Lucian remained frozen where the spiritof his mother had vanished. Her last thing she said tohim before she left him with his worst nightmare. Serena is the oneto lifting the curse. His mother’s voice had troubled something deep inside of him—his skin had felt hot, hotter than the fire ofhis ancestors. He couldn’t allow the darknessto consume her. They wouldn’t let herdestroy her. But he would do whatever it took to keep Serenasafe from those who sought to prey on her.

His resolve hardened. Lucian gave a final breath of determination, turned around, and made his way back toward the house, a million thoughts racingthrough his mind. He hadto reach her before it was too late.

As he neared thedoor of Serena’s room, he saw Mira pacing nervously, each step revealing the same sense of dread Lucian was harbouring. The instant she heardhim step, her eyes flew to him.

"Where is Serena?" Lucian said,his voice urgent.

“I… Idon’t know where she is,” Mira said, her face ashen. “I came back, andshe wasn’t in her room.

Lucian’s frustration flared. “Are you sure you’ve looked allaround the house? She couldn’t have gone far."

“I have looked everywhere — she’s not here,” Mira said, wringingher hands in distress.

Before Lucian could say more, Dorian walkedinto the room, his face dark. “Alpha, we have a problem,” he said, urgency creeping into hisvoice. “Serena is lost and the huntress isriding already.”

Fear flickered in Lucian’s eyes atthe mention of the huntress. She was known as the huntress, anunrelenting huntress, a ruthless tracker without compare. No one escapes her pursuit.

“Get the guards at the entrance alerted. Andkeep watch,” Lucian said, a low voice but deadly calm. "I’m going after Serena. I’ll find her."

“I’ll go with you, Alpha,” Dorian said, stepping forward andkeeping his face impassive.

Together, they ran. The scent of damp earthand decaying leaves filled the night air. Their paws beat against the earth, the forest around them becoming ablur. Lucian was all nerve and senses, lightning bolts of fear and anger flashing in hiseyes as they darted from shadow to shadow, searching for Serena. His heart started torace and panic began to gnaw at him. Where could she have gone?

Serena, however, had noidea they were after her. Inside her,the darkness had consumed. The Onyx wolf began to awaken inside her, and she could feel the change coming in on her,giving her sharper senses and tighter muscles. She was trying to hold on, to fight, but there was nouse. The wolfwas too powerful for him. The shift was inevitable.

Her body gave in, and Serena’s human shape was being traded for the fearsome black wolf that taunted her sleep. Her eyes sparkled with an unholy glow, this strange purple color that made her gut tell her toRUN. But as she launched, she knew she wasn’tin control anymore.” The Onyx hadfully taken over. Serena was trapped inside,unable to do anything as the wolf raced through the forest.

The forest grew denser every minute. The branches of the trees loomedoverhead like menacing fingers, closing in on her. There was something else in theair—a palpable magic, ancient and powerful, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. Serena found herself being drawn towardsomething—an invisible hand tugging at her.

Suddenly she burst out of a thick tangle of trees into abroad clearing. At the center was a hugestone statue, 3 times the size of an average wolf. The statue’s eyes burned anominous amber, glowing with an otherworldly light shot across the clearing. Serena froze, her lungs steadingagainst her chest. She realized she hadseen this statue before. But that was impossible. She had never been here. She hadn’t evenknown about this place.

The statue appeared to be looking right at her, itsamber eyes shining bright in the moonlight. Serena attempted to back away, to flee, but her paws were leaden, as if tethered tothe ground. She couldn’t move. Panic roared inside her, but the wolf’s presence within heronly deepened.

Then the statue’s eyes flared to life, its amber glow growingbrighter. Serena was hit with a wave of heat, her skin hot as if she had stoodtoo close to a fire. She could feel the power of the statue, a primeval and potent force, startto press in on her.

Serena looked around to find herself in her human form again, a size zero girl, standing inthe middle of the clearing. The statue’s eyes remained a sickly glow, its energy crackling in theair around her. “I —” She staggered backweak, reeling. Her legs buckled, and shewent down to the ground.

However,the moment Serena fell, he euphemized him and there was an emptiness in Lucian's chest. It felt like a piece ofhimself had been torn out. He didn’t have to see herto know that she had fallen. His instincts told him that something was verywrong. He had to find her.

They continued, Lucian’s every step riddenwith the growing anxiety clenching his chest. They called, calling out Serena's name,but there was only darkness and trees surrounding them. With eachpassing second, Lucian’s heart thundered. Where is she? He was consumed by the foreboding, unable to concentrate on anythingelse.

Then, like the forest itself was guiding him,Lucian caught a whiff of Serena. It was weak but unmistakable. His heart surged with hope. Hewordlessly trailed the scent, Dorian just behind, his eyes adjusting to the terrain with fierce intensity.

Soon, they broke out into aclearing, and Lucian’s gaze fell on Serena’s unmoving body on the ground. His heart stopped. She was not conscious, eyes closed, her bodyimmobile and lifeless.

“Serena,” Lucian hissed, sounding terrified and relieved allat once. He ran to her side, pulling her intohis arms. Her skin was cool, andher breathing shallow. He shook her, softly,his voice a soothing plea. "Serena, wake up."

But slowly she rose to the senses, the lids ofher eyes flickering, each fighting to register a return to wakefulness. Hereyes blinked open, weak and unfocused at first, but then, they fixed on him. Lucian sighed in relief and assisted her in sittingup.

“We have to get you back tothe pack house,” Lucian said, helping her to her feet, voice firm but gentle.

Serena faltered, her knees buckling underher. “My legs hurt, Lucian,” shegasped, voice cracked and low.

Before sheeven thought to protest, Lucian swept her effortlessly into his arms, as if she weighed nothing. His mind was racing. They had to return,and quickly.

Then, a distant howlbroke the silence — a foreign, chilling screech from a mouth Lucian had never heard. His ears pricked, an icyshiver running through his spine. It sent shiversdown the back of his neck.

“It’s time to move, Alpha,” Dorian said, his tone lowand urgent. “Midnight is coming, and we don’twant to be caught out in the open.”

Do you think you can be all things good to all people? Lucian nodded without a shred of sarcasm,scanning their surroundings as though he were being tested. The sense of beingobserved washed over him again, but this time more strongly. They weren’t alone. Someone — or something — was out there, lurking, followingthem.

"Check the area. Dorian, bring anyone lurking around," Lucian croaked as they crossed into NightFang territory.

As they arrived at the pack house, Lucian wastedno time. He rushed Serena directly to hisroom, placing her tenderly on his bed. Her eyes flitted before closing, her body obviously spent asshe grimaced in pain.

"Get the pack doctor!" Lucian snarled at one of the maids runninginto the room.

Serena’s breathing stabilized, buther face stayed white and tight. Lucian sat nextto her, clasping her hand and murmuring comforting words. "You’re safe now, Serena. You’re safe."

At that moment,the door flew open, and Dorian walked in looking grave. “Alpha, I found someone,” he said, speaking in a hushedvoice.

Lucian had left Serena with the pack doctor and had followed Dorian to seewhat the commotion was about.

The intruder quietly stood in the corner of the cage with their face hidden under a blackshawl. They hadn’tspoken since being brought in, their presence disquieting, inscrutable.

Lucian narrowed his eyes as heapproached. “Show yourself,” hegrowled low and commanding.

The figure gradually raised its head,and as its face came into view, Lucian's heart missed a beat. The known features, the sharp cheekbones and the piercing green eyes that sparkled in dimlight.

"Isolde?" Lucian spat,the disbelief oozing from his voice.