The beast's roar reverberated through the chamber, a deafening cry that shook the very walls of Bloodstone Keep. Elara barely had time to react as Alaric lunged, his massive form a blur of teeth and claws.
Kael was faster. He threw himself between Elara and the beast, his sword catching the dim light as he swung it upward. The blade slashed across Alaric's flank, drawing dark, steaming blood. The creature howled in fury but barely slowed, swiping at Kael with a clawed hand.
The force of the blow sent Kael sprawling across the stone floor, his sword skittering out of reach.
"Kael!" Elara cried, her instincts warring between fear and action.
The beast turned its glowing amber eyes on her, its snarl dripping with malice. But beneath the rage, Elara saw something else—a flicker of recognition, of torment.
"Alaric," she said, her voice trembling but firm. "Stop! I know who you are. I know what happened to you."
The beast hesitated, its movements faltering. It cocked its head, as if listening to her words.
"I'm not your enemy," Elara continued, taking a cautious step forward. "You're trapped, just like me. But we can end this—together."
Kael groaned, dragging himself to his feet. "Elara, what are you doing?"
"Trust me," she said without looking back.
---
The Beast's Pain
Alaric's massive form shifted, his snarl softening into a low growl. His amber eyes flickered, the light within them dimming slightly. For a moment, it seemed as though her words had reached him.
Elara took another step closer, her hand outstretched. "I'm your blood. Your legacy. You don't have to fight me."
But the wolf inside her stirred uneasily, sensing the danger. Alaric's humanity was fleeting, buried beneath centuries of rage and sorrow. The curse had consumed him, twisting his body and mind into a monstrous form.
The beast let out a guttural snarl, its claws scraping against the stone floor.
"Elara, move!" Kael shouted.
But it was too late. Alaric roared, lunging for her with terrifying speed.
Elara barely managed to roll out of the way, the creature's claws raking the air where she'd stood moments before. She scrambled to her feet, her dagger drawn, the silver blade gleaming.
"I don't want to hurt you!" she yelled.
The beast turned to face her again, its eyes blazing. But this time, its movements were slower, more deliberate. It circled her like a predator sizing up its prey, its growls vibrating through the chamber.
"Elara!" Kael called, his voice strained. He had retrieved his sword and was edging closer, his eyes never leaving the beast. "You can't reason with it. It's too far gone."
Elara shook her head, her gaze locked on the creature. "No. I can reach him. I have to."
---
The Wolf Awakens
The air grew thick with tension, the curse's power pressing down on Elara like a physical weight. The wolf within her clawed at the edges of her mind, desperate to break free.
She could feel its hunger, its rage. It wanted to fight, to tear into the beast before her.
But Elara gritted her teeth, forcing the wolf back. She wouldn't let it control her—not now, not ever.
"Alaric," she said again, her voice softer this time. "I know you're in there. You made the pact to protect your people. But it cost you everything. Don't let the curse win."
The beast stopped, its massive chest heaving as it stared at her. For a moment, the glow in its eyes dimmed, replaced by something almost human.
"Elara…" a voice rasped.
Her breath caught. The voice was deep and broken, barely more than a whisper, but it was unmistakably human.
"Yes," she said, stepping closer. "It's me. Your blood, your family. Help me end this."
But as quickly as it came, the humanity vanished. Alaric roared, his massive hand lashing out and catching Elara across the chest. The force of the blow sent her flying, her dagger slipping from her grasp as she hit the ground hard.
"Elara!" Kael's shout was followed by the sound of steel meeting flesh as he charged the beast again, his sword biting into its side.
Alaric howled in rage, turning on Kael with a flurry of claws and teeth.
---
A Desperate Choice
Pain shot through Elara's body as she struggled to her feet, her breathing ragged. Blood trickled from a gash on her arm, but she forced herself to focus.
Her eyes fell on the dagger lying a few feet away, its silver blade gleaming faintly in the dim light. She reached for it, her fingers closing around the hilt.
"Elara, now would be a good time to run!" Kael shouted, narrowly dodging one of Alaric's massive claws.
But she didn't run. She couldn't.
"Kael!" she yelled. "Hold him off!"
Kael shot her a disbelieving look. "You're joking, right?"
"Trust me!" she said, her voice resolute.
Kael muttered something under his breath but didn't argue. He threw himself at Alaric again, his sword flashing as he worked to keep the beast distracted.
Elara closed her eyes, gripping the dagger tightly. She focused on the wolf within her, the part of her that was connected to the curse.
"Spirits," she whispered, "if you can hear me, show me the way. Show me how to end this."
The chamber seemed to shift around her, the air growing colder. A voice echoed in her mind, faint but clear.
"The blood binds. The blood breaks. One must fall for the other to rise."
Elara's eyes snapped open, her heart pounding. She didn't fully understand the meaning of the words, but she knew one thing for certain: the curse could only be broken by blood.
She looked at Alaric, who was still locked in battle with Kael. His monstrous form was a testament to the curse's power, but it was also a prison.
"Elara!" Kael yelled, his voice desperate. "Whatever you're going to do, do it now!"
Elara took a deep breath, her resolve hardening. She couldn't let the curse continue. Not for Alaric, not for herself, and not for the people she cared about.
She raised the dagger and charged.