Selena's lungs burned with each breath as she darted through the burning village.
The smell of smoke and scorched wood filled the air, mingling with the coppery tang of blood. Moonfang warriors lay scattered across the streets, some fallen, some fighting for their lives.
The vampires didn't hesitate. Their movements were precise, calculating, and utterly ruthless. Selena's claws raked through one vampire, sending it crumbling into ash, but two more swooped in before she could catch her breath.
"Selena! Over here!" Lila's shout barely reached her over the screams and the clash of claws against armor.
Selena pivoted mid-stride, swiping at the approaching vampires. One dove at her from above; she rolled, landing on her feet, and snapped its neck. Ash drifted to the ground like gray snow.
Another vampire lunged, fangs bared, aiming for her shoulder. She twisted sharply, catching it with a spinning kick and sending it crashing into a burning hut. Flames licked at its pale skin, and it screamed before dissipating.
Her wolf senses flared. Every heartbeat, every movement in the village, every scent of vampire blood was amplified. The attackers were not random—they were hunting. Families, the young, the strongest fighters—they were targeting them systematically.
Selena's eyes caught movement near the pack's main hall. Her father, Alpha Marcus Nightbane, stood surrounded by warriors, trying to organize a defense. "Hold the line!" he roared. "Protect the civilians!"
Selena growled. "I'll cover the east side!" she called, sprinting through the smoke.
The east side had been breached. Several vampires had cornered a group of villagers, weapons glinting in their claws. Selena threw herself into the fray. She shifted fully into her wolf form, silver fur bristling, fangs bared.
A vampire lunged at a child. Selena intercepted, knocking the creature aside with bone-crunching force. It hissed, claws slashing, but she was faster. Teeth sank into its shoulder, ripping through flesh before it could retaliate. Ash scattered into the night air.
Another vampire tried to flank her from the right. Selena leaped, pivoting midair to crash into it with her shoulder, sending both crashing to the ground. She rolled, ripping its throat open, leaving a trail of ashes behind.
Behind her, Lila fought fiercely, holding off three vampires at once. Selena lunged toward a particularly aggressive one, claws flashing, forcing it to retreat. Together, they fought side by side, a whirlwind of fur, teeth, and claws.
But the vampires were relentless. For every one Selena destroyed, two more took its place. Her muscles screamed in protest, but she could not stop—not while her home burned.
She noticed villagers hiding in corners, frozen in fear. One small boy clung to his mother, wide-eyed and trembling. Selena growled and nudged them toward safety. "Move! Into the forest! Now!"
The boy's mother nodded frantically, dragging him away as Selena returned to the fight.
Her silver eyes caught a figure moving unnaturally fast—an elite vampire striking down Moonfang warriors with terrifying skill. Its movements were too controlled, too precise. Selena realized with horror: these vampires were trained soldiers, not raiders.
The battlefield shook with the sound of fire and death. Warriors shouted commands, wolves howled, and screams pierced the night. Selena fought with every ounce of strength, but the numbers were overwhelming.
Then a new horror: a vampire grabbed a villager and leaped to the rooftops. Selena tracked it instantly, claws extended, and jumped after it. She collided midair with the vampire, sending both crashing through the roof of a burning house. Splinters flew, flames licked at her fur, but she didn't falter. With a final roar, she ripped the vampire apart, leaving nothing but ash.
As she landed, she surveyed the battlefield. Smoke and fire obscured everything, but the east side was holding—barely. More vampires surged from the forest, clearly regrouping for another wave.
Selena's heart pounded. They were not stopping. Whoever organized this attack had no intention of retreating until the Moonfang Pack was wiped out.
A sudden roar split the air. One of the younger warriors had shifted fully into wolf form, tackling a vampire that tried to attack a fleeing mother. Selena's gaze sharpened. The pack was strong—but the enemy was stronger.
She clenched her claws, determination burning in her chest. "I will not let them win," she whispered, teeth bared. "I will not let them destroy my home!"
Then, amidst the chaos, she caught movement from the shadows. The vampires were forming a line, stepping back slightly, as if waiting for someone. Selena's instincts screamed danger, a presence far stronger than the others.
The flames reflected off metal and eyes glowing red. The figure commanding them was approaching—but she could not see who it was yet.
Selena's teeth clenched. Her body shook with adrenaline. She had survived countless trials, but this… this was different. This was war, pure and unrelenting.
She lunged back into the fray, teeth and claws flashing, determined to hold the line.
And then, from the smoke… a tall, calm figure stepped into view. The vampires straightened, forming a path as if honoring someone.
Selena froze. She didn't know who it was yet—but the way the army paused, the way the firelight glinted off dark armor… she knew this battle was far from over.
Her heart pounded.
The worst is yet to come.