SHANE BLACKTHORN

My senses are on fire, a chaotic storm of pain and adrenaline as I try to block out the overwhelming emotions coming from Millie. I can feel her terror, her guilt-it's suffocating, wrapping around my mind like chains. There's something else there, too, a strange mist clouding her thoughts.

They've done something to her, something dark and invasive.

Esme. I can't believe she's still alive.

Her name sends a surge of rage through me. I want to rip her apart, to feel her heart beat its last in my hands, but the wolfsbane coursing through my veins keeps me tethered. Weak. Helpless.

Usually it will take weeks for Kygara and I to detoxify and rid ourselves of the poison but we needed to do it right now.

l assess the scene in fragments: the consecrated grounds of the Vale of Echo, the cursed tree binding Caelum in its grasp, and Clara's blood pooling in the pentagram Esme was creating. Dark magic, forbidden rituals-these people were attempting something catastrophic, and Millie was at the center of it all. My Millie. Mine.

My rage threatens to boil over, but I force it down. I can't afford to act recklessly. Not yet.

I listened as Leah tried to stop them, they had deceived her too about what was happening. It was clear they were going to kill me. Leah was against it and they struck her down for it. She lies motionless to the side, Alex's betrayal evident in the tension of his jaw as he avoids looking at her.

Krystal stands by Esme, her cold expression set, while Alex himself watches silently, as if torn between loyalty and regret. I catch sight of the sorcerer- Reed, the one Millie risked everything trying to find-standing near the cursed tree.

Betrayal surges anew. He was meant to help her, and yet he stands here, complicit in whatever nightmare they're orchestrating. I would not be merciful when I take his life later.

Esme's voice rises, her incantations wrapping around us like vines, and I see Millie's tears streaking down her face. She looks broken, her gown torn and stained, her eyes wide with despair. I can't stand it.

"Millie," I call, my voice raw, my mind reaching for hers.

Her head snaps toward me, her tear-filled gaze locking onto mine. The connection between us flares to life, a spark igniting into an overwhelming blaze. I feel her fear, her confusion, her anguish-and then I feel something else. A power surging through me, ancient and untamed. My body thrums with energy, my senses sharpening as if I've been reborn. An itch begins at the back of my neck, searing and persistent, like a mark being burned into my skin. Millie, I could feel the mate bond between us. How was that possible?

Esme's voice crescendos. she looks confused as she lifts a dagger, her intent clear.

I can't wait any longer.

In a flash, my eyes open and I bolt into the shadows. There, I shift into my wolf form immediately. My body responds with a strength I didn't know I possessed.

Kygaras, my wolf, is alive with power-bigger, faster, more feral than ever before. Did the bond between Millie and I manage to kickstart my awakening.

I look down at my fur to see it is now streaked with more patches of white, glowing faintly in the dim light, and my eyes burn with unrelenting fury. I feel Kygara's bloodlust radiating from every fiber of my being, but I force it into control. For Millie. For her safety.

I step into the light, my glowing eyes locking onto the room's occupants. Esme's chant falters as she sees me, her confident smirk slipping into uncertainty. The others freeze, their eyes darting between me and each other, calculating their next move.

I wanted to tear apart every single person in this room but I wasn't sure Millie would like it, she was raised with human morals.

She still hated me for Esme's death. Now that I think about it, If Esme was still alive then could I be forgiven?

"Surrender and I spare your lives," I say even though I hope they don't. This was just to pacify Millie.

Krystal is the first to act, her body shifting into her wolf form. She's fast, but I'm faster.

She lunges at me, her claws swiping for my throat, but I sidestep and slam into her side with bone-crushing force. The sound of ribs cracking echoes through the chamber. She snarls and recovers quickly, spinning to attack again, her teeth snapping inches from my muzzle. I meet her attack head-on, our bodies colliding with the force of a thunderclap.

Her claws tear at my side, drawing blood, but the pain only fuels my rage. I sink my teeth into her shoulder, dragging her to the ground with a savage growl. She thrashes beneath me, her claws raking across my chest, but I don't let go. Instead, I clamp down harder, feeling the sickening crunch of bone beneath my jaws.

Krystal lets out a guttural cry and manages to throw me off, blood spraying from her torn shoulder. She circles me, her movements slower now, her breathing labored. I let her come, waiting for the perfect moment. When she lunges again, I'm ready.

I duck under her attack and launch myself at her exposed flank, my teeth finding her throat. She struggles, claws flailing, but it's too late. With a final, brutal snap, I tear through her neck, her blood spraying in an arc that paints the pentagram in crimson.

Her body collapses in a heap, her lifeless eyes staring at nothing. I run to her body and tear through her chest till I find her heart. I take it in my snout and go to lay it at Millie's feet. She looks at me, her eyes misty with tears.

I step forward, my chest heaving, my fur drenched in blood-hers and mine. I glance down at the stark white patches now stained red and grimace.

"Great," I mutter to myself, "ruined the new look already."

The others are still frozen in shock, their plans unraveling before their eyes. Esme clutches the dagger, her face pale, her confidence shattered. Alex and the sorcerer exchange a panicked glance, but I don't give them time to regroup.

I step toward them, my growl low and menacing. "You're next." I say pointing to Alex.

At that moment, Ron's laughter cuts through the air like a blade.

"Good job, Alpha," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

I narrow my eyes, watching as her form begins to distort, twisting and stretching until she morphs into a face I know all too well. Jeremiah. The realization slams into me like a freight train. I knew I saw him that day.

"Who are you?" I demand, my voice low and threatening, instinctively bracing for the fight I know is coming. Whoever this is, they're not someone to take lightly.

Jeremiah chuckles darkly. "Come on, Shane. After everything we've been through, you're telling me you don't recognize me? Maybe you will remember me in this form."

My eyes narrow further, confusion and fury battling for control. And then, just like that, his form shifts again. His features contort, his body elongating, and I feel my stomach twist when I see the familiar face that emerges.

"Rafael," I growl, my voice dripping with venom.

Without hesitation, I lunge at him, my claws outstretched. But he vanishes into a puff of smoke, leaving me swiping at empty air. The rest of them had vanished too.

His voice echoes in the chamber, mocking and infuriating.

"Come on, Shane. I thought you were smarter than that."

"Come out!" I roar, my head whipping around as I try to locate him. My ears strain to catch the slightest sound, but his voice seems to come from everywhere at once.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Alex. He's carrying Leah, clearly trying to slip away in the chaos. I'm in front of him in an instant, blocking his path.

"You don't get to walk away from this," I snarl.

Alex doesn't hesitate. He blows a handful of crushed wolfsbane powder into my face, the stinging particles burning my eyes and nose. My vision blurs for a second, and in that moment, Reed tackles me.

The fight is instant, brutal, and chaotic. Reed's a sorcerer, but he's not just about magic-he's fast and skilled in combat. His punches land with precision, and the magic he channels into his strikes sends shockwaves through my body. Alex joins in, years of training evident in the way he moves. He's calculating, efficient, and ruthless.

But l'm in wolf form. And I'm furious.

Reed goes for my throat, his movements fluid and relentless, but I twist and slam him into the ground, snapping my jaws inches from his face. Before I can finish him, Alex grabs me by the scruff and hurls me into a column. The impact cracks the stone, and pain radiates through my body, but I push through it.

I launch myself at Alex, claws raking across his chest. Blood sprays across the floor as he grunts in pain, but he retaliates with a knife aimed at my side. It glances off my ribs, leaving a shallow but stinging wound.

Reed comes at me again, this time with a spell crackling in his hand. He fires it point-blank, and the blast sends me skidding across the floor. My ears ring, and I can taste blood in my mouth, but I force myself back onto my feet.

The room smells of blood, sweat, and wolfsbane, the metallic tang heavy in the air. Alex makes a final charge at me, his face twisted in rage, but I'm ready. I sidestep his attack and sink my teeth into his neck. His scream is cut short as I rip through muscle and bone, his body going limp in my jaws. I toss him aside like a rag doll, his blood staining the floor.

Reed, now alone, is breathing heavily. His eyes dart to Millie, then back to me. I advance on him, my growl low and menacing.

"You're dead," I say through the mind link, my voice echoing in his head.

He raises his hands, magic swirling between his fingers, but I'm faster. I slam him into the wall, claws pinning him in place. He coughs, blood trickling from his mouth. I'm ready to end it, to tear him apart like I did Alex, but then I hear it.

A whimper.

Millie.

Her sound stops me cold, and for a moment, my rage falters. My gaze flicks to her, and in that split second, Reed seizes the opportunity. He blasts me with a surge of magic, sending me sprawling. Before I can recover, he's at Caelum's side, charging power in his hands.

"Take another step," Reed warns, his voice trembling but firm, "and Caelum gets blasted. He has already taken two hits- His soul won't survive another. Think carefully, Shane."

I freeze, my mind racing. He's right- another blast could disintegrate Caelum's soul, and if I push forward recklessly, I risk everything.

I hear her again. Millie's sobs, soft but heart-wrenching. I look over to find her trembling, her whole body shaking in fear.

Then I see him.

Jeremiah. Or Rafael. Or whoever the hell he truly is. His form has shifted again, something darker, something monstrous. He's holding Millie, a dagger pressed against her neck. Her tears streak down her face, her wide eyes pleading with me.

"It's over," he says, his voice cold and final.
My chest tightens as I lock eyes with Millie, her silent cries tearing at my soul. Every instinct in me screams to act, to save her, but I know the stakes. One wrong move, and I lose her forever.

"What do you want?" I ask hoping to buy myself sometime to think of a new plan.

"What I've always wanted, Power," he screams like a crazy person. "Maybe you would understand me Shane, you have suffered like I've suffered."

"What are you talking about?" I ask when I feel a static connection in my mind. "I need a distraction," comes Caelum's Voice.

"Well in order to explain, I'd have to start from the very beginning. My name is Caelidhar Valkera."

Caelidhar steps forward, his presence oppressive, his words deliberate as he introduces himself. My instincts scream at me that something's wrong.

Caelidhar was the first son of Valkera, the first wolf. He was said to have died in one of the dungeons below the castle.

"You're lying," I growl, my body tense, ready for a fight. "There's no way you're Caelidhar and how did you turn into Rafael?"

A twisted smirk forms on his face, one that makes my wolf, Kygara, bristle. "Oh, Rafael's long gone," he sneers. "I killed him and took his body-a necessary step to spark a revolution. But that wasn't my real goal. I was drawing someone out of hiding. Tristan Valkera."

The name sends a jolt through me, and suddenly, all the pieces fall into place.

"Tristan... Millie's father?" I ask, my voice low and disbelieving.

Caelidhar's smirk deepens. "Exactly. And now, Shane, you'll give me what I want. Shift back-or she dies." He nods toward Millie, his blade pressing dangerously against her throat.

My heart pounds as I glance at Reed, who still has his knife poised at Caelum's neck. It doesn't matter. Caelidhar holds all the cards. I clench my fists, fury boiling in my veins, but I have no choice. Gritting my teeth, I shift back into human form, standing there exposed, vulnerable, and seething. I needed to find a way to cause a distraction for Caelum.

Before I can decide what to do next, a blinding light erupts from Millie. The intensity of it is staggering, making everyone stumble. Then, an explosion sends Caelidhar flying across the room. He crashes into the wall with a sickening crunch before slumping to the floor.

"Millie!" I shout, shielding my eyes from the brightness.

Caelum's eyes snap open. He touches the tree he'd been tied to, and suddenly, a bow and arrow materialize in his hands. Without hesitation, he fires an arrow straight into Reed's chest.

"Took you long enough," I mutter, relief mixing with irritation. "Enjoy your nap?"

Caelum rolls his eyes, and I walk to him, freeing him of the chains that bound him. He staggers to his feet. But my focus shifts back to Millie as her light grows stronger, forcing us all to shield our eyes.

"What's happening?" I ask, my voice tight with unease.

Caelum's expression darkens. "Something irreversible."

The light begins to dim, and my breath catches. From the radiance steps a wolf-a pure white wolf whose fur glimmers like moonlight, her eyes reflecting something ancient and pure. A lotus symbol glows on her forehead, her entire presence regal and commanding.

Before I can admire her beauty, her voice rings in my mind, clear and urgent. Watch out!

I duck instinctively as a blast of magic tears through the tree behind me, splintering it into nothing. I turn toward the source of the attack-Reed and Esme, their magic swirling together. But before I can react, Millie vanishes, reappearing beside them in the blink of an eye.

Did she just teleport?

I freeze, stunned, as she tears through Reed with a ferocity l've never seen before. It's over in seconds, his body reduced to nothing but blood and torn flesh. Kygara howls in excitement, pride swelling in my chest. She's ours. Our mate—and a total badass.

Esme stumbles back, shaking. "Millie, remember-I'm your mother-"

She never finishes the sentence. Millie's claws strike her down, ending her life in cold blood.

Next to me, Caelum shakes his head, disapproval clear on his face. "Millie!" he calls, his voice cutting through the tension.

Her eyes find his, and for a moment, something unspoken passes between them. Slowly, her fierce demeanor crumbles. She shifts back into her human form, staring at her bloodied hands. Tears stream down her face as she whispers, "What... what did I just do?"

She killed her enemies. She did what wolves do.

I want to go to her but before I can move, Caelum is already at her side, shrugging off his bloodied coat and draping it over her. My wolf growls in frustration, jealousy surging as I watch him touch what is mine.

"Caelum, I'm scared," she says, her voice breaking.

He pulls her into his arms, holding her as she sobs. My chest aches with the sight, Kygara snarling in my mind. She's ours, he growls. She should be in our arms-not his.

I don't get the chance to act. Leah bursts from the shadows, her lips stained crimson and her aura wrong-twisted. She leaps high into the air, her eyes locked on Millie.

"Millie!" I shout, panic clawing at my throat.

Millie turns just in time, but Caelum pushes her aside, taking the full force of Leah's attack. Leah's teeth sink into his neck, and his body jerks violently.

"Leah?" I whisper, confusion and dread mixing in my gut. Something's not right. This was, Leah was a wreath. How did that happen?

Millie screams, her voice raw and full of power. She whispers an incantation, throwing Leah across the room. But Leah lands on her feet, her movements unnervingly graceful. Her eyes shine through the darkness and hate fills them. She wipes her lips clean still staring at me intently.

I look to the side and see the bucket that Esme had been incanting over was now empty. Was that its purpose, were they trying to create a new race just like Valkera the first. I remember learning about his paranoia about the flesh eating demons in history class.

If I was right and she bit into Caelum, then the damage was done. Wreath were magical creatures that was created by the first alpha in his attempt to build a new race to fight the flesh eating demon, they were defective and could not create life force themselves so they sucked it from other sources.

Realizing his mistake, the first Alpha had them destroyed and his journal on their creation hidden.

Caelum staggers backward, his wings vanishing, his complexion pale as death. I can no longer feel his magic. He collapses, lifeless, at Millie's feet. His life force gone.

Laughter echoes through the hall, and I turn to see Caelidhar. His eyes are wild with triumph. "Success! I did it! I did it!"

Leah moves to his side, her expression blank, puppet-like. Together, they disappear into the shadows, their laughter lingering like poison.
I consider chasing them, but Millie's anguished cries pull me back.

"Caelum! No, no, no!" she screams, cradling his limp body.

"Millie," I say softly, approaching her.

"Shut up!" she snaps, her hands trembling as she mutters spell after spell. "I can save him. I just need... I just need to concentrate."

Her desperation claws at me, but I know the truth. "Millie-"

"I said shut up!" she yells, tears streaming down her face. She grabs Caelum's hand, trying to pull him to his feet. "If you won't help, I'll do it myself."

She's breaking, pretending to be strong, but I can see the cracks. It shatters me.

"I'll help," I say, stepping forward. "Faes are one with nature, maybe nature can heal him."

Together, we lift Caelum's lifeless body and head toward the Sylvenwood Forest.

"Thank you," she whispers, her voice hollow.
I nod, silent as we disappear into the woods, the weight of what just happened pressing heavily on us both.

Authors note:
One more chapter and we're done. Can you believe it? I can't. Well see you on the other side. Much love, your author