Lima looked at Jackson, tears welling in her eyes. “If I could, I would have. But I’m old, and my powers are weak after living with wolves for so many years.”
Priya thrashed against her restraints, sobbing as she watched Priyank being beaten to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.
‘Please!!’ she pleaded in her mind.
Aman sneered. “He’s human. But aren’t you royal blood? Is this how you save your mate?” He yanked her head back and slammed it against the chair.
Priyank coughed up blood. “Motherfucker!” He saw the crimson streak trailing down Priya’s face, and despite the agony wracking his body, he tried to crawl toward her. Another brutal blow sent him back down.
Aman laughed coldly. “Yes, I am a motherfucker. But your mother’s not my taste. This bitch might be, though.”
Priya squeezed her eyes shut.
She had to save them. Somehow.
Could her wolf help? She had royal blood-would it be enough?
‘You just have to trust me. Even cursed, I will do anything to save our mate and everyone. But you need to let me take control.’
For the first time, she felt the connection. ‘Will you really help?’
‘If you trust me,’ her wolf assured. ‘But this will be the only time I can.’
Priya’s fingers clenched. ‘Then kill everyone responsible for our pain.’
She let go.
The moment she surrendered, a searing heat ripped through her veins. Her body stiffened against the chair as something ancient, something primal, awakened inside her.
Aman smirked. “What now, princess? Gonna cry-”
A low growl rumbled through the room.
Priya’s eyes snapped open, glowing gold.
The air grew heavy, charged with an unseen force. The ropes binding her wrists and ankles frayed, unraveling as if burned from within. She rose slowly, her movements eerily controlled, her breath steady.
Aman’s smirk faltered. “What the fuck-”
She lunged.
Before he could react, her claws slashed across his chest. Blood sprayed as he stumbled back, eyes wide in shock.
The other men in the room hesitated. Fear flickered in their eyes.
Priyank, barely conscious, forced his gaze to focus. His heart pounded. Angel?
She turned toward him, but her expression was unreadable. Cold.
Aman clutched his bleeding chest, teeth bared in fury. “You think a little power surge makes you invincible?”
Priya tilted her head, a slow smile curling her lips.
She wasn’t Priya anymore.
Her wolf had taken full control.
And it was out for blood.
Aman staggered back, pressing a hand to the deep gashes on his chest. His lips curled into a snarl as he wiped the blood away. “You think you’re special?” His bones cracked as his body contorted. Fur burst through his skin, limbs stretching, his snarl twisting into a beastly growl. “Let’s see how royal you really are.”
The others followed. Bones snapped, muscles stretched, and their human forms were lost in the monstrous shift.
Maya and Jackson didn’t hesitate. With a furious growl, they, too, shifted. Jackson’s wolf was massive, dark brown with streaks of black running down his back. Maya’s was lean and quick, her sleek gray coat bristling as she bared her fangs.
Priya’s body burned as the transformation overtook her. Her muscles locked, her vision blurred-then everything erupted.
Bones cracked. Silver fur exploded from her skin.
When she landed on all fours, she was no longer just Priya. She was something more. A wolf .
Taller than the rest, stronger, deadlier. Her golden eyes burned like fire.
The wolves hesitated. Even in their primal form, they *felt* it.
Aman roared and attacked first.
Priya met him in mid-air. Their bodies crashed together with bone-shaking force. She tore into him, claws ripping through flesh as they tumbled. Blood sprayed, but he twisted, slammed her into the ground, and went for her throat.
Maya launched at Lucas, her fangs sinking into his neck before he could reach Priya. He howled, trying to shake her off, but she held on, twisting violently until a sickening *crack* echoed through the air.
Lucas dropped, dead before he hit the floor.
Jackson barreled into Harmis, slamming him into the wall. They grappled, claws tearing into each other. Harmis snapped his jaws at Jackson’s throat, but Jackson dodged and clamped down on his shoulder, dragging him to the ground.
Elk lunged to help, but Maya was faster. She pounced, slashing her claws across his belly. He stumbled, howling in agony, but she didn’t stop. She ripped into him, tearing deep until his body went limp.
Harmis snarled, trying to fight back, but Jackson didn’t give him a chance. With a brutal shake of his head, he tore his throat out. Blood splattered across the floor as the last breath left Harmis’s body.
Only Aman and his men remained.
Priya turned to them, her golden eyes blazing.
Aman’s breath came ragged. His men circled her, but she didn’t hesitate. She moved like a storm-silent, deadly.
One wolf lunged-she ducked and slashed upward, slicing through his throat.
Another came from the side-she twisted, grabbed his muzzle in her jaws, and snapped it sideways. His body crumpled instantly.
Aman snarled, rage twisting his features. “You may be royal, but you’re still weak.”
Priya’s growl rumbled deep in her chest.
Not weak. Just holding back.
She jumped. Aman tried to dodge, but she was faster. Her fangs sank into his throat. He thrashed, claws digging into her, but she didn’t let go. With a violent twist-
She ripped his head clean off.
Silence.
The remaining wolves froze. Their leader was dead.
Maya and Jackson stood beside Priya, their fur matted with blood. The last surviving wolves didn’t hesitate. They turned and ran, disappearing into the shadows.
Breathing heavily, Priya turned back to where Priyank lay on the floor, battered and bleeding.
She padded over to him, lowering her massive head.
His hand, shaking, reached out and brushed against her fur.
She pressed against him, a silent promise passing between them.
It was over.
A silver mist swirled around her, thick and unnatural. Jackson took a step forward, but Lima lifted a hand, stopping him.
“She’s changing,” Lima whispered.
The mist curled, pulsing with an eerie glow. Then, as suddenly as it appeared-it vanished.
And Priya’s wolf form was gone.
She lay motionless in her human body, her breathing faint.
Lima rushed forward, placing trembling hands over Priya’s chest. A soft, golden light spread beneath her palms as she poured her energy into her.
Jackson, Levi, Rish, and Maya stood frozen, watching with wide eyes.
“What’s happening to her?” Maya asked, shifting back into human form.
Lima’s expression darkened. “She-she shouldn’t have been able to shift. Not if she was cursed.”
She pressed her hands harder against Priya, her magic seeping into every wound, knitting torn flesh, soothing raw muscles. But beneath it all, she felt it-an emptiness.
Priya stirred slightly, her fingers twitching.
Then, a mournful howl echoed in the air.
Not a real one.
A voice. Faint, distant.
‘This is the last time you’ll see me.’
Priyank, still weak, blinked in confusion as the voice echoed in his mind.
His heart clenched.
‘I hope you treat Priya well. I know you love her, not me… but I’m glad I got to save you.’
He struggled to speak, to reach out, to stop it-
But before he could say anything, he couldn’t feel her wolf presence in his head.
Jackson took a shaky step back. “She-”
“She lost her wolf,” Lima whispered.
The words hit like a hammer.
Maya gasped. Levi clenched her fists, usually unreadable, and looked shaken.
Jackson and Maya turned into their human form.
Priyank dragged himself closer, ignoring the pain ripping through his body. He reached for Priya, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
Her wolf was gone.
And yet, she was still alive.
Still breathing.
Priyank swallowed hard, his throat thick with emotion.
She fought. She won. And she lost something irreplaceable in the process.
He gently pulled her into his arms, pressing his forehead against hers. “I’m here,” he whispered. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Control yourself, Priyank,” Lima said gently, trying to steady him.
But Priyank wasn’t listening. His grip on Priya tightened, his body trembling with raw anguish.
“I’m sorry, Angel,” he choked out, his voice breaking. “It’s all my fault. First, you lost your parents, and now-now your wolf. Please, don’t do this to me.” His breath hitched as he buried his face in her hair. “I love you, Priya. I *really* love you. Please… wake up.”
Maya knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “We need to get her to a hospital, Priyank. She’s already injured, and *you’re* on the verge of dying too.”
He didn’t move. Didn’t blink. His grip only tightened.
“I’m already dying without you, Angel,” he whispered, his voice hoarse with pain. “This regret… your pain… it’ll kill me no matter what.”
Lima exhaled sharply, forcing herself to stay composed. She ran a hand over Priya’s forehead, checking her pulse again. Faint but steady. “She’s alive, Priyank. But if we don’t move her now, she won’t be for long.”
Jackson and Rish exchanged glances before stepping forward. “Come on, we’ll carry her,” Jackson said, his voice firm but gentle.