In The Storm

The Voidfang’s claws sliced through the air, a blur of teeth and fury, as Elara’s scream tore from her throat. Rain pelted her face, stinging her eyes, but she couldn’t look away from the beast lunging at them. Kai shoved her hard to the side, and she hit the muddy ground, the impact jarring her bones. A growl erupted, deep and guttural, and she scrambled to her knees, heart pounding, to see Kai grappling with the creature. His jacket ripped at the shoulder, blood seeping through, but he held firm, his fists slamming into its snarling muzzle.

“Run, Elara!” he shouted, his voice strained but fierce. His eyes locked on hers for a split second, pleading, and something in her chest twisted in fear for him, a pull she couldn’t name.

She staggered to her feet, the marks on her arm flaring with a heat that spread through her like wildfire. Her nails lengthened, sharp and curved, and a growl rumbled in her own throat, surprising her. But before she could move, the Voidfang threw Kai off, sending him crashing into the alley wall with a sickening thud. He slumped, motionless, and panic seized her.

“No!” she cried, rushing toward him. The beast turned, its glowing eyes fixing on her, and she froze, her breath hitching. Then, a shadow appeared, Aiden, his form half-shifted, claws raking the Voidfang’s side. Blood sprayed, mixing with the rain, and the creature yelped, retreating into the mist.

Aiden dropped to his knees beside Kai, his chest heaving, blood streaking his face from a gash above his eye. “He’s alive,” he muttered, checking Kai’s pulse. His voice was rough, edged with relief, but his eyes flicked to Elara, dark and unreadable. She sank next to him, her hands trembling as she touched Kai’s cheek, cool and pale under the rain.

“What happened?” she whispered, her voice breaking. The marks pulsed, and a vision flashed, Kai smiling at her in the café, then falling, over and over. She blinked it away, her throat tight.

“Draven sent them,” Aiden said, his jaw clenching. He scooped Kai into his arms, standing with a grunt. “We need to get him to the pack. You too, you’re not safe here.” His gaze softened for a moment, lingering on her, and she felt that pull again, stronger now, like a thread tying them together.

She nodded, too shaken to argue, and followed him through the rain-soaked streets. The mist swallowed the alley behind them, but the howls lingered, a chorus of threats in the distance. They reached a hidden path leading into the forest, the trees looming like silent sentinels. Aiden moved with purpose, Kai’s weight seeming to barely slow him, and Elara struggled to keep up, her soaked clothes clinging to her skin.

Inside a cave tucked among the roots, the Nightclaws waited, rough-faced men and women, their eyes wary but curious. A woman with graying hair, Sylvia, stepped forward, her voice calm but commanding. “Lay him there,” she said, pointing to a makeshift bed of furs. Aiden obeyed, gently setting Kai down, and Sylvia knelt, her hands glowing faintly as she pressed them to his chest. A soft light spread, and Kai stirred, groaning.

Elara’s knees buckled, relief washing over her, and she sank beside him, brushing wet hair from his forehead. “You scared me,” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. His eyes fluttered open, meeting hers, and a weak smile tugged at his lips.

“Worth it,” he rasped, his hand finding hers, squeezing weakly. The warmth of his touch sent a flutter through her, and she couldn’t help but smile back, her heart aching.

Aiden watched, his expression hardening, and he turned away, barking orders to the pack. “Double the patrols. Draven’s not done.” His voice carried a weight that silenced the room, but Elara caught the glance he threw her way, jealousy, maybe, or something deeper.

Sylvia rose, her gaze settling on Elara. “Those marks,” she said, nodding toward her arm. “They’re waking. You’re a Lunar Echo, child. The curse is stirring.” Her words hung heavy, and Elara’s stomach dropped. She pulled her sleeve up, the crescents glowing brighter now, almost alive.

“What does that mean?” she asked, her voice small. Sylvia’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of something, fear crossing her face.

“It means you’re tied to our survival,” Sylvia said. “And our destruction. The bloodmoon will test you.” Before Elara could press further, a rustle outside made everyone tense. Aiden was at the cave entrance in an instant, his growl low and warning.

A figure stumbled in, a young woman, Lila, her clothes torn, blood trickling from a scratch on her cheek. “They’re coming,” she gasped, collapsing into Elara’s arms. “The Voidfangs… they got my brother.”

Elara held her, her heart sinking, as Lila’s sobs shook them both. Aiden’s eyes met hers over Lila’s head, a silent promise in them, but the marks flared again, and a vision of Draven standing over a fallen pack member, laughing hits. She gasped, clutching Lila tighter, and the cave fell silent, all eyes on her.

“What did you see?” Aiden asked, stepping closer, his voice urgent. His hand brushed her shoulder, and the contact sent a jolt through her, warm and electric. She leaned into it, just for a moment, before pulling back, her cheeks flushing.

“Draven… he’s planning something big,” she said, her voice trembling. “And it’s not just me he’s after.”

Before anyone could respond, a roar echoed outside, shaking the cave walls. The ground trembled, and dust fell from the ceiling. Aiden drew her behind him, his body a shield, as the pack scrambled to their feet. Lila clung to her, whispering, “We’re not safe here,” and Elara’s marks burned, a warning she couldn’t ignore. The roar came again, closer, and a shadow of a massive Voidfang loomed at the entrance, its eyes glowing red, claws scraping the rock as it forced its way in. Elara’s breath caught, her heart hammering, as the beast let out a deafening howl that promised blood.