ooded figures leapt from the trees. The Lycans sprang into action, shifting into their wolf forms in an instant,

gling to make sense of the sudden chaos. Her horse reared, panicked by the sharp scents

growled, his voice c

ured but their movements swift and deadly. Their daggers gleamed in the faint moonlight as they lunged at the Lycan

ins, pulling her horse to the side just as the assassin's dagger sliced through the air where she had been. The man stumbled, off-balance from the

cold intent. He lunged again, dagger aimed at her chest. Time seemed to slow, her visi

Elara raised her arm-the a

ht, and the assassin froze mid-strike, his body rigid as if some invisible force had taken

lf form. He lunged at the frozen assassin, his jaws closing around the man's throa

hard, his golden eyes locked on Elara. "What was th

ow," she stammered, glancing down at her arm, the mark sti

her face. "That was magic," he said, his voic

ling from the experience. "But

s tone firm. "It's part of you, part of y

battle was far from over. Aldric grabbed Elara's arm, pulling her toward a safer part

ght for her. She hated the feeling of helplessness. But she obeyed, stepping back into t

ease. But these attackers were no ordinary mercenaries. They moved with precision, their strikes ai

ar

chaotic, but the Lycans were relentless, overpowering the assassins one by one. Kael, in p

in the darkness, watching the battle unfold with cold calculation. It wasn't just the

rs, dressed in dark robes that seemed to ripple with power. The air around him shi

ercenary. This was somethi

aring. The ground trembled, and the Lycans staggered, momentarily disoriented. Elara felt the power wa

rm to confront the robed figure. "Who are you?"

that sent chills down Elara's spine. "You think you can protect h

ic directly at Elara. She barely had time to register what was happening before the force h

rk energy wrapped around her, suffocating, draining her strength. Sh

t rushed through her, pushing back against the dark energy. Elara gritted

alized what was happening. "Impossible," h

er inside her now-ancient, wild, and fierce. It wa

ng with light. The dark energy shattered, dissipating into the air like s

id-stride. With a snarl, he struck, his claws ripping through the figure's defenses

ring was

ling from the exertion. The mark on her arm slowly dimmed,

filled with a mix of relief and admir

eved it herself. She had survived. B

at maybe, just maybe, she had the