Isabella’s POV

Victor’s blade glints, slicing through the rink’s dim light, aimed at my heart. My blood hums, alive, electric, like something’s waking up inside me.

Ethan’s bleeding beside me, his growl vibrating through my bones, his scent musk and pine making my thighs clench even as death looms. The rink’s a slaughterhouse, blood-slick ice and flickering neons, vampires and rogue wolves circling like vultures. I’m not human, not anymore. My body knows it, craving Ethan’s touch, his bite, even now.

“Move!” Ethan roars, shoving me aside. The blade grazes my shoulder, pain flaring, but I’m already moving, faster than I should be. My fist slams into Victor’s jaw, and he staggers, eyes widening. I'm too strong and it scares me as much as it thrills me.

“Impressive, Vega,” Victor sneers, recovering, his fangs gleaming. “Your blood’s waking up. Too bad it’s mine.”

“Fuck you,” I spit, dodging his next strike. My body’s alive, humming with power I don’t understand, and Ethan’s closeness fuels it, his heat making my core ache. I want him badly, even as Marcus’s rogues snap at us, their claws raking the air.

Ethan’s a blur, tackling a rogue wolf, blood spraying as his claws tear flesh. His shirt’s gone, muscles rippling, sweat and blood mixing on his skin. My mouth waters, imagining licking it off, tasting him. God, what’s wrong with me?

“Isabella, duck!” Lucas’s voice cuts through, and I drop as a rogue lunges. Lucas, Ethan’s beta, bursts onto the rink, all lean muscle and wild eyes, his pack behind him. They’re late, but they’re here, tearing into the rogues. The tide shifts, but Victor’s still on me, his blade flashing.

“You’re mine, princess,” Victor hisses, grabbing my wrist. His grip’s iron, cold, but my blood burns, rejecting him. I twist, kneeing his gut, and break free, my heart pounding. Ethan’s there, slamming Victor into the boards, his growl pure animal.

“Touch her again, and you’re dead,” Ethan snarls, his eyes blazing green, pupils blown with rage and something else hunger. For me. My body responds, heat pooling low, my skin tingling where his gaze rakes me.

“Ethan, behind you!” I shout as Marcus leaps, claws aimed at Ethan’s back. I move without thinking, my speed unnatural, tackling Marcus to the ice. My nails dig into his fur, and he yelps, but his jaws snap, grazing my arm. Blood drips, and Ethan’s roar shakes the rink.

“Get off her!” Ethan’s human again, pulling me free, his hands rough, possessive. His touch ignites me, and for a second, it’s just us, his breath hot on my neck, my body pressing into his. I want him to pin me down, to claim me, right here in the chaos.

“Focus, damn it,” I mutter, more to myself, but his lips twitch, like he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

“You’re the one staring,” he growls, low and teasing, sending a shiver through me. His hand brushes my hip, and I bite my lip, fighting a moan.

Victor’s laugh cuts through, chilling my blood. “You two are pathetic. Mates? A vampire and a wolf? You’ll destroy each other.”

Mates. The word hits like a punch, and Ethan tenses, his grip tightening. My heart races. I feel it, the pull, the need, but I’m not ready to face it. Not when Victor’s still standing, his vampires regrouping.

“Shut up,” I snap, lunging at Victor. My speed surprises even me, and I land a hit, my fist cracking his cheek. He staggers, but his blade catches my side, pain searing. I stumble, and Ethan’s there, catching me, his body a wall of heat and strength.

“You okay?” he asks, voice rough, eyes searching mine. His hand cups my face, and I lean into it, craving more, my blood singing for him.

“Barely,” I pant, my gaze dropping to his lips. I want to kiss him, to lose myself in him, but Marcus is back, snarling, and Lucas is fighting two vampires at once.

“We need to end this,” I say, pushing away, though every inch of me wants to stay pressed against him. My side burns, but the pain sharpens my focus, and something new surges fangs prick my gums, my vision sharpening. I’m changing, and it’s terrifying.

Ethan nods, his eyes dark with desire and determination. “Stay close.”

Lucas shouts, “Ethan, we’re getting overrun!” His voice is strained, blood streaking his face as he fends off a rogue. The pack’s holding, but barely, and Victor’s vampires are relentless.

Victor circles, his smirk cruel. “Give up, Wolfe. She’s ours. Her blood will make us unstoppable.”

“Her blood’s not yours,” Ethan growls, stepping in front of me. His scent overwhelms me, and I’m dizzy with want, imagining his hands on me, his mouth claiming mine. I shake it off, gripping the broken stick, ready to fight.

A new figure emerges, cloaked, moving like liquid shadow. A woman, older, her eyes glowing like Victor’s but colder. “Enough, Victor,” she says, her voice cutting through the chaos. “You’ve overstepped.”

Victor’s face twists. “Elena? You’re betraying us?”

Elena Ethan’s sister, I realize stands tall, her presence commanding. “You’re the traitor, Victor. The clan doesn’t want war. Let her go.”

Ethan stiffens, his hand finding mine, squeezing. “Elena, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Saving your ass,” she snaps, her eyes flicking to me, wary but curious. “She’s the key, isn’t she?”

My stomach lurches. Key? To what? My head spins, the rink blurring as my blood pulses, fangs aching. I’m not just a vampire, I'm something more, and they all know it.

Victor laughs, bitter. “You think you can stop me, Elena? The prophecy’s real, and she’s the spark.”

“Prophecy?” I blurt, my voice shaking. Ethan’s grip tightens, grounding me, but his face is grim.

“Later,” he mutters, pulling me closer. His body’s hard against mine, and I want to climb him, to lose myself in him, but the fight’s not over.

Marcus roars, charging Elena, but she’s fast, dodging, her claws glinting. Lucas joins her, and the pack rallies, pushing back the rogues. I turn to Victor, my blood boiling, fangs fully out now. I’m not human anymore, and I’m done running.

“You want my blood?” I snarl, lunging. My speed’s unreal, and I tackle him, my nails digging into his chest. He screams, but his blade flashes, slicing my thigh. Pain explodes, but I don’t stop, pinning him.

Ethan’s there, his hand on my shoulder, pulling me back. “Don’t,” he says, voice low, urgent. “He’s not worth it.”

I’m panting, blood dripping, my body screaming for Ethan’s touch. His eyes are dark, hungry, and I know he’s fighting the same need. “I want him dead,” I whisper, my voice raw.

“I know,” he says, his hand sliding to my waist, sending heat through me. “But you’re better than him.”

Victor laughs, coughing blood. “You’ll never escape it, Vega. Your blood’s the key to everything.”

Before I can respond, a new sound tires screeching, headlights cutting through the dark. A black SUV crashes through the rink’s gates, and Sofia’s voice screams, “Isabella, get out!”

She’s back, with help from humans, maybe cops, I can’t tell. But Victor’s eyes gleam, and he moves, faster than I can track, grabbing me. His blade presses against my throat, and Ethan’s roar shakes the rink.

“Let her go!” Ethan bellows, his body tensing, ready to shift.

Victor’s breath is cold against my ear. “One move, and she’s dead.”

My heart pounds, fear and desire mixing as Ethan’s eyes lock on mine, promising he’ll save me. But the SUV doors open, and new figures step out vampires, wolves, I can’t tell. They’re not friendly, and they’re coming for us all.