"What the hell is going on?" she demanded between gasps, but Darius didn't answer. His glowing eyes flicked over their surroundings, his focus razor-sharp.
A rustling in the shadows made Sophie stumble, but Darius yanked her upright without missing a beat. "Keep moving!" he growled, his voice a command that left no room for argument.
Sophie's mind reeled. The attack in the library, the inhuman growls, the otherworldly speed with which Darius moved—it was too much to process. She wanted answers, but survival came first.
Branches snapped behind them, closer now, and Darius suddenly skidded to a halt, his body coiled with tension. He shoved Sophie behind him as a hulking figure emerged from the shadows, its eyes gleaming with malevolent intent.
"You should've stayed hidden, Alpha," the creature snarled, its voice guttural and filled with venom.
Darius's stance shifted, a predator ready to strike. "And you should've known better than to cross me."
