Kael
Magnus was indeed formidable. Along the way, he had set countless traps, all designed to kill me.
But I knew one thing-he couldn’t kill me.
By the time I reached the edge of the forest, my body was covered in wounds. Despite my strong healing ability, the cycle of injury and recovery drained my energy. I didn’t want to waste my strength on such trivial matters as healing scratches. Shadow, my wolf, was also nearing his limit.
So, when I saw the building in the distance, I finally allowed myself a moment to breathe.
Seraphina had to be in there. She was trapped, and it was Magnus who was behind this.
The thought of Magnus ignited a fire in my chest. Damn it, I should have realized something was off about him sooner! There had been so many signs, so many moments when I could have uncovered the truth. But I ignored them, missed opportunities, and now it had come to this.
As I was about to charge forward, a figure stepped into my path.
It was Magnus.
He still carried that refined, gentlemanly demeanor. He even wore a white coat, like any other doctor. But his youthful, striking appearance masked something far more sinister.
“Kael, I have to admit, you’re impressive. To make it here alone? You’re stronger than I expected,” Magnus said, his voice calm, almost amused.
“You’re the impressive one,” I replied, a cold smile on my face. “Honestly, I underestimated you this time. I’ll give you that. You’re good, Magnus. Or should I call you Lunaris Eclipse Alpha?”
That’s right-I had pieced it together. There weren’t many werewolves as powerful as Magnus, especially one who could infiltrate a small town so seamlessly. Skilled in medicine, capable of developing drugs, a master of ambushes-there was no one else this could be but the Alpha of Lunaris Eclipse.
For a moment, Magnus’s smile froze. But it quickly returned, a knowing gleam in his eyes.
“So, you figured it out? You’re sharper than I thought,” he said.
His mock compliment only deepened the darkness in my gaze. Magnus’s expression was one of amusement, like he was playing a game. But this wasn’t a game. He had thrown the entire town into chaos, turned innocent humans into werewolves, and worst of all, he had taken Seraphina.
“Magnus, you bastard! Hand over Seraphina!” I roared.
“Not a chance, Kael. Seraphina is mine now. She doesn’t even remember who you are. Going to her would be meaningless,” he taunted.
Fury boiled over, and I lunged at him, my fist aiming straight for his face.
Magnus sidestepped, retreating two steps with that same infuriatingly calm smile. “Attacking me the moment we meet? Didn’t your father teach you any manners, Kael?”
“Screw your manners,” I snarled. “When I kill you, you can ask God about etiquette!”
I summoned Shadow, my wolf, and commanded him to strike Magnus with all his might.
Magnus retaliated, calling forth his own wolf-a massive, blue beast.
Within moments, we clashed violently. Magnus was powerful, far stronger than any of the wolves I had faced before. Trees splintered and fell around us, the forest erupting into chaos.
My body was battered, covered in wounds, but I pressed on. I couldn’t stop now-not when Seraphina was still in Magnus’s hands. If I gave up, I might never find her again.
Fueled by rage, I surged forward, grabbing Magnus and slamming him into the ground. Dust and debris exploded into the air as the impact created a deep crater.
Magnus coughed up blood, his body reverting to human form.
“Well done, Kael,” he said, his voice strained but steady. “I always knew you were strong, but I didn’t expect to be completely overpowered by you.” He coughed again, blood dribbling down his lips.
I didn’t have the patience for his words.
“Die, Magnus,” I said coldly, commanding Shadow to deliver the final blow.
Magnus, however, laughed. Even at the edge of death, he didn’t seem afraid.
“You realize, Kael, that if you kill me, the Lunaris Eclipse pack will never stop hunting you. Every werewolf in my pack will come for you,” he said, his smile unwavering.
“I don’t care,” I shot back. “Our packs have never been on good terms. If it means war, so be it.”
For years, all the werewolf packs had been circling Storm Town, each one scheming to take control. No one dared make the first move, not yet. We had lived in uneasy peace for so long.
But none of that mattered to me anymore. Magnus had taken Seraphina, used her, and planned to turn her against me. That alone was enough reason to kill him.
As I prepared to end him, Magnus suddenly smiled-a sly, knowing grin.
Something felt off.
I leapt back just in time as reinforcements arrived, four of Magnus’s men stepping in to shield him. They attacked, but I dodged their strikes, a cold smile curling my lips.
Though my body was screaming in exhaustion, my willpower kept me standing. I couldn’t afford to falter now. This wasn’t over.
Magnus, standing behind his guards, smirked at me. “Kael, stop struggling. Why not join me instead? I could make you my next experiment,” he said, his tone almost playful.
“I’m not like you, Magnus. I don’t need to twist others into monsters,” I spat back. “And don’t think for a second that you can ‘perfect’ me.”
“Suit yourself,” Magnus replied with a shrug.
I kicked one of his men aside, my breaths heavy, my body trembling from the strain. But I forced myself to stand tall. I couldn’t let Magnus see my weakness. If he realized how much I was struggling, he would strike without hesitation.
Just as I braced for another attack, I heard a voice behind me.
“Kael, are you all right?”
It was Marek.