The beast's eyes burned red in the dim light, locking onto Aria with eerie intelligence. It was not just a creature of muscle and fury—it was something far worse. Something that should not exist.
Aria's breath came in shallow gasps as she stepped back. No. It's too soon. She wasn't ready for this fight.
Alexander snarled, his massive black wolf launching at the monster again, fangs aiming for its throat. The impact was thunderous, shaking the ground beneath them. The creature let out a guttural roar, swiping at him with razor-sharp claws.
Aria flinched as Alexander dodged, barely avoiding a fatal blow. He was fast—but the beast was faster.
It lunged again, this time catching him mid-movement, its claws raking across his side. Blood splattered against the wooden floor, the scent thick in the air.
Aria's stomach twisted.
She couldn't just stand there.
Her instincts screamed at her to run, to disappear into the night before it was too late—but Alexander was fighting for her.
Something deep inside her stirred, something ancient and powerful.
No. Not now.
She clenched her fists. She couldn't afford to lose control.
With a sharp exhale, she moved.
Her body was weak, but she forced herself forward, grabbing a jagged piece of wood from the wreckage. She sprinted toward the beast, aiming for its exposed side.
But it was waiting for her.
The monster twisted unnaturally fast, one massive hand shooting out. Before she could react, its claws wrapped around her throat, lifting her effortlessly off the ground.
Air fled from her lungs as she choked, clawing at its fingers. The beast grinned, revealing rows of jagged teeth.
"Little wolf," it rumbled, its voice slithering into her mind. "Did you really think you could run?"
The pressure on her throat tightened.
Dark spots danced in her vision.
"Let. Her. Go."
Alexander's voice was raw with fury. He was back on his feet, blood dripping down his side, his silver eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity.
The beast chuckled. "Oh, Alpha," it sneered. "You have no idea what you've brought into your home."
Then, faster than she thought possible, it slammed her into the wall.
Pain exploded through her skull. Aria crumpled to the floor, gasping, the world spinning.
The beast turned its attention back to Alexander. "Kill me if you want," it taunted. "But more will come. You can't stop us. You can't stop him."
Alexander's wolf bristled. "Who is 'him'?"
The creature only smiled.
Then, before Alexander could react, it vanished.
Not ran. Not disappeared into the woods. It simply dissolved into shadows, as if it had never been there at all.
Silence crashed down around them.
Aria lay still, the taste of blood on her tongue. The scent of Alexander's rage filled the air, thick and suffocating.
Then, warmth.
Large hands lifted her gently, cradling her against a solid chest. She blinked up at him, her vision still blurry.
"You're safe," Alexander murmured.
She wanted to believe him.
But she knew better.
The Nightfall warriors searched the area, but there was no trace of the creature.
No footprints. No scent.
It was as if it had never been there at all.
Elias stormed into the room, eyes scanning Aria, then locking onto Alexander's wound. "You're bleeding."
"It's nothing," Alexander said dismissively, his focus still on Aria. "Where's the patrol?"
"Spreading out," Elias replied grimly. "Whatever that thing was… it's gone."
Aria tensed. "No," she whispered. "It's not."
Both men turned to her.
Her voice was hoarse. "It'll be back."
Alexander studied her. "You know what it was."
Silence.
He crouched in front of her, his expression unreadable. "Aria, tell me what's going on."
She shook her head. "You don't want to know."
"I do."
"You can't."
His jaw clenched. "Why not?"
"Because if you do, you'll die."
Her words cut through the room like ice.
A long silence stretched between them.
Then, Elias exhaled sharply. "Alpha," he said hesitantly, "she has a mark."
Alexander's eyes snapped to where Elias was pointing—her shoulder.
Aria stiffened, instinctively pulling away, but it was too late. The fabric of her shirt had shifted, revealing the black symbol etched into her skin.
It was not a normal mark.
It pulsed faintly, like ink made of shadows.
A curse.
Alexander's blood ran cold.
"What is that?"
Aria swallowed hard. "It's why they're hunting me."
Elias's expression darkened. "That thing wasn't a rogue. Was it?"
She shook her head.
Alexander straightened. "Then what was it?"
Aria exhaled shakily. "A Shadowborn."
Elias stiffened. "That's impossible. Shadowborns were wiped out centuries ago."
Aria met his gaze. "No," she whispered. "They weren't."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
Alexander's mind raced. He had heard of the Shadowborns—creatures of darkness, made of nightmares. They had been eradicated long before his time.
Or so everyone thought.
Elias ran a hand through his hair. "This doesn't make sense. Why would a Shadowborn be after you?"
Aria hesitated. Then, softly—
"Because I belong to them."
Alexander's world stilled.
His wolf bristled.
"What?" he said coldly.
Aria's throat tightened. She didn't want to say it. Didn't want to admit it.
But there was no way out now.
"They made me," she whispered. "I was meant to be theirs."
The words sent a violent shudder through Alexander's body. His wolf rejected it, snarling at the very idea.
No.
No one could have her.
Aria continued, her voice barely above a breath. "I escaped years ago. I ran, I hid, I tried to disappear. But they never stopped hunting me." Her golden eyes flickered to his. "And now… they know I'm here."
Elias swore under his breath.
Alexander, however, was silent.
Then, finally—
"Why did you come here?" His voice was deadly quiet.
Aria flinched. "I didn't mean to. I was just—" She exhaled shakily. "I was just running."
His fists clenched.
She had led them here.
To his pack.
To his people.
The realization sent a violent rage coursing through him.
And yet—
His wolf still wanted her.
Still needed her.
Aria took a deep breath. "I'll leave," she murmured. "If I go now, maybe—"
"No."
She blinked. "What?"
Alexander's silver eyes burned. "You're not leaving."
Her brows furrowed. "You don't understand—"
"No, you don't understand," he snapped. "They're already here. Running won't change that."
She swallowed hard.
"Besides," he murmured darkly, "you're mine."
Her breath hitched.
"You don't want this," she whispered. "You don't want me."
Alexander took a step closer. "You don't get to decide that."
Aria's heart pounded.
The intensity in his gaze was suffocating.
Dangerous.
Unstoppable.
A wind howled through the broken wall.
And then—
A whisper.
Low, taunting.
You can't protect her, Alpha.
Aria's blood turned to ice.
She knew that voice.
The storm had only just begun.