Chapter 59 – The Moonlit Hunt
The hunters closed in like shadows with silver teeth.
Ayla's breath steamed in the cold, her body trembling as her bones bent and shifted. Pain clawed through her—but beneath it, something wild and hungry howled to be free.
Lucien's voice cut through the storm inside her.
"Don't fight it, Ayla. Use it."
And then he was gone—blurring forward, a streak of black and gold. His fist caught a hunter in the jaw with bone-cracking force. Another swung a silver blade—Lucien twisted, grabbed the man's wrist, and snapped it like kindling.
Ayla screamed, but it wasn't human. The sound ripped from her throat as fur sprouted along her arms, her jaw lengthening into a muzzle. Her eyes burned molten gold.
The hunters hesitated. One whispered, "Another one…"
That was all it took. Ayla lunged.
Her claws ripped through coats, flesh, and snow. She moved on instinct—fast, brutal, untamed. One hunter tried to raise a crossbow, but she barreled into him, pinning him down as her teeth sank into his shoulder. His scream echoed through the trees.
Blood. Hot. Metallic. Too good.
The wolf inside her wanted more. Needed more.
Lucien grabbed her from behind, his arms locking around her chest, pulling her back before she tore the hunter's throat out.
"Enough, Ayla!" he roared.
But she thrashed wildly, her claws cutting into his skin. The sight of his blood only drove her instincts deeper.
Lucien snarled, eyes blazing. "AYLA! Look at me!"
For one heartbeat, their eyes met—wolf to wolf.
And just like that, the frenzy faltered. The hunters still living fled into the forest, stumbling, leaving trails of red on the snow.
Silence returned. Except for Ayla's ragged breathing, and Lucien's grip holding her trembling body against him.
Chapter 60 – The Aftermath
They staggered back to Lucien's place before dawn.
Ayla's body had shifted back, but she was pale, shaking, her hands smeared with blood that wasn't hers. She collapsed onto his couch, curling into herself.
"I almost…" Her voice cracked. "I almost killed that man."
Lucien crouched in front of her, wiping blood from her chin with a damp cloth. His golden eyes softened. "You would have. That's what we are."
She shook her head violently. "No. I'm not like you. I don't want to be a monster!"
Lucien smirked faintly, though his voice was quiet. "Then learn control. Or you'll drown in it."
A silence fell between them. Then—Ayla's stomach growled. Loud.
Lucien raised a brow. "Control might have to wait. You're starving."
She glared at him through damp lashes. "Not funny."
"It is a little funny." He handed her a plate of food he'd brought earlier—simple steak, barely cooked. She wrinkled her nose, then hesitated… and tore into it like she hadn't eaten in weeks.
Lucien leaned back, watching, one corner of his mouth twitching. "Adorable."
She threw a piece of meat at him.
Later, when her friends called, Ayla ignored the buzzing phone. She sat by the window, staring at the moon, still shaken.
Lucien joined her, sitting close enough their shoulders touched.
"You saved me tonight," she whispered.
His gaze lingered on her. "No, Ayla. You saved yourself."
But deep down, Lucien knew the hardest part hadn't even begun. The hunters would return. Stronger. Smarter. And Ayla would either master the wolf inside her… or it would destroy her from within.
Chapter 61 – Strange Days
School felt… wrong.
The bell rang, the chatter buzzed in the hallways, Ayla's three best friends were gossiping about a party, and yet… Ayla couldn't focus. Every sound was too sharp, every scent too strong. She could hear the heartbeat of the boy at the locker beside hers.
She almost growled at him when he opened a bag of chips.
"Uh… Ayla?" her friend Kiara tilted her head. "Why do you look like you're about to eat Daniel alive?"
Ayla blinked, shaking herself. "What? No! I—I'm fine."
"Fine?" Lila snorted. "Girl, you look like you haven't slept in a week. And your eyes—did you get new contacts?"
Ayla panicked. In the reflection of a locker door, for just a split second, her pupils looked wrong. Animal-like. She shoved her books into her bag.
"Gotta go."
Meanwhile, Lucien leaned against the school gate, watching her with his usual calm expression. He had learned to blend in again, but his ears caught whispers.
The hunters were regrouping.
He knew it. He felt it in the way the air shifted. They wouldn't forgive losing so many men. And they wouldn't let Ayla live.
Chapter 62 – The Taste of Control
That night, Lucien dragged Ayla deep into the forest. Snow glowed under the moonlight.
"You have to learn control now," he said. "Not tomorrow. Now."
She crossed her arms, shivering. "Control? Lucien, I nearly ripped a man's throat out! What if I—what if I hurt you?"
Lucien smirked faintly. "Then I'll heal. But if you lose control again in front of humans… you won't survive it."
He shifted—bones cracking, muscles stretching—until the great black wolf stood before her, fur glistening. His golden eyes burned.
"Let it out," his voice echoed in her head.
Ayla clenched her fists. Her body trembled, and the wolf surged inside her. Pain lanced through her spine, but then—it was freedom. Her wolf form stood shaky but fierce, silver fur glinting against the snow.
Lucien circled her, snarling, testing her. She snapped back, baring teeth.
A growl rumbled from his chest: Good.
But then, Ayla's instincts went too far. She lunged at a deer that darted past—her claws catching it, teeth ready to sink in—until Lucien slammed her aside, pinning her to the snow.
Her heart raced. Her muzzle was inches from his, their hot breaths steaming in the night.
His eyes softened. Control, Ayla. Not hunger. Control.
Something inside her stilled. For the first time, she felt the wolf listen.
Chapter 63 – Shadows in the Dark
Far away, in a dim cabin hidden in the mountains, the hunters gathered.
The leader stood, his scarred face half-lit by fire. He set a silver stake on the table.
"We underestimated the boy," he growled. "Lucien Draven isn't just some half-breed. He's something older. Deadlier."
Another hunter muttered, "And the girl? She's turned now. One bite was enough."
The leader's lips curled. "Then she dies too."
He placed a folder on the table. Inside were faded photos. Old. Too old. Some of them showed Lucien—unchanged—across decades.
"Find them. This ends soon."
Chapter 64 – Locker Room Disaster
Ayla had officially decided that high school was harder than turning into a wolf.
Because turning into a wolf? At least then you didn't have to sit through math class while your senses screamed that someone in the back row was chewing gum too loud.
Today's disaster? Gym class.
She was supposed to be playing volleyball, but when the ball flew toward her, she didn't hit it. She shredded it. Claws popped out without warning, and the ball exploded in a puff of rubber and dust.
The entire class froze.
"…Wow," one kid muttered. "She's… really competitive."
Ayla hid her hands behind her back, forcing her claws away, laughing awkwardly. "Uh… good grip, I guess?"
The coach narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Later, in the locker room, her friends cornered her.
"Okay, what is going on with you?" Kiara asked, crossing her arms.
"You're different. You don't eat like you used to, you're faster, stronger—don't tell me you're on some weird celebrity diet."
Ayla laughed nervously. "Pfft. Me? Nah. I'm just… glowing?"
Lila squinted. "Glowing like… vampire glowing?"
Ayla nearly choked. "WHAT—no, definitely not vampires. Who even believes in those?"
Chapter 65 – Midnight Confessions
That night, Ayla stormed into the woods to find Lucien leaning against a tree, arms folded, as if he'd been waiting for her panic.
"They almost saw," she snapped. "I shredded a volleyball today like it was tissue paper!"
Lucien chuckled, low and dark. "You'll get used to it."
"Used to it? I'm not used to—hearing people's hearts, or… or knowing who's lying by their smell. Or wanting to bite the delivery guy because he smelled like raw meat."
Lucien stepped closer, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "That's why you need control. The wolf doesn't disappear in the daytime—it sleeps. But it's always there, watching."
She bit her lip, suddenly nervous at the intensity in his gaze. "And you? When did you learn control?"
His expression darkened. For a moment, he looked older than he ever had—like someone carrying centuries.
"A long time ago," he whispered. "Too long."
Chapter 66 – The Hunters' Net
Across town, the hunters made their move.
They rented out a warehouse and lined the walls with weapons: silver-tipped arrows, blessed bullets, wolfsbane grenades.
The scarred leader pinned a photo of Lucien to the wall. "He'll be with her. He always is. Use the girl as bait."
One of the hunters smirked. "She won't last long. She's too new. Too weak."
But the leader shook his head. His tone was grim.
"No. If Lucien turned her, she's not weak. She's dangerous. And she'll fight for him."
Chapter 67--- Party Trouble
Back at school, Ayla's best friend Nia had a new idea: throw a huge house party. Lights, music, the works.
Ayla dreaded it—too many people, too many scents—but her friends begged until she caved.
She lasted an hour before disaster struck.
Some guy spilled a drink on her dress, laughed, and shoved her shoulder. Before Ayla could blink, her wolf snapped forward. Her eyes flared, her growl slipped out, and she nearly slammed him into the wall.
The music screeched to a halt. People stared.
And then—Lucien appeared from the crowd, calm, collected, his hand sliding around her waist like he'd been there all along.
"She's with me," he said, voice smooth but laced with warning.
The guy paled and backed off. The party slowly resumed.
But Ayla clung to Lucien's shirt, whispering, "They saw, Lucien. They saw."
He leaned close, his lips brushing her ear. "Then we'll make them forget."
The Party Trap
Ayla had been dreading this night since the moment her best friend Nia squealed, "House party! My place! Everyone's coming!"
Everyone, unfortunately, also meant Ayla.
She tried to beg out of it, but her friends cornered her with that look. The "you're our sister and if you don't come, we'll drag you in pajamas" look.
So here she was, standing in front of Nia's two-story suburban house, glowing with fairy lights and pounding with bass, praying she didn't accidentally wolf-out in the middle of a TikTok dance circle.
"Relax," Lila whispered, looping an arm through hers. "It's just a party."
"Yeah," Ayla muttered, tugging at her dress. "So was the Titanic."
Inside, the air was thick with perfume, cologne, and the salty tang of chips and sweat. Music rattled the floorboards, and teenagers were crammed into every corner. Ayla's heightened senses hit her all at once—laughter too loud, soda fizzing like a gunshot, someone's perfume like a chemical assault.
She tried to breathe through it, smile, act normal. Except "normal" was hard when you could hear every heartbeat in the room.
Disaster #1: The Drink Spill
It happened fast. Some tall guy with a varsity jacket bumped into her, sloshing soda all over her dress.
"Oops," he laughed, not even sorry. "Guess you're the napkin tonight."
Ayla froze, her wolf rising hot under her skin. Her claws ached to push out. For one split second, she imagined throwing him across the room.
Her lips curled back. A growl slipped out. Low. Dangerous.
The boy's smirk faltered.
Before anyone else noticed, Lucien materialized out of the crowd. One hand wrapped firmly around Ayla's waist, pulling her back against him. The other hand rested casually on his pocket—casual to anyone else, but Ayla felt the tension in him. He was ready.
"She's with me," Lucien said softly, his voice velvet over steel.
The boy stepped back like he'd been burned. "Uh… sorry, man."
Lucien's golden gaze lingered just long enough to send him scurrying away. Then he bent to Ayla's ear.
"Control," he whispered, lips brushing her skin. "Breathe. You're stronger than this."
Her hands trembled. She nodded quickly, swallowing hard. "I almost—"
"I know," he said. "That's why I'm here."
Disaster #2: The Dance Circle
Just when Ayla thought she'd regained balance, her friends shoved her into the middle of a dance circle.
"Ayla! Ayla!" they chanted.
She raised her hands in protest. "No, no, I don't—"
But the crowd was already clapping, the bass booming. Lila and Nia were screaming, "Go, wolf girl!" (thankfully not literally).
Panic surged. Dozens of eyes on her. Music thundering in her skull. Instinct screamed: run, fight, hide.
And then Lucien stepped in.
He didn't dance—he moved. Smooth, predatory, like he owned the room. Every step deliberate. Every girl in the circle swooned.
Ayla laughed nervously, trying to keep up, but Lucien caught her hands, guiding her. She stumbled, tripped—he caught her, spun her, made it look like part of the dance.
"You're ridiculous," she whispered, cheeks burning.
"You're beautiful," he countered, voice low.
The crowd roared approval.
The Hunters Move In
Outside, three black SUVs rolled to a stop down the street.
Inside, the hunters loaded weapons. Silver-tipped tranquilizer darts. Crossbows etched with runes. Bottles of wolfsbane liquid.
The scarred leader checked his watch. "They're in there. Both of them. Mask the approach. No gunfire until the girl's separated."
One hunter peered through binoculars, smirking. "She's at the party. Perfect bait."
"Exactly," the leader growled. "We bleed the pack by taking the mate."
Disaster #3: The Kiss
Back inside, Ayla leaned into Lucien, still flushed from their dance. The music had shifted softer now, couples pairing off.
Her wolf side wanted to claim him, right here, in front of everyone. But her human side—shy, nervous—hesitated.
Lucien tilted her chin up, eyes burning. "Do you trust me?"
"Yes," she whispered.
Then he kissed her.
The room erupted in cheers. Her friends screamed like fangirls. Ayla melted, forgetting for a second the danger outside. Forgetting everything but him.
The Trap Springs
A crash shattered the moment.
Smoke bombs burst through the windows, flooding the room. Teens screamed, scattering as masked hunters poured in, weapons drawn.
"GET DOWN!" someone shouted.
Ayla coughed, eyes burning. Lucien shoved her behind him, fangs flashing, his voice low and lethal.
"Hunters."
The leader stepped forward through the smoke, crossbow aimed straight at Lucien. "Lucien Draven. At last."
Lucien growled. "You shouldn't have come here."
"Oh, but we should," the man sneered. "Because tonight… we take her."
His finger tightened on the trigger.
Ayla gasped, clutching Lucien's arm. The wolf inside her snarled, mine.
Lucien's eyes glowed gold. "Over my dead body."
Chapter 68 – Fire and Smoke
The music cut off with a screech as smoke swallowed the living room. Screams tore through the crowd—students tripping over each other, shoving for the door, drinks spilling, lights strobing through the haze.
Ayla coughed, eyes stinging. Shapes moved in the smoke—dark figures with masks, their boots pounding against the floorboards. Hunters.
Lucien pushed her back against the wall, his body a barrier. "Stay behind me."
"I can fight—"
"Not like this." His voice was sharp, wolf-deep. His hand squeezed hers once before he let go, stepping forward.
The scarred leader raised his crossbow. "Draven."
The silver bolt whistled through the air.
Lucien moved like lightning. He caught a chair mid-spin and swung it, splintering the bolt into shards before it reached Ayla. The crash made everyone in the room freeze.
Lucien's golden eyes glowed through the smoke. "You should've stayed in your hole."
The hunters surged forward.
The Fight
Chaos erupted. One hunter lunged with a blade laced in wolfsbane. Lucien sidestepped, slammed his elbow into the man's jaw, and sent him sprawling into the snack table. Chips and soda exploded into the air.
Another raised a dart gun. Ayla, acting on instinct, grabbed a soda bottle and hurled it. It cracked against the hunter's head with a pop!—not exactly elegant, but effective.
Lucien gave her the ghost of a grin. "Not bad."
"Shut up and fight!" she shot back, pulse racing.
Two hunters tried to flank Lucien at once. He shifted half—bones cracking, claws bursting from his hands. His face stayed human, but his teeth gleamed sharp as he ripped one man's weapon away and slammed him against the wall.
"Run!" he barked at the scattering students. "Now!"
But most were already fleeing, shoving through windows, pouring out into the yard.
The scarred leader advanced through the smoke, calm, methodical, as if this chaos meant nothing to him. His eyes locked on Ayla.
"There she is," he murmured. "The fledgling wolf."
Ayla's blood chilled.
The Escape
Lucien caught her wrist. "We can't stay. More are coming."
They barreled through the kitchen, dodging broken glass, leaping over a fallen speaker. Hunters poured in from the back door.
"Block them!" Ayla shouted.
Lucien kicked the stove hard, smashing the gas line. The hiss filled the kitchen. He yanked her out the back just as he sparked a lighter and tossed it inside.
The explosion thundered. Flames burst through the windows, swallowing the house.
Ayla screamed, half from shock, half from awe. "You just—"
"They'll live," Lucien growled, dragging her into the alley. "But they'll think twice about following."
Except the hunters didn't think twice. Their SUVs screeched around the block, headlights slicing through the smoke. Doors flew open, boots hitting the pavement.
The chase had begun.
The Streets
They ran. Through narrow alleys, over fences, across shadowed streets. Ayla's lungs burned, her dress torn, her feet slipping on wet pavement. Lucien never let go of her hand, pulling her when she stumbled, steadying her when her legs faltered.
Behind them, the hunters' shouts echoed. Silver bolts clattered against dumpsters, sparking off metal.
"Left!" Lucien barked. They darted down an alley where neon lights from a late-night noodle shop bled into the dark.
Ayla risked a glance back—two SUVs roared after them, engines snarling.
"We can't outrun cars!" she cried.
"Then we stop running."
Lucien skidded to a halt at the mouth of the alley. His body trembled as he let the wolf rise. Bones shifted, muscles bulged, claws tore through skin. In seconds, a massive black wolf stood in his place, fur bristling, eyes burning gold.
Ayla staggered back, awe flooding her.
The hunters froze for a split second—long enough for Lucien to leap.
He hit the first SUV like a living battering ram, claws shredding metal, windshield cracking under his weight. The vehicle swerved, slammed into a lamppost, sparks showering the night.
The second SUV braked hard, hunters piling out with weapons drawn.
Lucien's roar shook the street.
Ayla Awakens
One hunter lunged at her, blade flashing. Ayla's wolf stirred hot in her veins, wild and unchained. She caught the man's wrist mid-swing—and to her own shock—snapped it back with unnatural strength.
The blade clattered.
The hunter gasped. "She's turning—"
Ayla shoved him aside, chest heaving. Her eyes burned amber for a moment before fading.
Lucien glanced at her mid-battle, his golden gaze fierce but proud.
Then more headlights appeared down the street. More hunters.
Lucien landed beside her, blood steaming on his claws. "This city isn't safe for you anymore."
Her hands shook, but her voice was steady. "Then take me where it is."
His wolf form loomed above her, massive, terrifying to anyone else—but to her, it was safety.
He lowered his head. She climbed onto his back without hesitation.
The roar of engines grew louder. Hunters shouting. Bolts cocking.
Lucien snarled. And then he ran—faster than any car could match, faster than Ayla could ever imagine—into the night.
Chapter 69 – Between Shadows and Silence
The city faded behind them.
Lucien's black wolf form raced over empty fields until neon light gave way to tall grass and distant trees. Ayla clung to his thick fur, the wind stinging her eyes, her heartbeat syncing with the powerful rhythm of his stride.
When he finally slowed, they were deep in a grove of pines, moonlight dripping like silver down their trunks. He lowered himself gently, letting her slide off his back.
For the first time since the fire, there was silence.
Ayla's knees trembled as she stood. Her dress was torn, her arms scraped raw, and she was still trembling from the fight. "Lucien…" Her voice cracked. "I—I snapped his wrist. I didn't even think. I just… I felt it in me. Strong. Wild. Wrong."
Lucien's form shimmered, bones shifting, fur receding. Moments later he stood human again—shirt in tatters, skin pale but warm, golden eyes fading to normal brown. He stepped closer, his hand brushing dirt from her cheek.
"It isn't wrong," he said softly. "It's who you are now."
Her breath caught. "But I hurt him—"
"He tried to kill you." Lucien's tone sharpened. "Ayla, listen to me. You didn't lose yourself. You found yourself. And if you hadn't, you'd be dead."
Tears welled in her eyes. She pressed her forehead against his chest, his arms wrapping around her instantly, strong and steady.
"Why me?" she whispered. "Why am I the one they want?"
"Because you're rare," Lucien murmured against her hair. "Because they fear what you'll become."
"And what if I become a monster?"
He tipped her chin up, his gaze burning into hers. "Then you'll be my monster. And I'll burn the world before I let them touch you again."
Her breath stilled. For a moment, the chaos and fear melted into something heavier, warmer. She leaned closer, lips almost brushing his when—
Crack.
A branch snapped in the dark.
Lucien's head snapped around, his eyes flashing gold again. "They found us."
Chapter 70 – The Hunter's Net
The grove erupted with movement. Figures poured from the trees, flashlights cutting through the night. Crossbows raised, bolts gleaming silver. The same scarred leader stepped forward, his voice low and venomous.
"You run well, wolf. But not forever."
Lucien shoved Ayla behind him. "Stay down."
The hunters fired.
Lucien blurred, half-shifting again—claws catching bolts midair, splintering them to shards. He slammed into the nearest man, hurling him into a tree so hard the bark cracked.
But they'd learned. More nets flew—woven with silver thread.
One struck Lucien's shoulder, burning into his skin. He snarled, ripping it off, but another tangled his arm.
"Lucien!" Ayla screamed, panic igniting. Without thinking, she lunged forward.
Her wolf blood surged. Her eyes flashed amber, strength exploding in her limbs. She caught the net with both hands and ripped it apart like paper. Hunters froze, staring at her.
"She's awakened!" one shouted.
The scarred leader smirked. "Good. Two beasts for the price of one."
Ayla's breath came fast, the power roaring inside her. She could feel her claws wanting to break free, her pulse thundering louder than fear.
Lucien, still grappling three hunters at once, shouted at her: "Don't hold back!"
So she didn't.
She grabbed a fallen crossbow, spun it clumsily, and cracked one hunter across the jaw. Another came at her—she drove her knee into his chest and felt ribs snap. She should have been horrified, but instead a thrill ripped through her.
Lucien tore free of the last net, shifting fully now, the black wolf towering in the moonlight. His roar split the night, scattering birds from the trees.
The hunters faltered, fear flashing in their eyes.
The leader snarled. "Fall back! Fall back!"
They dragged their wounded and retreated into the forest, engines growling in the distance as they fled.
The Aftermath
Silence fell again, broken only by Ayla's ragged breathing. She stood trembling, staring at her blood-streaked hands.
Lucien, still wolf, padded closer, lowering his head. His golden eyes met hers. Not judgment. Not fear. Only pride—and something softer.
She whispered, almost to herself: "I'm not the same anymore."
He pressed his muzzle against her palm, a silent vow.
"No," he seemed to say. "You're stronger."
And she believed him.
Chapter 71 – Lessons in the Dark
The pine grove became their shelter for the night. Lucien gathered what little he could—branches, old cloth, a spark from flint—and lit a fire. The glow painted his sharp cheekbones, his eyes softened now, back to human.
Ayla sat across from him, staring at her hands. They still shook, not from fear but from the memory of snapping bone as if it were nothing.
"Stop looking at them like they betrayed you," Lucien said quietly.
Her head jerked up. "Easy for you to say. You grew up with this. You know what you are. I…" she held her hands tighter, "I don't even know myself anymore."
Lucien smirked faintly, a rare flash of humor in the chaos. "Welcome to the club. Membership perks include heightened senses, uncontrollable rage, and—" he leaned closer, whispering—"an absurd craving for raw steak."
She glared at him, but a tiny laugh broke through. "You're not funny."
"Then why are you smiling?"
She quickly hid her face, cheeks warming.
But the humor didn't erase the weight pressing down on her. After a long silence, she asked, "What if I can't control it? What if I hurt you? Or them?"
Lucien poked the fire, eyes flicking gold in the glow. "Then I'll stop you. That's why I'm here."
"Some comfort."
He leaned back on his elbows, smirking again. "Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it. Starting now."
"Now? At midnight? After we were just attacked?"
"Yes. Because the next time they find us, hesitation will get you killed."
Chapter 72 – First Blood, First Lesson
The training was brutal.
Lucien had her start small: closing her eyes and listening. At first, all she heard was the crackle of fire. Then—the drip of melting frost from pine needles, the scurrying of mice beneath the snow, the rhythm of his heartbeat even when he stood across the grove.
"That's not fair," she muttered. "Yours is distracting."
Lucien arched a brow. "Distracting?"
"I meant—! Ugh, shut up." Her face burned, but he only chuckled.
Next came speed. He shifted partway—claws lengthening, eyes glowing—then sprinted into the trees, forcing her to chase. She stumbled, tripped, fell face-first into snow, and heard his laughter echo through the night.
"Some mentor you are!" she shouted.
"Lesson one: don't eat snow!" he called back.
She groaned, brushing ice from her hair, but then she pushed harder. Her legs moved faster than she thought possible, muscles catching the rhythm. And when she finally pounced, knocking him into the snow, they both froze—her pinning him down, breathless, hair tangled, cheeks flushed.
Lucien grinned up at her. "Lesson two: not bad."
She quickly rolled off, heart racing faster than any run.
Chapter 73 – The Hunters Adapt
Days blurred into a rhythm of firelight training and stolen moments of laughter. Ayla's strength grew, her reflexes sharpening, her control steadier.
But the hunters weren't idle.
They had regrouped. Silver wasn't enough anymore. They began experimenting—poisoned bolts, explosives, even sonic traps that made Lucien wince in pain.
One night, as Ayla practiced shifting her claws in and out without losing control, an explosion ripped through the grove. Fire consumed their camp before they could blink.
Hunters poured in, masks over their faces, holding weapons that buzzed with unnatural light.
Lucien snarled, shifting instantly, but one of the devices pulsed, sending a piercing screech through the air. His wolf form faltered, staggering.
"Lucien!" Ayla cried, rushing to him—
—but the leader appeared again, stepping from the shadows. His scarred face twisted into a grin.
"Let's see if the girl can fight without her bodyguard."
He raised a blade laced with silver-blue venom and charged.
Chapter 74 – Fire and Blood
The hunters closed in. Snow melted into mud beneath the flames, the air vibrating with the sonic shrieks from their devices. Lucien collapsed to one knee, his hands clutching his skull as the noise rattled through his bones.
"Ayla—" his voice was a rasp, "don't… lose yourself…"
Her heart hammered. She wanted to grab him, to run—but the hunters weren't giving her a choice.
The scarred leader lunged, blade flashing. Instinct roared through her, and her claws extended before she could think. She caught the blade mid-swing, sparks flying as metal screeched against her new strength.
His eyes widened. "So the rumors were true…"
Before he could finish, she kicked him back, sending him sprawling into the snow. Two more hunters rushed her. She ducked one swing, spun, and slashed—her claws tearing through a chest plate like it was paper. The man dropped with a cry.
Lucien, barely lifting his head, managed a faint grin. She's learning.
Chapter 75 – The Edge of the Beast
But as more hunters poured from the trees, something inside Ayla snapped.
Her vision tunneled red. Her breath came in ragged growls. Every heartbeat around her throbbed like prey begging to be silenced. She lunged, faster than before, ripping weapons from their hands, tearing through armor with frightening ease.
One hunter screamed as she pinned him down, fangs bared. His pleas blurred in her ears, drowned by the rush of her own hunger.
"Ayla!"
Lucien's voice cut through, but she didn't stop. She sank her claws closer, trembling with the need to end him.
Lucien staggered to his feet, forcing his weakened body between her and the terrified man. His golden eyes burned into hers.
"Look at me, not him. Look at me."
Her claws hovered inches from his chest now, her lips curled back in a snarl.
For a terrifying heartbeat, she didn't recognize him. All she saw was another figure standing in her way.
But then—his hand brushed her cheek, gentle despite the danger. "It's me, Ayla. Don't let them take you from yourself."
The world snapped back. Her chest heaved, horror dawning as she realized what she almost did. She staggered back, claws retracting, eyes wide.
The hunter scrambled away into the darkness.
Lucien caught her before she fell, pulling her close. His voice was rough but steady: "Lesson three—strength means nothing if you lose yourself."
She buried her face in his chest, shaking. "I almost… I almost—"
"I know," he whispered, holding her tighter. "But you didn't. That's what matters."
Chapter 76 – Retreat and Resolve
They barely survived the ambush. With the camp burned, they fled into deeper woods, the hunters' strange weapons still echoing in the night behind them.
By dawn, Ayla sat slumped against a tree, exhausted, guilt heavy on her shoulders.
Lucien knelt before her, his skin pale, lips tight with pain from the sonic waves. Yet his eyes were steady, unwavering.
"You think tonight proved you're a monster."
Her silence was answer enough.
"But I saw something else," he continued. "I saw you fight like hell for both of us. You're not broken, Ayla. You're just beginning."
She looked up, tears stinging her eyes. "And if I lose it again?"
"Then I'll be there. To stop you. To bring you back."
He smirked faintly, though his voice was raw. "Besides… you look terrifying when you're angry. Kind of hot, actually."
She smacked his arm weakly, though the corners of her lips twitched. "You're impossible."
"And you're alive. That's what counts."
For the first time since the fire, she let herself laugh—quiet, fragile, but real.
Chapter 77 – Into the Wild
The forest grew thicker as they pushed further from the burning ruins. Pines crowded close, their branches heavy with snow, muffling the world into a cocoon of silence.
By the time the first rays of dawn cut through the trees, Ayla's legs wobbled beneath her, but she forced herself to keep pace with Lucien. His skin was pale, his breathing rough—still weakened from the hunters' sonic devices.
Finally, he stopped near a half-collapsed hunting cabin. Its wood was rotted, its windows frosted over, but it was shelter.
Inside, he collapsed onto the dusty floorboards. Ayla scrambled to his side, panic in her voice.
"You're worse than you're letting on."
Lucien chuckled weakly. "You're getting good at reading me. Annoying, but good."
"Don't joke," she snapped, though her voice cracked.
He caught her wrist, tugging her hand over his chest. His heart beat strong, steady despite everything. "I'll be fine. You… you kept me alive tonight. Don't forget that."
Ayla shook her head. "I almost lost myself. If you hadn't stopped me, Lucien—"
He tilted his head, golden eyes soft now. "Then I'd stop you again. As many times as it takes. That's what this bond means."
Her cheeks flushed, but she held his gaze, nodding slowly.
For the first time since the ambush, a fragile calm settled between them. They lit what little wood remained, and Ayla pressed close to him by the fire, his warmth seeping into her. For a moment, it almost felt safe.