Chapter 5 5

The howl grew louder, echoing through the forest as if the trees themselves carried Ronan's message. Luna could feel it now-the way the air around them seemed to shift, charged with tension. Every step she took was deliberate, her instincts warning her that danger was closing in fast.

Elias moved ahead of her, his movements swift and calculated. She couldn't help but notice how he barely made a sound, his footsteps light despite his size. He glanced back at her, his face a mask of focus.

"Stay close," he said, his voice low. "And if I tell you to run, you run."

"And leave you to fight alone?" Luna shot back, her voice sharper than she intended.

Elias stopped abruptly, turning to face her. The moonlight caught his features, casting them in sharp relief. His eyes burned with intensity.

"If they catch us, it won't just be me they kill," he said, his voice a rough whisper. "Ronan doesn't need me alive, Luna. But you? You're everything he wants. Do you understand that?"

Her chest tightened, the gravity of his words sinking in. She gave a small nod, even though every fiber of her being hated the idea of running while he stayed behind to fight.

Satisfied, Elias reached for her hand, pulling her forward. The warmth of his touch startled her, and for a brief moment, she forgot about the danger lurking in the shadows. But only for a moment.

The forest grew darker as they pressed deeper into the trees, the canopy above thickening and blocking out the moonlight. The only sounds were their breathing and the faint rustle of leaves as they moved.

Then the wind shifted, carrying with it a scent that made Luna's stomach churn.

Wolves.

She froze, her fingers tightening around Elias's hand. He stopped as well, his body going rigid.

"They're close," he said, his voice barely audible.

"What do we do?" she whispered.

Elias scanned their surroundings, his eyes narrowing. "We can't outrun them. Not like this. We'll have to-"

Before he could finish, a low growl rumbled through the darkness, followed by the unmistakable sound of paws crunching against the forest floor.

Luna's heart leapt into her throat as figures emerged from the shadows-three wolves, their eyes glowing with a menacing amber light. They were larger than any wolves she'd ever seen, their fur bristling and their teeth bared.

Elias stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body. His shoulders squared, and a growl of his own rumbled deep in his chest.

"Stay behind me," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Luna's wolf stirred restlessly within her, the instinct to fight clawing at her. But she held her ground, knowing this wasn't the time to lose control.

The largest of the three wolves shifted, its massive form contorting until a man stood in its place. His dark hair was matted with sweat, and his grin was anything but friendly.

"Well, well," the man said, his voice dripping with mockery. "The infamous Elias Nightshade, playing bodyguard to the little omega. How noble."

Elias didn't flinch, his gaze locked on the man. "Step aside, Kael. You don't want to do this."

Kael's grin widened, his amber eyes gleaming with malice. "Oh, but I do. Ronan's given us clear orders: bring the girl in. Alive, if possible. But you?" He tilted his head, his grin turning into a sneer. "You're expendable."

Elias growled, the sound low and threatening. "If you think I'm going to let you take her, you're even dumber than I thought."

Kael's expression darkened, and he motioned to the other wolves. "Get him."

The two wolves lunged forward, their snarls ripping through the air. Elias moved faster than Luna thought possible, meeting the first wolf mid-air. Their bodies collided with a sickening thud, and Elias shifted in an instant, his powerful black wolf form tearing into the attacker.

The second wolf circled around, its eyes locked on Luna. Panic flared in her chest as it charged, its jaws snapping. She stumbled back, her hands trembling, but then something inside her snapped.

Her wolf surged to the surface, taking control. She felt the shift before she even realized what was happening-her muscles stretching, her bones cracking. And then she was on all fours, her senses sharper than ever.

The attacking wolf faltered, clearly not expecting her to shift. But it recovered quickly, lunging at her again. Luna dodged, her movements fluid and instinctual. She wasn't a fighter-she'd never been trained for this-but her wolf seemed to know exactly what to do.

She darted around the wolf, snapping at its flank and forcing it to turn its attention fully to her. Her blood sang with adrenaline, the world narrowing to just this moment.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Elias tearing into the other wolf, his movements precise and brutal. He glanced at her briefly, his silver eyes wide with what looked like surprise-and pride.

Kael growled in frustration, clearly realizing that this wasn't going according to plan. He shifted back into his wolf form, his massive body bristling with rage.

But before he could make a move, Elias was on him.

The two alphas collided in a blur of fur and teeth, their snarls filling the air. Luna barely had time to react as the second wolf lunged at her again, but this time, she was ready.

She ducked low, sinking her teeth into its shoulder and using all her strength to throw it off balance. It yelped, stumbling, and she wasted no time in pinning it to the ground.

"Enough!" Kael's voice rang out, sharp and commanding.

Elias released him, his black fur bristling as he stepped back. Kael shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving and blood dripping from a wound on his shoulder.

"This isn't over," Kael snarled, glaring at both of them. "You can't protect her forever, Nightshade."

Elias didn't respond, his silver eyes cold and unyielding.

With a sharp whistle, Kael signaled to the other wolves, and they retreated into the shadows, their footsteps fading into the night.

Luna shifted back into her human form, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She looked at Elias, her heart pounding.

"What now?" she asked, her voice shaking.

Elias wiped the blood from his lip, his gaze meeting hers. "Now," he said, his voice low and steady, "we prepare for war."