Elena’s POV
The sound of wolves launching themselves against the exterior walls echoed through the house, their bodies slamming into the wooden siding with terrifying force. Each impact sent vibrations through the floorboards beneath my feet, but the creatures couldn’t seem to break through the reinforced barriers we had erected.
Then ca the unmistakable crash of shattering glass from sowhere above us.
Without hesitation, I spun around and bolted toward the staircase, my heart hamring against my ribs. Damien’s heavy footsteps pounded behind as we took the steps two at a ti, the urgency of the situation driving us forward with desperate speed.
We burst onto the second floor and imdiately began tearing through every room, throwing open doors and searching behind overturned furniture. The hallway stretched before us like a nightmare maze, each empty doorway increasing my panic. They weren’t here. Skye and the children were nowhere to be found on this level.
My eyes t Damien’s across the hallway, and I could see the sa desperate fear reflected in his dark gaze. Without speaking, we both understood what we had to do.
We raced up to the third floor, our breathing ragged from exertion and terror. I made a beeline for my mother’s room, the door standing slightly ajar. My hands trembled as I pushed it open, praying to find them huddled safely inside.
The sight that greeted made my blood turn to ice.
The window had been completely destroyed, jagged shards of glass scattered across the floor like deadly confetti. Heavy furniture had been shoved away from the opening, creating a clear path to the outside. But of Skye and the children, there was no sign.
Before I could process what had happened, sothing seized from behind with crushing force. Cold, unnaturally strong arms wrapped around my torso, lifting off my feet. I threw my weight backward, using my montum to slam whatever held into the wall behind us. The impact loosened its grip just enough for to grab at its arms.
My fingers made contact with skin that felt wrong, too cold and strangely textured. As I tried to pry the limbs away from my body, razor-sharp claws suddenly pierced through my clothing and into my sides. The pain was imdiate and excruciating, tearing a scream from my throat.
Desperation gave strength. I snapped my head backward with all the force I could muster, connecting solidly with my attacker’s skull. The creature grunted in pain and surprise, its hold on weakening enough for to break free and spin around to face it.
What I saw made my stomach lurch. The thing wore a twisted, nacing grin that revealed rows of yellowed teeth. Its skin had an unhealthy gray pallor, and those terrible claws extended from fingertips that looked more bone than flesh. But as I stared at it, I felt my own body responding to the threat. My canines began to elongate, and my own claws erged from my fingernails with a sensation that was becoming familiar.
Damien’s voice suddenly echoed in my mind through our ntal connection, bringing a wave of relief that nearly buckled my knees. "I’ve got the kids. They’re safe."
Knowing Skye and the children were out of danger unleashed sothing primal within . I launched myself at the creature without hesitation, driving my claws deep into its torso. The thing let out a high-pitched whimper as my claws found their mark, but when I yanked them free, the wounds sealed themselves almost instantly. The creature looked down at its unmarked skin and then back at with what could only be described as amusent.
It ca at like a freight train, tackling to the floor with bone-jarring force. As it straddled and attempted to pin my arms to either side of my head, I realized sothing crucial. This thing wasn’t trying to kill . Its movents were calculated, restraining rather than destructive.
Using this knowledge to my advantage, I managed to work one arm across my body despite its grip. With another powerful headbutt, I caught it off guard and knocked it off balance. Before it could recover, I grabbed its head with both hands and yanked it down toward .
My teeth sank deep into the soft flesh of its neck, and I bit down with every ounce of strength I possessed. The taste was revolting, but I didn’t let go until I had torn away a substantial chunk of tissue.
The creature imdiately released and scrambled backward, one hand pressed against the gaping wound at its throat. Unlike before, this injury didn’t heal. Instead, dark blood continued to pour between its fingers as it collapsed onto the floor.
I pushed myself to my feet and watched in fascination and horror as the thing began to convulse. Horrible gurgling sounds erged from its damaged throat, followed by a series of inhuman noises that raised every hair on my body. Then its eyes changed, the color draining away until they beca milky white and completely lifeless. The convulsions stopped, and an eerie silence filled the room.
Approaching the body cautiously, I confird that it had stopped breathing entirely. It was dead. Sohow, my bite had accomplished what Marcus claid was impossible.
When I turned away from the corpse, my eyes fell upon another still form on the floor.
My mother lay motionless near the window, a small kitchen knife clutched in her frail hand. She must have tried to fight off the creature, probably buying precious ti for Skye to escape with the children. Despite her weakened state, despite barely having the strength to get out of bed these past weeks, she had made her final stand protecting her grandchildren.
I knelt beside her still form and gently closed her eyes. For the first ti in months, her face looked peaceful, free from the pain that had etched lines of suffering around her eyes and mouth.
Damien entered the room quietly and ca to kneel beside without a word. He simply placed his arm around my shoulders and pulled close.
The tears ca then, hot and unstoppable, as the full weight of everything crashed down upon .
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