Chapter 4 4

Selene sat frozen in the dimly lit room, the echo of the distant howl reverberating in her chest. Her breath was shallow, her hands trembling against the armrest of the chair. She wanted to move, to get up and bolt the door like Declan had told her, but her body refused to obey.

Her mind churned with everything she'd just witnessed. Rowan's warning, Lachlan's transformation, Declan's calm yet commanding presence-it was all too much. And yet the memory of those glowing silver eyes in the dark reminded her that this wasn't a nightmare she could wake up from.

Another howl pierced the air, this one closer and more guttural.

Her survival instincts finally kicked in. She shot to her feet, rushing to the door. The lock was ancient, a clunky brass mechanism that took a few forceful turns before it clicked into place. She quickly checked the windows, pulling the heavy curtains shut as if that might keep the outside world at bay.

She backed away from the door, her breath hitching as silence fell once again. The house creaked and groaned with age, every sound amplified by her fear.

And then she heard it-scratching.

It was faint at first, barely audible over the pounding of her heart. But as she strained to listen, it grew louder, coming from the back of the house.

Selene's stomach churned as she turned toward the hallway. "It's probably just an animal," she whispered to herself, though her voice sounded unconvincing even to her own ears.

She crept down the hallway, her bare feet soundless against the hardwood floor. The scratching grew more deliberate, more insistent. It was coming from the kitchen.

Her pulse quickened as she reached the doorway, peering into the darkened room. At first, she saw nothing-just the shadowy outline of cabinets and the faint glint of the sink faucet. But then her eyes caught movement.

A figure stood just outside the window, its hulking form partially obscured by the curtains. The dim light from the moon highlighted its sharp features, the unmistakable outline of claws tapping rhythmically against the glass.

Selene's breath hitched, and she stumbled back, her shoulder colliding with the wall. The sound must have alerted the creature, because its head snapped toward her.

The figure growled low, the sound vibrating through the windowpane. And then, with a sharp, unnatural motion, it began clawing at the glass with alarming force.

Panic surged through her veins. She turned and bolted down the hallway, her thoughts a chaotic jumble.

What do I do? What do I do?

She reached the sitting room and fumbled for her phone, only to realize she'd left it in the car. She cursed under her breath, her eyes darting to the door.

Another sound caught her attention-a loud crack followed by the shattering of glass.

Her heart dropped as she realized the creature had broken through the kitchen window.

She spun around, searching desperately for something-anything-that could serve as a weapon. Her eyes landed on the heavy brass candlestick sitting on the mantle. She snatched it up, the weight of it reassuring in her trembling hands.

The creature's growls grew louder as it stalked through the house, its claws clicking against the floor.

Selene pressed herself against the wall, holding the candlestick tightly as she tried to control her breathing. She could hear it moving closer, sniffing the air like it was tracking her scent.

The growling stopped.

The silence was deafening.

She held her breath, her knuckles white as she gripped the candlestick. The sound of heavy breathing came from just around the corner, and she knew the creature was only feet away.

Time seemed to slow as the figure stepped into view. It was massive, its black fur glistening in the dim light. Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto hers, and for a moment, Selene felt like prey caught in the predator's gaze.

It lunged.

Selene screamed, swinging the candlestick with all her might. The metal connected with the creature's jaw, sending it stumbling back with a snarl.

She didn't wait to see if it recovered. She turned and ran toward the door, her bare feet skidding on the slick floor. She fumbled with the lock, her fingers shaking as she struggled to turn the knob.

Before she could get it open, the creature was on her.

It tackled her to the ground, its claws digging into her arms as she screamed. The weight of it pinned her down, its hot breath brushing against her neck.

"Get off me!" she yelled, thrashing against it.

The creature growled, its jaws snapping inches from her face. Selene closed her eyes, bracing herself for the worst.

And then, suddenly, the weight was gone.

She opened her eyes to see Rowan standing over her, his silver eyes blazing with fury. He was fully shifted now, his towering wolf form bristling with power. He snarled at the rogue, his fangs bared in a terrifying display.

The rogue hesitated for a moment, its gaze flickering between Selene and Rowan. And then, with a guttural snarl, it lunged at him.

The room erupted into chaos as the two wolves clashed, their bodies a blur of fur and claws. Selene scrambled to her feet, pressing herself against the wall as she watched the brutal fight unfold.

Rowan was faster, his movements precise and calculated, but the rogue fought with a desperation that made it unpredictable. They crashed into furniture, shattering a side table and sending shards of wood flying.

Lachlan appeared in the doorway, his form mid-shift as he rushed to Rowan's side. Together, the two brothers overpowered the rogue, driving it back toward the broken window.

With a final, deafening snarl, the rogue leapt through the opening and disappeared into the night.

Selene sagged against the wall, her legs threatening to give out beneath her.

Rowan turned to her, his silver eyes still glowing, his chest heaving with exertion. Lachlan stepped forward, his expression a mix of concern and annoyance.

"I told you to stay inside," Rowan growled, his voice rough from the shift.

"I was inside," Selene snapped, her fear morphing into anger. "Until that thing decided to break in!"

Lachlan held up a hand. "Okay, let's all take a breath. Preferably without shouting."

Selene glared at him, but her anger quickly dissolved into exhaustion. She slid down the wall, her hands trembling as she buried her face in them.

"Selene," Rowan said, his voice softer now.

She looked up at him, her eyes burning with unshed tears. "What the hell is happening to me?"

Rowan's gaze softened, and for the first time, she saw something resembling guilt in his expression.

"You're part of this now," he said quietly. "And it's only going to get harder."