Prologue
Logan Yorke
“Help!”
The scream shattered the silence of the woods like a gunshot. One second, I’d been stalking quietly through the woods hunting rabbits, lost in the rhythm of my own breathing and the soft crunch of damp leaves beneath my boots. Now, I stood frozen, my grip tightening on the bow in my hand as I listened for the scream to come again.
It did.
Another cry, this time higher and more desperate, rang out from deeper in the trees.
“Help! Please!”
I broke into a dead run, plunging headlong through dense underbrush, heedless of the branches clawing at my face and arms. Each ragged breath matched the pounding rhythm of my feet, my pulse a frantic drumbeat in my ears.
I burst into a clearing, and the sight before my eyes nearly made me falter. Pressed against the thick trunk of an ancient oak stood a girl, no older than eight or nine, terror etched vividly across her tear-streaked face.
Right in front of her was a wolf.
Not just a regular run of the mill wolf, not that those even existed in England. No. This was a different creature altogether. It was much bigger. Far stronger. More powerful.
This was a wolf shifter.
“Hey!” I shouted, stepping boldly into the open space, aiming my bow to distract the monster. Its yellow eyes snapped toward me, wild and ravenous. “Eyes on me, ugly. Leave the kid out of this.”
The wolf crouched, muscles rippling beneath mangled fur, and lunged without hesitation.
I released the arrow. It sliced through the air, but the beast twisted out of range, impossibly quick. The projectile grazed its shoulder instead of lodging deep. A roar of fury erupted from the creature as it closed the gap between us, its massive paws hitting me square in the chest. The impact was like being hit by a truck, driving the air from my lungs as we crashed to the ground.
Rolling, clawing, fighting, I struggled under the beast’s immense weight, its rancid breath hot on my face, jaws snapping inches from my throat. My fingers scrambled for the knife at my belt. Ripping it free, I plunged it deep into the creature’s side, feeling flesh tear and hot blood spray.
“Run!” I barked at the girl. “Get out of here! Now!”
I shoved the creature away, staggering to my feet even as pain lanced through my ribs, but it was already turning back toward me, snarling with renewed fury.
I hadn’t really hurt it, not even in the slightest.
I’d just made it angry.
I braced myself, knife held tight, eyes locked with the monster’s gleaming yellow gaze as it charged again.
“You want a fight?” I growled, fingers tightening on the handle of my knife. “Come pick on someone your own size, asshole.”
The beast lunged.
Time slowed. My heart thudded in my ears as my body moved on pure instinct. I dove sideways, feeling the hot whisper of the beast’s jaws snapping inches from my throat. I landed hard, rolling to my feet in one smooth motion and pivoting to face the creature as it spun to charge again.
I didn’t have time to think. The beast launched itself at me, a blur of fangs and muscle. I ducked low, driving the knife upward with all my strength. My blade scraped its ribs, biting deep into muscle and sinew. The shifter howled, a sound that shook the trees, yet the pain seemed only to enrage it further.
Before I could recover, a massive paw slammed into my side, knocking the air from my lungs and sending me sprawling into the dirt. My body hit the earth hard, agonizing pain jolting through me as my ribs protested sharply. I rolled onto my side, gasping as I scrambled to push myself up. Blood streaked my hands, slicking the grip on my knife as the creature circled me, its glowing yellow eyes locked on mine.
“Come on then!” I shouted, fighting through the burning in my chest. “Is that all you’ve got?”
The beast snarled in response, lips curling back to reveal teeth long enough to rip a man’s throat clean out. For a heartbeat, we stared each other down, predator and prey. Then it sprang at me again, a force of pure fury.
I dodged, barely, feeling the wind as its massive body whipped past me. Whirling, I lashed out with the knife again, slashing deep into its shoulder. Hot blood gushed wet across my face, dripping into my eyes, but still the creature showed no signs of slowing down.
It spun quicker than should have been possible, claws raking across my chest, slicing open my shirt and tearing deep grooves in my skin. Pain exploded through my nerves, so vivid it stole my breath away, but there was no time to feel it. At least not now, not with death circling mere inches away.
The wolf lunged, its teeth bared, aiming straight for my throat.
I moved on pure adrenaline, grabbing its thick fur in my fist and using its own momentum against it to drive the blade deep into the side of its neck. It roared, thrashing violently, but I held on, blade buried to the hilt, blood spurting over my hand, dark and slick.
The creature twisted one last time, jaws wide, and sank its teeth deep into my shoulder. A hoarse shriek ripped from me. My vision blurred, and my body screamed, every inch aflame with pain. For a moment, we remained locked in a violent, bloody embrace—hunter and prey, both unwilling to yield, until the wolf shuddered one last time and slumped heavily to the ground.
The clearing fell silent, save for the pounding of my heart and my own ragged breaths. I lay sprawled next to the beast, blood mingling in a shared crimson pool beneath us. My shoulder burned where its fangs had pierced my skin, the sensation radiating through my chest and down my arm like liquid fire.
Somewhere nearby, a soft whimper broke the silence.
With the last strength I had, I pushed myself upright, dragging my battered body toward the little girl. She stared at me wide-eyed, terrified but unharmed, clutching the oak tree behind her for support.
“Are you hurt?” I managed, my voice hoarse.
She shook her head quickly, her eyes darting to the fallen beast behind me. “Is—is it dead?”
I nodded, pain radiating from my shoulder and ribs as I forced a weak smile. “It won’t hurt you. I promise.”
I glanced quickly down at my shoulder, the blood oozing from the deep punctures left by the beast’s fangs. Panic surged through me, and I clenched my jaw tight against the sudden flood of dread.
The bite.
I knew what it meant, but right now, I couldn’t afford to let the little girl see. With a grimace, I yanked up the shredded remains of my shirt, pulling it tight around my wounded shoulder and ignoring the deep, throbbing pain that pulsed beneath the makeshift bandage.
“You’re alright now,” I told her gently, forcing a steadiness into my voice I didn’t feel. “What’s your name?”
She kept staring and trembling, still clutching the oak tree as if she feared to let go.
“C-Claire,” she whispered. “My name is Claire.”
“Okay, Claire,” I said softly, crouching down so I was at eye level with her. I forced a reassuring smile, even though the effort made my ribs ache. “I’m Logan. I’m gonna get you back home. But I need you to be brave and do exactly what I say. Can you do that for me?”
She hesitated for just a heartbeat before nodding, her little face solemn. “I-I’ll try.”
“That’s all I need.” I offered her my good hand, and after another moment’s hesitation, she slipped her tiny, trembling fingers into mine.
The walk back to London was slow and agonizing, every step sending fresh waves of torment through my battered body. I couldn’t stop though. I wouldn’t. Not until she was safe.
By the time the walls of London loomed into view, my body felt like it had been torn apart and put back together again. Sweat soaked my skin, mingling with dirt and blood, but I clenched my jaw and kept moving, focusing on the gates and on getting Claire safely home.
When we finally reached the gates, a handful of guards rushed forward, their faces etched with surprise and concern.
“What happened here?” one demanded, taking in my torn clothing and bloodied body, his eyes lingering on the improvised bandage on my shoulder.
“Wolf attack,” I said simply, my voice tight. “Claire was in the woods. She’s unharmed, but she needs to get back inside.”
The guard nodded, reaching down to help Claire, guiding her gently toward the gates. She hesitated, glancing back at me over her shoulder.
“What about you?” she asked softly, her voice wavering.
I forced another reassuring smile. “I’ve got some hunting left to do,” I lied smoothly, even as I felt my pulse quicken. “I’ll be back soon enough.”
Claire’s eyes widened, uncertainty flickering there, but she nodded and allowed herself to be led back into the city.
I stood there, rooted in place as the gates slowly swung shut. Only then did I let the facade crumble. Pain and exhaustion swept through me, mixing with the dread that coiled deep in my gut. I slowly turned away from the city gates and began walking back toward the woods, each step an impossible effort.
I glanced down at the bite, now searing with a strange heat I knew wasn’t natural. A chill ran down my spine, and I swallowed hard, trying to fight down the sickening certainty building within me.
Soon, I’d become one of them.
I’d become a wolf.
[divider]Chapter One
Sera Moore
The ruins of Dublin stretched out before me, jagged and silent under the pale light of the moon. I crouched atop a crumbling rooftop, my black coat blending into the shadows as I watched the group below through the scope of my rifle.
They’d settled into an old pub for the night. It was two stories, and still mostly intact. Sturdy enough to take shelter for the night, but not enough to withstand what was coming.
Not strong enough to stop a girl like me.
I adjusted the scope, my breath slow and even as I counted. Ten shifters now. Ten. The original five from the zone had been joined by another pack. Logan Yorke was in there among them.
I toggled the scope to switch to infrared. Heat signatures flared, their forms moving lazily within the building. Five downstairs. Six upstairs. They were calm, and completely unaware of the danger lurking above them. My lips curved into a faint smile.
The sister was there, too: Zara Yorke.
She moved among them like she belonged there, her figure distinct, her heat signature brighter than the others.
I tapped the side of my mask, activating the comms. A faint buzz answered, followed by a clipped, efficient voice. “Report, Operative Moore.”
“Ten shifters confirmed,” I said, my voice calm. “Five from Logan’s pack. Five from the zone. The sister is with them too.”
“Repeat that, Operative,” the voice said sharply.
I adjusted my position, keeping the scope trained on the group. “Zara Yorke is with them. She’s aligned with both packs. They’re moving as one now.”
A long pause. “This is new information.”
I smirked slightly as I watched Logan’s tall, distinct figure through the scope. He stood by the window, his broad frame outlined in the dim light of a lantern burning behind him.
“They’re coordinating,” I continued. “Ten shifters in a single location. London will want to know about this.”
“Confirmed,” the voice replied. “Authorization for escalation will be reviewed. Continue observation and report any changes.”
I toggled the comms off, my fingers grazing the hilt of the blade strapped to my thigh. The cold steel was reassuring, a constant reminder of my purpose.
This wasn’t just a job; to me, it was personal.
I adjusted my position again, scanning the ruins for signs of movement. The thought of what lay ahead—of taking another group of shifters down—sent a spark of satisfaction and excitement racing through me.
Logan Yorke was a shifter, like the one who’d killed my brother all those years ago. A monster hiding behind human eyes.
I was eleven the night my brother died.
I still remember the way the cold clung to the air, the streets slick with rain as he walked me home from school back in London. Jacob had always been the protective one, older by five years, but always treating me like I was still a kid.
“Stay close, Sera,” he’d murmured, his grasp tightening around my wrist.
I had rolled my eyes, shoving him off. “You’re acting like we’re about to get mugged.”
He hadn’t laughed, just kept walking, his eyes darting around the dim alleyway we’d taken as a shortcut.
We never saw it coming.
One moment, it was quiet. The next, a dark creature darted through the shadows—a flash of silver fur, a snarl that cut through the night air. Then blood. So much blood.
I barely registered the sound of Jacob screaming, the way his body was ripped from mine. He fought, oh god, he fought so hard, but the thing that had him wasn’t human. It was a wild beast with claws and teeth and insatiable hunger in its glowing eyes.
I had frozen. I had been utterly useless. Just watching as my brother was dragged into the darkness, his screams choking into gurgling gasps.
And then it was gone, taking my brother away. Just like that. No warning. No reason.
Only blood left behind.
I had tried to chase after him, to do something, but by the time I reached the main street, people were already shouting. The Watch had arrived, and there were soldiers in black armor storming the area with their rifles raised.
It had been too late to save him. Too late to stop the monster that had torn him apart.
That night changed everything.
I enlisted in the Watch the moment I was old enough. I trained harder than anyone else. I pushed myself to the brink of endurance until they had no choice but to recruit me into the real fight. I was assigned to the team they sent to hunt the monsters before they could strike again. The ones who did what had to be done.
Now here I was, ready and waiting for my time to show them all what I was worth.
I clutched the rifle a bit more tightly, staring through the scope, my sights trained on the pub’s upper window and then down to a lone figure standing in the lower one. The forms inside shifted, casting long shadows against the tattered curtains.
I could end it right now. One bullet.
But no.
I wanted them all. Not just Logan. Not just the pack. The sister, too. If she had sided with them, she was no better.
Soon.
Soon, the Watch would send the order, and I’d finish what I came here to do. I smiled faintly, watching the shadows move within the pub as the packs settled in for the night.
For now, I waited.
For now, I hunted.
When the time was right, I would be the monster in the shadows.
And I would not fail.
[divider]Chapter Two
Six months ago…
Jamie Buchanan
“Got the money?”
My voice carried softly, echoing off the damp brick walls as shadows pooled around us. I’d chosen an alley tucked far away from London’s main streets, shrouded in just enough darkness to keep our business hidden. A fine drizzle fell softly, settling in tiny beads across my leather jacket and soaking the tangled red hair at the nape of my neck.
She stepped from the shadows, her silhouette lean and graceful. The faint moonlight traced over her features: intelligent, calculating eyes fixed unwaveringly on mine. Her black coat rustled gently, reminding me of a crow’s wings, and her dark hair shimmered.
“Yeah,” she replied smoothly, holding up a battered canvas bag. “I’ve got it.”
I watched her cautiously. Girls like her—girls with a calm, dangerous look behind their eyes—had always given me pause. I’d learned the hard way, surviving on the gritty, dangerous streets of the city, that pretty faces often hid the sharpest knives and I’d bet my life savings that this was one to be reckoned with.
“Your employers were clear,” I said, leaning casually against the wall. “The brother’s got to be unharmed. That’s a lot harder than you’d think around here.”
The corner of her mouth turned up into the faintest smile. “I was assured you’re the man for the job.”
I snorted softly, amused. “Sure. I’m the idiot they pay when it’s a suicide mission. The rogue fool they call in when the sensible blokes say no.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “My employers don’t hire fools. They know you’re fast. Efficient. And,” she eyed me knowingly, her voice softening just slightly, “that you have experience with this sort of extraction.”
I flinched involuntarily, pushing back memories of my time in Glasgow when I had to steal supplies from under the noses of military thugs, and when I had to sneak terrified civilians past checkpoints in the dead of night. Those days had scarred more than my body. They’d left an invisible mark on my soul.
“So,” I said, forcing a casual tone. “Where do you want me to drop him off? Belfast? Edinburgh?”
She stepped closer, lowering her voice even further, almost a whisper. “No. You’ll bring him all the way back to London.”
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. “London? You’ve got to be joking.”
Her gaze held mine, unflinching. “I never joke about business.”
“London’s suicide,” I hissed, leaning closer, adrenaline surging through my veins. “The Regency patrols are tighter than ever, and you want me to smuggle a shifter right into the lion’s den?”
She lifted a cool eyebrow. “Scared, Buchanan?”
A grin tugged at my lips. “Been scared all my life. Hasn’t killed me yet.”
She studied me silently for a long, loaded moment, the drizzle pattering softly all around us. “Good,” she finally murmured. “Then we understand each other.”
I sighed, raking a hand through my damp hair. “This isn’t a quick in-and-out job. It’s high-risk. The Regency won’t take kindly to someone bringing a shifter back inside their precious borders.”
She smiled softly, a hint of admiration behind her cool eyes. “Then it’s fortunate they hired someone good enough to not get caught, isn’t it?”
I eyed the bag again. It was enough money to survive for months. Enough to keep running, away from the past, away from every demon that clawed at me in the dark. But what would I be running toward?
My gaze narrowed, suspicion sparking. “Why all this risk, then? What’s he worth to your employers?”
Her answer was quiet, simple, and unmistakably genuine: “More than you know.”
I stared at her, measuring every word. There was the kind of deep and personal pain hidden in her eyes I knew too well.
“All right,” I said finally, reaching out to take the canvas bag from her. “Tell your mysterious employers they’ve got themselves a deal.”
She released it, giving me a brief nod. “Logan Yorke. Alive. Unharmed. Delivered to England discreetly. The money will be doubled upon your success.”
My chest tightened slightly at her words. “Then that’s what they’ll get.”
She turned to leave, shadows swallowing her again, but paused at the alley’s edge. “Be careful, Jamie Buchanan,” she called quietly over her shoulder. “There’s more at stake here than just money.”
I watched her vanish into the gloom, her words lingering heavily in the air.
“There’s always more,” I muttered softly, tucking the bag securely under my jacket. “That’s what makes it fun.”
[divider]Chapter Three
One year ago…
Declan O’Shea
Smoke drifted lazily up from our small fire, mixing with the cool scent of damp earth and pine that filled the air around us. I leaned back against the fallen log, watching the flames flicker, amber and gold, casting dancing shadows across our little campsite.
Behind me, the gentle laughter of Aidan and Kait filled the small clearing, a sound that always made my chest feel warm and full. They were sitting close, their heads bowed together as they shared some quiet, teasing secret. Aidan’s deep, rumbling chuckle was a comforting sound, his eyes bright as Kait whispered something to him, her dark curls brushing lightly against his shoulder.
To my right, Lila smiled warmly at me, her blue eyes catching firelight as she placed a steaming mug of tea in my hands.
“Drink,” she said softly. “You look half-asleep already.”
“I was just resting my eyes,” I joked, taking a sip. The heat seeped into me, pushing back the lingering chill of the evening.
Lila shook her head, sliding onto the log beside me, close enough that her thigh pressed against mine. “Resting your eyes. I’ve heard that one before.”
She grinned, and for a second, everything felt like it had finally fallen into place. Aidan and me, Kait and Lila, this unexpected, complicated, perfect thing we had built between the four of us. It shouldn’t have worked; a born shifter and a human man, along with another wolf female and a human woman, bound together like a family, loving fiercely against all the odds.
Yet, somehow, it did.
Kait laughed again, breaking through my thoughts. “Declan! You should see Aidan’s face right now. He’s blushing.”
I chuckled, casting an amused glance over my shoulder. “Well, now I’ve got to know.”
Aidan rolled his eyes, nudging Kait gently. “Behave yourself.”
“Where’s the fun in that?” she teased, eyes sparkling.
I leaned into Lila, her warmth pressing against my side, comforting and familiar. I’d never expected to find happiness out here in the wild, never thought I’d know anything beyond smuggling alcohol and cigars back and forth, living from one day to the next. But these three—they changed everything. They brought meaning. They gave me something worth holding onto.
“Sometimes,” Lila murmured, resting her head on my shoulder, her voice soft and content, “I still can’t believe we’ve found this. Us. Out here.”
I turned my head slightly, pressing a gentle kiss against her temple. “Well, believe it, love. You’ve got us, for better or worse.”
Aidan glanced up, smiling faintly at our words. “You two getting sentimental over there or what?”
“Maybe just a bit,” I shot back, grinning. “Jealous?”
Aidan snorted. “Not in the slightest. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
“Good,” Kait whispered, leaning up to kiss him lightly. “Because you’re stuck with us.”
The laughter that followed filled the clearing with warmth, echoed softly by the crackling fire. The moment stretched out, golden and comfortable, the kind you wished would never end.
But it did.
Aidan’s head snapped up, his entire body tense, suddenly alert. He sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing in sharp focus.
“What is it?” I asked softly, dread already pooling in my chest at his expression.
“Quiet,” he whispered, standing slowly. His eyes flashed yellow, his wolf rising close beneath the surface. Kait stood too, her posture matching his, her eyes locked onto the darkness that surrounded us.
Then came the howl.
It split the silence, echoing through the forest and sending a shiver of raw fear down my spine. Aidan cursed under his breath, reaching back to grab Kait’s hand and pulling her behind him instinctively.
“Feral pack,” he whispered, his voice quiet. “Close. Very close.”
I stood quickly, adrenaline surging through me as I glanced at Lila. “Get behind me.”
She didn’t argue, eyes wide as she moved swiftly to my side. Kait and Aidan flanked us, their bodies shifting slightly, muscles tense and ready.
The darkness shifted, shapes moving just beyond the firelight’s reach. Yellow eyes flickered, one pair, then two, then five. Then more than seven.
Too many. There were too many.
Aidan’s voice was a low growl, filled with urgency. “Stay close. Stay together. Whatever happens—”
His words were cut short as the ferals charged us.
They surged into the clearing like a tide, their eyes wild, slavering jaws open wide, fury radiating from every snarling face. Aidan shifted instantly, his wolf lunging forward to meet the first attacker. Kait shifted beside him, her form sleek and fast, teeth bared as she leaped into the fray.
“Don’t you dare move from behind me,” I shouted to Lila, gripping my knife tightly, heart hammering as I braced myself for a fight.
I had no time to catch my breath before one massive feral leaped at me. I ducked low, feeling the wind from its snapping jaws brush past my neck. Pivoting swiftly, I drove my knife into the beast’s flank, ripping it free just as the feral howled and spun away. Hot blood splattered my face, stinging my eyes.
Another beast tackled me from behind, and the force of the impact drove me face first into the dirt, knocking the breath from my lungs. My blade skittered from my grip, landing just out of reach. Panic surged like wildfire through my veins as the feral pinned me down, razor-sharp teeth snapping in my ear. With a roar, I twisted hard, shoving the feral wolf off me.
“Declan!” Lila’s desperate scream cut through my panic.
My hand closed around the fallen blade, and I plunged it into the beast’s throat, cutting its roar short in a sudden spurt of blood.
I staggered upright, turning back toward Lila just in time to see her thrown violently to the ground, another creature bearing down on her. Pure horror froze me for half a heartbeat. Then I charged, sprinting toward her with every ounce of strength I had left.
“No!” I bellowed.
But before I could reach her, searing pain exploded through my shoulder, tearing a scream from my throat as powerful jaws sank deep, bone and muscle crushed beneath pointed fangs. I stumbled forward, spinning around and seeing the feral’s glowing, maddened eyes locked onto mine as it wrenched its teeth free, blood pouring from the gaping wound it left behind.
I staggered back, shock making my limbs heavy. My vision wavered. The feral circled closer, saliva dripping from its jaws as it prepared to finish me off.
Then a blur shot past me.
Aidan.
He collided with the beast, their bodies slamming together in a clash of power and fury. Teeth flashed, snarls ripping through the clearing as they fought viciously, fur and blood flying in every direction.
I spun toward Lila again, but time stopped cold.
She lay on the ground, her blue eyes wide, staring blankly upward. Blood seeped slowly from a deep wound across her chest, soaking into the dirt beneath her. She wasn’t moving. She wasn’t breathing.
“Lila!” I choked, agony ripping through my chest.
Just feet away, Kait staggered sideways, her wolf form bleeding, weakened and panting heavily. A feral leaped at her, jaws clamping brutally hard around her throat. Aidan howled, sprinting to help, but it was too late. Kait collapsed, her form crumpling to the earth, eyes fading as the feral lunged again, tearing into her with merciless finality.
Aidan’s howl shattered the night, a sound of raw grief that cracked me open.
I fell to my knees, reality crashing down around me. My world had turned to ruin in mere seconds. Pain radiated from my bitten shoulder, deep and pulsing, but I barely noticed. All I could see were Lila’s lifeless eyes, Kait’s still form, and the anguish etched across Aidan’s wolfish features.
There was no time for grief though, because the ferals weren’t finished yet. They circled us, closing in again, snapping and snarling, hungry to end what they had started.
Aidan shifted back into human form, staggering to my side, battered and bloodied. His green eyes blazed with grief and fury as he met my gaze.
“Declan,” he rasped. “Get up. Now.”
But I was frozen, kneeling helplessly, my heart ripped apart.
Aidan’s strong hand grasped my shoulder, pulling me up to face the approaching ferals.
“Stand,” he growled. “They would want us to fight.”
My pulse pounded like a war drum, faster and faster, louder and louder, until it was all I could hear. The world around me narrowed, darkening at the edges, closing into a tunnel.
Then everything exploded.
Pain tore through my limbs, deep and searing, every muscle wrenching violently beneath my skin. Bones cracked, snapping and reforming in a cacophony of agony. A guttural roar ripped from my throat, echoing through the clearing—wild, and full of a rage I’d never known before.
A deep, new power within me was taking over, a dark and savage thing.
I’d been bitten. I was a wolf now. A shifter.
The ferals paused, hesitation flickering in their eyes as they stared at me, but it was too late for them to run. The creature within me had already seized control.
I surged forward, propelled by an uncontrollable fury, feeling strength explode through my new form. My claws dug into the earth, tearing great gouges into the dirt as I charged.
I hit the first feral with a force that shocked even me, jaws sinking deep into its throat, puncturing flesh and bone. The taste of blood filled my mouth, igniting my frenzy even further. I tossed the body aside like a broken toy, muscles rippling, breath burning in my lungs.
Another feral lunged at me, claws raking through my fur. I barely felt it. Turning, I slammed into it, teeth closing around its leg, jerking hard until I heard the satisfying snap of bone. It collapsed, shrieking and howling, and I silenced it swiftly, my jaws ending its life in a single savage bite.
I tore through the pack with ruthless efficiency, barely aware of what I was doing. Every feral that attacked was reduced to nothing but a mass of blood and fur, their forms crushed beneath my relentless drive for retribution. Blood sprayed across my muzzle, soaked my fur, pooled beneath my paws.
Aidan shouted something behind me, distant and muffled, but I couldn’t stop. Wouldn’t stop. They had taken everything. Lila. Kait. My future. My family.
They would pay.
My wolf surged again, raw animal instinct taking over as I lunged into another feral. My claws ripped through it, jaws tearing mercilessly. My world blurred to red, each brutal movement driven by rage and grief, until nothing else existed but the primal thrill of the kill.
The screams of the ferals rose around me, desperate and panicked, but I didn’t slow down. My fury was relentless, unending, unstoppable. They were nothing against me, mere playthings that crumpled beneath my rage.
I lunged again, fangs sinking deep into another feral, and the taste of blood filled me with wild satisfaction. They would all pay for what they had done. Every last one of them.
I lost myself in that dark, savage place, consumed by grief and vengeance. Then, slowly, the world around me began to fade away, my vision narrowing again. My limbs grew heavy, my breaths ragged and uneven.
Still, I fought.
I fought until I could no longer tell where I ended and the wolf began. Then, as the last feral fell beneath my fangs, darkness claimed me, pulling me under into its merciful embrace.
The last thing I heard was Aidan’s voice, but it was more a distant, anguished echo than anything else.
“Declan, stop! Please! It’s done!”
Blessed darkness took me down.
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