A stampede shook the house with such force that the creaking of doors and windows echoed like a lament in the dark. The lights died, plunging everything into shadow. Aisha felt a chill climb her spine as the persistent sound of claws and growls filled the air—like something stalking just behind her neck.
The beasts knew the castle that housed Cristal. As if they had been born within its halls—or had memorized it down to its hidden corners. Their movements were ruthless, precise, finding even the smallest crevices where the women tried to hide.
—Downstairs, Cristal. We need to go upstairs!Aisha ran to smash the glass cabinet, pulling out a saber and toppling the shelf. Cristal rushed ahead. The wolves—massive, with fur the color of burning rust under the moon—tore through everything as if it were made of paper.
The crack of splintering wood and guttural snarls grew louder. Aisha's breath quickened.
—Don't stop, Cristal! —she shouted. And then she heard it... the howling.
"Only he howled like that... as if the moon didn't command him—...but loved him."
Her heart slammed against her ribs. A knot formed in her throat, but she swallowed it down and stood her ground—on the second floor, blocking the passage.
She couldn't afford to hesitate. Not now.
—They won't take me —she said, unsheathing the saber. She shut the wardrobes, secured the door, leaving Cristal a corridor to hide from the Lycans.
—You'll be fine. —Her voice was firm, but her gut twisted with primal fear.
She turned to Cristal and saw her own panic mirrored in those eyes.
—Don't cry, Cristal. Your baby must be born strong. That's what Rasen would want. So back away… if you want to live.
The sound of her own words anchored her, but doubt crept in.Was this a random hunt?The town of Sanathiel flashed through her thoughts like a dark lightning bolt.What if these weren't just beasts?What if he was behind this?
She gripped the saber tighter, trying to silence the shiver up her spine.
With a sudden motion, she wrapped cloth around her hands and smashed a window. The wood cracked, glass exploded into the night. Every movement cost her blood. Every scratch joined the list of wounds life had left her.
But there was no other choice. Run—or die.
"We survive this night…"
Once Cristal was out of reach, Aisha turned back.
"I need to slow them down—even for a moment."
—Don't do it, Aisha.
She locked the door and broke the key, leaving herself at the mercy of the Nevri.
The pounding grew louder. Aisha's skin crawled as the bolts started to give.No way out. No escape.
The final crash thundered through the room. The beasts burst in like a living shadow.
Aisha hurled shards of glass at them—useless, but she prayed for a second.Just one more second.
The largest creature didn't hesitate. It charged, slamming the air from her lungs. Her body hit the ground. Vision blurred.
A harsh tear—her clothes ripped. Warm blood rolled down her bare arm.
No. Not like this.
She gasped and tried to move, but the wolf's claw pinned her ankle down with crushing weight.A snap. A sharp jolt of pain.
She couldn't move. Couldn't flee.
The saber lay a meter away. Stained. Just out of reach.
She panted as the pressure grew—her flesh splitting under the rotating claw.
—Real… terrifying beasts… —she whispered. And for the first time in ages, fear truly paralyzed her.
From the next room, Cristal arrived, breath frantic.She grabbed a candelabra and hurled it with everything she had.
The metal hit a dark-furred wolf—but only enraged it.Its roar shook the walls. A warning.
—Stay away from me! —Cristal screamed, retreating to a wall. Her hands searched blindly. She found only a crystal glass—and threw it.
A claw slashed her arm, shredding the fabric, leaving a crimson trail.Pain lit up her nerves, but before she could react—
—Enough. —A deep voice growled.
Cristal froze as cold breath touched her ear.
The Ebony Wolf.Salomon.
—Aisha! —her voice broke, fear bleeding into every syllable— I can't die here!
Aisha looked up. Her pupils reflected the red moon burning through shattered windows.
No.
She closed her eyes, breath staggered. She had sworn to protect Cristal.She had to stand.
She pinched her fingers until pain snapped her focus back into her body.
The weight pinning her down lifted. The Lycans retreated—like something had commanded them.
Aisha rose slowly, battered, body trembling with adrenaline.
Then—boots. Slow. Precise.
Black boots entered her field of vision.
Too late.
She looked up—but never saw the face. A blunt hit to the neck.
Darkness swallowed her.
Hours later…
A soft whisper cut through the void.
—Aisha… you're awake! Thank god…
Cristal's voice floated through the shadows, tight with nerves.
Aisha blinked. Her vision was blurry. Candlelight flickered, casting stretched shadows on the walls. A sheer curtain barely separated their figures.
Her head pounded, but she ignored it.
—Where… are we?
—Back in the mansion… —Cristal answered, uncertain.
Aisha moved. Her wrists resisted. Tied.
She forced her breathing calm, eyes scanning the room. The table beside her had a sharp edge.
Without hesitation, she began to saw the ropes against it.Every movement was a breath held.
—What are you doing, Aisha? —Cristal's worry seeped into her voice.
—What I have to do to get us out —Aisha replied coldly, never taking her eyes off the cords.
It was slow. Each fray brought them closer to freedom. Finally—with a yank—the ropes snapped.
She spun, untied Cristal.
They stood fast. Aisha positioned herself beside the door—tense, ready.
The lock clicked.
The door creaked open—
She lunged.
The jagged tip of her broken saber met flesh—right against the jugular.
—Cooperate. Or you don't leave here alive.
The man didn't flinch. His breath was steady. His eyes blank.
Only when the blade pushed deeper did he raise his hands.
They moved.
Through a mansion crawling with beasts. Shadows with claws.
Aisha's heartbeat pounded like a drum, but she held her blade steady.
Then—something changed.
A growl from above.
Before she could react, a massive wolf fell from the ceiling.
Impact.
She was thrown back, breath knocked from her lungs.
Her head slammed against stone.
Darkness. Again.
Later…
A sharp pain ripped her awake.
Her breath ragged. Her pulse racing.
A blindfold. Her world wrapped in black.
Her wrists bound. Skin scraped raw.
She lay on a bed—but it offered no comfort.
Every muscle ached, a brutal memory of the ambush.
She sat up, barely.
Her legs trembled.But she didn't fall.
Move. Understand. Survive.
She jumped lightly. Bare feet searched the ground.
One step. Then another.
Closer to the door. Or whatever lay beyond it.
Then—sound shattered the silence.
He howled like no other.As if the moon didn't rule him...but worshiped him.
Claws scraped wood. A shiver ran down her back.
Beasts hammered at the door.
They wanted in.
But they couldn't.
A frozen whisper cut through her mind:
"The White Wolf... has returned.But he's not the same.And the world will know it."
Sanathiel.
Her breath caught. Was it really him?
Or another threat wearing his blood?
Meanwhile…
The road stretched like a river of shadow under the crimson moonlight.Sanathiel moved like a born predator—tearing beasts apart with claw and fang.
His breath deep, precise. Rage in his eyes—but controlled.
Every motion—measured. Every strike—deadly.
But then—his tongue caught something. A taste.
Everything stopped.
This blood…
Not random. Not wild.
It was… familiar.
His body tensed.
He knew it.
Varek's blood.
He froze. Chest rising and falling. Muscles tight with rage and realization.
These beasts…
They weren't natural.Not random.
They were made.Made by Varek.
A hiss escaped between his teeth.
"Why my brother's blood?What are they trying to awaken?"
A roar tore from his throat—not just fury.Realization.
Varek had always been ahead.
The crimson moon cast a ghostly glow.His body—soaked in blood—stood tall as his transformation ended.
Sweat and blood soaked his hair.His golden eyes burned with one truth he could no longer avoid.
He stepped forward. Then again.
Toward a nearby station…
But his mind was far away.
"This time, I will find Varek."
"And this time—there will be no mercy."
He stopped.
"If they touched Aisha…If they used her as bait…"
"Then I'm not just hunting Varek.I'm hunting the one who stole my right to protect her."
The red moon wasn't his enemy.It was his witness.
And tonight—it still believed...that its White Wolf could save someone.