Chapter 4 The Beast Within

The red eyes lunged, a blur of shadow and claws tearing through the fog. Elyra's scream caught in her throat as she dove, her dagger flashing in the moonlight. The creature-neither wolf nor human, its hide rippling with dark scales-slashed the air where she'd stood, its snarl shaking the riverbank.

Her heart pounded, her Moonseer powers sparking violet, unstable, as Lila's distant scream echoed in her ears."Elyra, move!" Kael roared, his curved blade slicing at the beast's flank.

The creature howled, its eyes glowing like embers, and swiped, sending Kael crashing into a tree with a sickening crunch. He slumped, blood trickling from his temple, his tattoos dimming.

"No!" Elyra's voice broke, her powers surging. She scrambled to her feet, her wounded leg screaming, her shoulder still bleeding from the cult's bolt. Zane lay nearby, his human form pale, his chest barely rising, the bolt wound in his shoulder oozing.

Her heart fractured-Zane dying, Kael down, Lila taken. And Mira, the traitor who'd orchestrated it all, still out there.The beast turned, its red eyes locking on her. Elyra's breath hitched.

Her vision's warning-Mira, the Moonweaver relic, a blood-soaked dagger-pulsed in her mind. Was this creature her death?

Her powers flared, a violet wave rippling out, but the beast didn't flinch, its scales absorbing the light like a void.

"Stay back!" she shouted, her dagger trembling in her grip.

Her eyes glowed, another vision hitting: the creature, chained in a ruin, Mira's amulet controlling it, her family's blood fueling its power. Elyra's stomach churned. This was no ordinary beast-it was a Moonweaver construct, forged by the cult.

A groan snapped her focus. Zane stirred, his green eyes flickering open, pain etched on his scarred face. "Elyra," he rasped, dragging himself up. "Run. It's after your blood."

"I'm not leaving you!" she snapped, tears burning her eyes. Her heart warred-Zane's betrayal in her vision clashed with his sacrifice now.

She couldn't lose him, not again, but Lila's scream still rang, a knife in her soul.The beast lunged. Elyra dove, rolling across the damp earth, her dagger slashing its leg.

It roared, black ichor spraying, and swiped, its claws grazing her arm, drawing blood. Pain seared, but her powers exploded, a violet blast hurling the beast back.

The cave's runes flared, the ground trembling, and Elyra's vision sharpened: the relic, hidden in a ruin, its power tied to her blood.

"Elyra!" Kael staggered up, his blade raised, blood streaking his face. "The runes! Use them!"

Elyra's eyes darted to the cave, its glowing symbols pulsing with her power.

She stumbled toward it, the beast's snarl at her heels. Zane lunged, half-shifted, his claws raking the creature's side, buying her time.

He collapsed, blood pooling, and Elyra's scream tore free.

"Zane!" She reached the cave, her hands slamming against the runes. Her powers roared, violet light flooding the walls, and a voice-her mother's-whispered in her mind: The relic binds the beast.

Your blood is the key.The beast charged, its claws aimed at her heart. Elyra's powers peaked, the runes blazing, and a silver chain shot from the cave floor, wrapping the creature's limbs.

It thrashed, its red eyes dimming, but its snarl promised freedom. Elyra's legs buckled, her blood dripping on the runes, sealing the bind.

Kael reached her, his arm around her waist, holding her up. "You did it," he panted, his amber eyes fierce. "But it won't hold long."

Elyra's chest heaved, her gaze on Zane, still bleeding, his eyes fluttering shut. "We need to save him," she said, her voice raw. "And Lila. The cult has her."

Kael's jaw tightened.

"Lila's pendant-it's a relic key. Mira's using her to unlock it."

Elyra's heart stopped. Lila, a pawn in Mira's game, her betrayal forced by the cult's magic.

Her vision confirmed it: Lila, chained, the pendant glowing, Mira chanting. "Then we find the ruin," Elyra said, her voice steel despite her tears.

"We stop Mira."Zane groaned, his hand reaching for her. "Elyra... I'm sorry. For everything." His voice broke, his green eyes pleading.

"I never betrayed you. Mira... she forced my hand."

Elyra's throat tightened, her vision's dagger haunting her. "Then prove it," she whispered, kneeling beside him, her hands shaking as she pressed her jacket to his wound.

"Stay alive."

A howl echoed-Crescent Pack, closing in. Kael pulled Elyra up. "We can't stay. The pack thinks you're cursed, and the cult's still out there."

Elyra's heart tore. Leave Zane? But Lila's scream, the relic, Mira's betrayal-they couldn't wait.

"Help me carry him," she said, her voice fierce.Kael hesitated, his eyes dark with rivalry, but nodded. They lifted Zane, his weight heavy, his blood staining their hands. The fog thickened, the beast's chains rattling behind them, its red eyes still glowing.

Elyra's powers flickered, her wounds throbbing, but her resolve burned brighter.They trekked through the forest, the river's roar fading, Lila's scream guiding them.

Elyra's visions pulsed, showing flashes: a crumbling ruin, the Moonweaver relic glowing, Lila's pendant unlocking it, and Mira's amulet, its dark magic tying them all. Her blood was the key, but to what? Salvation or destruction?

Kael broke the silence, his voice low. "Elyra, the mate bond... I feel it. Stronger every second. But Zane-" He stopped, his jaw clenching.

"He's in your heart, too."Elyra's chest ached, the dual bonds tearing her apart. Kael's warmth, his fierce loyalty, pulled her, but Zane's pain, his past promises, lingered.

"I don't know what I feel," she admitted, tears falling. "But I can't lose either of you. Not now."

Zane's hand tightened on hers, weak but desperate. "Elyra... I love you. Always have." His voice was a whisper, his eyes closing, and her heart shattered.

"Zane, stay with me!" she begged, her powers sparking, trying to heal him, but they flickered, drained.

A twig snapped. Elyra froze, her dagger drawn. Kael tensed, his blade raised. The fog parted, revealing a figure-not a cultist, but an Ironclaw scout, her auburn hair braided, her amber eyes like Kael's.

"Alpha," she said, bowing. "The ruin's close. The cult's there, with the girl."

"Lila," Elyra breathed, hope and fear colliding. "Take us there. Now."The scout nodded, leading them through tangled vines to a cliff overlooking a sunken ruin, its stone arches glowing with Moonweaver runes.

Below, cultists chanted, their claw pendants gleaming, Lila chained to an altar, her pendant pulsing. Mira stood above her, her white hair stark, her amulet glowing with dark power.

Elyra's blood ran cold. Her vision, unfolding before her. "Mira," she hissed, rage boiling. "She's going to kill her."

Kael's hand gripped her shoulder.

"We need a plan. The cult's too many, and you're hurt."Elyra's eyes locked on Lila, her friend's face pale, her body trembling. "No time. I'm not losing her."

She turned to Zane, his breathing shallow, and kissed his forehead, tears falling. "Hold on, Zane. I'm coming back for you."Zane's eyes flickered open, pain-filled but fierce.

"Be careful, Elyra. Mira... she's not alone."Elyra's heart pounded, his words chilling. Not alone? Her vision's dagger flashed-Mira, Zane, betrayal. She stood, her powers sparking, and followed the scout down the cliff, Kael at her side. The ruin's runes pulsed, drawing her blood, her Moonseer legacy awakening.

They reached the ruin's edge, hiding behind a fallen pillar. Mira's chant grew louder, Lila's pendant glowing brighter, the altar trembling.

Elyra's powers surged, a vision hitting: the relic, a silver orb, rising from the altar, her blood unlocking it, and a shadow behind Mira, holding Zane's dagger.

Elyra's breath caught.

The shadow wasn't Zane-it was the Duskfall mayor, his face twisted, a claw pendant at his throat. Her mind reeled. A human, leading the cult?

"Elyra, now!" Kael whispered, nodding to a gap in the cultists' line. They crept closer, Elyra's dagger ready, her powers unstable. Lila's eyes met hers, filled with guilt and hope, and Elyra's heart broke again.

"Lila, I'm here," she whispered, cutting her bonds. Lila gasped, clutching her, the pendant burning her skin.

"Elyra, I didn't want to-" Lila's voice choked, but Mira's chant stopped, her blue eyes snapping to them. "Moonseer," Mira purred, her amulet flaring. "Your blood's mine."

The cultists turned, crossbows raised. Elyra shoved Lila behind her, her powers exploding, a violet shield blocking the bolts.

Kael fought, his blade a blur, but the mayor stepped from the shadows, Zane's dagger in his hand, its blade glowing with dark runes."Elyra Voss," the mayor said, his voice cold.

"Your family's blood started this. Yours will end it."Elyra's heart stopped. Her family? The mayor? Her vision lied-Zane wasn't the traitor, but his dagger was here, in the cult's hands. Mira laughed, the relic rising, Lila's pendant shattering, and Elyra's blood burned, her powers screaming.

The mayor lunged, the dagger aimed at her heart, and a roar shook the ruin-Zane, bloodied but standing, his wolf form charging.

He tackled the mayor, but a bolt struck his side, and he fell, his eyes on Elyra, pleading.

"Zane!" Elyra screamed, her powers erupting, the relic pulsing, the ruin collapsing. Lila clung to her, Kael fought, and Mira's laugh echoed as the mayor raised the dagger again.

And then, a new shadow moved-a cloaked figure, claw pendant glinting, holding a second relic, its power darker, older.

Elyra's vision shifted: the figure's face, not Mira, not the mayor, but her mother, alive, her eyes glowing with Moonseer light."Mom?" Elyra whispered, her world shattering, as the dagger fell.