The Wolf at Midnight

ull, its pale light casting long shadows on the ground. The air was thick with tension, and the distant howls of the pack sent a shiver

closing in. The realization hit him like a blow to the chest: no matter what happened tonigh

s said quietly, his voice tinged with

vering. "I'm not afraid of them. And I'm

rrifying unknown. But this was different. This time, they weren't facing just the curse or the unknown dangers of the fore

th. "Once they know I'm free of the curse, they'll do everything they can to bring me back in

ra replied firmly. "Not

life for themselves. But the wolf inside him stirred, its power thrumming through him, its hunger always just below the surface. If he

ening with the struggle. "The wolf. If I don't, I might

ing his arm. "You're not alone

ed as the first of the pack emerged from the shadows. Their glowing eyes flickered in the moonlight, their forms blending with th

e found your little human. But you're still one of us. No mat

the pack, Kaelen. I'm done with the b

lias's spine. "You think you can just walk away from everything

th hunger and power. The air around them was thick with tension, and Elias could f

e of anger and desperation. "If you try to force me back, I

ias. Always hiding behind that curse, letting it control you. But now, we'

ing charged with the electricity of an impending fight. The wolves were closing in, their

tion. She stepped in front of him, her body positioning itsel

ugh the clearing. "You think this little human

keep her safe, but the wolf inside him was growing restless. He could feel the shift inside him-the surge of power, the urge to

aid through gritted teeth

aid, her voice steady. "You d

ng for himself anymore-he was fighting for them both. The pack wanted him to be their leader, their puppet, their weapon. But Elias wasn't that

a. He could see the change in Elias-he could feel the resistance, the p

t, his teeth bared. "The pack won't for

etermination. "Then I'll die f

his heart racing, his body rippling with the tension of the fight ahead. But this time, he wasn't alone. Mara s

g at the surface. But this time, he wouldn't let it control him. He would fight with all the power

Elias; the two of them locked in a fight that was as much about willpower as it was about physical strength. Mara moved

not in dominance but in uncertainty. He wasn't just fighting for surv

ias realized something: freedo

ree from the pack's grip, standing tall, his eyes blaz