Chapter Twenty-One: The Hunt Begins
Ava's heart was racing in her chest as she turned to face Aric's wolf, his glowing yellow eyes fixed on her with an unrelenting intensity. The large animal was closing the distance between them, its powerful legs propelling it forward at a terrifying speed. She could feel the ground trembling under its weight, the force of each footfall sending jolts through her very being.
Her body instinctively froze, her mind racing for a way to escape. But there was nowhere to go. The forest seemed to close in around her, trapping her in this nightmarish moment.
"Ava, move!" Damien's voice echoed through the trees, frantic, but she couldn't tear her gaze away from Aric's wolf.
She saw the hatred in its eyes-the same malicious energy she'd gotten from Aric himself. This wasn't just a wolf protecting its territory; it was an attack, a statement of power. And she was its target.
Just as Aric's wolf launched at her, a blur of movement flashed across the trees. In an instant, Damien's wolf was upon them, striking Aric's beast aside with enough force to rattle the air. The two wolves went down, their brutal battle a tangle of muscle and power, their jaws snapping wildly and claws flashing as they fought.
Ava fell back, her breath caught in her throat, and watched as the two enormous beasts ripped into each other, their snarls and growls echoing through the forest. The sound was deafening, the air thick with the raw violence of the battle.
But Ava could not tear her eyes from the Bloodstone. She could feel its power now, calling to her, drawing her closer. It was the one thing that could save them, the one thing that could turn the tide. She had to reach it.
She forced herself to move, using every ounce of will in her body. Her legs were quivering beneath her, her limbs stiff with fear, but she pressed on, one shaky step after another. A fierce battle between the wolves unfolded, yet she couldn't afford to get distracted; she had to get to the Bloodstone.
As she approached the water, she could see the faint glow beneath the surface, an eerie, pulsing light that seemed to beckon her. Her hand trembled as she reached out, the cool surface of the water sending a chill through her fingertips. But just as she was about to touch the Bloodstone, a sharp, painful snarl pierced the air, and she whipped around.
Aric's wolf was free from the fight now, its eyes wild with its fury as it charged at her once more. The beast was faster now, its fangs bared, and it wasn't going to stop. Ava's breath caught in her throat as the wolf lunged, its massive form a blur of motion.
In that moment, something in her just snapped. A jolt of adrenaline coursed through her veins, and without any further thought, she threw herself to the side just in time to avoid the wolf's deadly claws. She hit the ground hard, but she didn't stop-didn't think. Scrambling to her feet, her heart racing, she pushed herself forward with all she had.
Damien's voice echoed again, this time desperate, filled with urgency. "Ava, no!
But she couldn't stop now. She had to reach the Bloodstone.
The glow beneath the surface seemed to intensify as she drew closer, its energy now pulsing with an undeniable rhythm. It was more than just a relic-it was alive, filled with ancient power. And in that moment, Ava realized something: it wasn't just calling to her. It was waiting for her.
She plunged her fingers into the cool water, her heart pounding as she grasped the Bloodstone. The instant her fingers touched it, a surge of energy shot through her, a jolt of raw power that nearly knocked her off her feet. The forest seemed to explode in color, the trees around her glowing with an otherworldly light, the air vibrating with the intensity of the magic now coursing through her.
Everything seemed to freeze. The combat between the wolves came to a hold as the air felt heavy with anticipation.
Then the world exploded into action in a surge of energy.
The Bloodstone flared brightly, its power crackling through the air in an electric wave. Ava's body shook with it, the energy surging through her like an unstoppable force. She could feel it-everything-pouring into her, the magic, the power, the ancient force that had waited for this moment. It wasn't just the stone. It was her, too.
For a heartbeat, she thought that she might collapse under its weight, but then the power inside her seemed to settle down, grounding her, instinctively. The moment her mind adjusted to the overwhelming force, she realized something else-she wasn't just holding the Bloodstone; it was bonded to her, the power intertwined with her.
A sudden, sharp howl broke her from her thoughts, snapping her head toward the battle as Aric's wolf turned the yellow eyes on her-eyes that were riveted to her with an intensity verging on madness. The wolf knew what had transpired. The Bloodstone chose her.
Damien, still in wolf form, had heard the howl and was already charging back toward her. The moment he saw her, his eyes softened, a flicker of relief crossing his face. But the danger wasn't over. Far from it.
Elara's voice echoed from the trees, full of rage. "No!
She reappeared at the edge of the clearing, her dark magic swirling around her, almost like a storm, and her eyes wide with disbelief as she took in the sight of Ava now holding the Bloodstone-the power now emanating from her like a beacon.
"No, this can't be happening," Elara hissed, her voice trembling in rage.
Ava's hold on the Bloodstone tightened, and she felt the surge of its power as it answered her will. No longer a bystander, she was part of the fight.
Damien's wolf growled low in his throat, his eyes never leaving Ava. He knew the danger wasn't just from Aric and his wolf. Elara was still a threat-and now that she realized what Ava had become, there was no telling what she might do.
The battle wasn't over. It was only just beginning.