Without even realizing it, a general commotion began. Canary heard people shouting, and several lycans running toward the gates, while Vahem gave out orders.

"I need you to take care of Canary, Merydia,"

he said, breathless. Canary quickly looked at him.

"You're going to leave us?"

"I need to fight him, Canary."

"He doesn’t want you, he wants me."

Vahem froze abruptly.

"I know, but Kyra is vengeful. He values revenge more than the desire to have what he wants. He wants to kill me, Canary. I’ll be his distraction—and finish him."

Merydia stepped closer.

"You’re still weak, Vahem,"

she said, sounding a bit distressed.

Canary quickly turned to her.

"What? What do you mean… what happened?" Vahem shot a sharp look at his sister.

"Don’t look at me like that, you know I’m telling the truth."

"We don’t have time for this, Merydia. If I don’t go, he’ll kill innocent people!" Canary threw her arms up in frustration.

"What are you two talking about?" she asked, nervous. Vahem quickly turned his gaze back to her and stepped closer.

"It’s nothing important. Right now, I need to go. Merydia will protect you, Canary. I’ll come back." He spoke while looking deep into her eyes.

"Vahem…" Before she could say anything more, he pulled her to him and kissed her intensely.

It was a strange kiss, nothing like the ones they had shared before. It felt… like a farewell.

Still breathless, Vahem whispered against her lips:

"I haven’t forgotten our conversation. I’ll come back so we can finish it." He said it with a mischievous smile. Canary blushed immediately.

He then turned to Merydia, and his sister pulled him into a hug.

"Don’t die, old man."

"I won’t."

And then he ran toward the gates, glancing back at Canary before disappearing from sight.

"Let’s go, Canary." Merydia grabbed her arm, leading her back toward the mansion.

                                —--

Merydia took Canary running down to an underground floor of the mansion. She locked the door immediately as soon as they entered. Canary felt her heart racing as she touched the half-moon pendant. Merydia looked at her and seemed to notice.

"Kyra is no match for Vahem, Canary."

"What did you mean by saying he’s weak?" She stopped abruptly.

"Nothing… Nothing! It’s just nonsense." Canary stepped closer to her.

"Don’t lie to me, Merydia. What’s happening?" But she remained impassive.

"It’s just the worry of a sister. He will be fine, now… let’s wait."

There was no way she believed that. Something was going on.

An hour passed and Canary could only hear screams and roars. Vahem had still not returned. It made her pace back and forth. She was trembling when she looked at Merydia and saw her moving her hands strangely, whispering incomprehensible words.

"What are you doing?" But she kept going. Suddenly the noise of shouting ceased, and Merydia snapped out of her trance.

"What was that, Merydia?"

"I was casting a sound spell. I’m not very good at fighting, you know… I’m still learning." Canary wasn’t sure if she was even breathing.

"Wait… a spell? You’re…"

"A witch. More or less… I still have a lot to learn." Still shocked, Canary knelt in front of her.

"You’re a witch, I… I… My mother used to tell me stories, but I never knew they were real." Merydia smiled faintly, then suddenly opened her hand, and a small flame rose there. Canary fell back, smiling in awe.

"This… this is amazing, Merydia."

"Many don’t think so."

"Then they’re fools." Merydia looked at her with a smile.

"You could…" But Canary was soon interrupted by a noise outside, making Merydia stand up abruptly.

"What is it? Is it Vahem?"

"No, it isn’t," she said, heading to the door.

Canary slowly stepped back. The noise intensified—something was trying to break the door down.

"Canary, run," Merydia said sharply.

"What…"

"Run now! At the end of the tunnels, there’s a forest! Go! I’ll handle him."

Canary moved closer to her.

"I won’t leave you!"

"Yes, you will! You can’t fight! You can’t do anything—I can at least buy you time." But Canary stomped her foot.

"I won’t, Merydia!"

"YES, YOU WILL!" She used one of her spells, pushing Canary back toward the tunnels.

"MERYDIA!"

"I’ll give you time." Canary didn’t see her anymore as she was forced away.

She finally stopped retreating after a while, but then quickly turned back, running toward her sister-in-law. Her blood was boiling inside her—she would not let Kyra kill Merydia. She would not let him hurt her.

She ran as fast as she could, feeling her body begin to change.

"AHHHHH, DIE, YOU BASTARD!" She heard Merydia’s fading voice. She sped up.

When she reached her, a beast covered in black fur, with blood-red eyes, was on top of her sister-in-law, biting her arm with brutal force.

Canary felt everything inside her shift. She roared at Kyra.

"YOU BASTARD, I’M RIGHT HERE!" His gaze quickly turned to her.

Merydia looked at her too, her face bloodied.

"No, Canary…"

"LET HER GO, YOU WANT ME!" He slowly backed away from Merydia.

"Well, well, well… there’s my female. I’m willing to forgive your mistakes… if you come willingly, and behave." He sneered between his teeth.

Canary gave him a fierce smile.

"I’d rather vomit my guts out, you bastard." He roared at her.

"Got bold, haven’t you?" He lifted his snout toward her, sniffing.

"I see the rouge hasn’t touched you yet. You don’t have his scent." He laughed disgustingly.

"He’s a fool, didn’t know how to take advantage." Her heart raced.

"Where is he?" Once again, he bared his teeth at her.

"He’s dead." She swallowed hard, touching the half-moon pendant.

"You lying bastard."

"Oh, really? Then why isn’t he here?"

"YOU’RE NOTHING BUT A DAMN MONSTER!" She roared at him. The alpha stepped closer.

"Are you sure I’m the monster? Did your rouge tell you who he really is?" She swallowed again.

"Don’t believe him, Canary," Merydia said breathlessly. Kyra roared at her.

"Shut your mouth, bastard!" She snapped. He laughed again.

"So you think he’s the good guy? He fooled you well. Good thing I ripped his heart out." Canary’s blood boiled hotter.

"Now, come on… Canary."

She collapsed to the ground, feeling something happening. Vahem couldn’t have died, no! She knew it.

"Oh, come on, stop that." He muttered, stepping closer.

Canary roared, showing the fangs sprouting in her mouth. Her eyes turned blood-red, and claws tore through her fingertips.

"What is this?" he asked, startled.

Everyone heard her bones cracking, her limbs stretching as she screamed.

"That’s enough, stop this," Kyra said, moving toward her. But then… Canary lunged at him with incredible speed, throwing him against the wall.

Merydia couldn’t move, watching as a massive lycan with white fur and blood-red eyes, armed with monstrous claws, towered before her.

Canary.