The Black Circle moved like wraiths through the forest, their dark cloaks blending into the shadows as they circled the cabin. Vivi crouched near the front window, peering through the cracked blinds as her Omega Insight flared in her vision:
[Hostiles Detected: 8]
Combat Level: High
Her fingers tightened around the hilt of her dagger, her mind racing. "Eight of them," she said, her voice low. "And they're not here to negotiate."
Callum stood near the door, his claws extended, his broad shoulders tense. The glow of his steel-gray eyes cut through the dim room like embers in the dark. "Let them come," he growled.
Vivi shot him a sharp look. "That's not a plan, Callum. That's a death wish."
"They want a fight, they'll get one," he said, his voice rough with the promise of violence.
Vivi exhaled sharply, her mind already calculating. The cabin wasn't defensible for long, not against this kind of magic. They had weapons, sure, but the Circle had numbers, power, and the element of surprise.
Unless...
Her Omega Insight pinged again, drawing her attention to a nearby map pinned to the wall. She followed its lead, her gaze landing on a trapdoor hidden beneath the worn rug near the fireplace.
[Escape Route Detected]
"Callum," she said, jerking her head toward the trapdoor. "There's a cellar. We can use it to outflank them or get the hell out of here."
Callum's eyes flicked to the trapdoor, then back to her. "I'm not running."
"Not running," she snapped, her hazel eyes blazing. "Thinking. There's a difference."
Callum growled low in his throat but didn't argue. "Fine. What's the plan?"
"Get them inside," Vivi said, her mind working quickly. "If we can funnel them through the front, we can pick them off one by one. Then we use the trapdoor to get out and cut them off from behind."
Callum nodded once, his sharp gaze locking onto hers. "Stay close to me, Kane. No matter what happens."
"Wasn't planning on wandering off," she muttered, though her heart thudded at the possessive edge in his voice.
The Siege Begins
The first strike came fast and brutal—a blast of crimson energy that blew the front door off its hinges and sent splinters flying across the room. Callum lunged in front of Vivi, shielding her from the debris as a feral snarl tore from his throat.
"Showtime," Vivi muttered, sliding her dagger from its sheath.
The first of the Black Circle agents stormed through the doorway, their glowing runes casting eerie light across the room. Callum was on them in an instant, his claws tearing through the nearest attacker with savage precision.
"Stay behind me!" he barked, his voice rough with the primal fury of his wolf.
"I'm not a damsel, Callum," Vivi snapped, hurling her dagger into the throat of another agent. The man dropped with a gurgle, his spell fizzling out before it could fully form.
The cabin became a battlefield, the air thick with the clash of claws and magic. Vivi's Omega Insight flared constantly, feeding her information on weaknesses and threats as she moved with sharp, calculated efficiency.
[Hostile Agent: Weakness - Left Side]
She ducked under a blast of energy, sliding forward and driving her dagger into the weak point Insight had highlighted. The sorcerer screamed as the blade disrupted the magical runes carved into his body, sending him crumpling to the floor.
"Four left," she called, stepping back to avoid another attack.
Callum growled in response, his movements a blur as he tore through two more agents in quick succession. Blood sprayed across the floor, the coppery scent thick in the air.
"Make that two," he snarled.
An Uneasy Calm
The last two agents hesitated near the doorway, their confidence shaken as they took in the bodies of their fallen comrades. Vivi could see the fear in their eyes, their movements hesitant and unsure.
"You're outnumbered," she said, her voice sharp and unyielding. "Walk away while you still can."
One of the agents growled, raising his hand to cast a spell, but Callum moved faster. With a single leap, he closed the distance and sank his claws into the man's chest, ending him before the spell could leave his lips.
The final agent froze, their hands trembling as they slowly backed toward the doorway. "This isn't over," they stammered, their voice shaking. "The Circle will come for you."
"Let them," Callum growled, his voice like thunder.
The agent turned and fled, disappearing into the forest without looking back.
Aftermath
The cabin was a wreck. Blood and debris coated the floor, and the acrid smell of burnt magic lingered in the air. Vivi leaned against the wall, catching her breath as she wiped a streak of blood from her cheek.
"Well," she said, her voice dry. "That was fun."
Callum stepped closer, his steel-gray eyes scanning her for injuries. "Are you hurt?"
"Just a few scratches," she said, waving him off. "Nothing I can't handle."
His gaze lingered on her, his expression unreadable. "You fought well."
"I always do," she quipped, though the tension in her chest refused to ease.
Callum didn't move, his towering frame radiating an energy that made the air around them feel impossibly thick. "They'll send more."
"I know," Vivi said softly.
Callum's hand lifted, his fingers brushing against her jaw in a surprisingly gentle gesture. The spark between them ignited again, and this time, Vivi couldn't pretend it wasn't there.
"You're mine, Kane," he said, his voice rough but steady. "And I won't let anything happen to you."
Her breath caught, her pulse racing as his steel-gray eyes locked onto hers. For a moment, the chaos of the night faded, leaving only the heat between them.
"Callum," she began, but the words faltered on her tongue.
"Don't fight this," he said, his voice low and possessive. "Not now. Not when we need each other."
Vivi closed her eyes, her resolve crumbling under the weight of his words. She hated how much she wanted to believe him, how much she wanted to let herself fall.
But before she could respond, the faint sound of distant footsteps reached her ears.
"They're coming back," she said, snapping back to reality.
Callum's expression hardened instantly. "Then we'd better be ready."
End of Chapter Eleven