"Roman!" Violet screamed at the top of her lungs as one of the wolves rammed into them, sending Roman stumbling sideways.
The impact nearly dislodged Violet, her body lurching dangerously, but she clung desperately to his thick fur, yanking hard enough to tear out loose strands.
There were about four wolves closing in on them, snapping and snarling relentlessly. They struck from all angles, nipping at Roman’s legs, and lunging at Violet, trying to pull her down. The sound of their pounding paws and vicious growls were so aggressive it drowned out even Violet’s own frantic heartbeat.
Roman let out a savage roar that vibrated through her bones and sent a tremor through the earth. Violet knew at once that he was about to make a move, so she braced herself. But all her preparation still did not ground her for what happened next.
In a move so sudden it left her breathless, Roman’s body morphed beneath her, his bone snapping, limbs reshaping, and mass shifting until she was no longer on top of a wolf.
"Oh my god! Oh my god!" Violet shrieked as her hands lost their grip, fingers scrambling for purchase as Roman shifted this time into a powerful, muscular stallion.
This was a living nightmare! Why had she ever agreed to this? Why was her life like a cursed action movie? Of all people the gods could have chosen for this madness, why her?
Riding a horse was hard enough with reins. Without them? Violet might as well be tap dancing with death in the middle of a Roman gladiator battle.
Roman, now in his horse form, galloped forward with incredible speed, hooves striking the earth in powerful beats. However, the wolves refused to back down, their predatory instincts keeping them locked onto the target.
One lunged at his flank, but Roman kicked out, sending it sprawling. Another snapped at his leg, only to be met with a powerful buck that sent it flying into a tree.
But these creatures were brilliant humans in wolf bodies, hence the remaining two adapted quickly, dodging Roman’s strikes, forcing him into a narrowing path where three more wolves emerged from the trees, closing in like a pack of vultures.
They were surrounded and Violet’s heart sank. This was it. It was over. They would overpower Roman and capture her for Asher.
Roman, however, was not defeated. Instead, he pawed at the ground, his nostrils flaring, ready to charge.
All of a sudden, several fierce howls rang through the air, sending a ripple through them. The sound came from behind and
Violet turned, her breath catching as she spotted two wolves at the head of the oncoming reinforcements. One of the wolves had a snow white coat, the other a striking deep red.
Alaric and Griffin.
Violet had never felt so relieved to see them!
But even with the size of the charging force, the other wolves, which were undoubtedly Asher’s pack, stood their ground, refusing to back down.
It was a brutal, merciless brawl as wolves slammed into each other, bodies colliding with sickening force, growls turning to snarls, snarls to yelps. This was no longer a game. It was a war and the forest the battlefield. And the prize was her.
Roman’s pack had joined forces with Alaric and Griffin’s, making up the numbers. It turned out Roman was not lying after all and it relieved her.
It wasn’t long before Asher’s wolves were outnumbered and overpowered. But even with the enemy pack subdued, one problem remained—who would claim her now? Alaric? Griffin? Roman? Would they let her go and let her choose, or would one of them seize the victory?
The three Alphas faced each other in a silent standoff, waiting for who would make the first move. Then Alaric let out a low snort, nodding toward the finish line.
They would let her go. Violet was greatly relieved.
With no hesitation, Alaric and Griffin took off, with Roman falling into step beside him, their wolves weaving through the trees in unison. The others stayed behind, ensuring none of Asher’s subdued pack members interfered again.
They were racing towards the finish line and Violet’s heart swelled with joy as she saw the walls of Lunaris Academy. She was going to make it!. Finally, there would be an end to this insane, twisted game.
But even in the middle of her celebration, something gnawed at her. Where was Asher? He had been absent all night, and that wasn’t like him.
The moment the thought crossed her mind, her question was answered because someone was standing alone in the middle of the path ahead.
Asher was naked and unmoving.
Tension rolled off Roman’s body as he went rigid beneath her. Of course he was tense, he was betraying his best friend after all.
But it wasn’t Asher’s presence alone that unsettled Violet, but his composure. He looked too relaxed. Too confident. The kind of confidence that only came when you knew you had already won.
The moment Violet realized it, it was already too late.
Everything happened in an instant. The first net snapped into place and Alaric was yanked into the air, his wolf form twisting as he was caught mid-sprint.
Then Griffin was gone as a pit opened beneath him, swallowing him whole.
Violet screamed.
All around them, wolves were falling one by one as Asher’s traps captured them all.
It wasn’t just the newbies Asher had hunted tonight. He had played his own cardinal brothers.
Roman should have fallen too, but he knew Asher well enough to know he would pull a stunt like that. He leapt, pushing off the ground with all his might and straight over the last row of traps. And right at Asher.
Asher moved at the last moment, slipping out of the way with that infuriating smirk.
But Roman landed not just hard, but too high and Violet fell.
The impact slammed the air from her lungs and the world blurred, pain radiating through her limbs. She lay there for a moment, dazed.
"Violet!" Roman was beside her in seconds, human again, his hands lifting her up.
Violet groaned, her vision swimming. "Peachy," she wheezed.
Then, slow, mocking claps echoed behind them.
"Well played, brother," Asher drawled.