't lie to me," he growled, his frustration boiling over. "That light it wasn't normal. It wasn't wolf."
"I'm not lying," she shot back, her temper flaring despite her exhaustion. "I have no idea what's happening to me!"
His gaze softened, and he sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "This is bigger than either of us, Bella. You need to tell me everything, everything you know about your past, your family, your powers."
"I wish I could," she admitted, tears welling in her eyes. "But I don't know anything. My parents… they never told me."
Xander crouched in front of her, his voice low and steady. "Then we'll find out. Together. Whatever this is, you're not facing it alone."
As Bella rested, her dreams were plagued with shadows and whispers. She stood in a vast, dark void, the ground beneath her feet pulsing with an unnatural rhythm.
"Come to me," a voice called, deep and resonant. It sent chills down her spine.
"Who are you?" she demanded, her voice echoing in the emptiness.
"The one who knows you," the voice replied. "The one who gave you life. The one who will claim you."
A figure emerged from the shadows tall, cloaked, and faceless. Its presence was suffocating, and Bella felt an overwhelming urge to run.
"Stay away from me!" she shouted, but her voice was weak, drowned out by the figure's laughter.
"You cannot run from the Abyss," it said. "It is in your blood, your soul. And soon, it will be all you know."
The void erupted into golden light, and Bella awoke with a gasp.
Bella sat up, her breathing ragged. Xander was at her side in an instant, his hand on her shoulder.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
"I saw… something," she said, her voice trembling. "It called itself the Abyss. It said it would claim me."
Xander's expression darkened. "We need answers. Now."
Before Bella could respond, the room's heavy oak doors burst open. Standing in the doorway was Luna, her expression grim and urgent.
"They're coming," Luna said, her voice sharp. "And if you're not ready, Bella, you'll lose everything."