Cole's POV – Midnight
Howl—
I heard the growls of other creatures around me, but they didn't bother me. I needed to find her—I couldn't lose her. My wolf, Rider, ran as fast as he could, leaping across hills in search of her, following nothing but her scent as his beacon. Rider, I called inside his mind, where is she?
He growled in response, running ahead before making a sharp turn to the right—straight in front of Willow Creek.
What? She's in there? I asked, panic tightening my chest. Rider's growl was my only answer. Damn! I cursed inwardly. Willow Creek wasn't just dangerous—it was deadly. Most unknown rogue beasts and supernaturals used it as hunting grounds. Creatures stronger than Father lurked there. He had always warned me to stay away from Willow Creek. If Olivia went in…
No. I couldn't accept the thought. No! I growled and charged in without hesitation, my mind clouded with thoughts of Olivia. One thing was certain—she was in danger.
The forest air was dense, even for an Alpha prince. Rider struggled to stand against its oppressive force. I could feel the power of other operatives pressing down, and something in it was dangerous—ominous and ancient.
Olivia, where the hell are you? I thought, running deeper into the misty depths of the forest. Rider stopped abruptly by an abyss, deep and deadly, filled with an immense, oppressive aura strong enough to make him kneel. This force was too powerful to be anything living or dead. Neither supernatural nor worldly, it carried a raw, divine weight. What was this faint mark of power? And who did it belong to? Rider growled in pain—the aura was tearing his soul apart.
As the oppressive purple energy dissipated, Rider snapped out of it. If this was the remnant of something that had passed through here, then Olivia—no! Rider, find her now! I growled, blood boiling with rage. Rider ran further into the night, dodging every danger lurking in the shadows.
Ahead, a figure lay on the forest floor. Though the ground was usually bare, this patch was covered in soft grass. Trees bloomed around her, flowers and butterflies seemingly conjured by the faint, pure light that shone through the thick night. It was as if the heavens themselves had placed this figure under their protective watch.
As I drew closer, I could see her clearly. She rested peacefully, like a swan upon a moonlit lake, shielded from the world's dangers. Her skin was delicate, fragile, radiant with eternal beauty. Long, silky black hair cascaded around her, framing her ethereal face and flowing down her petite body. Her dress clung to her like a second skin, revealing an hourglass figure and slender, elegant legs. She wasn't just beautiful—she was beauty itself, draped in an obsessive darkness.
This person—I knew her. My heart raced. It—it's Olivia?! I whispered, shock rendering me speechless.
Before I could reach her, a massive beast leaped from the trees, blocking my path. About my size but far more powerful than a werewolf—it was a Lycan. He transformed instantly into full beast form and lunged, claws first. Rider dodged with agility, though his soul still throbbed from the abyss's oppressive magic. Dodging him, Rider ran straight for Olivia.
A terrifying growl echoed as another Lycan jumped in front of her. Bigger, stronger than the first, claws swinging for Rider. One strike slashed Rider's left cheek. The claws contained a faint trace of silver—the greatest weakness of wolves—hindering Rider's healing.
Several more Lycans jumped down, surrounding me completely. Damn! I cursed inwardly. Now I had to maintain distance, or a few precise hits would destroy my healing abilities, leaving me to a slow, torturous death.
They lunged at me, claws and razor-sharp teeth aimed to kill. I maintained my distance at first, but their attacks became dangerously precise.
Slash—slash—slash.
My legs, body, face—every inch of me was covered in blood, my body marked with claw and bite marks. I growled fiercely as silver-tainted claws tore through my flesh, blood flowing freely. This was bad. I was losing too much blood, my vision blurring as unconsciousness crept in. My eyes darted to Olivia—I couldn't save her, and after me, they'd hurt her. Ha! I scoffed bitterly at myself as memories of that day returned.
Flashback
"No!" a little boy screamed, struggling against the guards holding him back. "Stop! Stop!" he cried, reaching for the woman lying lifeless on her bed. Though soaked in blood, she still radiated an otherworldly light.
The door swung open as the king and his guards entered, fighting off intruders. His brother, Reiden, entered with sword in hand, defending the boy. "Useless," he spat, rage evident in his eyes. "You couldn't even protect Mother! Born with the power of the Silver Moon, and you can't even protect her—what a waste of talent!"
Back to Reality
Reiden was right. I was useless. I couldn't even protect her, despite all my years of training—I was still nothing.
No. I couldn't let her die. I wouldn't. If I couldn't protect her, I would call someone who could. Using the last of my strength, I growled into the clouds, creating a rippling effect through the forest. Father had once said that in danger, I should call this way. Anyone with royal blood would hear it, coming to my aid. At least before they hurt Olivia, Father and Reiden would be here. I reassured myself, closing my eyes and surrendering to the darkness.