Luna's chest heaved with the strain of running. Her heart pounded louder than her footsteps as she tore through the dense forest, the cold air biting at her lungs. Behind her, the shadows of the Forsaken wolves chased relentlessly, their howls filling the night like the sound of death itself.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, and every part of her body screamed for rest. But there was no time to stop. Not yet.
"You're not running fast enough, Luna." The voice echoed in her mind again, cold and mocking. Cade's voice, but not the Cade she knew. She gritted her teeth, pushing her body faster, ignoring the taunting whisper in her mind. The mark on her neck burned, its heat seeping into her veins, and she could feel the dark power thrumming beneath her skin, trying to reach the surface.
"You belong to us."
No. She wouldn't let him claim her. Not like this. Not ever.
But deep down, she knew the truth. The darkness in her blood was already awakening. Every time the power surged within her, it felt like the Shadow Pack's magic wrapped its claws around her soul, pulling her closer to their side.
She wasn't just running from the wolves. She was running from herself.
A sudden growl broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to the present. Luna spun just in time to see a massive shadow leap at her from the darkness. Her reflexes kicked in before her mind could process, and she shifted, her wolf form bursting through her human skin with a fierce snarl.
The Forsaken wolf collided with her, its teeth snapping at her throat, but Luna twisted away, her claws slashing through the air. She barely managed to catch the creature's side, drawing blood. It snarled in response, its eyes glowing with a red, unnatural light.
Before she could follow through with her attack, another wolf emerged from the trees, its glowing eyes fixed on her. The pack had circled in. Her heart raced, and she backed away, desperate for an escape. The pack was too strong, and she wasn't in control of her own power yet. But then, something shifted. A blinding light burst from her chest, and for a moment, everything paused.
The wolves froze mid-air as if the very force of the light had held them in place. Luna gasped as the light surged through her, overwhelming her senses. She could feel the power inside her wild, untamed, and ancient coiling at the pit of her stomach. It felt like magic. But not the kind of magic the Shadow Pack used. This was something far older, something connected to the very essence of her being. It felt like a part of her soul, something she'd always known but never fully understood.
"Control it!" Cade's voice shouted, sharp and urgent.
Luna clenched her fists, trying to focus and push back the raw power threatening to spill out of her. She was losing herself, losing control.
"Fight it, Luna."
Her mind screamed in defiance, pushing back against Cade's voice. She wouldn't let him win. She wouldn't become just another pawn in the Shadow Pack's twisted game. But the light only grew stronger, the force inside her building like a storm. She felt a sudden tug in her chest, a pull to the north. The same direction the Forsaken wolves had come from. Something someone was calling her. Before she could act on the pull, a fierce growl tore through the silence, followed by a sharp pain across her back. She spun around just in time to meet the gaze of the wolf that had slashed her, its red eyes filled with malice. The others were closing in, and Luna could feel the darkness rising in her veins, tempting her to give in, to embrace the power that would make her strong enough to fight them. But that wasn't the answer.
"Luna!" Cade's voice came again, more frantic this time. "Get out of there!"
She was so close to losing herself. So close to giving in. But a surge of strength pushed through her, the power of her own will overcoming the pull of the darkness. With a roar, she summoned all the light inside her and released it in a pulse of pure energy.
The blast hit the Forsaken wolf directly, sending it flying back into the trees. The other wolves faltered for a moment, disoriented. Luna didn't hesitate. She dashed forward, her wolf form faster than ever before, her instincts guiding her through the forest like never before.
Cade appeared beside her, his own wolf form moving with practiced precision. "We need to go!" he urged. They ran, pushing through the trees with everything they had. But Luna couldn't shake the feeling that they were being led somewhere. The pull she felt wasn't just her own but a deeper force at work that had been guiding her steps all along.
The chase continued for hours. Luna's body screamed for rest, but the sense of urgency pushed her forward. She could feel the wolves hot on her heels, but something else was far more dangerous than any of the Forsaken wolves.
Cade's eyes narrowed as they reached a narrow cliffside. The wind howled in their ears, but he didn't slow. Instead, he veered to the left into a thick wall of trees. Luna followed him, ignoring the uneasy feeling gnawing at her gut. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched and not just by the wolves.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden screech in the distance. Luna turned her head just in time to see a figure leap down from the trees, landing in front of them with inhuman grace.
Luna froze. She knew this figure.
"Cade." Her voice was a whisper, but it held enough fear to make Cade stop dead in his tracks. It was another wolf but not just any wolf.