Lucien's golden eyes burned like twin flames as he stalked into the clearing, his every step deliberate, dangerous. The wolves around him bristled with tension, their eyes glinting with bloodlust as they formed a protective circle.
"Did you think I wouldn't find you, Sienna?" His voice was smooth, dripping with dark amusement. "Did you forget what binds us?"
The mate bond flared inside me like a curse, a searing pain that tightened my chest and threatened to pull me toward him. My breath hitched, and I clenched my fists, fighting the primal force that whispered lies of belonging and surrender.
"You're not my Alpha," I said through gritted teeth.
His eyes darkened, a cruel smile curving his lips. "You don't get to choose. You never did."
Damien stepped between us, his claws still dripping with Kellan's blood. "She's under my protection now."
Lucien's gaze flicked to his brother, contempt twisting his features. "You always did have a weakness for lost causes."
"This isn't a cause," Damien growled. "It's justice."
Lucien chuckled, the sound cold and sharp as glass. "Justice? You mean vengeance. You've been hiding in the shadows for too long, Damien. You should've stayed there."
"Maybe I should've finished you when I had the chance."
The tension between them crackled like a storm ready to break.
I stepped back, my eyes darting between the two brothers—one a monster forged from ambition and cruelty, the other a mystery wrapped in vengeance and pain.
"You can't have her," Damien said, his voice low and deadly.
"She's mine."
"She's free."
Lucien's eyes blazed with fury. "No one is free from me."
---
The ground trembled as Lucien lunged. His claws flashed, striking like lightning, but Damien met him head-on. Their impact shook the air, a clash of power and rage that made the earth beneath my feet feel unsteady.
The battle between them was brutal, raw. They fought as only brothers could—with the weight of blood and betrayal behind every blow.
I stood frozen, torn between terror and fury.
Run.
The word pulsed through my mind like a heartbeat, but my legs wouldn't obey.
I watched Damien fight for me, for justice, for reasons I didn't fully understand but felt deep in my bones.
For my pup.
For freedom.
Lucien's claws raked across Damien's chest, drawing blood that splattered onto the ground like dark rain.
Damien grunted but didn't fall. He drove his shoulder into Lucien's ribs, sending him crashing into a tree.
Lucien snarled, baring his teeth. "You've grown weaker."
Damien wiped the blood from his mouth with a grim smile. "And you've grown predictable."
---
The wolves surrounding them shifted, their eyes never leaving me.
"Bring her to me," Lucien commanded, his voice like a blade.
They sprang into motion.
I spun, my heart hammering as I darted toward the trees. The forest became a blur of shadows and desperation. My feet pounded the earth, the scent of danger thick in the air.
A wolf lunged at my side, its claws grazing my arm. Pain seared through me, but I didn't stop.
Another closed in from the left.
I veered right, slipping through a narrow gap between two trees.
The river lay ahead—a rushing torrent of icy salvation.
---
Behind me, Damien roared.
Lucien's wolves howled.
I reached the river's edge and didn't hesitate.
Cold water engulfed me as I plunged into the current. The force of it pulled me under, spinning me in a whirlpool of chaos. My lungs burned as I fought to break the surface, my mind screaming with panic.
For my pup.
For freedom.
I clawed my way upward, gasping for air as my head broke through. The current dragged me downstream, but I kicked with all my strength, aiming for the far bank.
The wolves followed, their shadows slicing through the water like knives.
I pushed harder, my limbs aching, my pulse pounding.
A hand shot out, strong and steady, gripping mine with unyielding strength.
Damien.
He pulled me onto the shore, his breath ragged, his body bleeding and bruised but unbroken.
"You're not dying today," he growled.
The wolves closed in, snarling and snapping.
Damien stepped in front of me, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Come for her, and I'll tear you apart."
The wolves hesitated, their instincts warring with their orders.
Lucien's voice carried over the roar of the river. "She belongs to me, Damien."
Damien's claws extended. "Not anymore."
A howl split the night, a sound of defiance and power that echoed through the forest.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"Remember this moment," Damien said, his voice a dark promise. "It's the moment you lost."
Lucien's growl was low, deadly. "This isn't over."
"No," Damien agreed, his eyes never leaving his brother's. "It's just the beginning."
---
The wolves retreated, their eyes flashing with fury and hunger.
I watched as Lucien disappeared into the shadows, his presence lingering like a curse.
Damien turned to me, his breath shallow, his gaze burning.
"Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, my body trembling with adrenaline. "I'm fine."
His eyes softened, just for a moment. "You're stronger than you think."
"I'm not strong enough."
"You will be."
---
The moon rose higher, casting silver light over the river and forest.
"We can't stay here," Damien said. "They'll be back."
"Where can we go?"
He hesitated, his gaze turning distant.
"There's a place," he said quietly. "A place even Lucien fears."
"What place?"
His eyes met mine, a flicker of something dark and dangerous in their depths.
"The Shadow Vale."