The flames roared like a living beast, their heat licking at Elijah's fur as he skidded to a halt near the clearing. Smoke hung thick in the air, stinging his eyes and nose, but it wasn't the fire that sent a chill down his spine—it was the figures surrounding Sophia and Lucas.
There were five of them, their forms towering and muscular, their glowing eyes cutting through the haze. Rogues. Their stances bristled with menace, their teeth bared in twisted grins. At their center stood Alaric, his hood down, revealing a face marked by scars and an unsettling calm.
"Well, well," Alaric drawled, his voice slicing through the crackle of the fire. "The Unseen Alpha finally joins us."
Elijah shifted back into his human form, his sharp yellow eyes locking onto Alaric. "What do you want?"
Alaric chuckled, his rogue pack spreading out to form a loose circle. "What I always want, boy. To test the strong and cull the weak. And you've been making quite a name for yourself, haven't you?"
Elijah's heart pounded, but he forced himself to stand tall. "If it's a fight you're looking for, you'll get it. But leave them out of this." He nodded toward Sophia and Lucas.
Alaric raised an eyebrow. "Ah, the noble alpha, protecting his little pack. Admirable, but futile." He gestured lazily, and the rogues began to close in.
Sophia's voice rang out, steady and defiant. "You don't know what you're walking into." Her hands glowed brighter, a surge of green energy crackling around her.
Lucas growled, his massive wolf form pacing protectively in front of her.
Elijah felt a swell of pride, but he knew the odds were against them. "Sophia, Lucas—don't do anything reckless. Let me handle this."
"You can't take them all alone," Lucas snarled, his voice guttural through his transformation.
"Maybe not," Elijah admitted, his eyes narrowing. "But I don't plan to lose."
He let the wolf take over, his body rippling as he transformed into his true form. The rogues hesitated, their confidence faltering as they took in his towering figure and glowing yellow eyes.
Alaric, however, only smiled. "Impressive. Let's see if you live up to the stories."
With a snarl, the first rogue lunged, but Elijah was faster. He sidestepped the attack, his claws raking across the rogue's flank, sending him crashing into a tree. Another rogue came at him from the side, and Elijah spun, catching the attacker mid-leap and slamming him into the ground.
Lucas joined the fray, his ferocity matching Elijah's as he tackled a third rogue. Sophia stood her ground, weaving defensive spells that created barriers of shimmering energy. When a rogue tried to break through to her, he was met with a burst of magic that sent him flying.
But the rogues were relentless, and Alaric hadn't moved. He watched the fight with an almost bored expression, his arms crossed as if waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Elijah!" Sophia shouted, her voice tinged with panic.
Elijah turned just in time to see Alaric move, faster than he'd thought possible. In a blur, Alaric was in front of him, his claws slashing through the air. Elijah blocked the attack, but the force of it sent him stumbling backward.
"You've got power, boy," Alaric said, his grin widening. "But you lack experience. Let me teach you a lesson."
Alaric came at him again, his strikes precise and unrelenting. Elijah fought back with everything he had, but it was clear that Alaric wasn't just strong—he was skilled. For every blow Elijah landed, Alaric countered with two more, each one designed to test his limits.
"Elijah, get down!"
Sophia's voice cut through the chaos, and Elijah dropped instinctively. A beam of green light shot over his head, striking Alaric square in the chest and sending him skidding backward.
The rogue alpha growled, his smug expression twisting into a snarl. "A witch," he spat. "How quaint."
Sophia stepped forward, her hands glowing brighter than ever. "Try me."
But Alaric's pack wasn't done. Two rogues broke through Lucas's defenses, their claws slashing at his side. He howled in pain, collapsing to one knee.
"Lucas!" Elijah roared, fury surging through him.
Something snapped inside him, a primal force he'd never felt before. His vision blurred, and his body grew hotter, his wolf form expanding as a powerful aura radiated from him. The air around him seemed to vibrate, and even Alaric hesitated, his eyes widening in surprise.
Elijah charged, his speed and strength overwhelming. He struck Alaric with a force that sent him crashing into the burning trees. Before the rogue alpha could recover, Elijah was on him, his claws at Alaric's throat.
"Enough!" Elijah growled, his voice deeper, more commanding than ever.
The other rogues froze, their confidence shattered by the display of power. Even Sophia and Lucas stared at him in awe, their expressions a mix of fear and admiration.
Alaric chuckled weakly, blood dripping from his lips. "Now that's an alpha," he said, his tone almost approving. "But this isn't over, boy. Others will come. You can't hide your power forever."
Elijah's claws tightened, but he held back, his father's words echoing in his mind: Protect, but do not destroy unless necessary.
"Get out of my territory," Elijah said, his voice a growl. "And don't come back."
Alaric smirked, but there was respect in his eyes as he signaled for his pack to retreat. One by one, they disappeared into the shadows, leaving the clearing silent except for the crackle of the dying fire.
Elijah collapsed to one knee, his body trembling with exhaustion. Sophia rushed to his side, her hands glowing as she began healing his wounds.
"You did it," she said softly, her voice full of pride.
Lucas limped over, his wolf form shifting back into his human self. "That was… insane," he said, his tone half-joking but full of awe. "You really are the alpha."
Elijah looked at them both, his pack, and felt a surge of gratitude. The battle was over, but Alaric's warning lingered in his mind.
The storm was far from over, and Elijah knew that this was only the beginning.