f rushing air and the pounding of her heart in Adeline's ears. She tried to move, tried to scream, but the

e had been so sure that it was Derrick-the way the creature moved, the speed, the way it seemed to be drawn to her.

f. *You have to focus.* She strained against the pull of the darkness, trying to make sense of

is presence somewhere, far away, but she couldn't rea

mber, reflecting the moonlight in an unnerving way. It wasn't human, but it wasn't quite a wolf either. Its body was human-shaped, but it had features of bo

t is

eet sank into the damp earth beneath her, her hands trembling. She wanted to run, b

d like a low growl,

esperate attempt to outrun the creature. But it was too fast, its claws raking across the air and narrowly missin

, there was a loud crash, followed by a deep, guttural

ce of sound. Adeline's heart hammered in her chest as she glanced to her

of it. His body was covered in a layer of fur that shimmered in the moonlight, the edges of his muscles rippling as he stood between her and the cr

, fierce and commanding. He turned his gaze

an she had ever expected. He was everything she had imagined in the stories-powerful, raw, dangerous-but there

s stance low and threatening, but Derrick wasn't about to back down. He squared his

e barely a whisper, but it cut through the tension. T

eature

their clash was deafening, like thunder cracking in the night sky. Adeline stumbled backward, her heart pounding

e that came with being the alpha of a pack. He pushed the creature back with a force that made the ground shake, but the

uldn't just watch. She had to help. She ran toward the shed at the far end of th

of wood and earth hit her as she stepped inside, her eyes searching for something useful. A rusted m

to do with it, but at that moment

aws and teeth shaking the ground beneath her.

as the creature slammed into Derrick. Adeline's stom

errick!" she shouted, her vo

nd, his massive form sprawled across the yard. The b

ce was strained, weak, as he

its amber eyes now fo

realized with horror that it was no longer

strength to rise to his feet. But Adeline didn't wait. She gripped the metal pipe tighter a

caught as it sprang toward her. She swung the pipe with all her might, connecting with

nd advanced, unfazed by her fe

the situation crashing down on he

bout to strike, there was a

aos as the creature lunged

-not