Maddie stood between the trees of the forest, the cool dirt soft beneath her bare feet. The night air felt heavy, thick with the sound of distant howls echoing through the dark. Her breath hitched as she turned slowly, eyes scanning the shadows.
"Who's there?" she whispered, her voice trembling as she searched for any sign of movement.
A low rustle came from the brush ahead. Then an almost‑blonde wolf stepped out from between the trees, its fur pale enough to catch what little moonlight filtered through the branches.
The wolf growled, deep and warning, as it padded toward her. Instinctively, Maddie stepped back—one step, then another—until her heel caught on a root. She fell hard onto the ground, the impact knocking the air from her lungs.
Before she could scramble away, a massive black wolf leapt over her, its shadow swallowing her whole for a heartbeat. It landed in front of her with a thud, hackles raised, teeth bared at the blonde wolf. The growl rumbling from its chest vibrated through the ground beneath Maddie's palms.
She froze, unable to move, watching the two wolves circle each other. The black wolf's golden eyes flicked toward her for a moment, and recognition hit her like a wave.
"Seraiya…" Maddie breathed.
But something was wrong. The blonde wolf radiated the same power, the same pressure in the air that Seraiya always carried.
Why?
The wolves continued circling, muscles tense, neither willing to make the first move. Leaves crunched softly under their paws, the only sound in the suffocating silence.
Then Seraiya locked eyes with Maddie.
Run.
Her voice echoed sharply in Maddie's mind.
Maddie shifted instantly, her small fox form bursting forward as she sprinted deeper into the woods. Branches whipped past her, the forest floor a blur beneath her paws. But behind her—footsteps. Heavy. Fast. Getting closer.
She pushed harder, lungs burning, but it wasn't enough.
The blonde wolf lunged from the side, landing on top of her. Its paw pinned her tiny fox body to the ground. Maddie whimpered, struggling, but the wolf only leaned down and sniffed her, its breath hot against her fur before its lips curled back to reveal sharp teeth.
Key.
The word slammed into her mind just as the wolf opened its jaws.
SNAP!
Maddie jolted awake with a scream, sitting upright so fast her vision blurred. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clamped her hands over her ears, shaking.
The door burst open.
"Maddie!" Seraiya rushed in, flipping on the light without hesitation. She dropped to her knees beside the bed. "Maddie, what's wrong?"
Maddie kept her eyes shut tight, hands still pressed to her ears.
"Maddie, please look at me. It's Seraiya." Her voice softened, steady and warm.
Slowly, Maddie lowered her hands and opened her eyes.
"Whatever it was, it was just a dream, okay?" Seraiya said gently.
"No." Maddie's voice cracked. "The blonde wolf is coming for me." She swallowed hard. "And he's coming for you too."
Seraiya didn't answer. She simply pulled Maddie into her arms, holding her tightly.
"I won't let anyone hurt you," she whispered.
The sun rose sooner than Seraiya expected. She eventually got Maddie back to sleep, but the girl's words clung to her mind like a shadow she couldn't shake.
Is this what Aaron felt? she wondered. When she used to wake up screaming from visions she didn't understand. It felt like history looping back on itself.
Seraiya knew the gods' games wouldn't end with Alvira's death. She had hoped—deep down—that maybe they would. But hope was fragile.
"Oh, Selene… what am I supposed to do?" she murmured into the quiet.
A knock at the door snapped her back to reality.
"Come in," she called.
Michael stepped inside. "Alpha, it appears you have some more guests."
"Bring them in," Seraiya said, moving around her desk.
She didn't need to ask who. The scent hit her before the door even opened.
Piper and Damien entered.
Seraiya leaned against her desk, arms crossed. "It's been a while."
"Too long," Piper said, guilt written across her face.
Seraiya felt… nothing. Not anger. Not warmth. Just distance. Maybe because she'd spent most of her life here in England. Maybe because family had never really felt like family. She didn't hate them—especially not Damien, her twin—but she didn't feel connected to them either.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"We want you to come home," Piper said. Damien stayed silent.
"Come on, Mom," Seraiya sighed. "We all know that place hasn't been my home for years."
"Your life is in danger," Piper insisted.
"When isn't it?" Seraiya replied. "My life has been in danger for… goddess knows, twenty‑two years. I only exist because one god disagreed with the others and wanted to change the fate of the world."
"We can protect you," Damien finally said.
"No, you can't." Seraiya's voice was calm, but firm. "Damien, I wasn't born for you to protect me. I was born to stop you from becoming another chess piece in their game."
"As long as I'm alive, you're safe," she said.
"Seraiya… I think I know a way so you don't have to become a full tribrid."
She blinked. "What?"
"We both know there can only be one. If I become the tribrid, you won't. The gods will stop coming after you."
Seraiya stared at him, then shook her head. "No."
"What?"
"I said no."
Her voice sharpened. "I will never let you become the tribrid. I will never let them use you. And I will never let you bring the chaos you're meant to bring if you do."
"Rai…" he breathed.
"No!" She slammed her hand on the desk, the sound cracking through the room. "If the only way to stop your fate is for me to become the tribrid, then I'll take it."
Piper looked stunned.
"Then I guess it's a race," Damien said coldly. "If becoming the tribrid is the only way to protect you from being killed, then I will."
"Get out," Seraiya snapped.
"Seraiya…" a small voice whispered from the doorway.
Maddie.
Seraiya hadn't even noticed the door was still open. Damien and Piper turned to look at the red‑haired girl with wide purple eyes.
"Maddie, come in," Seraiya said softly. "My guests were just leaving."
"We'll talk again soon," Piper murmured as she and Damien stepped past Maddie.
Maddie stared at Damien as he walked by, his red eyes cold, distant. She hurried inside and shut the door behind her.
"What's wrong?" Seraiya asked.
Maddie swallowed, her face pale.
"He's the blonde wolf."
TO BE CONTINUED