Chapter 78 – Training in the Snow
The next day, Lucien insisted on training, though his strength wasn't fully back.
"In the wild, you don't wait for the storm," he told her, brushing snow from his dark coat. "You prepare for it before it hits."
Ayla groaned. "Can't we just… enjoy five minutes of peace?"
He smirked. "Peace is a myth."
They started with control drills. He taught her how to sharpen her hearing without letting it overwhelm her, how to use her claws to climb instead of destroy, how to channel her new strength into precision instead of raw power.
At first, she stumbled, snapping branches in frustration. But Lucien, patient despite his sharp tongue, guided her.
"Claw, Ayla. Not sledgehammer."
"You're really bad at pep talks, you know that?"
"I'm not here to be nice. I'm here to keep you alive."
Still, when she finally managed to scale a tree without shattering half its bark, his proud grin made her chest ache.
"See? Not bad for a beginner."
She threw snow at him. He didn't dodge. Instead, he retaliated, tackling her into the snowbank. Laughter spilled out of her chest as they wrestled in the frost—wild, clumsy, and yet, it felt like freedom.
For a fleeting moment, Ayla thought: Maybe I can do this. Maybe we really can survive.
Chapter 79 – The Hunters Return
That night, as the fire crackled low, Ayla finally drifted into something like real sleep.
But Lucien's senses never rested. His ears twitched at the faint crunch of boots outside the cabin, too many to be animals. His body went rigid.
"Ayla," he whispered, shaking her awake. "They found us."
Her heart stopped cold.
The door exploded inward before she could move, a flashbang hissing across the floor. Light and sound tore through the cabin. Ayla clamped her hands over her ears, Lucien snarling as the sonic waves rattled his skull.
Figures in black surged through the smoke—hunters. Armed, armored, and merciless.
One shouted: "Target sighted! Both of them!"
Lucien shoved Ayla behind him, his fangs bared. "Stay sharp. This isn't training."
But Ayla didn't stay behind. Adrenaline lit her veins as her claws slid free. This time, she wasn't prey.
A hunter lunged, and she caught his blade mid-swing, twisting it until the metal snapped. Her growl vibrated the air.
Lucien's golden eyes flared with a dangerous pride. "That's it. Show them what you are."
Snow erupted outside as more hunters swarmed. Their camp in the wilderness, their fragile peace—it was gone.
The storm had come early.
⚡ Next choice for how this plays out:
They barely escape together, but Lucien is seriously injured, forcing Ayla to step up as protector.Ayla gets captured by the hunters, leaving Lucien to fight through hell to get her back.They win the fight but at a cost, drawing attention from something far worse than the hunters.
👉 Do you want me to go with 1, 2, or 3 (or both)?
Chapter 80 – The Shattering
Snow sprayed as the hunters stormed the cabin. Lucien moved like shadow and fire, tearing through the first wave with claws and teeth. But their new tech was sharper, crueler—bolts that burned like silver, nets woven with electricity.
Ayla fought beside him, wild and fierce. She shattered a man's mask with her claws, spun, and sent another crashing into the wall. For the first time, fear didn't paralyze her. It fueled her.
"Lucien!" she shouted as more poured in.
He snarled, snapping a blade in half with his teeth, but blood ran down his side. Too much. Too fast.
Then it happened—
One of the hunters hurled a device that expanded mid-air, a steel net glowing with sparks. It wrapped around Ayla before she could dodge. She screamed as the current seared her skin, her claws sparking uselessly.
Lucien roared, eyes blazing molten gold. "No!"
He leapt, tearing through two men, but three more rammed shock-rods into his chest. His body convulsed, slammed into the floorboards. Smoke curled from his skin.
Ayla's vision blurred as they dragged her up. She clawed at the air, desperate.
"Run!" she tried to scream, but the net burned her throat.
Lucien crawled forward, his hand reaching for hers. Their fingertips brushed—then the hunters yanked her away, out into the snowstorm.
Her last sight before darkness swallowed her: Lucien's body collapsing into the blood-stained snow, his golden eyes dimming.
Chapter 81 – Ashes in the Snow
Lucien woke hours later.
The cabin was half-burned, black smoke curling into the pale sky. His body screamed with pain, every muscle scorched from their devices. Blood froze against his skin.
But worse than all of it—
Ayla was gone.
He pushed to his feet, staggering, fury burning hotter than any wound. His wolf stirred beneath his skin, howling for blood. But as he stumbled outside, he froze.
The hunters' trail cut across the snow—dozens of boot prints. But woven through them was something else. Something massive. Clawed. Ancient.
Lucien's breath clouded in the cold as realization struck.
The hunters had stirred something they couldn't control.
And it was following Ayla's scent.
Chapter 82 – The Caged Fire
Ayla woke to steel walls and humming machines. Chains bound her wrists, glowing faintly with suppressive runes. Her throat burned where the net had scorched her skin.
The hunters circled like vultures. One of them leaned close, his voice low and cruel.
"You're not like the others. You're new. Fresh. Do you even know what you are?"
She glared, silent.
He smirked. "You will. Before we're done, you'll beg to tear out that monster you've become."
They left her in the cell, the hum of the machines drilling into her skull. For the first time since Lucien bit her, true fear wrapped around her heart.
But beneath it, something else stirred.
The bond.
Even through pain and steel, she could feel him—Lucien's heartbeat, ragged but burning. He was coming.
And gods help anyone in his way.
Chapter 83 – The Blood Hunt (Rampage Lucien)
The forest trembled.
Lucien ran, faster than any beast should, his body half-shifting as fury burned away the wounds. His claws left scars in the frozen earth, his breath a growl that shook the trees. The bond pulled him north—straight to the hunters' compound.
The moment he saw the steel fortress rising from the snow, something in him broke loose.
No strategy. No hesitation.
Just rage.
His roar split the night, shaking snow from the branches. Guards scrambled, raising rifles—but by then Lucien was already inside the wall, a blur of claws and teeth.
Bullets slammed into him, some burning like fire, but he tore through them like paper. He smashed one hunter against the steel gate so hard it dented. Another, he hurled into a spotlight tower, sparks raining down.
"Open fire!" a commander screamed.
Too late.
Lucien shifted mid-leap, his wolf form exploding outward—massive, black, eyes like twin suns of fury. He hit the ground running, plowing through squads like they were grass before a storm. His jaws closed around a truck, ripping its metal apart as if it were flesh.
Inside her cell, Ayla heard the screams and the thunder of destruction. She pressed her palm against the cold wall, tears in her eyes.
"He's coming," she whispered, hope flickering alive.
Chapter 84 – The Shadow's Bite (Strategist Lucien)
But rage alone wouldn't be enough. Lucien knew this. If he charged blind, they'd use Ayla as bait—or worse.
So he forced himself to slow, circling the compound, golden eyes scanning every detail.
Floodlights. Guard towers. Two patrols at the main gate. Trucks running supplies in and out.
His wolf snarled for blood, but Lucien silenced it with will. Not yet. Not until he knew where she was.
He slipped into the shadows, moving silent as smoke. When a lone guard stepped away from his post, Lucien's hand clamped over his mouth, claws sliding in just enough to silence him forever.
Minutes later, Lucien wore the man's uniform. He walked calmly past a checkpoint, head bowed, his heartbeat steady despite the urge to rip them apart.
Inside, the stench of silver and chemicals burned his nose. He followed Ayla's scent down into the belly of the compound.
There—behind steel doors, humming with power—he felt her.
The wolf within surged, demanding to strike. But Lucien smirked coldly.
Not yet.
When he freed her, the hunters would learn terror slowly.
Chapter 85 – Collision
Two paths, two fates, but both ended the same—
The fortress shook as something far worse approached. The ancient creature whose tracks Lucien had seen was drawing near, drawn by the chaos, by the blood.
Whether Lucien chose destruction or stealth, time was running out.
The hunters thought they had a weapon in their cages.
But they were about to learn—
they had only woken monsters.
Chapter 86 – The Breakout
The alarms wailed.
Steel bent like paper as Lucien's wolf form smashed into the prison wing. Hunters scattered, but the hall became a slaughterhouse—fangs, claws, and blood. Lucien moved like a storm, his rage leaving nothing but broken weapons and screams.
Inside her cell, Ayla flinched at the roar that shook the concrete. She knew that sound. She knew him.
And then the door tore open.
Lucien stood there, chest heaving, fur drenched in blood and snow. His golden eyes softened the instant they landed on her.
"Lucien…" she breathed, rushing forward.
He caught her in his arms, holding her against him, shielding her from the smoke and gunfire. For one second, the world fell silent.
But then—
The ground shook.
Something heavier, older, hungrier was coming.
Chapter 87 – The Beast's Arrival
Outside the compound, the forest split open. Trees toppled like matchsticks as an enormous shadow pushed through the snow.
The hunters' radios crackled in panic.
"It's here! It's here—"
Then silence, as jaws larger than trucks closed around a tower and crushed it like dry bone.
The ancient creature—wolf-shaped, but wrong, its hide crawling with scars and black veins—howled into the night. A sound so deep it rattled hearts from miles away.
Hunters opened fire, but it ignored them. It wasn't here for them.
It was here for Lucien.
Chapter 88 – Escape & Collision
Lucien carried Ayla through the smoke, his mind split.
Get her out alive.
Face the beast.
He shoved her onto a hijacked bus that still had its engine running, yelling over the chaos:
"Stay down. Don't move until I come back."
Her hand clutched his wrist. "Lucien—please—don't leave me again!"
His eyes softened. He kissed her forehead quickly, then stepped back, his wolf already tearing free.
And just as the bus roared out of the compound—
The beast's massive claw slammed down where Ayla had been.
Lucien leapt, slamming into its chest mid-roar, black fur against scarred hide. Their collision cracked the frozen earth.
The fight had begun.
Chapter 89 – Hunt on the Run
But even as Lucien fought the ancient beast, Ayla's bus swerved down the icy mountain road. Inside, terrified civilians whispered, staring at her—this girl in torn clothes, smelling of blood and smoke.
An old woman reached for her hand gently.
"He saved you, didn't he? That boy… I saw the way he looked back at you. Hold on to him, child. Men like that—" she shook her head, "—they're not born every century."
Ayla blinked through her tears, clutching the woman's hand tight.
She whispered, almost to herself: "He's not just a man."
Chapter 90 – The Clash of Shadows
The night cracked open with the sound of thunder that wasn't thunder.
Lucien's body hit the ground, snow spraying outward in a halo. His breath puffed in white clouds as he dragged himself upright, golden eyes blazing in the dark. Across from him, the beast shifted—towering, hunched, its body a nightmare quilt of scales, fur, and scars older than the city itself. Its chest heaved, each inhale rattling like broken glass, each exhale steaming rot into the frozen air.
Lucien spat blood into the snow and wiped his mouth with the back of his clawed hand. His fur bristled, his voice deep and animal.
"You should've stayed buried."
The monster laughed—a low, rattling sound that made the trees themselves shiver.
And then it came for him.
Its massive paw swung down, claws like iron, and Lucien dove aside, snow exploding as the ground cratered beneath the blow. He darted under its belly, claws flashing, tearing gashes into its hide. Black ichor poured onto the snow like ink spilled across parchment.
But the beast barely flinched.
A tail whipped from nowhere, slamming Lucien across the clearing. His body smashed through a half-frozen pine, the trunk splitting, and he collapsed in the snow, gasping.
Above him, the beast loomed, jaws yawning wide enough to swallow him whole.
Chapter 91 – The Bus
The bus jolted violently on the mountain road, tires screeching as it fought for grip against black ice. Metal rattled, passengers gasped, prayers broke out in hurried whispers.
Ayla sat pressed against the window, her nails digging crescents into her palms. She could see it out there—flashes of gold light and shadow in the valley below. Every crash of Lucien's fight carried through the mountain like an earthquake.
The driver muttered curses under his breath, knuckles white on the wheel. "What the hell is happening down there?"
A child, no older than ten, sat across the aisle staring at Ayla. His eyes were wide, almost glowing with childish belief. "Miss… is your boyfriend… fighting that thing?"
Ayla's throat tightened. She wanted to lie. She wanted to tell him no, that it was something else, someone else. But the truth ached against her lips like it was alive.
Her whisper cracked out like brittle glass.
"Yes. He's fighting it… for me."
The old woman beside her—wrinkled hands clutching a rosary—patted Ayla's wrist gently. Her voice trembled but carried a strange certainty.
"Then pray for him, child. Pray like the world depends on it. Because maybe it does."
Chapter 92 – Blood & Snow
Lucien roared and sprang to his feet. He met the beast's claws with his own, the sound like swords colliding in a frozen cathedral. The impact blasted snow and ice outward in a wave, uprooting trees and cracking boulders.
The beast's eyes glowed like dying stars. Its voice thundered across the battlefield.
"You are not the first hybrid I've slain… but perhaps you will be the last."
Lucien's lips peeled back, his teeth bared in a snarl. Blood streaked his fur, but his golden eyes burned hotter. His claws lengthened, black and shining, his voice guttural.
"Then you've never fought me."
And he lunged, faster than the human eye could follow.
Chapter 93 – Eyes on Ayla
The bus groaned as it hit another patch of ice. People clutched their seats, murmuring in fear. But fear was slowly shifting to curiosity.
Whispers spread.
"She said he's fighting it."
"Not possible—no human could…"
"She's lying. She must be."
Ayla felt every pair of eyes turn toward her. Heat rose in her chest—not embarrassment, but defiance. She wasn't going to hide him anymore.
She stood, gripping the seat pole, her voice loud enough to silence the whispers.
"He's not human. He's more. And he's fighting it so you can live long enough to get off this mountain."
Silence.
Every single person stared. Some with disbelief. Some with fear. But one man—an older gentleman with silver hair and sharp eyes—nodded. He leaned forward, speaking with the kind of weight only age could give.
"Then you're a lucky girl," he said. "To have someone like that bleed for you."
Her throat tightened. She lowered her eyes and whispered back, "I know."
Chapter 94 – Breaking Point
The fight dragged into its crucible.
Lucien was bleeding badly now. His ribs screamed with every breath, his fur was matted with black ichor and his own blood. Across from him, the beast's body smoked, riddled with wounds that leaked like tar, but still it stood.
They circled each other in the valley, snow falling gently now, soft against a night made brutal by violence.
The beast lunged. Lucien countered. They collided like titans, the ground shattering beneath them, shockwaves rolling up the mountain.
The bus shuddered violently, windows rattling. Passengers screamed, clutching each other.
Ayla pressed her forehead against the glass, tears blurring her vision.
"Lucien…" she whispered, voice breaking.
Outside, in the valley below, two shadows clashed again—and the world itself seemed to hold its breath.
Chapter 95 – The Final Strike
The beast's roar shook the valley, so deep and heavy that it rattled the bus windows on the ridge. Snow avalanched from the cliffs.
Lucien's chest heaved, steam rolling off his body. His golden eyes locked on the monster's. His claws were torn, his fur streaked red and black, his muscles trembling with exhaustion—but he did not break.
"You… can't… win," he growled, his voice raw.
The creature laughed, its maw dripping black ichor.
"Little wolf… I've seen centuries. I've feasted on warriors greater than you."
Lucien's lips peeled back in a bloodstained grin.
"Then it's time your centuries ended."
He surged forward, faster than lightning. His claws glowed faintly, energy sparking off them—the last reserves of strength he had. He slashed across the beast's throat once, twice, three times in brutal succession.
The monster stumbled back, gurgling, clutching its torn neck. But it wasn't enough.
Lucien lunged again, driving both claws deep into its chest. With a guttural snarl, he tore outward. Black ichor exploded across the snow, steaming, burning holes into the ice. The beast let out one final, rattling roar—then collapsed, shaking the mountain as it hit the ground.
Lucien staggered, swaying on his feet. His chest heaved, his vision blurred. Blood poured from his wounds.
But he stayed standing.
The beast was dead.
Chapter 96 – The Bus Stops
The bus screeched to a halt on the icy road. Passengers tumbled forward in their seats, a collective gasp rushing through the cabin.
Outside, through the foggy glass, headlights glared across the snow. A caravan of black SUVs had pulled across the road, blocking them. Men in heavy coats stepped out, rifles in their hands, their movements precise, military.
Ayla's breath caught.
"Hunters…"
The driver cursed under his breath. "What the hell—"
One of the armed men banged on the bus door. His voice was cold, clipped.
"Everyone stay calm. We're here for your safety."
The doors hissed open. He stepped inside, boots crunching against the rubber floor. His eyes scanned the passengers, then landed on Ayla. His gaze lingered a fraction too long.
"You." He pointed. "Come with us."
A murmur rippled through the bus. Ayla's stomach turned cold.
The older silver-haired man who had defended her earlier stood up slowly, placing himself between the soldier and Ayla. His voice was calm but hard as stone.
"She's not going anywhere with you. She's safer here."
The soldier sneered. "Move, old man. This isn't your concern."
But Ayla stood, her hands trembling, her voice louder than she thought possible.
"Leave him alone. I'll go."
Her words silenced the bus. People stared, wide-eyed, some horrified, some silently cheering her courage.
She met the soldier's gaze with fire in her eyes.
"I'll go. Just… don't touch anyone else."
Chapter 97 – Interference
The hunters led Ayla off the bus. The freezing air hit her face like knives, but she barely noticed. Her eyes scanned the valley below—she could see shadows moving where Lucien fought, the snow stained black and red.
One of the hunters caught her look and smirked.
"Yeah. He's down there. The abomination."
Her fists clenched.
"He's not an abomination."
The man chuckled. "You'll change your mind when you see what's left of him."
But before Ayla could answer, the ground shook violently beneath them. A shockwave rippled up the mountain. The hunters froze, eyes snapping to the valley below.
A howl rose into the night—long, raw, triumphant.
Lucien.
The sound cut through everything—the fear, the cold, the lies. Ayla's heart clenched, tears burning her eyes.
He was alive.
And he was coming.
Chapter 98 – The Howl That Shook Them
The hunters froze as the howl echoed across the valley, rolling through the night like thunder. Snow slid from the mountain slopes. Even the rifles in their hands trembled slightly, as if the sound itself carried weight.
The lead hunter's jaw tightened.
"He's still alive."
Ayla's heart slammed against her ribs. She couldn't keep the tears from slipping down her cheeks. She whispered his name like a prayer.
"Lucien…"
The older man still inside the bus clenched the railing, muttering low.
"That's no abomination. That's a protector."
The hunters shoved Ayla forward roughly, dragging her toward the SUVs.
"If he's alive, he won't be for long," the leader said. "Tonight we end it."
But even as he spoke, shadows stirred in the distance. A black shape emerged through the swirling snow, limping, bloody—but towering, unstoppable.
Lucien.
His fur was torn, streaked with crimson. Steam hissed from his body with every heavy breath. Yet his golden eyes burned, locked on the hunters holding Ayla.
The bus erupted in gasps. Passengers pressed against the glass, some terrified, others awed. One child whispered loudly,
"Mommy… it's a wolf-man."
Ayla tried to run to him, but two hunters restrained her, pinning her arms back.
"Stay still, girl," one hissed.
Lucien's snarl rolled like thunder. His claws dug into the snow, his body trembling with fury.
"Release. Her."
The words were guttural, half-human, half-beast—but every soul there understood.
Chapter 99 – Capture Attempt
The hunters moved in perfect formation, rifles raised.
"Tranq darts—NOW!" the leader barked.
A volley of sharp hisses filled the air as silver-tipped darts flew toward Lucien.
He moved like black lightning. Spinning, he swiped three darts mid-air, sending them clattering harmlessly to the snow. One struck his shoulder. He growled, yanking it free and snapping it in his teeth. The silver burned, but he stayed standing.
The hunters advanced. One raised a net-gun and fired. Steel mesh burst open, wrapping around Lucien's massive frame.
The bus passengers screamed. Ayla's chest tightened.
"No!"
Lucien staggered, the net cutting into his arms, electricity surging through it. He roared, dropping to one knee.
The hunters smirked.
"Got him."
But Ayla's voice cut across the snow, clear and sharp.
"Lucien! Get up!"
His golden eyes flickered, finding her face in the chaos. For that moment, everything else disappeared—the hunters, the cold, the pain. Just her.
With a guttural roar, he flexed, muscles tearing through the steel mesh. Sparks exploded. The net shredded.
The hunters stepped back, pale, their formation breaking.
And then—he was free.
Chapter 100 – Reunion in the Snow
Lucien's claws dug into the ground as he surged forward. In one blur of motion, he knocked the hunters restraining Ayla aside like ragdolls. She stumbled forward, falling into the snow.
And then she was in his arms.
Not beast and girl. Not monster and victim. Just Lucien and Ayla.
Her hands pressed against his bloodied chest, her face against his fur. She sobbed into him, relief shaking her whole body.
"You're alive… you're alive…"
Lucien's massive frame shuddered, his growl softening into something almost human.
"I told you… I'd come back."
The bus passengers stared in silence, some horrified, some wiping tears, some whispering prayers. The older man nodded slowly, as if he had seen this kind of bond once before, long ago.
But the moment couldn't last. The hunters regrouped, rifles raised again.
The leader's voice cracked as he shouted.
"OPEN FIRE!"
Chapter 101 – The Night Bleeds Red
The first rifle cracked. Muzzle flashes lit the snow.
Lucien twisted, shielding Ayla with his massive body. Bullets tore into his side, the silver burning like fire. He roared, more beast than man, but did not fall.
"Stay behind me!" he snarled.
But Ayla, trembling yet fierce, shook her head.
"I'm not letting them take you again."
The hunters advanced in two flanks, their boots crunching over the snow, their rifles glowing with tracer fire.
Lucien lunged. The world became a blur of claws, gunfire, and screams.
He tore through the first line—rifles snapping in his jaws, armor shredded by claws like black steel. Blood stained the snow.
But more came. A van door flew open, unleashing hunters with heavy electrified lances. Sparks hissed in the air.
Lucien staggered as one spear pierced into his shoulder, pumping current through his veins. His roar rattled the trees, the bus windows vibrating with the sound.
"Lucien!" Ayla screamed.
Before the hunters could strike again, Ayla grabbed a fallen rifle, clumsy but desperate. She aimed at the man holding the lance to Lucien's chest—and fired.
The shot echoed, and the man collapsed.
Every hunter froze for a fraction of a second, shocked.
The passengers inside the bus erupted in chaos—some cheering, some crying, some praying louder.
Lucien ripped the lance out, his eyes blazing. "Run, Ayla!"
But she didn't. She pressed her back against his, facing the other side of the hunters, trembling but refusing to move.
"If we run, they'll keep hunting us. We fight—together."
Lucien's gaze flickered down at her, pride glimmering even through the fury.
"You're insane," he muttered.
Her lips quirked, just for a second. "Takes one to love one."
Then the snowstorm seemed to move with them. Wolf and girl, back to back, striking, dodging, tearing through the circle.
When the leader barked, "Fall back, regroup!" it was already too late.
The hunters stumbled, some bleeding, some dragging others toward the SUVs.
Lucien and Ayla didn't chase. He was bleeding badly, and she was shaking, still clutching the rifle with white knuckles.
The night went eerily quiet.
Only their ragged breaths filled the air.
The bus door creaked open. The older man stepped out slowly, cane crunching into the snow. He studied Lucien's towering form, then Ayla by his side, both bloodied but unbroken.
Finally, he nodded once.
"You're right, girl," he said softly. "He is a good man."
Chapter 102 – Between the Silence and the Hunt
The forest was quiet again. Too quiet.
Lucien leaned heavily against a fallen pine, his wolf form shrinking back, bones snapping and twisting until he stood bare and bloodied in his human skin. His breaths came ragged, white mist puffing in the cold. His skin was pale as snow, but the streaks of crimson across it made him look carved from war itself.
Ayla dropped to her knees beside him, tossing the rifle aside.
"Don't you dare pass out," she whispered, voice trembling.
Lucien smirked faintly, even through the pain.
"You shot better than half of them. Maybe I should let you do the fighting."
She shoved him lightly in the shoulder. "Don't joke right now!"
But he kept smirking. It wasn't arrogance—more like he was trying to keep her steady, not himself.
She tore off her scarf and pressed it to the wound in his side. He winced.
"Hold still," she muttered.
"You're bossy," he gritted, teeth clenched.
"You're bleeding everywhere. So yes, I'm bossy. Shut up."
He chuckled softly, then hissed as she tightened the makeshift bandage. Their faces were close, breath mingling in the freezing air. For a heartbeat, the world felt smaller, safer—just them.
Ayla's eyes softened. "You scared me tonight."
Lucien's voice dropped low, almost a growl. "And you scared me. Picking up that gun like you weren't terrified."
"I was terrified." She swallowed hard. "But losing you would've been worse."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them—warm despite the cold.
Then, somewhere deep in the forest, a sharp sound cracked through the night. A tree branch snapping. Too heavy to be just an animal.
Lucien's head snapped toward it. His eyes—human, but with a flicker of something darker—narrowed.
"They're regrouping."
Ayla's heart sank. "Already?"
"They won't stop now. Not after the blood we spilled." He pushed himself upright, staggering, but refusing her help.
"Lucien, you're hurt—"
"I've survived worse. But we can't stay here. They'll sweep the forest until they find us."
She grabbed his hand, grounding him. "Then we don't stay. We move. Together."
Lucien studied her for a beat, then gave a slow nod. His lips curved into the faintest, wolfish grin.
"You really are reckless," he muttered.
"Again—takes one to love one," she shot back, echoing her earlier words with a shaky smile.
Lucien let out a breath—half laugh, half growl—and pulled her close. "Then let's see if the night can keep up with us."
The two of them vanished into the trees, the snow swallowing their tracks, while far behind, the hunters' voices rose again like hounds scenting blood.
Chapter 103 – Shadows in the Snow
The hollow was quiet except for the crunch of snow under their boots and the hollow thud of Ayla's frantic heartbeat in her own ears.
She leaned against the rock wall, her breath puffing into the freezing air. "Next time… remind me to pick a boyfriend who likes beaches, not snowstorms."
Lucien gave her a look that was half amusement, half disbelief. "Boyfriend?"
She froze, realizing the slip, and immediately buried her face in his coat. "Shut up. Hypothermia makes people say dumb things."
He chuckled, low and husky, the sound vibrating through his chest. "So, hypothermia's the excuse?"
"Don't push it," she muttered, cheeks burning.
Lucien's smirk softened into something gentler as he crouched before her. He pulled his coat tighter around her, then placed his hands over hers. His palms were warmer than any human's, carrying the heat of the wolf beneath his skin.
"You're trembling," he murmured.
"Because it's Antarctica out here," she shot back, though her voice wavered.
"No," he said, eyes narrowing as though he could read her like a book. "Not just the cold."
Her throat caught. She wanted to deny it, but his gaze was too intense, too honest. She looked away, staring at the snowflakes tumbling lazily from the branches above. "You make everything complicated, Lucien."
His lips curved into something between a smile and a sigh. "And you make everything worth it."
Before she could respond, he leaned in and kissed her.
It was different from the rushed, desperate kisses in heated moments before—this one was slower, more deliberate. The kind of kiss that tasted like a promise. She clutched his shirt, not wanting the warmth to end, not wanting to remember the world outside their small hollow.
When he finally pulled back, she whispered, "You can't keep saving me forever."
His hand lingered against her cheek. "Watch me."
The words settled deep into her chest like an oath.
But the moment was cracked apart by the faint snap of a branch. Too sharp. Too heavy.
Lucien's head lifted immediately, eyes narrowing into the dark. His posture shifted, protective and feral all at once.
"They're close," he whispered.
"Hunters?"
He nodded once, jaw tightening. The sound of men moving—disciplined, deliberate—carried across the snow. Torches glowed faintly through the trees like fireflies, drawing nearer.
The air in the hollow grew tense, every snowflake suddenly too loud as it fell.
Lucien's eyes flared golden, the wolf rising to the surface. He stepped in front of Ayla, muscles coiled like a drawn bowstring. "Stay behind me. If they find us—"
"I'm not hiding," she cut in, voice trembling but steady. She clenched her fists, the wolf blood inside her pulsing hot, wild. "I'm not your damsel, Lucien. Not anymore."
His lips tugged into a fierce, proud smile. "That's my girl."
The crunch of boots drew closer. Torches swayed. Shadows stretched across the snow.
And then the night shattered.
Chapter 104 – The Hunters' Arrival
The first torch broke into the clearing, held by a man with a scar running across his cheek. He lifted his hand, signaling to the others. Within seconds, five more emerged from the trees, rifles gleaming under the moonlight, each marked with silver etchings.
"There," the scarred man growled. "The wolf and his pet."
Ayla's spine stiffened, anger burning away her fear.
Lucien stepped forward, his body shielding hers as his voice rolled low and dangerous. "Leave now, and maybe you'll walk out of here alive."
The hunters laughed, their breath steaming in the frigid air. "You think you can scare us, dog?" one sneered.
Lucien's smile was sharp, deadly. "Not scare. Kill."
And then his body blurred, bones shifting, muscles snapping into place. His clothes tore at the seams as black fur rippled across his skin. Within seconds, the towering black wolf stood where Lucien had been, eyes glowing like molten gold.
The hunters faltered for a heartbeat.
Then the scarred man barked, "Fire!"
Gunshots shattered the night. Silver bullets hissed through the air.
Lucien lunged, a blur of shadow and teeth, knocking one man into the snow with a guttural snarl. The rifle snapped in two under the force of his jaws.
Ayla's pulse thundered. The wolf inside her clawed at her ribs, demanding release. She clenched her fists, body trembling as heat spread under her skin.
Another shot rang out—too close. Instinct took over. She let go.
Her scream warped into a growl as her body bent, cracked, and reshaped. Fur burst through her skin, claws dug into the snow, and when she raised her head, the night echoed with her first full wolf howl.
A snowy-white wolf, smaller than Lucien but fierce, stood where Ayla had been. Her eyes blazed icy blue.
The hunters froze.
"Oh, hell—there's two of them!"
Lucien's wolf eyes flicked toward her, a surge of pride glinting there even amidst the chaos.
Side by side, the black wolf and the white wolf lunged.
Bullets flew. Wolves tore. Men screamed. The hollow in the mountain was no longer just a hiding place—it became a battlefield drenched in snow, blood, and fury.
And Ayla realized with startling clarity: she wasn't just surviving anymore. She was fighting. She was part of this. Part of him.
The hunters had no idea what they'd unleashed.
Chapter 105 – Blood in the Snow
The last hunter fell silent, his scream fading into the frozen night.
Snow, once pristine, was now painted with crimson. Broken rifles, shattered spears, and bodies littered the clearing. The forest seemed to hold its breath, as if stunned by the violence that had ripped through it.
Lucien stood in his wolf form, his chest heaving, steam rising from his fur. Blood dripped from his fangs. His golden eyes swept the field, making sure none of the hunters stirred again.
Only then did he turn toward her.
Ayla swayed on her paws, her white fur slashed open across her shoulder where the silver spear had struck. The wound hissed faintly, the silver poison still burning her flesh. She staggered, then collapsed into the snow, shifting back into human form with a gasp.
Lucien was at her side instantly. His massive frame shrank, fur receding, bones snapping until he crouched beside her in his human skin, bloodied but terrifyingly beautiful. His hands trembled as he pressed down on the wound.
"Ayla," he growled softly, almost broken. "Why would you—"
She clenched her teeth, her face pale. "Because… you'd be dead if I didn't."
His jaw tightened. He ripped a strip of fabric from his ruined shirt and pressed it hard against the wound. She hissed in pain, tears pricking her eyes.
"Stay with me," he muttered, his voice harsh not from anger, but fear. "Don't you dare fade on me."
Despite the pain, she let out a weak laugh. "You're… terrible at pep talks."
That broke something in him. He chuckled, shaking his head. "You're impossible." His voice dropped softer, rawer. "But you're mine. And I don't let go of what's mine."
Her lips curved faintly. "You finally admit it."
Snowflakes drifted down, settling on their tangled hair and bloodstained skin. For a moment, despite the battlefield around them, the world felt strangely still—just the two of them, alive, together.
Lucien leaned close, pressing his forehead to hers. His voice was a whisper, only for her.
"I'll get you through this. Even if I have to tear the rest of the world apart."
The bond between them pulsed stronger, deep and electric. She felt his strength seep into her veins, calming the silver burn for a fleeting moment.
But then, in the distance, a low rumble broke the silence. Engines. Multiple.
Lucien's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. More hunters. Reinforcements.
He clenched his jaw, scooping Ayla into his arms despite her weak protest.
"Lucien—no, I can walk—"
"Not like this. You're burning up from the silver. I won't risk it."
She curled against him, exhausted, her body trembling but her voice still stubborn. "Then where do we go? They'll keep coming."
His gaze hardened, wolf fire smoldering in his eyes.
"Then we stop running."
He shifted her closer, his stride powerful as he carried her through the forest, snow crunching beneath his boots.
"If they want war," he growled, "we'll give them one."
The night swallowed them again, but the blood they left behind would not be forgotten.
Chapter 106 – Firelight and Footsteps
Lucien moved swiftly through the trees, Ayla cradled against his chest. Snowflakes clung to his black hair, melting against the heat radiating from his skin.
Her body felt too light in his arms, too weak, but her stubborn eyes still flicked up to him. "I'm fine," she muttered.
"You're bleeding through the bandage. That's not fine," he snapped, his jaw tight.
"Bossy wolf," she whispered faintly, but there was a ghost of a smile on her lips.
Finally, he found it—a shallow cave at the base of a ridge, hidden by twisted roots and thick branches. He ducked inside, laying her down gently on the flat stone.
The cave was small, the ceiling low enough that Lucien had to crouch. The air was cold, but still warmer than the biting wind outside. He ripped apart more fabric from his ruined shirt and bound it tight around her wound, pressing his hand against it to slow the silver's burn.
She hissed at the pressure. "Ow—careful!"
"Complain later," he muttered. "Right now, stay alive."
Her laugh was weak, but it warmed the cave. "You really… need to work on your bedside manner."
His lips curved despite the tension. "And you really need to stop throwing yourself in front of spears meant for me."
Her eyes softened, glassy with pain but defiant. "Not happening."
Lucien stared at her for a long moment, then leaned closer, his voice dropping low. "You drive me insane, Ayla."
She lifted a trembling hand, brushing his cheek. "Good. Someone has to."
For the first time since the fight, his shoulders eased. He kissed her knuckles gently, his golden eyes fierce. "Rest. I'll keep watch."
She closed her eyes, exhaustion pulling her under. For a while, there was only the crackle of Lucien's low fire, the warmth of it flickering against the stone walls.
But then—
A sound.
Lucien's head snapped up. Boots crunching over snow. Engines humming low. Too close.
He doused the fire with a swift kick of snow, plunging the cave back into shadows. His ears sharpened, listening. The hunters had spread out. Their voices carried faintly—disciplined, methodical.
"They're here already?" Ayla whispered hoarsely, forcing herself upright despite the pain.
Lucien's hand pressed her back down gently but firmly. "Stay down. You're not ready."
"I'm not letting you fight them alone—"
His eyes flashed molten gold. "This isn't about letting. It's about surviving. If they catch you in this state…" His voice cracked with something uncharacteristically raw. "…I can't lose you."
Ayla's throat tightened. She grabbed his wrist, grounding him. "Then don't. Fight with me, Lucien. We'll survive. Together."
The bond between them pulsed again—hot, electric, alive. He felt her wolf stirring, even through the poison, defiant against death.
Outside, torchlight began to flicker against the snow at the cave's edge. Shadows stretched longer. The hunters were closing in.
Lucien's fangs glinted in the dark. "Then we make them regret stepping into our woods."
Chapter 107 – Blood in the Snow
The forest breathed danger.
Lucien crouched at the mouth of the cave, his golden eyes glowing faintly in the dark. The hunters' boots crunched against the snow, deliberate, unhurried. They knew he was here. The air stank of iron, silver, and fire oil.
Behind him, Ayla pushed herself upright against the rock wall, her breath uneven. She hated how weak she felt, hated the burn of silver still lingering in her veins. But when she saw Lucien's shoulders tense, she whispered, "Lucien… there are too many."
He didn't look back at her. His gaze was fixed on the treeline where torchlight flickered. His voice was calm, steady, the voice of a predator who had already made peace with blood.
"There are never too many."
Ayla almost smiled despite her fear. That was him—unbreakable, relentless. But then she caught the faint tremor in his hand, and she realized something. He wasn't afraid of the hunters. He was afraid of losing her.
The bond between them pulsed like a heartbeat. She reached out, her hand brushing his. "Then let's fight together."
He turned, golden eyes fierce, and for a moment he looked like he might argue. But then his jaw unclenched. He gave a short, sharp nod. "Together."
The first hunter stepped into view, a man with a crossbow strapped to his back and a spear dipped in silver. He was followed by three more, their armor painted with sigils to ward off demons and wolves. Behind them, more shadows shifted. Dozens.
Lucien bared his fangs. "They want a war."
"Then let's give them one," Ayla whispered.
Lucien lunged first.
The black wolf exploded from the cave in a blur of muscle and fang, hitting the first hunter so hard the man didn't even scream before his body crumpled. The second raised his crossbow, but Ayla was there—her claws tearing through the string before his bolt could fly, her eyes burning red-gold as she snapped his arm back.
"Two down!" she shouted, blood dripping from her lips.
Lucien growled low in his throat. "Keep count."
But more poured in. Arrows whistled through the air, some grazing Lucien's flank, others embedding in trees with a silver hiss. One spear glanced off Ayla's shoulder, drawing a hiss of pain. She staggered but kept moving, slipping under Lucien's massive form as he shielded her.
Snow churned crimson beneath their feet.
"Fall back to the ridge!" Ayla shouted. "We'll bottleneck them!"
Lucien heard the strategy in her voice—clever, quick. For once, he didn't argue. He backed toward the incline, his wolf form snarling and swiping, scattering hunters like broken dolls. Ayla darted at his side, her movements less raw strength and more calculated precision.
But then—
A voice. Deep, commanding.
"Hold the line!"
The hunters parted. Through the snowstorm came a man twice the size of the others, his armor reinforced, his weapon a massive silver halberd that shimmered with runes. His face was scarred, his eyes burning with hatred.
Lucien's ears flattened. His growl vibrated the trees. "Rourke."
The commander of the hunter legions. The one who had hunted Lucien across centuries.
Ayla's eyes widened. "That's—"
"The one I swore I'd kill," Lucien finished, his voice like thunder.
The man leveled his halberd, the blade catching the torchlight like a shard of moon. "Draven. Tonight, your blood ends the curse."
Lucien crouched low, muscles coiling like a spring. "You've hunted me long enough, Rourke. Tonight, I hunt you."
The snow fell heavier, muffling the world. Ayla's heart thundered in her chest as wolf and hunter faced each other. The air was so thick with tension it was almost alive.
And then, with a roar that split the night, Lucien launched himself at the commander.
Chapter 108 – The Commander's Wrath
Snow burst as Lucien and Rourke collided. Steel rang against fang. The halberd's silver edge sent sparks into the night as Lucien's claws met it, his muscles straining.
Rourke grinned through blood-stained teeth. "So this is the infamous Black Wolf? I expected more."
Lucien's eyes burned gold. "And I expected a man, not a parasite hiding behind silver."
Ayla danced between lesser hunters, claws flashing. She tore one down, shoved another into the snow, but she couldn't stop glancing at Lucien. His power was monstrous, but every strike was deliberate, controlled—barely.
The duel was thunder on earth.
Chapter 109 – The Edge of Death
Ayla's chest heaved as she cut down another attacker. Then something stung her neck—a silver-thread net.
She screamed, skin blistering, muscles locking. Three hunters pinned her down, one raising a dagger for her heart.
"Lucien!" she cried.
Lucien's head snapped toward her, his golden eyes widening. For one heartbeat, he looked like the lonely boy in class again, staring at the girl who had changed his eternity.
"No…" His voice broke. Then it dropped to a growl. "No one touches her."
Chapter 110 – The Black Wolf Unleashed
Lucien's body convulsed. Power ripped through him. His wolf form burst out, bigger, darker than before, fur blacker than shadow. His fangs dripped venom, his eyes glowing like suns.
Hunters froze. They whispered the name in terror.
"The Black Wolf…"
Lucien crushed them. He tore nets apart with one swipe, shredded the dagger man before he blinked. Snow painted red as he ripped through the ranks.
Ayla staggered free, chest seared with pain. She stared at him, awe and terror mixing. "Lucien…"
For a moment, she feared he didn't know her.
Chapter 111 – Rourke's Gambit
Rourke drove his halberd into the ground. Runes exploded across the snow, binding chains of light snaring Lucien's limbs.
Ayla dropped too, her strength drained. The sigils burned her flesh.
Rourke strode forward. "At last. The beast is bound. Your death will be legend."
Lucien roared, thrashing, but the chains held. He looked at Ayla, slumped in the snow, her lips trembling as she reached for him.
Chapter 112 – Bond of Fire
Her fingers brushed his fur. Weak, trembling—but real.
"You're… not alone," she whispered.
Their bond flared. Wolf and woman fused in one surge of defiance. The runes shattered in a blinding flash, snow exploding upward.
Lucien stood tall, eyes blazing white fire. Ayla rose at his side, her wounds glowing as if healed by his power.
Rourke stumbled back. For the first time, his face showed fear.
Chapter 113 – The Duel's Climax
They struck together. Lucien's claws shredded the halberd shaft; Ayla's claws slashed across Rourke's chest. The commander roared, slamming the broken blade into Lucien's ribs. Blood sprayed—and Ayla gasped, her body bleeding too, the bond tying them even closer.
Rourke froze. "What are you…?"
"She is mine," Lucien snarled, voice doubled with hers, echoing like two beings in one. "And I am hers."
With one final strike, Lucien's jaws crushed Rourke's throat. The commander fell, eyes wide, blood staining the snow.
Chapter 114 – Silence After Storm
The hunters scattered. Some fled, others begged. A few fought—and died fast. Then silence swallowed the forest.
Lucien shifted back, collapsing to his knees. His skin was pale, blood streaking his torso.
Ayla crawled to him, pulling his face to hers. "Don't you dare leave me."
He smirked faintly. "You'd get bored without me."
Tears blurred her vision. She kissed him, tasting blood, salt, and fire.
Chapter 115 – Healing Wounds
They found shelter in a ruined cabin. Ayla dragged him inside, wrapped him in furs, her hands trembling as she pressed bandages to his chest.
Lucien chuckled weakly. "I've healed from worse."
"Shut up," she snapped, glaring through tears. "You nearly died."
"So did you."
Her hand froze. Their eyes met, and for once, words weren't enough. She leaned against him, their foreheads touching in silence.
Chapter 116 – The Confession
By firelight, Ayla whispered, voice breaking. "I love you."
Lucien's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing her lips. His voice was hoarse but certain. "I've loved you since the moment I saw you. Even when I swore I wouldn't."
Their kiss this time was slow, sure, not desperate. A vow.
Chapter 117 – Shadows in the City
Back in the city, whispers spread—about the hunters who never returned, about a monster in the mountains. Priests and politicians whispered of the Black Wolf.
But in daylight, Lucien and Ayla walked like any young couple. Just a quiet boy and a radiant girl.
Yet at night, they trained, they hunted. They prepared. Because Rourke's dying words haunted them both: This is not the end.
Chapter 118 – The Proposal
One night, Lucien led her to the rooftop where they had first laughed beneath the stars. The city glittered below.
He held out a ring, silver darkened with runes only they could read.
"No more running," he said. "No more hiding. Will you stay with me, forever?"
Tears welled in Ayla's eyes as she whispered, "Always."
Chapter 119 – Legacy Begins
Their wedding was quiet, under the moon. No audience but a few loyal friends, no priests but the bond between them.
Lucien kissed her as his wife, and the fire of their vow burned bright.
Months later, Ayla held their son in her arms. A boy with eyes that flickered between warm brown and golden fire. They named him Caelum Draven—the sky that carried their legacy.
Lucien held them both, the once-lone wolf no longer alone. His smile, rare and real, lit the night.
And so, the legacy began.
Chapter 120 – The Last Battle
The forest was aflame. Not with natural fire, but with a cold, unnatural blaze that licked the trees in silver tongues. The hunters had unleashed it—a weapon meant to scour wolves from the earth. The smoke burned the lungs, carrying the metallic tang of blood and poison.
Lucien stood at the center of the inferno, his black coat torn, blood soaking into the snow beneath his boots. His golden eyes glowed with a steady, terrifying light. Beside him, Ayla struggled to her feet, one hand pressed against her healing side. The bite wound from weeks ago had given her strength beyond human, but the silver scars still burned when she moved too quickly.
Dozens of hunters encircled them, their armor gleaming in the firelight. Spears tipped with liquid silver, crossbows strung with bolts designed to pierce even ancient hides. Their commander stepped forward, his voice carrying like a curse:
"The Twilight Wolf dies tonight. And the girl who follows him."
Lucien's lips curved into a sharp smile. "You've been trying to kill me for centuries. What makes you think tonight will be different?"
The commander sneered, lifting his spear. "Because you're not alone anymore. Love makes you weak."
Lucien's jaw tightened, but Ayla beat him to it. She lifted her chin, wolf-fire glinting in her eyes. "No," she said, her voice ringing above the clash of metal and flame. "Love makes him unstoppable."
The first line of hunters charged.
Lucien moved like lightning, his body snapping into his wolf form with a thunderous crack of bone and muscle. The massive black wolf towered over men, eyes burning like molten suns. He met the charge head-on, tearing through the first wave in a blur of claws and fangs.
Ayla fought at his flank, her smaller wolf form agile, darting between armored legs, ripping weapons from hands, leaving trails of blood in the snow. She wasn't as strong as Lucien, but she was fierce, relentless—his perfect counterpoint.
"Left side!" she cried, dodging a bolt that whistled past her ear.
Lucien pivoted, his massive body slamming into a squad trying to flank them. He crushed two men under his weight, jaws snapping another's spear in half.
The forest became a battlefield of shadows and fire. Steel clashed against claw, silver hissed against fur. Hunters fell, but more pressed forward, chanting prayers to gods that had long abandoned them.
Lucien's chest heaved, his fur scorched by silver flames, his muscles burning with effort. Then he saw it—a spear arcing toward Ayla's heart.
Time slowed.
He lunged, intercepting the blow. The spear tore across his shoulder, burning deep, but it spared her.
"Lucien!" she screamed, shifting back into human form to catch his massive head against her chest. Blood poured hot against her arms, and yet his golden eyes never left hers.
"I told you," he growled, his voice breaking through the wolf's throat, "you're not dying here."
Ayla's tears mixed with soot as she forced herself back to her feet, pressing her palm against his wound. Power surged between them, the bond thrumming like a living heartbeat. Her wolf blood burned brighter, stronger, feeding his strength.
The hunters faltered. For the first time, fear cracked their ranks.
Lucien rose, towering above them, fire and snow swirling around his black form. Ayla stood at his side, her eyes glowing red-gold, her voice shaking the night:
"You wanted the Twilight Wolf? Here we are."
Together, they charged.
It wasn't a battle. It was slaughter. A storm of fang and fury, claw and flame. Hunters screamed, weapons shattered, blood stained the snow until the forest floor ran crimson.
At last, silence fell. Only the crackle of dying fire remained.
Lucien shifted back, his chest heaving, wounds still bleeding but healing with every breath. Ayla leaned against him, her body trembling but her spirit unbroken.
She looked up at him, brushing soot from his jaw. "It's over," she whispered.
His golden eyes softened, though they still burned with power. "No," he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. "It's just beginning."