Mal lunged forward with feral speed, her hands clawed and her teeth bared like a true predator. My heart thundered in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. Panic wouldn’t help anyone-not Mal, and certainly not us.
“Mal, stop!” Logan bellowed again, his voice a commanding growl. He braced himself, ready to intercept her, but I knew this couldn’t end in a fight. She wasn’t in her right mind. She was consumed by whatever had driven her to this point.
I had to act fast.
Taking a shaky step forward, I raised my hands, my voice low and steady. “Logan, Liam-stand back.”
“What are you doing?” Logan growled, glancing back at me even as he maintained his defensive stance.
“I can stop her,” I said firmly. “But you need to trust me.”
Logan hesitated, his jaw tight, but he took a step back, pulling Liam with him. Mal’s feral gaze snapped toward me, her lips curling into a snarl. Her muscles tensed as if ready to pounce.
I inhaled deeply and began the incantation, my voice steady but resolute, the words flowing in an ancient tongue I had learned only in whispers and secrecy:
“Somnus obruet fera, tranquilla sit mens eius.”
The air around me shifted, thick with energy, as the spell began to take hold. Mal faltered mid-lunge, her wild expression twisting into confusion. She staggered, her limbs trembling as though an invisible weight pressed down on her.
“Somnus obruet fera,” I repeated, my voice rising in authority as I took a step closer. “Quiesce, anima torquata!”
Mal dropped to her knees with a choked gasp, her hands clawing at the ground as though trying to resist the spell. Her breaths were ragged, her body convulsing as the wildness in her eyes dimmed. Slowly, she collapsed into a heap, her chest rising and falling as the spell pulled her into a deep, enchanted sleep.
The forest fell silent except for the sound of our labored breathing. Logan and Liam stared at me, their expressions a mix of shock and relief.
“What… what did you just do?” Liam asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
“A sleeping spell,” I murmured, my legs trembling as the adrenaline drained from my body. “She’s not herself right now. This will keep her calm down for a while.”
Logan and Liam moved quickly, stepping forward to lift Mal’s limp form off the ground. Her body was surprisingly light, though her stillness made the whole scene feel eerie. Logan slipped one arm under her shoulders, the other beneath her knees, while Liam supported her legs to make it easier to carry her.
“We need to get her back to the house,” Logan said, his tone low and focused. “Somewhere safe where she can rest.”
Logan adjusted Mal in his arms, his expression grim as he began walking toward the car. Liam stayed close, keeping an eye on Mal as if expecting her to wake up at any moment.
“Wolf transformation is no joke,” Logan muttered, his voice heavy with warning. “Especially when you get bitten.”
Logan’s grip tightened on Mal as we made our way through the dark forest, his face set in a grim expression. “When she wakes up, she’s going to be different. The bite changes everything. She’ll be stronger, faster-and her cravings will hit like nothing you’ve ever seen before.”
“Cravings?” Liam asked, his voice uneasy.
I nodded, glancing at Logan. “She’ll crave a lot of meat. Probably raw. It’s part of the transformation-her body will demand it. If we don’t get her what she needs, it could push her over the edge.”
Logan let out a sharp breath, his frustration evident. “Great. Just what we need-more complications.”
“She can’t be left alone,” I said firmly, stepping in front of him to make my point. “Not even for a second. Take her back to the house and tie her down somewhere secure. You’ll be able to handle her better than any of us if she wakes up before we’re ready.”
Logan narrowed his eyes at me, his jaw tightening. “And what are you planning to do? Because I’m not leaving her like this while you wander off.”
I placed a hand on his arm, trying to ground him. “Logan, trust me. Liam and I will go hunt for meat-enough to satisfy her for now. But you’re the only one strong enough to keep her under control if she starts to lose it again. If she wakes up hungry and confused, she’ll lash out. We can’t let that happen.”
Liam stepped up, his expression determined. “She’s right, Logan. You take her back. I’ll go with Audrey. We’ll be quick.”
Logan’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t argue further. “Fine. But hurry. If she wakes up before you’re back…” He left the threat unspoken, his stormy gaze enough to convey the danger.
“We will,” I promised.
Logan nodded sharply, then adjusted Mal in his arms and headed toward the house, his strides purposeful but burdened by the weight of the situation. Liam and I stood still for a moment, the forest quiet except for the distant sound of Logan’s steps fading away.
“Do you know where we’ll find it?” Liam asked, breaking the silence. His voice was steady, but I could see the unease in his posture.
“Meat?” I asked, even though I knew the answer was obvious.
He nodded.
I took a deep breath, scanning the forest around us. “The wolves around here are territorial. There’s bound to be prey nearby, probably in the glades by the river. We need to move fast, though. This spell won’t hold her for long.”
Liam followed as I started toward the river, our steps brisk but cautious. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the forest floor. The silence between us was thick, and I could sense the weight of his thoughts.
“Have you done this before?” Liam asked after a while, his voice low.
I glanced at him, then back at the path ahead. “No. But there’s no harm in trying.”