THE WOLF'S LOVE SPELL

A Forbidd

ld see, its gnarled trees twisted with age, their roots entangled like the secrets buried beneath them. In this secluded corner of the w

, branches groaning in the wind. She was searching for herbs for her potions, but her mind was elsewhere. Every step reminded her of

ened around the staff she carried, its wood pulsating with the faint gl

her voice steady despite th

ing the space around him. His silver hair glinted in the pale light filtering through the

ep and gravelly, tinged with sus

on her staff firm. "I might a

rate, his gaze never wavering. "This is were

efiantly, refusing to let fear show. "I did

it didn't reach his eyes. "It does when

cian, the alpha of the Silverfang pack-a name whispered with reverence and fear.

e said carefully, trying to mask the trem

wering form casting a shadow over her. "You reek of magic

d. "Not all witches

nsion. Then, as if the forest itself conspired against them, th

something Raven couldn't hear. His gol

d, his voice

ven blinke

ed, already mo

ergrowth, their eyes glowing red with malice. They weren't wolves. Th

olf form, claws and fangs elongating. Raven's magic surged instinctively,

for survival, but for something she didn't yet understand-a conne

mingling with the sparks of magic and the howls of a wo

ime to react, thrusting her staff forward and releasing a burst of green light. The

His claws ripped through one with ease, while the other slashed at his arm, drawing blood.

ed over the chaos, spinning her staf

istorted by the partial shift in his form. "T

Shadow Wraiths-remnants of cursed souls, creatures that fed on magic and l

uld track, slashing it mid-air. He landed beside her, his golden eyes mee

snapped, but her voice be

bers seemingly endless. Raven's hands trembled as she summoned more magic, the glow from her staff growing brighter. S

e releasing another spell. This time, the blast took out three w

d, "Don't overextend. Yo

true. She adjusted her stance, conservin

ieks fading into the distance. Raven collapsed to one knee, breathing hard, her staff planted in the

e said, his voice sha

austion giving way to irritatio

rumble echoed through the forest. Both of them froze, t

ian said, reaching down

no room for argument. She allowed him to pull her to her feet, and together

n her chest. It wasn't fear. It was something else-something tha

nt and silent, bearing witness to the first ch

gh Raven's cloak and plastering her hair to her face. Lucian moved ahead of her, his broad shoulders tense as he

rked, not bother

her, and her legs ached from running, but she wasn't about to show weakness in front of h

golden glow of his eyes pierced through the darkn

fiance. "Don't flatter yourself. I was handling thos

he air. "Handling them? You were seconds away from being

r. "You think because you're an alpha, you know every

e turned sharply and resumed walking. "Argue all you want

had been unlike anything she'd encountered before. Their sheer numbers and ferocity had nea

't about to adm

in began to ease, the storm's fury subsiding into a steady drizzle. Around them, th

uddenly, breaking the silence. His tone

warily. "I could as

le, but there was something in his eyes-something that hinted at a dee

ven said, her voice softer now

aren't natural. Something's driving them closer to the border. I

u think something'

And if they're drawn to magic, it means your

think I'm going to just lea

t. If the wraiths are after you, they won't stop until you're dead. And if

it it. She hated the idea of relying on anyone, let alone a werewolf, but the m

tantly. "But this does

he faintest hint of a smirk.

he rain tapered off. In the distance, the first rays of dawn began to

r staff loosening. But as they neared the edge of the forest, a ch

the sound, his body tensin

on her staff, her heart

hers, his expressi

g she had ever heard-low and guttural, laced with an eerie resonance that made her grip her staff ti

id, his voice

her irritation masking the

tone was grim as he gestured for her to fo

eaves and snap of twigs amplified in the oppressive silence that followed the howl. Her instincts screamed at her t

said as they moved quickly through the underbrush. "And

oned a protective spell around her. "I'm starting to

broke through a cluster of thick bushes into a small clearing, the moonlight illuminating t

uttural growl that seemed to

omething stepped forward. It was massive, larger than any werewolf she had ever seen, with fur as dark as midnight and eyes th

s that?" Raven whispered,

oice tight. "A creature born of dark ma

cian stepped in front of her, his claws extending

e growled, his voic

tepped to his side, her magic flaring as the beast lunged

nce finally broke, thunder rumbling as lightning split the s