~Samantha~

We parked the vehicle half a mile from the Wolf Tomb and walked the rest of the way.

After twenty minutes of walking, we reached a clearing. The Wolf Tomb sat in the middle. Except now it looked different.

The entrance was ripped open. Stone scattered everywhere like something had exploded from inside. And carved into the ground around the whole thing was a massive circle. Black lines cut deep into the dirt. Symbols I didn’t recognize marked every few feet.

"That’s the shadow array." Lila pointed at the circle. "He already built it."

"When?" I stared at the thing. It was huge. Had to be sixty feet across. "How long does something like this take to make?"

"Days. Maybe a whole week." Lila moved behind a tree for cover. "He’s been planning this. We didn’t stop anything. We’re just catching up."

"But he hasn’t turned it on yet." Dominic was scanning the area. "The full moon isn’t until later. We still have time."

"Time to do what?" Killian asked. "That thing is finished. All he needs is the twins’ blood, your mate’s blood, and the relic he already stole."

"He’s not getting the twins." I said it firm. "Or my blood."

"Look there." Dominic pointed at the tomb entrance. "Guards."

I saw them. Wolves. At least fifteen standing around the array. Their eyes glowed purple. They moved wrong. Like puppets with loose strings.

"Cursed wolves." Dominic kept counting. "I see fifteen outside. Probably more inside the tomb."

"Way more." Lila was looking at something else. "See those tracks? Fresh. Multiple packs. I’d say fifty wolves minimum. Maybe a hundred."

"A hundred cursed wolves?" Killian looked at Dominic. "We don’t have the numbers for that. Even with both packs combined."

"We’ll make it work." Dominic started backing away from the clearing. "We’ve seen enough. Let’s go."

We turned to leave.

One of the cursed wolves lifted its head. Looked directly at where we were hiding. Its eyes locked on mine.

Then it howled.

"Move!" Dominic grabbed my wrist. Started running.

More howls answered. From every direction. The forest exploded with sound.

We ran. Back toward where we’d left the vehicle. Branches whipped my face. Roots tried to trip me. But I kept going.

"They’re coming!" Lila was ahead of us. "Multiple groups! East and west!"

"How many?" Dominic yelled.

"Too many to count!"

A wolf burst from the bushes on our left. Went straight for me.

Dominic let go of my wrist. Shifted into his wolf form. Caught the attacking wolf mid-jump. They crashed into a tree.

"Keep running!" Dominic’s voice came out distorted. "Get Sam to the vehicle!"

"GO!" He was fighting the cursed wolf.

Killian grabbed my arm. Pulled me forward. "He can handle himself! Move!"

We kept running. Lila was way ahead now. I could barely see her through the trees.

Three more cursed wolves appeared in front of us. Blocking the path.

"Sam!" Killian let go of my arm. Started shifting. "Use your blood! Clear them out!"

I stopped. Put my hands out. Let the royal blood come. It pooled in my palms. Silver and bright.

I threw it at the three wolves.

The blood hit them. They screamed. Fell to the ground. The corruption burning off their skin.

"Nice!" Killian was fully shifted now. "Keep moving!"

We ran past the burning wolves. The vehicle was just ahead. Lila was already there. Had the engine running.

"Get in!" She yelled through the open window.

I reached for the door handle.

Another wolf came from nowhere. Slammed into my side. Knocked me down hard.

I hit the ground. The wolf was on top of me. Teeth snapping near my face. Spit hitting my cheek.

"SAM!" Killian’s wolf form crashed into it. Ripped it off me. They rolled away fighting.

I scrambled up. Got to the vehicle. Yanked the door open. Jumped inside.

"Where’s Dominic?!" Lila had her foot on the gas ready to go.

"Still fighting!" I looked back at the forest. "We can’t leave him!"

"We’re not leaving anyone!" Lila gripped the steering wheel.

Dominic burst from the trees. Still in wolf form. Running full speed. Three cursed wolves chasing him.

"DRIVE!" He shifted mid-run. Jumped for the vehicle.

Lila hit the gas. The vehicle lurched forward.

Dominic grabbed the door frame. Pulled himself partially in. His legs dragging.

I grabbed his shirt. Pulled hard. "I got you!"

He scrambled the rest of the way inside. Slammed the door shut just as one of the cursed wolves jumped. It hit the window. Cracked the glass but didn’t break through.

"GO GO GO!" Dominic yelled.

Lila was already going. The vehicle tore through the forest. Bouncing over roots. Swerving around trees.

I looked back. The cursed wolves were chasing us. But we were faster. They got smaller and smaller until they disappeared.

"Everyone okay?" Lila asked after a few minutes.

"Fine." Dominic was breathing hard. Blood on his shirt. "Killian?"

"Here." Killian was in the back seat. Also bleeding. "Got scratched but I’ll heal."

"Sam?" Dominic turned to look at me. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"I’m okay. Just bruised." I touched my side where the wolf had hit me. Hurt but nothing broken.

"Good." Dominic faced forward again. "That was too close."

"Too close and too many." Killian leaned back. "A hundred cursed wolves. We can’t fight that many. Even with every warrior we have."

"We’ll figure something out." Dominic said.

"Figure out what? We’re outnumbered three to one. Maybe more." Killian closed his eyes. "We need a better plan than ’charge in and hope for the best.’"

"I know that!" Dominic snapped. "I’m working on it!"

"Work faster. We have less than twelve hours."

They went quiet. The vehicle kept moving. Taking us back toward Pack A.

My mind was racing. A hundred cursed wolves. The array already built. Black Moon just waiting for tonight.

We were in trouble. Big trouble.

"I have a plan." Dominic said after ten minutes of silence. "It’s risky. But it might work."

"Let’s hear it." Lila kept her eyes on the road.

"We split into teams. Three teams." Dominic pulled out his phone. Started typing notes. "Team one is our elites. Best fighters. Me and Killian lead them. We go straight for the cursed wolves. Draw them away from the array. Keep them busy."

Killian opened his eyes. "You’re talking about twenty fighters against a hundred cursed wolves."

"I’m talking about twenty fighters who are fast and smart and know how to survive." Dominic kept typing. "We don’t have to kill all of them. Just keep them distracted long enough for team two to work."

"What’s team two?" I asked.

"You and Lila." Dominic looked at me. "While we’re keeping the wolves busy, you two sneak to the array. Find the core. Destroy it. Without the core, the array can’t activate."

"Where’s the core?" Lila asked.

"Usually in the center. Underground probably. You’ll have to dig for it." Dominic went back to his phone. "I’m betting it’s some kind of crystal or stone. Something physical. Break it and the whole array falls apart."

"And team three?" I asked.

"Team three stays at our pack. Guards the twins. Makes sure they’re safe no matter what happens to us." Dominic finished typing. Put his phone away. "The twins are the main target. As long as they’re protected, Black Moon can’t complete the ritual."

"Wait." I turned in my seat to face him fully. "You want me to go to the array? While the twins are back at the manor?"

"Yes."

"That’s unacceptable." I shook my head. "I’m staying with Devon and Diana. Someone else can destroy the array."

"And before you start a fight, I’m not discussing this. My kids are the target. I’m not leaving them."

"That’s exactly why you need to go." Dominic’s voice got hard with frustration. "If you destroy the array, there’s no ritual. No reason for Black Moon to take the twins. They’re safe because you stopped the threat."

"Or I fail to destroy the array and Black Moon takes the twins while I’m gone!" My voice was rising. "Have you thought about that?"

"I’ve thought about everything!" Dominic was shouting at the top of his voice. "This is the best plan we have! You go with Lila. I trust her to keep you alive. You trust your royal blood to break the array. Everyone does their job and we all survive!"