THE WOLF'S LOVE SPELL

: Echoes

feral wolves with glowing green eyes and twisted, unnatural forms. Their growls reverberated through

ng the faint light of the moon. He snarled, his stance wide and defensive.

area around her as she began to weave a protective spell. The magic thrummed

Lucian met it mid-air, their bodies colliding with a sickening crack. The o

olves tumbling backward. They scrambled to their feet almost immediately,

ng!" she shouted, striking

h his claws. Blood sprayed across the ground, but the other creatures didn'

reen tendrils of light erupted from her staff, snaking toward the wolves and wrapping around

o it faster!" Lucian call

ful but draining, and she could feel her strength waning. She closed her eyes

ll, their bodies thrashing as the spell sapped their energy. But before Raven

the pain intensified. The magic falter

shouted, his voi

grew stronger. It wasn't just pain-it was a presence

-

tone walls, a figure stood before a large, ornate mirror. Their face was obscured by

wolves lay subdued, but the witch faltered, her magic

e murmured, their voice soft but ch

features hidden beneath a mask. "Sha

Let them believe they've won this round. It will

e hesitated. "An

ian. He'll serve his purpose soon enough. For now, let them

-

hing through the last wolf in his path. The creature collapsed

from her grasp. Lucian caught her just as her

" he demanded,

"Something...something reached into me. It felt like

nd the warmth of her magic still lingered around her. Whatever had attacked

in his arms. The wolves had been a distraction, a

-

rrain. Lucian moved swiftly but carefully, his senses on high alert. He could feel the we

he forest-Lucian kicked the door open and carried Raven inside. The interior was sparse

and of damp hair from her face. Her bre

," he muttered, lighting the firepla

ing his own body. He washed the blood from his chest and arms, grimacing as t

enemy by all accounts-and yet, there was something about her that made him hesitate.

-

elids fluttered open, and she blinked up

she began, h

aid from where he sat n

p slowly, her head spi

ply. "Something attacked you-mag

resence. It felt ancient, powerful. It wasn't ju

r us isn't playing games. They're going

ords sinking in. "Then we have to s

hers. "Agreed. But if we're going to su

trust and betrayal rising instinctively. But as she looked

said quietly. "

. "Good. Because this

t on the edge of the bed, her legs dangling just above the worn wooden floor. Her mind was

she said finally

his expression unreadable. "You

head, studying

o a faint smirk. "You're stubborn, but you're

yes. "I'll take th

d forward, his elbows resting on his knees, and his tone turned serious. "We need to

nd this knows us too well. They're targeting us specifically-and they're usin

't stop until they get what they want

her mind. "It might not be about us individually

gaze snapping to her

r child is destined to unite witches and werewolves-it would make sense for s

nto fists. "So, they're trying to kill us

go this far, we can't underestimate them. We need to find ou

-

to act, to strike back before their enemies could gain more ground

red. "An elder in my pack. She's wise, and she knows more about m

elder werewolf who knows ab

going to stand a chance, we need her insight. Th

t of defiance in her posture.

don't trust witches. If they sense

Raven said, he

nd that made her heart skip a beat.

-

he forest denser, and the air colder with every step. Raven stayed close to L

its center stood a massive tree, its gnarled branches stretching high into the sky. The b

tory," Lucian said, nodding toward t

She could feel its power even from a distance-a deep, ancie

iful," she

ning for a moment. "It's also heavily guard

palpable. Figures began to emerge from the shadows-wolves in

Raven and the approaching wolves. "She's with me,"

across his cheek, stepped forward. "Lucian," he said, hi

ucian replied. "We need to se

ip curling in disdain. "The elder won'

e," Raven said,

Enough," he said, his gaze locked on the man. "Take

g, but eventually he stepped aside. "

-

walls lined with glowing runes and ancient carvings. The air

small and frail-looking, her hair a cascade of silver that seemed to shimmer in the dim light. But there was

s head. "Elder Lyria," he said res

"Lucian," she said, her voice soft but com

l wolves, and a presence unlike anything we've faced befo

dying her intently. "And you, chil

ger than the old grudges between witches and werewolves. Whoever's targeting

f recognition passing through her eyes.

anged a glance, their

I had hoped it was mere legend. But if it is true, t

?" Lucian asked,

s path will test you in ways you cannot imagine. To protect y

their journey ahead. They had taken the first step, but the road t