The echo of roars, snarls, and the clashing of supernatural forces had never seemed so distant and yet so immediate. In the swirling vortex of violence and shifting shadows, she stood still for a moment—caught between the might of Caleb's pack and the calculated cruelty of Adrian's forces.
For a long, agonizing minute, the world seemed to hold its breath. The chaotic melee in the courtyard had slowed into an eerie silence as if time itself were pausing on the brink of destiny. Lila's eyes were fixed on the vial in her hand.
A sudden shout shattered the quiet. "Lila, over here!" Caleb's voice rang out, raw with desperation and determination. His form, shifting from wolf to man in a blur of movement, was a beacon of fierce love and unyielding resolve. He had come with his entire pack, their howls echoing like battle cries as they surged forward in unison. For Caleb, every instinct screamed that Lila was his to protect, his to reclaim—no matter the cost.
