The wind carried a chill that whispered of danger. The valley, normally serene under the moonlight, seemed restless—trees swaying with secrets, shadows stretching unnaturally, and distant howls slicing through the quiet night.
Lyra shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
Kael was already a few steps ahead, moving silently through the trees. His eyes glowed faint silver, scanning the darkness for threats. Every so often, he would pause, sniffing the air, ears twitching.
"Something's out there," he murmured. "Darkfangs."
Lyra's stomach tightened. She had heard the name before—Alpha enemies, ruthless, cruel, hunters of her kind. Yet seeing the intensity in Kael's eyes made it feel real. Immediate.
"How many?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he placed a hand on her shoulder, firm, grounding. "Enough to kill anyone unprepared. But we're ready. You… need to trust me."
Lyra nodded, even though her hands trembled. She felt the pulse of her mark—a soft, steady glow against her skin, warning her, guiding her. Kael's presence was like a tether, keeping her anchored while the fear threatened to pull her under.
They reached a small clearing at the edge of the forest. Kael crouched, gesturing for her to do the same. "Stay close. Watch the shadows."
Lyra obeyed, heart hammering. She felt alive in a way that terrified her. Her pulse matched the rhythm of the land, her senses sharper than she had ever felt. The Oath thrummed inside her veins, connecting her to Kael's wolf in ways she didn't fully understand.
Suddenly, movement. Shadows flickered between the trees—silent, fast, predatory.
Kael's silver eyes snapped to them. His muscles tensed, claws flexing. "Darkfang scouts. Three. Stay behind me."
Lyra swallowed hard, clenching her fists. She could feel something rising inside her—an instinct, a warning. She wanted to flee, but she also wanted to fight. The energy in her veins was new, strange, terrifying… but intoxicating.
The scouts emerged fully—three Darkfang warriors, eyes black as night, bodies taut and ready. One growled, low and cruel. "The Seer hides. Alpha Draven cannot protect her forever."
Kael's wolf growled low, a sound that made the ground vibrate. "You're far from your territory. Leave now, or I will make you regret it."
The lead Darkfang laughed, a cold, sharp sound. "We're not leaving. The Seer belongs to us. And the prophecy will be ours to bend."
Lyra's heart skipped. The prophecy… Kael had never fully explained it. All she knew was that she was at the center of it, and if the Darkfangs captured her, Kael could die—or worse.
The fight began before she could think.
Kael shifted, black fur streaked with silver, towering over the scouts. He moved with deadly grace, claws flashing, teeth bared. Two were thrown to the ground in seconds. The third darted toward Lyra.
Her instincts kicked in. Without thinking, she raised her hands. The mark on her arm flared, light spilling out like liquid silver. The Darkfang stumbled, yelping as energy pulsed from her fingertips.
Kael froze, eyes widening in surprise.
"You… you did that?" he demanded, voice low, incredulous.
Lyra's cheeks flushed. "I—I don't know how. I just—"
The third Darkfang recovered, lunging again. Kael intercepted, knocking him down with a single strike, his wolf's strength overwhelming.
Lyra's chest heaved. She was trembling, exhilarated and terrified at once. The Oath thrummed in her veins, connecting her to Kael in ways she didn't fully understand. She felt his anger, his focus, his protection—all coursing through her like fire.
Kael shifted back to human form, panting slightly. He glanced at her, silver eyes blazing. "You're stronger than I expected," he admitted, voice rough. "But control it. Every surge, every spark… it could kill both of us."
Lyra nodded, gripping her arm, feeling the residual energy pulse. "I… I think I can manage it."
Kael stepped closer, the tension between them palpable. The air was thick with something neither dared to name, yet both could feel. Desire. Fear. Power. The Oath binding them tighter with each passing second.
A rustle behind them made them spin. More Darkfangs had appeared—larger, faster, more dangerous.
Kael growled. "You stay here," he ordered, voice low, deadly. "Do not step out of the circle until I say."
Lyra's stomach tightened. She wanted to protest, wanted to fight beside him—but instinctively obeyed. She watched as Kael moved like shadow and silver, striking down enemies with lethal precision. The ground shook under his power, and the air around him shimmered with the energy of the Oath.
Her chest ached watching him. Not just from fear, but from something else—an undeniable pull toward him.
When the last Darkfang fled, disappearing into the night, Kael returned to her side, panting, tense, still dangerous even in human form.
"You did well," he said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Better than I could have expected."
Lyra's heart thudded painfully. "I… I just reacted. I didn't mean to—"
Kael's gaze held hers, silver eyes softening just slightly. "No. You didn't just react. You saved yourself. And me."
The words made her chest tighten.
"Lyra…" he murmured, voice low, almost pained. "This… this Oath… it's not just about protection. It's about connection. About sharing strength, sharing risk… sharing life."
Lyra swallowed, unable to speak.
Kael stepped closer, the danger of the battlefield gone but replaced by something equally dangerous: the intensity of his gaze, the pull of the Oath between them, the unspoken tension simmering like fire.
"I need you to understand," he said softly, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand. "If the Darkfangs find you unprepared, it could end both of us. And if that happens… there's no coming back."
Lyra's lips trembled. "I… I understand."
Kael nodded once, sharp, decisive. Then he leaned down, just slightly, close enough that their breaths mingled. "Good. You'll need that understanding… because what's coming next will test everything—your body, your mind… your heart."
Her pulse raced—not from fear alone—but from him, from the Oath, from the un
deniable pull between them.
And she knew, deep down, that nothing would ever be the same.