her heart racing, as Elias' warning echoed in her mind. Stay inside during the full moon. But here she was, standing in the center of the very danger he had cauti

t so alive and so

the distance, the low growl of something large, something dangerous, made her pulse quicken. Her breath came in shallow bursts as her eyes scanned

e moonlight. The creatures weren't wolves, at least not like Elias. They were something far worse: twisted, grotesque,

could turn to run, a figure appeared i

, the intensity of his gaze unwavering. His breath came in ragged gasps, h

voice low and strained. The words were al

cled like vultures, and her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She didn't understand why Elias wasn't alre

e you?" Mara managed to ask, h

res, his body a shield. "I'm the only thing keeping them from tearing this town apart," he said, his eye

in his eyes the humanity, the vulnerability. Elias wasn't just some mythical creature to be fear

d firmly, her voice strong desp

wanted to tell her to go, to save herself. But he knew it was pointless. Mara had alway

aid, his voice like steel.

g as he began the agonizing transformation into the beast that he was. His features distorted and elongated, his body growing in si

sn't quite human anymore. His once-familiar face twisted into the snout of a wolf, his glowing ey

rawn to Elias, knowing he was their natural enemy. But Elias wasn't like them. He wasn't just a beast he was a protecto

the closest creature. His body moved with inhuman speed, faster than she could track, each strike sending the creatures reeling

nd the monsters was fierce and brutal. His movements were a blur of speed and strength, but with each passing moment

oked around, frantic, searching for something, anything, that could help. Her eyes landed on a

y beginning to wane. She could see the struggle in his eyes as the tr

voice deep and distorted by the

d hurling it at one of the creatures that was lunging toward Elia

glowing eyes wide in disbe

yelled back, her voic

tore into the creature closest to him, ripping it apart with a ferocity that left Mara b

re coming.

anized. They weren't just random predators they were hunting together, coordinating their attacks.

ou have to hold on!" Mara screame

gratitude and agony. The transformation was taking its toll,

ed, his voice breaking through the snarls of his beastly

of creatures descended upon them. Mara's h

ow? The question hung heavily in the air as Elias fought valiantly against

olve hardening. She wasn't going

true test of their strength and