Aurora stood frozen, the Silver Key pulsing wildly in her hand as she stared at the creature that once was Steve. Her heart hammered against her ribs when she saw Elias dangling limply in those scaled claws.
"Let him go!" she demanded, her voice stronger than she felt.
The monster grinned, venom dripping from its fangs. "You'll have to catch me first, little wolf."
Before Aurora could move, a blur of russet fur shot past her. Rosie—the quiet wolf who'd barely spoken three words since joining their pack—launched herself at Steve with startling ferocity.
"Run!" Rosie shouted through the pack bond. "Get the pups to safety!"
Only then did Aurora notice the young werewolves huddled behind a fallen tree, right in Steve's path.
The serpent-creature howled as Rosie's teeth sank into its arm, forcing it to drop Elias. The Alpha crumpled to the ground, blood streaming from his forehead.
"Elias!" Aurora rushed forward, but scaled wolves blocked her path.
