Elena’s POV
"Give one solid reason why I shouldn’t end you right here and now."
My voice carried a deadly edge that made Marcus’s jaw clench. The basent air felt thick with tension, crackling like electricity before a storm.
"You’re letting these monsters roam free out there, killing innocent people, and you’re doing absolutely nothing to stop them. Nothing." I stepped closer, my wolf stirring restlessly beneath my skin.
Marcus’s hands balled into fists at his sides. "That’s because I don’t know how to kill the damn thing. Do you think I haven’t tried? I’ve thrown everything I can think of at this bastard and nothing works."
Damien moved beside , his presence a solid comfort. "You’ve been experinting on it?"
"Of course I have." Marcus’s voice cracked with frustration. "I’ve been trying to figure out how to destroy it. But from everything I’ve tested, these things seem immortal."
I crossed my arms, studying his haggard expression. "Nothing is immortal. You just haven’t found the right thod yet. Walk through what you’ve attempted."
Marcus ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "Wooden stakes through the heart, wooden bullets, silver bullets, silver chains wrapped around its neck for hours. I even tried vervain since it works on vampires, but this thing didn’t even flinch."
My blood ran cold. "You think it’s so kind of mutated vampire?"
"It’s the only explanation that makes sense. The way it drains humans, the feeding pattern, the strength. It kills exactly like the vampires we know, just faster and more brutal." Marcus’s eyes were haunted as he spoke.
I exchanged a aningful look with Damien. His dark eyes reflected the sa concern I felt building in my chest.
"Where’s Julian?" Damien asked, his tone sharp and focused.
"I can call him right now." I reached for my phone, already scrolling through my contacts.
"Do it. See if he’s encountered anything like this before." Damien pulled out his own phone, his fingers flying across the screen.
Marcus watched us both with growing confusion. "What exactly are you planning to do?"
Damien’s laugh was harsh and humorless. "We’re going to rally every ally we have. Find out what this thing really is. Accomplish everything you’ve failed to do in however long you’ve been playing mad scientist down here. And while we’re at it, we’re going to prove to everyone that this pack belongs to Elena now."
Marcus’s face flushed red with anger. "I’ve been leading this pack for years. I know exactly what I’m doing."
"Obviously not." Damien stepped forward, his voice rising. "Elena took one look at that creature and imdiately knew we needed to take action. All you care about is satisfying your curiosity about what species it belongs to. Who gives a damn about classification right now? Figure that out later. Save lives first. You’re such an arrogant fool that you can’t even see it, can you?"
The two n stood nose to nose, testosterone and fury radiating from both of them. Marcus stared at Damien with pure hatred, then his gaze shifted to , searching for sothing I wasn’t willing to give.
I stepped between them, grabbing Damien’s hand firmly. "Co on. He’s not worth our ti or energy. We have real work to do, and we need to start now."
Damien allowed to pull him away from the confrontation, but I could feel the tension still coiled in his muscles as we headed upstairs to the main living area.
I dialed Julian first, pacing as the phone rang. Damien settled onto the couch beside , making call after call to various Alphas he maintained good relationships with. Many of them were within driving distance, which could work in our favor.
Julian arrived faster than I expected, and by then Marcus had reluctantly joined us upstairs, though we pointedly ignored his presence.
"What’s the ergency?" Julian asked, slightly out of breath.
"I need to show you sothing, and I need your honest reaction." I stood up, gesturing toward the basent door.
We walked past Marcus, who remained silent, and descended into the basent. I led Julian directly to the cage, where the creature was fully visible in the harsh fluorescent lighting.
"Holy hell!" Julian jumped backward so violently he nearly knocked over.
"Have you encountered one of these before?" I asked, steadying him.
"Yes, but how did you manage to capture one alive?" His face had gone pale.
"Marcus caught it and kept it down here without telling anyone." I watched Julian’s expression carefully.
"That idiot. We need to get this thing as far away from here as possible, imdiately." Julian’s voice was urgent, almost panicked.
"Why? What aren’t you telling ?"
"These creatures don’t have an official na because no one’s lived long enough to study them properly. But I can tell you one thing with absolute certainty - the others in its pack know exactly where this one is." He was already backing toward the stairs.
"What do you an?"
"They can’t speak with words, but they communicate the sa way werewolves do when we’re in wolf form. Telepathically. This thing has been broadcasting its location to its pack mates this entire ti. How long has Marcus kept it here?"
"I have no idea. I only discovered it today."
Suddenly, violent shouting and the sound of sothing heavy slamming against the walls echoed from upstairs. Both Julian and I jumped at the noise.
"I’m guessing it’s been here long enough for them to organize an attack. The creature wants out now." Julian was already heading for the stairs.
"No, that’s not it. They want specifically." The realization hit like a physical blow.
"What makes you say that?"
"The creature was calr when I got close to the cage. It beca agitated when Marcus approached. And now that I’m down here with you, they’ve started their assault." I t Julian’s eyes, seeing my own fear reflected there.
"It told them you were here. That’s why they’re attacking now." We stared at each other for one terrifying mont before sprinting toward the stairs.
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