SHANE BLACKTHORN

The run back to Lupinmere from the Vale of Echoes was cathartic, purging some of the tension that had built up inside me.

Every nerve felt raw as I transformed back and found fresh clothes in the automated locker Verran had stocked for my return from these runs.

I walked through the town square, taking in the familiar sights, the cool night air threading through my hair. Tonight, I was determined to see Caelum and finally put this all behind me. Any longer, and I knew I'd lose my resolve.

When I reached Caelum's house, I noticed the door was slightly ajar and slipped inside. I knew he'd likely be in his study, tinkering with his potions or the strange perfumes he liked to call "elixirs." As I neared the door, I heard a man's voice.

"I can reach her. We share a connection." The unfamiliar voice made me pause. I masked my presence as best I could, even though I knew Caelum would have sensed me if he were paying attention.

"It's not that simple," Caelum replied, frustration roughening his tone.

"She's one of us. I'm not leaving her with that psychopath." I edged closer and peeked through the door. Caelum was there with two strangers-a man and a woman. The woman looked oddly familiar, though I couldn't quite place where l'd seen her before.

"And what's your plan? Challenge Alpha Shane?" she asked, turning to the man. "Our lives are already at risk, and I care about Millie too, but let's be real-she has better chances of survival than we do right now."

It clicked - the rumors I'd heard about Millie seeking refuge with a witch family in Belcliff. This must be them.

"So you want to keep running? Living on scraps, always on the run?" the man shot back, his voice layered with a bitterness that made the woman shrink. "And what did we even do that was so wrong?" he went on. "Because of one old man's dreams of world domination, we have to pay the price? I'm done with that. Millie is the key. I felt her magic that day - she could lead us to victory. With her help, we'd finally take our place at the top. Just give me five seconds with her, and she'll understand."

"Are you insane?" the woman hissed. "You're talking about using magic again when the guards are already hunting us. You'll lead them straight here."

This one, I thought, might be the sensible sibling.

"Who cares? We'll kill every one of them if we have to, with Millie by our side..."

"That's enough of that," I said, stepping into the room, cutting off his rant. Caelum looked up at me, his expression wary - likely still reeling from the sound blast l'd hit him with earlier. Perhaps I'd been a bit too rough.

"No way, you're Alpha Shane," the woman breathed, her eyes wide with something close to awe.

"What's going on here, Caelum? And who is this clown?" I asked, jerking my thumb at the man, who glowered back at me.

"Why are you here? Is Millie okay?" The guy demanded, trying to get to his feet. He looked like he had beaten up seriously.

"Why wouldn't she be?" I shrugged, ignoring his hostility and the woman's awe-filled gaze.

"Return her. She's one of us, and she's done nothing to you, you sick, narcissistic psychopath," he spat.

"One of you?" I scoffed, brushing off the insults. I knew the strain these people felt - the frustration of living as strays after the war.

"My apologies for my brother's outburst, sire," the woman cut in, bowing slightly. "He means no disrespect. We're grateful to you for letting us stay in Lupinmere. My grandmother especially is grateful, and rest assured, we haven't spoken a word about... your secret."

"What secret?" Caelum perked up, curiosity flashing in his eyes. I rolled mine as the woman scratched behind her ear sheepishly.

I stepped closer, voice low and dangerous.
"Let's make two things clear. First, if you feed any of this revenge talk to Millie and put her in harm's way.." I grabbed a quill from Caelum's desk and threw it past the guy's head, making sure it nicks him, before lodging in the wall. Blood trickled down his cheek, and I let Kygara's presence ripple through the room, ensuring they understood this was a warning. "You'll regret it."

"Secondly," I continued, "if you're foolish enough to use magic to contact her, the guards will be here within ten minutes. And this time, there will be no one to save you."

Caelum rolled his eyes at my theatrics, rising and motioning for me to follow him out of the study, away from the two strangers who still stood shell-shocked in his wake. He stretched his hand toward the door, leading me to somewhere more private where we could speak without prying ears.

I followed Caelum, watching his slow steps as he struggled to regain his energy.

"Sorry about the sonic blast earlier today," I said. "I may have gone a bit overboard." He stiffened, then turned to face me.

"Just tell me why you're here," he replied, his voice cold.

"Thanks to you, I got an earful from that pompous buffoon, Thomas. A heads-up would've been nice. And did you really have to kill them? You could've at least refrained from using magic-amateur move," I chided, but he barely reacted.

"So, are you here to deliver my sentence?" he said, voice empty. "Four wolves dead and a dark arts user freed-that's grounds for execution, isn't it?"

His tone, so emotionless, struck a nerve. It was like he was back to his old self.

"Are you serious right now?" I challenged, trying to find a trace of the fire l'd seen in his eyes earlier today. He looked away, settling beneath a tree, exhaling heavily.

"Whatever method you choose, make it slow and painful," he muttered, testing my patience further.

"And Millie?" I asked. I'd intended to hand her over to him tonight, but he looked like he couldn't care less, which pissed me off.

He had managed to earn Millie's trust, forged a bond with her, something that I craved for so badly and yet, he was ready to throw it away.

"What about her?" he replied, his voice dull. "You were right from the start. I shouldn't have interfered. Do whatever you want with her - kill her, maim her. Doesn't matter to me."

In two strides, I crossed the distance, lifting him by his shirt, which crumpled in my grip.

"Caelum," I growled, ready to make him fight for his indifference, when suddenly, Verran materialized out of thin air. I'd always marveled at how he could do that. Every werewolf had unique abilities, and Verran's was bending time and space, teleporting instantly.

"Verran, what are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to leave her side?" I barked. He walked up calmly, yanked me away from Caelum, and flung me back. If not for my quick reflexes, I would've been smashed against the wall, breaking enough bones to cripple me temporarily.

Verran knelt before Caelum, a look of panic crossing his face. "My mistress needs you. Something's wrong."

"Your mistress?" I scoffed, grabbing him by the neck and lifting him to eye level. I know I told him to look after Millie, but mistress?

"Explain what the hell just happened before I snap your neck," I snarled.

"What do you mean, 'your mistress needs me?'" Caelum questioned, approaching with caution.

"My mistress, Millie..." Verran gasped, his voice strained. "She demands I bring you with me. Now. Let go of me," he choked, writhing in my grip.

I narrowed my eyes, anger boiling over.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Have you forgotten who you're dealing with?" My eyes glowed, fangs bared. Verran blinked, suddenly looking around as if breaking free from a trance. "Alpha Shane... you.." he began, but his demeanor shifted again, and like someone possessed, he thrashed wildly. "My mistress needs me! Release me now!"

"Fine, I'll let go," I growled, about to snap his neck, not willing to tolerate his disrespect any longer, when Caelum calmly placed a hand on my shoulder.

"He's been sired," he said softly, and just like that, everything clicked into place.

Millie...

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