The night was unnaturally quiet.
Not even the owls dared cry as shadows stretched across the edge of the Shadowfang territory. The moon, high and pale, cast a cold light over the treetops. Beneath it, something moved—fast, silent, deadly.
The hunter had finally arrived.
His name was Vael, a rogue born of broken oaths and ancient blood. His eyes were silver, almost white, and his scent was buried under ash and wolfsbane. He moved like wind over stone, each step bringing him closer to his prey.
Elara.
She slept restlessly in her room, unaware of the danger closing in. Her dreams were filled with fire and whispers—unseen figures calling her name. The mark on her collarbone pulsed faintly, responding to the pull of something… wrong.
In the den's war chamber, Kael's head snapped up.
He felt it.
The bond.
It rippled with alarm.
"Thorne!" Kael barked, already moving toward the door. "He's here."
Thorne was at his side instantly, sword strapped to his back. "Where?"
Kael didn't answer. He didn't need to. His wolf was already clawing beneath his skin, demanding freedom, demanding blood. He shifted mid-run, bones snapping, fur bursting forth as his beast form took hold. A massive black wolf with glowing gold eyes tore through the hallway and leapt into the night.
Vael reached the outer wall of the den just as Kael crashed through the trees. Their eyes met—Alpha and hunter, fate and fury.
Vael smiled. "Too slow, Shadowfang."
Kael lunged with a snarl, teeth bared, but Vael vanished in a blur, reappearing near the sleeping quarters. Inside, Elara sat up, heart pounding.
The window shattered.
Glass flew inward as Vael stepped through, graceful and cold.
"Hello, moonborn," he whispered.
Elara screamed.
But before he could touch her, a force slammed into him—Kael, in full wolf form, snarling, teeth sinking into Vael's shoulder. The two collided violently, crashing into the walls, fury erupting in claws and blood.
Elara pressed against the wall, watching helplessly, her mark glowing brighter with each blow. Vael kicked Kael off and fled through the window, disappearing into the trees.
Kael shifted back, blood dripping from his lip, chest heaving.
"He'll be back," he growled.
And Elara, shaking but alive, finally understood—
This wasn't just about a prophecy.
This was war.
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