Chapter 2 The Beast's Fury

Chapter 2: The Beast's Fury

Lightning illuminated the clearing as the Shadow Beast lunged, its massive claws tearing through the air. Lucian met its charge head-on, his body fully transformed into a towering wolf with silver fur streaked by rain. Their clash sent shockwaves through the ground, scattering dirt and leaves as they grappled.

Raven didn't hesitate. Her staff glowed brightly as she summoned a spell, her lips moving in a rapid chant. Green tendrils of energy shot forward, wrapping around the beast's hind legs and rooting it to the ground. The creature let out a deafening roar, thrashing violently against the magical restraints.

"It's not enough!" Lucian growled, slashing at the beast's chest with his claws. Dark ichor spilled from the wounds, but the beast barely seemed to notice. It lashed out with a massive paw, striking Lucian and sending him sprawling into a tree.

"Lucian!" Raven shouted, her heart lurching. She thrust her staff forward, releasing a bolt of energy that struck the beast squarely in the head. The creature stumbled, shaking its head as if to dispel the magic.

Lucian groaned, forcing himself to his feet. His golden eyes glowed fiercely as he lunged at the beast again, his teeth sinking into its shoulder. The beast howled in rage, twisting its massive body in an attempt to shake him off.

Raven seized the moment, raising her staff high. The air around her shimmered with power as she poured her energy into a spell she rarely used. "By the light of the stars, I bind thee!" she shouted, slamming the staff into the ground.

A circle of glowing runes appeared beneath the beast, and chains of light erupted from the earth, wrapping around its limbs and torso. The creature thrashed wildly, its movements growing more frantic as the chains tightened.

"It's working!" Lucian called out, retreating to her side. His fur was matted with blood, but his stance was steady, his eyes fixed on the beast. "But it won't hold for long. We need to end this!"

Raven nodded, her breathing labored as she focused on maintaining the spell. "I can weaken it, but you'll have to deliver the final blow."

Lucian didn't hesitate. "Do it."

Raven closed her eyes, channeling every ounce of her magic into the spell. The chains glowed brighter, pulsating with energy as they constricted the beast further. The creature let out a final, earsplitting roar, its glowing green eyes dimming as the magic sapped its strength.

"Now!" Raven shouted, collapsing to her knees as the strain overwhelmed her.

Lucian leapt forward, his claws glowing faintly as he struck with precision. His claws tore through the beast's throat, and with a final shudder, the creature collapsed, its massive form disintegrating into ash.

The clearing fell silent, save for the sound of Raven's ragged breathing and the steady patter of rain. Lucian shifted back into his human form, his silver hair glinting in the faint moonlight. He approached Raven, his expression unreadable as he offered her a hand.

"You're stronger than I thought," he said, his voice low.

Raven looked up at him, exhaustion etched into her features. "And you're not as unbearable as I thought," she replied, managing a faint smirk.

Lucian's lips twitched, but before he could respond, the wind shifted, carrying with it the faint scent of something burning. Both of them tensed, their eyes darting toward the forest.

"This isn't over," Lucian muttered, helping Raven to her feet.

"No," she agreed, gripping her staff tightly. "Whatever summoned that beast is still out there."

Together, they turned toward the darkened forest, their uneasy alliance solidified by the battle they had just survived. Little did they know, their journey was only beginning.

The forest was eerily quiet in the aftermath of the battle. The wind rustled through the leaves, carrying the acrid scent of ash and blood. Raven leaned heavily on her staff, every muscle in her body screaming for rest. Lucian, though battered and bleeding, seemed unfazed as he stared at the spot where the Shadow Beast had fallen.

"What the hell was that thing?" Raven asked, her voice hoarse.

"A Shadow Beast," Lucian replied without looking at her. "But I've never seen one that strong. They're usually mindless creatures, but this one..." He trailed off, his golden eyes narrowing.

Raven frowned, wiping rain from her face. "It felt...wrong. Like it wasn't just dark magic-it was something older, something primal."

Lucian turned to her, his expression grim. "That wasn't a natural creature. It was summoned. And whatever brought it here has a purpose."

The weight of his words settled heavily on Raven. Summoning a Shadow Beast required immense power, the kind of magic few witches dared to wield. But it wasn't just the creature's presence that unnerved her-it was the fact that it had been drawn to her magic.

"We can't stay here," Lucian said abruptly, breaking her train of thought. "More could be on the way."

Raven nodded, though her legs felt like lead. "Where do we go?"

"There's a cave nearby," he said, gesturing toward the denser part of the forest. "It's hidden and defensible. We can regroup there."

Raven hesitated, her pride warring with her exhaustion. The idea of relying on a werewolf for protection didn't sit well with her, but she couldn't deny the logic in his plan. "Fine," she said finally. "Lead the way."

Lucian didn't respond, simply turning and heading into the trees. Raven followed, her grip on her staff tightening with each step.

---

The cave was small but surprisingly dry, tucked beneath a rocky overhang and concealed by thick vines. Inside, the air was cool and still, a welcome respite from the storm outside. Lucian moved to the back of the cave, where he began tending to his wounds, while Raven collapsed onto a flat rock near the entrance.

"Do you always fight like that?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Lucian glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Like what?"

"Like you have a death wish."

A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "You're one to talk, witch. That binding spell nearly drained you."

Raven shrugged, though she couldn't hide the fatigue in her voice. "It worked, didn't it?"

Lucian's smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. "Barely. That beast wasn't just strong-it was hunting you. If I hadn't been there..."

"I would've figured something out," she interrupted, her tone sharper than she intended.

Lucian raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He returned to cleaning a deep gash on his arm, his movements methodical.

Raven watched him for a moment, her irritation giving way to curiosity. "Why were you really out there?" she asked.

Lucian didn't look up. "I already told you. I patrol my territory."

"Right," Raven said, her tone skeptical. "And it was just a coincidence that you happened to show up when a Shadow Beast was trying to rip me apart?"

Lucian's golden eyes flicked to hers, and for a moment, she thought he might actually answer. But then he turned back to his wound, his silence speaking volumes.

"Fine," she said, leaning back against the cave wall. "Keep your secrets."

---

The storm outside raged on, lightning illuminating the cave in brief flashes. Raven tried to rest, but her mind wouldn't stop racing. Who had summoned the Shadow Beast? And why had it been drawn to her?

"You're thinking too loudly," Lucian said, breaking the silence.

Raven shot him a glare. "Excuse me?"

He smirked, leaning back against the wall. "Your face gives you away. You're trying to figure out who sent the beast."

"Of course I am," she snapped. "Wouldn't you be?"

Lucian's smirk faded. "I've dealt with dark magic before. If someone's targeting you, it's not random. They know what you're capable of."

Raven frowned. "And what am I capable of, exactly?"

Lucian studied her for a moment, his gaze piercing. "More than you realize."

Before she could respond, a sound outside the cave made them both freeze. It was faint, barely audible over the storm, but unmistakable-the crunch of footsteps on wet leaves.

Lucian's posture shifted instantly, his body tense and alert. He motioned for Raven to stay quiet, his golden eyes scanning the entrance.

The footsteps grew louder, accompanied by a low, guttural growl. Raven gripped her staff tightly, her heart pounding as she prepared a spell.

Lucian moved silently to the entrance, his claws extending as he shifted partially into his wolf form. He glanced back at Raven, his expression a warning.

Then, with a sudden burst of movement, he leapt into the storm.

---

Raven scrambled to her feet, her staff glowing as she followed him outside. The rain had slowed, but the night was still pitch black, the only light coming from the occasional flash of lightning.

In the clearing outside the cave, Lucian was locked in combat with another creature-a werewolf, but larger and more feral than any she had seen before. Its fur was black as coal, and its eyes glowed the same sickly green as the Shadow Beast's.

"Another one?" Raven muttered, her grip tightening on her staff.

Lucian snarled as the feral werewolf lunged at him, its claws raking across his chest. He retaliated with a powerful strike, but the creature barely flinched, its movements wild and erratic.

Raven raised her staff, aiming carefully before releasing a bolt of energy. The spell struck the creature in the side, sending it stumbling. Lucian took advantage of the opening, his claws tearing into its throat.

The creature let out a guttural scream, its body convulsing before collapsing to the ground. Like the Shadow Beast, it disintegrated into ash, leaving behind only the faint smell of decay.

Lucian stood over the ashes, his breathing heavy, his body covered in fresh wounds. Raven approached cautiously, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"That...wasn't natural," she said.

"No," Lucian agreed, his voice rough. "It wasn't."

Raven's stomach churned as realization dawned on her. "This is bigger than just a Shadow Beast, isn't it?"

Lucian nodded, his expression grim. "Someone's targeting both of us. And if we don't figure out who-or why-they'll send more."

Raven looked out into the dark forest, her unease growing. Whoever was behind this, they weren't just powerful-they were relentless.

And this was only the beginnings.

The ashes of the fallen werewolf swirled in the air before being carried away by the wind, leaving an eerie silence in their wake. Raven stared at the spot where the creature had disintegrated, her mind racing. Two attacks in one night couldn't be a coincidence, and the green glow in the werewolf's eyes unnerved her. Dark magic this potent required immense skill and intent.

"We can't just keep fighting whatever comes our way," she said, her voice tight with frustration. "This isn't random. Someone is orchestrating these attacks."

Lucian wiped blood from his face, his golden eyes narrowing as he glanced toward the forest. "You think I don't know that?" he snapped, his tone harsher than he intended. He sighed and ran a hand through his silver hair. "But we don't have enough information to act. We barely survived these two."

Raven clenched her fists, glaring at him. "Then what do you suggest? Sitting around and waiting for the next one to kill us?"

Lucian met her gaze evenly, his voice dropping to a low growl. "I suggest we survive long enough to figure out who's behind this. Charging blindly into the dark will get us both killed."

She hated that he was right, but the thought of waiting felt unbearable. The attacks were growing bolder, and whoever was targeting them wasn't just testing their strength-they were sending a message. Raven gritted her teeth, forcing herself to calm down. "Fine. But we need a plan."

---

Lucian crouched down, his claws still partially extended as he examined the ground. "This creature-it wasn't like me. It wasn't even like the feral wolves that lose themselves during a full moon. This thing was...corrupted."

"Corrupted how?" Raven asked, moving to stand beside him.

He gestured to the faint residue left behind by the ashes. "This. Dark magic leaves a stain, and whatever was done to that werewolf twisted it into something unnatural." He paused, his jaw tightening. "Whoever did this didn't just want us dead-they wanted to send a message."

Raven frowned, kneeling to examine the residue. Her staff glowed faintly as she channeled her magic into the ashes, seeking any lingering traces of the spell that had created the creature. Her breath caught as she felt it-an overwhelming surge of malice, ancient and unrelenting. She recoiled, her magic snapping back like a taut string.

"What did you see?" Lucian asked, his tone sharp.

Raven shook her head, struggling to find the words. "It wasn't just one person. There's a whole network-powerful witches, maybe even creatures older than us. Their magic is layered and intricate, designed to mask their true identities. But one thing's clear-they want something from us."

---

Lucian stood, his expression dark. "If they're this organized, we need to move fast. Every second we waste gives them time to send more of these things."

Raven nodded, rising to her feet. "But we can't fight them alone. If this is as big as it seems, we'll need allies."

Lucian's lips curled into a faint sneer. "And who do you suggest we trust? Witches who despise werewolves? Wolves who hate witches? The humans who fear us both?"

Raven sighed, her exhaustion evident. "I don't know. But there has to be someone out there who'll listen. If we don't unite against this threat, it won't just be us-they'll come for everyone."

Lucian hesitated, the weight of her words sinking in. Finally, he nodded. "Fine. But if we're doing this, we do it my way. The wolves have safe houses scattered across the region. We'll start there and see who's willing to listen."

"Agreed," Raven said, though doubt lingered in her mind. The road ahead would be treacherous, but it was the only path forward.

---

The storm began to wane as they set off, the rain turning into a light drizzle. The forest seemed quieter now, as though holding its breath. Lucian led the way, his movements silent and deliberate, while Raven followed close behind, her senses on high alert.

As they moved through the darkened woods, Raven couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched. Shadows seemed to shift at the edge of her vision, and the faint rustle of leaves made her grip her staff tighter.

"Something's following us," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"I know," Lucian replied, his tone calm but tense. "Don't look back. Just keep moving. If it attacks, I'll deal with it."

Raven's pulse quickened, but she forced herself to obey. The sense of unease grew stronger with every step, and she couldn't tell if the threat was real or if her own fear was playing tricks on her.

When they finally reached the base of a large hill, Lucian stopped abruptly, his head tilting as he listened. Raven opened her mouth to ask what he'd heard, but before she could speak, he turned to her, his golden eyes flashing.

"Run," he said.

And then the forest exploded into chaos.