The growl reverberated through the forest, low and menacing, shaking the stillness of the night. Bella's heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to her feet. Xander was already on high alert, his sharp gaze scanning the tree line.
"Who's here?" Bella asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Luna's face was pale, her usual smug demeanor replaced with genuine fear. "It's them," she said, her voice trembling. "The Abyss has sent its hounds."
As if on cue, the shadows shifted, forming hulking figures with glowing red eyes. The creatures moved with unnatural speed, their twisted forms brimming with malice.
"Stay behind me," Xander commanded, stepping in front of Bella. His body tensed, his muscles rippling as he prepared to shift into his wolf form.
Luna took a step back, her silver gown shimmering faintly in the moonlight. "You can't fight them alone, Alpha. They're not ordinary wolves."
"Then stay out of my way," Xander growled, his voice a deep rumble.
The first hound lunged at Xander, its massive jaws snapping inches from his face. Xander shifted mid-air, his wolf form colliding with the creature in a flurry of claws and fangs.
Bella watched in horror as more hounds emerged from the shadows, their movements unnatural and jerky. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but something deep inside her refused to back down.
"You can't just stand there!" Luna snapped, grabbing Bella's arm. "Use your power!"
"I don't know how!" Bella shouted, panic rising in her chest. "Then learn quickly," Luna hissed, shoving her toward the fray.
A second hound broke away from the pack, charging straight for Bella. Her body reacted before her mind could catch up, a burst of golden light exploding from
her hands and striking the creature. It yelped, its body disintegrating into a cloud of black smoke.
Bella stared at her hands in disbelief. "I did that?"
"Yes," Luna said, a glimmer of approval in her eyes. "Now do it again."
Xander tore through the hounds with brutal efficiency, his silver fur stained with blood. But for every one he killed, two more seemed to take its place.
"We're outnumbered!" he growled, his voice strained as he tackled another hound. "Bella, we need you!"
Bella's hands trembled as she summoned the light again, the golden energy flickering in her palms. She focused on the nearest hound, releasing the power in a wave that sent it sprawling.
"You're getting the hang of it," Luna said, her voice surprisingly encouraging.
But Bella wasn't sure she could keep it up. Each burst of energy left her feeling drained, her legs threatening to give out beneath her.
Just when it seemed like the pack would be overwhelmed, a deafening roar echoed through the forest. The hounds froze, their red eyes darting toward the sound.
From the shadows emerged a massive wolf, its dark fur streaked with silver. Its presence was commanding, its golden eyes filled with an intensity that made even Xander pause.
"Who is that?" Bella whispered, her voice filled with awe.
Luna's expression hardened. "That," she said bitterly, "is Elias. The rogue Alpha."
The wolf shifted, its form morphing into a tall man with broad shoulders and a piercing gaze. He looked at Bella, his eyes narrowing. "You must be the one the Abyss is after."
Bella swallowed hard, unsure whether he was friend or foe. "Who are you?"
"Someone who doesn't want to see the world destroyed," Elias replied. He turned to Xander, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Though it seems your pack could use some help."
Xander growled low in his throat. "We don't need you."
"Clearly," Elias said dryly, gesturing to the hounds. "You're doing such a fantastic job on your own."
Before Xander could respond, Elias shifted back into his wolf form and charged into the fight, his movements swift and lethal.
With Elias's help, the tide began to turn. His strength and precision were unmatched, each strike landing with deadly accuracy. The hounds hesitated, their confidence faltering under the combined assault.
Bella focused on supporting the others, her light growing steadier with each use. She felt a strange connection to the power now, as if it were an extension of herself.
By the time the last hound dissolved into smoke, the forest was eerily silent.
Xander shifted back, his chest heaving as he glared at Elias. "Why are you here?"
Elias shrugged, his casual demeanor at odds with the chaos around them. "Let's just say I have a vested interest in keeping the Abyss at bay."
"You expect me to believe that?" Xander snapped.
"I don't care what you believe," Elias said, his tone cool. He turned to Bella, his expression softening slightly. "But you… you're the key to all of this. If you fail, we all die."
Before Bella could respond, the ground beneath them rumbled. A fissure split the earth, and a tendril of dark energy shot into the sky, its presence suffocating.
"The Abyss is waking," Luna said, her voice filled with dread. Elias's gaze darkened. "Then we don't have much time."