[Elara's POV]
I could hear claws clashing in the air. It only seemed my half-blurred vision failed to keep up, watching the massive silver wolf bury itself in the mist. A glimpse of its shadow dashing through.
"Howl!" I watched one of the black wolves groan in pain, crumbling down to its stomach.
Its legs, they had just been severed. I paled.
As I watched, the rest of the black wolves howled as they growled harder.
My mind could only wonder who the silver wolf was. Should I put my hope in the fact that it was here to save me? Would fate really be so kind? Either way, I saw this as possibly a chance since the black wolves were distracted, focusing on the attacker. A chance for me to escape.
Gazing back at my legs, which had been badly wounded, and the blood hadn't ceased trickling down, I was losing more blood. Would I even make it out of here alive? It only seemed if the wolves weren't the ones who got me, I would possibly be killed by blood loss.
My hand sank deep into the dirt, forcing a push as I tried dragging myself, crawling. "Ahh!" I groaned further, feeling a sting as some of the sand got into my open wound.
"Grahh!" A growl caught my gaze up, looking at one of the black wolves that had cornered me in front.
"What am I going to do...?" I wondered, but it didn't even give me time for a thought before it launched for a decisive attack, those claws out close to piercing my skull, but just in a blink, like a flash of light,
The black wolf crumbled, hitting its back against a tree as it stood in front of me—the same silver wolf. The scent it emitted almost caused me to freeze up. It was strong, way too strong.
It took slow steps, its teeth grinding as it approached the other black wolves, whose numbers shocked me. They were now three. "But how is that possible...?" I wondered, turning my gaze only to catch sight of the other black wolves mutilated and they laid there dead.
It couldn't have been possible, so this silver wolf had taken down each and every one of them in just a single blow.
"Gggrrr!" The silver wolf growled, launching more attacks, taking down two of the black wolves. I watched the last one trembling at its feet, its legs pushing backward, whimpering in fear. Those sounds that escaped it as it ran into the forest, tail between its legs, only to disappear in the fog.
The silver wolf stood there alone as many questions swirled in my mind about what I was going to do.
It approached me, its fur streaked with blood—some its own, some not. Those eyes turned to me, glowing like molten gold. It nudged my side gently, urging me to get on its back.
I had no idea who this silver wolf was, but somehow, I wanted to do just that. Yet, my body failed me. I tried; I truly did, but my limbs had given out.
I collapsed onto the cold, blood-speckled earth, my chest heaving as the edge of my vision darkened.
That's when it happened—a shimmer of light, bone cracking, limbs reshaping. I watched this wolf's massive form shrink and twist until a man stood before me, naked in the moonlight.
But no, this wasn't just any man. Tall, broad shoulders, silver hair that fell in damp waves to his jawline, clinging to blood-slick skin, and those eyes—those fierce golden eyes. I couldn't be mistaken.
My lips parted. A stunned breath escaped me.
"Kieran..." I uttered.
What was he doing here? How was he here? He was supposed to be far away, still in the town.
My head swam as it felt like each of my veins was exploding, but when he pulled me into his arms, the warmth of his bare chest cut through the haze. I could feel the heat of his skin on mine. I clung to it, to him.
[Kieran's POV]
We had been walking through the forest for a while now, and yet it only seemed we hadn't arrived at the place.
A side of me wondered if this would really help me, as I had thought, in uncovering the mystery in all the disappearances. I hoped I could find this mastermind and put an end to it all.
I turned back at some of my soldiers, whose eyes were cautiously watching each way as we made our way further.
Lincoln wasn't here also, but that was better; I needed him to continue his work and keep an eye on Elara. I could handle this issue myself.
"We are here, Alpha!" One of my soldiers had said. So this was the place, but something felt off about it all. My wolf could sense it—the way the fogs covered each layer and moved. It wasn't natural; that I was able to tell. It moved like it had a purpose, and the silence that echoed through the forest... "too quiet."
"Let's head out," I said, gazing back at my soldiers. I could tell from their faltered state they must have also felt it.
This was surely something dangerous we were about to deal with, but just as I hoped to take further steps, my wolf stirred beneath my skin, pacing, growling. Then came a sharp searing pain in my chest, almost bringing me down to my knees.
"Alpha," I heard some of my soldiers' voices as they approached my side in haste. "Are you alright, Alpha?" they asked.
But what's happening? Wait, this sudden and raw feeling...
It couldn't be. "Elara, she is in danger!"
"What are you saying, Alpha?" one of my soldiers asked. But this wasn't the time for me to think; if this was true, I had to save her. Nothing must happen to Elara.
I didn't wait for any confirmation as I shifted and ran through the fog, piercing through the forest.