đ Episode 19: Blood and Moonlight
The night reeked of blood.
Ethan's claws clashed with Darius's, the impact sending sparks of pain up his arm. The rogue Alpha grinned, teeth flashing white against the shadows.
"You're slower than I expected," Darius taunted, circling.
Ethan snarled, golden eyes blazing. "You won't touch her. I'll tear you apart before you get the chance."
Darius lunged, their bodies colliding with bone-crushing force. Ethan's wolf surged forward, strength amplified by fury and fear. They rolled across the dirt, claws ripping flesh, teeth snapping.
Around them, rogues circled, waiting for an opening. Ethan fought like a storm, precise and merciless, but there were too many.
One leapt at his sideâhe ducked, spun, and slammed his claws into the rogue's chest. Blood sprayed hot across his arm. Another lunged from behind. Ethan twisted, grabbing the wolf by the throat and snapping it without hesitation.
Still, Darius came again, relentless. His claws slashed across Ethan's ribs, hot agony burning, but Ethan didn't falter.
The bond pulsed in his chest, sharp and frantic. Lila.
He could feel her fear, her exhaustion. It cut through the haze of battle like a knife. She was aliveâbut running. He had to end this.
"You're weak, Ethan," Darius growled, circling again. "That girlâshe's your downfall. You think you can protect her? She'll be dead before dawn."
Rage ignited in Ethan's veins.
With a roar that shook the clearing, he launched at Darius, slamming him into the ground. Claws ripped, teeth snapped, and blood ran thick between them.
Darius fought back savagely, but Ethan's wolf was unleashed now, primal and unstoppable. Blow after blow landed, each fueled by the bond, by the thought of Lila's terrified eyes.
Finally, Ethan's claws sank deep into Darius's shoulder, pinning him. He leaned close, voice a deadly growl.
"She's mine. And I'll never let you touch her."
Darius spat blood in his face, laughing even through the pain. "Then you'll lose everything."
Ethan's vision went gold. His wolf surged, and with a brutal twist, he ripped Darius's claws from him, leaving the rogue writhing.
The other rogues hesitated, fear flickering in their eyes as Ethan rose, chest heaving, blood dripping from his hands.
"Anyone else?" he roared.
Silence.
One by one, they slunk back into the shadows, dragging Darius with them, their snarls fading into the trees.
Ethan staggered, body screaming with pain, but he stayed standing until the last of them vanished.
Only then did he allow himself a ragged breath.
The bond flared again, pulling him west. She was moving, far but not unreachable. His heart clenched with reliefâshe'd escaped.
"Hold on, Lila," he whispered, chest tight. "I'm coming."
He shifted in a blur of silver and gold fur, paws pounding the earth as he followed the thread between them. Every step hurt, blood seeping from his wounds, but the bond drove him forward.
Through the forest, through the night, through the painâhe ran.
Until her scent hit him, faint but real, laced with fear and determination.
He pushed harder.
And then, at the edge of a ravine, he saw her.
Lila stood there, battered and breathless, her eyes wide when they met his glowing gold ones. Relief broke across her face, and for a moment, nothing else in the world mattered.
"Ethan," she whispered.
His wolf slowed, chest heaving, every muscle taut with the effort not to crash into her and pull her into his arms.
She took a trembling step forward. "You're alive."
His voice was rough, human again as he shifted back, blood streaking his skin. "Always. For you."
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⨠End of Episode 19