The room exploded with motion.
Scar pressed harder, claws grinding against Sarah's, the floorboards buckling under their weight. His grin was wild, teeth bared, eyes glowing like coals.
Jake stumbled back, heart pounding in his chest as sparks flew inches from his face. "What the hell is happening!?"
David yanked his arm, dragging him toward the stairs. "Let's move!"
Jake resisted, eyes darting toward the corner where Hunter stood frozen in the chaos. "What about him?"
Sarah, still locked against Scar, shoved him back with a burst of strength. Her voice was clipped, sharp as her claws.
"He won't do anything… I hope."
"They can go," Hunter said, stepping away from the door. His voice was calm, almost cold. "I have no business with them."
Scar slammed into Sarah again, claws scraping, eyes blazing. The house shook with every blow, plaster raining from the ceiling.
Jake and David stumbled toward the door.
Sarah and Scar tore into each other, claws clashing, walls splintering with every strike. She moved like a storm, fast and precise, golden eyes blazing. But Scar matched her with raw savagery, his laughter echoing with each blow.
"C'mon, White Storm!" he roared. "Show me that legend!"
Sarah slammed him back against the wall, claws grazing his throat. "You want a legend?" she hissed. "I'll end you here."
Scar's grin only widened, blood dripping between his teeth. "You're too focused on me."
Sarah blinked—realizing too late.
Scar twisted, broke free, and surged past her in a blur.
"NO!" she roared.
But the damage was done—his claws were already buried deep into David's gut.
The sound, sickening.
David's eyes went wide, air rushing from his lungs in a broken gasp as blood spread across his shirt.
Jake froze, the world collapsing in around him. "Dad…" his voice cracked—then shattered into a scream.
"DAD!"
Sarah froze mid-step; the world narrowed to a single, impossible frame — David on the floor, blood blooming across his shirt. Guilt, fury, and sorrow collided in her chest and left her rooted.
Jake dropped to his knees, hands trembling as he pressed uselessly at the wound. "Dad… Dad, please—stay with me!" His voice cracked into a ragged sob. He rocked forward, whispering prayers that sounded like pleas.
For a beat the house was nothing but Jake's crying and the slow drip of blood onto the floor.
Then Hunter snapped. His face hardened — something between disgust and command. He lunged at Scar with a single, furious punch that wiped the smirk from the Scar's face.
"We don't hurt humans," Hunter hissed, fists tight, voice low and burning.
Scar's grin returned colder, amusement gone. He spat a wet laugh and leaned in, voice a razor: "Touch me again and you die."
The threat hung in the air like smoke. Everyone froze — Jake wailing, David gasping, Sarah a statue of shock, Hunter's chest heaving.
Sarah's claws trembled, her vision blurring with rage and grief. The Ghostwolf inside her clawed to the surface, begging to be unleashed. Her bones ached with the shift, power surging in her veins.
But before the storm could break, Scar's eyes slid past her—straight to Jake.
Jake stood, fists balled, face pale with fury. His chest heaved, eyes wide, confusion and rage mixing like fire and oil.
Scar grinned. "So the pup wants to bark?"
In a blur, Scar lunged.
"Jake..." Sarah roared, hurling herself between them. His claw drove forward—stopped just shy of Jake's chest, buried instead in Sarah's side.
Her breath hitched. Blood bubbled at her lips, dripping down her chin as her hands clamped around his wrist, muscles straining.
"Not… him…" she hissed through the blood.
With the last of her strength, she launched a desperate punch into Scar's jaw. It connected, but weak, slow—he only laughed and leapt back, landing light, eyes blazing.
Sarah collapsed, knees buckling.
"Sarah!" Jake caught her before she hit the ground, lowering her gently. His hands shook as he cradled her, blood warm against his palms.
Her golden eyes flickered, dimming. Jake's throat tightened, his chest ready to split.
Anger. Fear. Grief. All tangled, all drowning him.
And beneath it all—something else. Something awakening.
Scar licked the blood on his claws, laughter sharp and cruel. "You're one pathetic Storm. Protecting humans… bleeding for them."
Hunter's chest rose and fell, fists trembling. "You've gone too far, Scar. Way too far."
Scar tilted his head, grin widening. "Don't tell me you care now, brother."
Hunter didn't answer. He just launched forward. The two clashed—claws, fists, fury—each blow shaking the house like thunder.
But Jake didn't move. Didn't look.
His world had shrunk to the girl bleeding in his arms.
"Sarah…" His voice cracked, raw, shaking. "Why—why would you take that hit? Why me?"
Sarah's lips curved into the ghost of a smile, golden eyes flickering. "Because… we're supposed to have each other's backs. No matter what. It's what a man once told me."
Jake's throat tightened. He shook his head, tears streaking down his cheeks. "That's not good enough. I can't lose you, too—I won't—" His voice collapsed into sobs.
Sarah's hand rose, shaky, brushing his face—smearing blood across his cheek. "Jake… you're stronger than you think. You have to be."
Behind them, Scar and Hunter were a blur of fury and claws, tearing the room apart. But here, on the ground, everything felt still.
Like the calm before a storm.
Sarah's hand found his—bloody, shaking. She curled her fingers into his, pressing his palm to hers.
"Make him pay, Jake," she whispered, her voice barely holding together.
Then, without breaking eye contact, she brought his hand to her mouth… and bit down on his pinky—just enough to draw blood.
He flinched, eyes wide.
"Give 'em hell," she breathed, a faint, defiant smile on her lips before passing out.