owls and snarls filling the air like an orchestra of chaos. The Earthclaws were everywhere, their dark fur b

s that weighed on his mind. It w

lose but out of his immediate line of sight. Part of him wanted to protect her, to keep her hidden away from the madness. But another part of him-one he'd tried to ignore for so long-understood t

r. The Earthclaws were ruthless, and Kael wasn't sure

ion. Wolves collided, their bodies crashing into one another with a force that shook the ground beneath them. The scent of blood hung thick in the ai

could hear her footsteps, light but purposeful, as she stayed close behind him. Every time he turned to catch a glimpse of he

breath, his voice tinged wit

spite their strength, despite their numbers, they were outmatched. Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he fought harder, snapping

being overpowered by an Earthclaw. Kael's blood ran cold. He spun around, hi

, her eyes wide with terror as she watched the figh

its fangs bared and its claws outstretched. Kael's hea

ts took over, and in an instant, he was between them. His body collid

regain its footing. He could feel Elara behind him, her breath shaky, but she wasn't r

ael snapped, his voice

er instead, her eyes not leaving his. "I'm

ster. With a snarl, he dove forward, his teeth sinking into the Earthclaw's throat.

e, more desperate. And Kael knew it was only a matter of time before their alpha, Gar

iveness. He didn't give her a chance to argue. With a swift motion, he turned a

him, still standing firm, her presence like a beacon in the chaos. He didn't know what it was about her-w

a's voice rang out, sh

g straight at him. But it wasn't just any Earthclaw. It was Garen. The a

Garen growled, his vo

e didn't have time for Garen's pride, his thirst for power. But there

e into each other. Kael's claws met Garen's, the sound of their strikes ringing through the

voice dripping with contempt. "You think you can

to. The truth was simple. The Earthclaws would never t

air as he countered. The fight was vicious, brutal, each strike fueled by a hatred that had been building

ighting

that instant, Kael saw the opportunity. With a swift movemen

. But Kael wasn't finished. He wasn't about

ren, sending the Earthclaw alpha crashing to the ground. Garen l

od dripping from his claws. The battle wa

t. She was still there, still watching him. The fear was gone from

as no longer just a human in his world. She was part of it

l questions. Still decisions to be made. But Kael knew one thing for certain