“What do you mean by they’re not just humans?” David asked, his tone sharp with suspicion. Xavier’s words had not only confused him, but Lily as well. Her gaze shifted between the so-called humans and the vampire king, unease settling in her chest. Before Xavier could respond, the air around them changed.
The wind shifted—sudden and violent. This time, it was different.
When Xavier had arrived, the wind had moved like a controlled storm, circling him with purpose. But now, the air itself felt hostile. It struck against Emily’s skin like a war drum, sharp and relentless. She felt them. Without hesitation, Emily transformed. Bones cracked and reshaped as the massive black Alpha wolf emerged, her golden eyes blazing. She stood firmly beside Lily, who was already in her golden wolf form.
Xavier noticed the change instantly.
Before anyone could question what was happening, shadows surged from the trees. They looked like wolves but something was wrong. Their speed was unnatural. Too fast. Not like werewolves. More like vampires. And far too coordinated to be rogue creatures.
Xavier’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade.
“Attack.”
Emily was already moving before the command was given. She lunged forward, crashing into the first wave of attackers. David followed in the next instant. One moment he stood behind Xavier, irritated and confused. The next, he was airborne, twin swords flashing as he sliced through two enemies in a single motion.
Lily leapt into the fight, landing beside Emily. Her golden fur shimmered under the faint moonlight breaking through the clouds. For a brief moment, the snowfall itself seemed to pause.
She struck like lightning.
Her claws tore through flesh with brutal precision. Blood splattered across her once-pure coat, staining it a deep crimson. Her emerald-green eyes glowed fiercely, giving her an almost manic aura beneath her otherwise angelic appearance.
But Emily—
Emily was something else entirely.
She moved like a shadow, swift and merciless. Her fangs sank into her enemies without hesitation. Blood dripped from her jaws, staining her black fur and falling onto the snow below.
None of it was hers. It was all theirs. She was a beast in its purest form. A monster bathed in the blood of its prey. Some of the attackers tried to flee from her. They didn’t get far.
Lily stayed close, watching Emily’s back, the two moving in perfect sync as they tore through their enemies.
Behind them, Atlas and Daphne struggled—but held their ground. Atlas relied on hand-to-hand combat, his movements sharp and efficient. He knocked out multiple attackers with ease, barely breaking a sweat. But when several enemies lunged at him at once, Daphne stepped in.
Something about her changed.
Her presence grew darker, heavier, protective. She fought differently than Atlas. Brutally. Precisely. Her strikes didn’t just wound—they broke bones, shattered internal structures. She didn’t just defeat her enemies. She destroyed them from the inside.
Above it all, Xavier watched from the edge of the clearing.
Untouched.
Untouchable.
Anyone who tried to reach him would have to get through David first and none had managed that.
Until—
One attacker slipped through. It came from behind Emily. She didn’t see it. Lily was too far.
Before the creature could strike—A sudden gust of wind surged forward. Sharp, invisible blades cut through the air, piercing the attacker from head to toe in an instant. The body collapsed lifelessly into the snow. Xavier hadn’t even drawn a weapon.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
The forest fell silent. Snow, once pure white, was now soaked in crimson. Lily stood still, scanning the clearing. Every attacker had fallen. A strange thought crossed her mind.
Well… that was fun.
She glanced around. Only she and Emily were completely drenched in blood. David stood nearby, flicking his sword casually, scattering droplets across the snow with clear annoyance.
“We were being watched,” David said aloud.
“That ambush…” Daphne added slowly, “it was just a test.”
“They knew we were here,” she continued, her gaze sharpening.
“They don’t want us here.”
The conclusion confused both David and Lily. From their perspective, it seemed simple—the humans had crossed into forbidden territory, and nature itself was trying to eliminate them.
But Xavier remained silent. Something about this didn’t feel right. These half-breeds weren’t just unlucky intruders. And whoever had sent those attackers…was desperate to erase them.
°•°•°•°•°•°•°
At the edge of the clearing, Emily remained in her wolf form. Her golden eyes scanned the fallen bodies with intense focus. Atlas stepped closer, crouching near one of them. His expression shifted.
“Something’s not right,” he said.
“Hey, Daph… come look at this.”
Daphne walked over, Emily watching closely as well.
“What is it?” she asked.
“Look carefully,” Atlas said, pointing at one of the corpses. “Do they look like werewolves to you? Because… they look more human to me.” Daphne frowned.
Emily’s thoughts flickered.
They don’t have the features…
Atlas continued, “See? They’re more normal than you guys.” He gestured toward Xavier, David, Emily, and Lily. “Their teeth are human. And…” he paused, sniffing slightly, “…I can smell different perfumes in their blood. Mixed scents.”
That caught Emily’s attention.
The scent…
Lily realized it too at the same time. They had missed it earlier.
After searching the area for several more minutes, they found nothing else. No clues. No answers.
°•°•°•°•°•°
Without warning, Emily turned away. Still in her wolf form, she began walking toward the deeper forest. Lily didn’t question her. She followed immediately.
In Emily’s mind, her voice echoed calmly.
Are you coming or not?
She didn’t turn back.
Daphne watched the two wolves disappear into the trees.
Yes, I’m coming, she replied mentally.
Can I bring Atlas? I can’t leave him alone.
Bring whoever you want. Just follow me.
Daphne grabbed Atlas by the arm and pulled him along as she followed the wolves.
Behind them, Xavier and David exchanged a glance before moving as well.
They needed answers.
All of them did.
And as they walked deeper into the forest, one thought lingered in every mind—Something far bigger than them had just begun.
YOU ARE READING
ECLIPSE
FantasyThey were never meant to be. Xavier, a vampire king. Emily, a werewolf princess. Bound by fate. Torn by blood. For centuries, vampires and werewolves have lived in war and hatred-until a love rises that threatens to shatter everything they were taug...
