THE WOLF'S LOVE SPELL

: The Bea

r. Lucian met its charge head-on, his body fully transformed into a towering wolf with silver fur strea

chant. Green tendrils of energy shot forward, wrapping around the beast's hind legs and rooting it to

Dark ichor spilled from the wounds, but the beast barely seemed to notice. It las

ard, releasing a bolt of energy that struck the beast squarely in the

as he lunged at the beast again, his teeth sinking into its shoulder. The b

with power as she poured her energy into a spell she rarely used. "By the ligh

erupted from the earth, wrapping around its limbs and torso. The creature

r was matted with blood, but his stance was steady, his eyes fixe

used on maintaining the spell. "I can weaken i

n't hesita

brighter, pulsating with energy as they constricted the beast further. The creature let out

lapsing to her knees as t

ision. His claws tore through the beast's throat, and with a final shu

patter of rain. Lucian shifted back into his human form, his silver hair glinting in the

an I thought," he s

her features. "And you're not as unbearable as

shifted, carrying with it the faint scent of something burni

ucian muttered, help

taff tightly. "Whatever summoned

easy alliance solidified by the battle they had just survi

acrid scent of ash and blood. Raven leaned heavily on her staff, every muscle in her body screaming for rest.

hat thing?" Raven as

've never seen one that strong. They're usually mindless creatu

t felt...wrong. Like it wasn't just dark mag

hat wasn't a natural creature. It was summone

mense power, the kind of magic few witches dared to wield. But it wasn't just the crea

abruptly, breaking her train of th

her legs felt like le

toward the denser part of the forest. "It's

ing on a werewolf for protection didn't sit well with her, but she could

eading into the trees. Raven followed, her

-

nside, the air was cool and still, a welcome respite from the storm outside. Lucian moved to the back of

like that?" she asked

r, his expression un

have a d

his lips. "You're one to talk, witch.

ldn't hide the fatigue in her

ression. "Barely. That beast wasn't just strong

out," she interrupted, her t

ing. He returned to cleaning a deep ga

ritation giving way to curiosity. "Why

"I already told you.

was just a coincidence that you happened to show

t, she thought he might actually answer. But then he

g back against the cave

-

f flashes. Raven tried to rest, but her mind wouldn't stop racing.

loudly," Lucian said,

im a glare.

ll. "Your face gives you away. You're t

" she snapped. "

agic before. If someone's targeting you, it's

nd what am I capa

moment, his gaze piercing

em both freeze. It was faint, barely audible over the stor

tense and alert. He motioned for Raven to sta

, guttural growl. Raven gripped her staff tight

tending as he shifted partially into his wolf form.

urst of movement, he

-

m outside. The rain had slowed, but the night was still pitch bla

re-a werewolf, but larger and more feral than any she had seen before. Its fur wa

muttered, her grip ti

aking across his chest. He retaliated with a powerful strike, b

rgy. The spell struck the creature in the side, sending it stumbling. L

fore collapsing to the ground. Like the Shadow Beast, it disin

y, his body covered in fresh wounds. Raven appr

n't natural

eed, his voice r

ion dawned on her. "This is bigger

ne's targeting both of us. And if we don't

nease growing. Whoever was behind this, they

s only the

wake. Raven stared at the spot where the creature had disintegrated, her mind racing. Two attacks in one night couldn't be a

" she said, her voice tight with frustration. "This

hink I don't know that?" he snapped, his tone harsher than he intended. He sighed and ran a hand th

"Then what do you suggest? Sitting aroun

"I suggest we survive long enough to figure out who's behind

ing bolder, and whoever was targeting them wasn't just testing their strength-they were sendin

-

e ground. "This creature-it wasn't like me. It wasn't even like the feral

ven asked, moving t

, and whatever was done to that werewolf twisted it into something unnatural." He paused, h

es, seeking any lingering traces of the spell that had created the creature. Her breath caught as she felt it-an

e?" Lucian asked

network-powerful witches, maybe even creatures older than us. Their magic is layered and intri

-

organized, we need to move fast. Every second we w

we can't fight them alone. If this is

you suggest we trust? Witches who despise werewolves?

as to be someone out there who'll listen. If we don't unite agai

ne. But if we're doing this, we do it my way. The wolves have safe houses sca

d in her mind. The road ahead would be tre

-

rest seemed quieter now, as though holding its breath. Lucian led the way, his movemen

g that they were being watched. Shadows seemed to shift at the edge of he

us," she whispered, h

but tense. "Don't look back. Just keep m

of unease grew stronger with every step, and she couldn't tell if

his head tilting as he listened. Raven opened her mouth to ask what he'd he

" he

forest explod