"Do you really think they'll believe you're fine?" Archer's voice broke the silence, sharp but laced with concern.
Haelyn froze, her fingers faltering as she adjusted her necklace. She caught his reflection in the mirror, leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, his piercing gaze locked onto her trembling hands.
"I don't need them to believe anything," Haelyn replied, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I just need to get through tonight."
"You look like you haven't slept in days," Archer said, stepping into the room. He moved closer, his eyes scanning the dark circles under her eyes and the tight set of her shoulders. "Haelyn, you don't have to do this."
"It's my father's birthday," she said, her voice cracking slightly. "I have to."
Archer took her hands, his grip firm but gentle. "You're exhausted. You can barely stand…"
"Let go." Haelyn yanked her hands away, turning to face him. "I said I'm fine."
"No, you're not!" Archer's voice rose, frustration bleeding through his usual composure. "You've been through hell, and now you're pretending everything's normal?"
Her lower lip quivered, and she turned back to the mirror, blinking rapidly to fight back tears. "Just leave me alone, Archer. Please."
Instead of obeying, Archer stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her despite her resistance. "You don't have to carry this alone," he murmured.
For a moment, Haelyn sagged against him, the weight of his words sinking in. But the moment passed, and she straightened, pulling away. "Let's just get this over with," she said, her voice cold.
The banquet hall was alive with laughter and music, the hum of conversation filling the space. Haelyn stepped inside with Archer and Artemis by her side, her eyes scanning the crowd. The air was thick with tension, though no one else seemed to notice.
"Why is Lyra here?" Archer's voice was low, but there was an edge to it.
Lyra approached them, her smile coy. "Oh, didn't Helen and Layla tell you? They invited me. Said it would be rude to exclude an old… friend."
Archer's eyes narrowed. "Stay out of my way, Lyra."
Lyra laughed softly, brushing past him. "Relax, Alpha. I'm just here to enjoy the party."
Haelyn stiffened as Lyra's gaze lingered on her, the smug expression on her face making Haelyn's skin crawl.
"They're up to something," Artemis muttered, his sharp eyes sweeping the room.
"No kidding," Archer replied.
Helen approached with a tray of drinks, her smile too wide, too polished. "A toast for the Alpha," she said, handing a glass to Archer.
As Archer accepted it, his wolf stirred uneasily. The scent was off, faint but wrong. Keeping his expression neutral, he raised the glass to his lips but didn't drink.
Haelyn excused herself, her heart pounding. The atmosphere was suffocating, and she needed a moment to breathe. As she stepped into the hallway, she didn't notice Layla following her, a sinister smile on her face.
In the bathroom, Haelyn splashed cold water on her face, trying to calm her nerves. When she turned to leave, the door clicked shut, and she found Lyra standing there with a key in her hand.
"What are you doing?" Haelyn demanded.
"Just following orders," Lyra said, locking the door. "Don't worry, I'll let you out… eventually."
"Lyra!" Haelyn banged on the door, panic rising.
Back in the banquet hall, Archer's wolf bristled. The unease he'd felt all evening sharpened into something more tangible as the doors burst open. A pack of black wolves stood at the entrance, their eyes glowing with menace.
The room fell silent, the music dying instantly. The leader stepped forward, his growl echoing through the hall. "We've come for the girl."
Confusion rippled through the crowd. Arthur stood, his face pale. "What is the meaning of this?"
The wolf ignored him, his gaze locked on Archer. "Hand her over, and no one else gets hurt."
Archer's lips pulled back in a snarl. "You've made a mistake coming here."
The wolf's growl deepened. "The only mistake is thinking you can protect her."
Without warning, the pack lunged. Chaos erupted as guests screamed and scrambled for safety. Archer shifted instantly, his massive form crashing into the leader, their claws tearing into each other.
Artemis barked orders, his voice cutting through the noise. "Ravi, find Haelyn! Get her out of here!"
Rowena stepped forward, her hands glowing with ethereal light as she cast a barrier around the remaining guests. "Stay back!" she commanded.
In the bathroom, Haelyn heard the commotion and slammed against the door, her panic intensifying. "Let me out!" she screamed.
Lyra hesitated, her hand hovering over the key. "This wasn't part of the plan," she muttered to herself.
The fight in the banquet hall was brutal. Archer tore into the leader, blood splattering as the wolf retaliated with a vicious bite to Archer's shoulder. Artemis joined the fray, his claws raking through another wolf's side.
Rowena's spells sent wolves flying, her power cutting through the chaos like a blade. Ravi reappeared, his eyes wild. "She's not in the hall!"
"What?" Archer growled, dodging a swipe from the leader.
"She's locked in the bathroom!" Ravi shouted.
Archer's eyes darkened, fury radiating from him. "Cover me," he ordered Artemis.
As Archer fought his way through the chaos, the leader lunged at him, claws extended. The impact sent Archer crashing into a table, but he quickly regained his footing, his growl reverberating through the hall.
Haelyn's door suddenly burst open, and she stumbled back, expecting another enemy. Instead, she saw Ravi, his face streaked with blood. "Come on!"
She didn't hesitate, following him out.
The leader of the black wolves snarled, his eyes locking on Haelyn as she emerged into the hall. "There she is!"
"No!" Archer roared, shifting fully into his wolf form. He launched himself at the leader, his massive jaws closing around the wolf's neck.
The leader howled in pain, thrashing violently, but Archer didn't relent. The other wolves faltered, fear flickering in their eyes.
But then, a deafening howl echoed through the hall, and a new figure emerged….a towering black wolf with blood-red eyes. The air grew cold, and even Archer hesitated, his instincts screaming danger.
The black wolf stared at Haelyn, its eyes glowing with malevolence.
"She belongs to me," it said, its voice guttural and inhuman.
Archer stood protectively in front of Haelyn, his growl a warning. "You'll have to go through me first."
The black wolf's lips curled into a sinister grin. "So be it."
It lunged, faster than anything Archer had ever seen.
The last thing Haelyn saw was the black wolf's claws aimed directly at Archer's heart before everything went black.
"Artemis!!! Get her out of here!!" Archer yelled under the crushing weight of the black wolf,it's claws sinking into his chest.