"Get down!" Kaelen roared, shoving Ariana behind a jagged boulder as a hail of arrows sliced through the frigid mountain air. The sharp twang of bowstrings echoed off the cliffs, and the ground trembled under the boots of Lucian's men charging toward them.
Ariana hit the dirt hard, her palms scraping against the rocky ground. "You didn't have to push me that hard!" she snapped, scrambling to her knees. Her breath came out in short, panicked bursts, fogging in the cold.
"You're welcome," Kaelen shot back, his voice rough. He crouched beside her, his dark eyes scanning the ridge above. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite the biting wind, and his hands shook slightly—signs of the curse eating away at him. "Stay low. They're not playing around."
"Neither am I," she muttered, pulling her camera strap tighter around her shoulder. It wasn't a weapon, but it was all she had. She peeked over the boulder, her heart pounding. Figures in dark cloaks moved like shadows against the snowy peaks, closing in fast. "How many are there?"
"Too many," Kaelen growled. He flexed his fists, his knuckles cracking. "Lucian's not holding back this time."
From the ridge, a familiar voice cut through the chaos. "You're cornered, Draven!" Lucian shouted, his tone smug even from a distance. "No clan, no wolf, no hope. Give up now, and I might let her live."
Kaelen's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. "Bastard's got a death wish," he muttered under his breath. Then, louder, he yelled back, "Come down here and say that to my face, you coward!"
Ariana grabbed his arm, her fingers digging into his sleeve. "Don't let him get in your head. That's what he wants."
"He's already in my head," Kaelen snapped, shaking her off. "He's been there since the day he turned on me. This ends now." He stood, ignoring her protest, and stepped out from behind the boulder.
"Kaelen, wait!" Ariana lunged after him, but he was already moving, his broad frame a target against the white landscape. She cursed under her breath and followed, keeping low.
The first of Lucian's men reached them—a hulking figure wielding a crude axe. Kaelen dodged the swing with a speed that shouldn't have been possible, not with the curse draining him. He grabbed the man's arm, twisting it until a sickening crack rang out. The axe clattered to the ground, and Kaelen drove his fist into the man's jaw, dropping him cold.
Ariana skidded to a stop beside him, her eyes wide. "How the hell are you still moving like that?"
"Don't ask," Kaelen grunted, shaking out his hand. Blood trickled from a cut on his knuckles, but he didn't seem to notice. "Just stay behind me."
Before she could argue, two more figures rushed them. Kaelen met them head-on, his movements brutal and precise. He slammed one into the ground with a shoulder tackle, then spun to catch the other's blade on his forearm. The metal bit into his skin, but he didn't flinch. With a snarl, he yanked the sword free and drove the hilt into the man's temple.
Ariana flinched at the sound of bone crunching. "You're bleeding," she said, her voice tight.
"It's fine," he said through gritted teeth. "Keep moving. The portal's close."
She nodded, forcing herself to focus. The portal—an ancient ring of stones carved with runes—loomed ahead, its faint glow pulsing through the snow. It was their only shot at stopping Lucian, at breaking the curse. But the closer they got, the thicker the enemy ranks became.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, and Kaelen yanked Ariana down just as a crossbow bolt whizzed past her head. "Told you to stay low," he growled, his arm pinning her to the ground.
"I'm not helpless!" she shot back, shoving him off. "I can handle myself."
"Then prove it," he said, hauling her up as more footsteps crunched toward them. "Because we're not making it to that portal without a fight."
She didn't have time to respond. Three more of Lucian's men charged, their weapons gleaming in the dim light. Kaelen took the lead, barreling into the first with a force that sent the man sprawling. Ariana ducked under a swinging blade, her heart hammering as she grabbed a rock and smashed it into the second attacker's knee. He howled, stumbling, and she kicked him down the slope.
Kaelen glanced back, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Not bad."
"Shut up and keep going," she panted, adrenaline surging through her veins.
They pushed forward, the portal's glow growing brighter. But every step felt heavier, like the mountain itself was fighting them. Kaelen's breaths grew ragged, his movements slowing. The curse was hitting him hard now—his skin was pale, his hands trembling more with each blow he landed.
"You okay?" Ariana asked, dodging another arrow.
"Fine," he lied, his voice strained. He took down another enemy with a vicious uppercut, but he staggered after, clutching his side.
"You're not fine," she said, grabbing his arm to steady him. "You're pushing too hard."
"I don't have a choice," he snapped, pulling free. "We stop, we die. You want that?"
"No," she said, her voice fierce. "But I don't want you dead either."
He didn't answer, just kept moving. The portal was only yards away now, its runes humming with energy. But Lucian's forces weren't letting up. A dozen more figures emerged from the snow, cutting off their path.
"Kaelen!" Ariana yelled, pointing. "We're surrounded."
He turned, his eyes blazing despite the exhaustion etched into his face. "Not yet," he said, and then he roared—a sound so raw and primal it shook the air. It wasn't the howl of a wolf, not with the curse still binding him, but it was damn close. The nearest attackers faltered, hesitating just long enough.
Kaelen seized the opening. He charged, slamming into the group like a battering ram. Fists flew, blood sprayed, and bodies hit the ground. Ariana stayed close, picking off stragglers with whatever she could grab—rocks, sticks, anything. Her hands were scraped raw, her lungs burning, but she didn't stop.
Through the chaos, Lucian's voice rang out again. "You're wasting your strength, Draven! You can't win this!"
Kaelen didn't bother replying. He grabbed one of Lucian's men by the throat, lifting him off the ground before hurling him into the others. The impact scattered them, clearing a narrow path to the portal.
"Go!" Kaelen shouted, shoving Ariana ahead. "Now!"
She ran, her boots slipping on the icy ground. The portal's energy buzzed against her skin as she reached it, the runes flaring brighter. She turned back, seeing Kaelen still fighting off two more attackers. "Kaelen, come on!"
He finished them with a brutal kick, then stumbled toward her. Blood streaked his face, and his breathing was a harsh rasp. He made it halfway before his knees buckled.
"Kaelen!" Ariana darted back, hooking her arm under his. "Get up! We're almost there!"
He groaned, leaning heavily on her. "I'm… slowing you down."
"Shut up," she said, dragging him forward. "You don't get to quit on me now."
Together, they staggered the last few steps. The portal loomed over them, its light blinding. But before they could cross the threshold, a figure stepped into view—Lucian, flanked by his remaining men.
"End of the line," Lucian said, his smirk cold. He held a curved dagger, its blade glinting with a faint green sheen. "You really thought you'd make it this far?"
Kaelen straightened, pushing Ariana behind him. "You really thought I wouldn't?" he shot back, his voice steady despite the tremor in his limbs.
Lucian laughed, twirling the dagger. "Look at you. Barely standing. That curse is eating you alive, and you still think you can fight me?"
"I don't think," Kaelen said, stepping forward. "I know."
He moved faster than Ariana thought possible, closing the gap in a heartbeat. Lucian swung the dagger, but Kaelen caught his wrist, twisting it hard. The blade fell, and Kaelen drove his elbow into Lucian's jaw. Lucian stumbled back, blood dripping from his lip, but he didn't fall.
"Get to the portal!" Kaelen yelled at Ariana, grappling with Lucian.
She hesitated, torn between helping him and following his order. "I'm not leaving you!"
"Go!" he roared, slamming Lucian against a rock. "I've got this!"
Lucian laughed through the pain, his voice ragged. "You've got nothing, Draven. You're finished."
Ariana clenched her fists, then ran for the portal. She reached it just as Kaelen landed another blow, sending Lucian sprawling. She turned back, shouting, "Kaelen, now!"
He broke free, sprinting toward her. But Lucian's men closed in, cutting him off. Kaelen fought like a man possessed, his strength defying the curse tearing him apart. He took down three more before a blade caught him in the side, and he dropped to one knee.
"No!" Ariana screamed, starting back toward him.
"Stay there!" Kaelen bellowed, forcing himself up. Blood soaked his shirt, but he kept moving, shoving through the last of the attackers. He reached her, collapsing against the portal's edge.
Lucian staggered to his feet, wiping blood from his face. "You're dead, Draven. Both of you."
Kaelen gripped Ariana's hand, his breathing shallow. "Not yet," he rasped, pulling her into the portal's light.
The world dissolved in a flash of white, the sounds of battle fading. When the light cleared, they were on the other side—sprawled in a cavern of glowing stone. Kaelen coughed, blood staining his lips, but he managed a weak grin. "Told you… I'd get us here."
Ariana knelt beside him, her hands shaking as she pressed them to his wound. "You idiot. You're hurt bad."
"I'll live," he said, though his voice wavered. He looked up at her, his eyes searching. "Right?"
She swallowed hard, tears burning her eyes. "You better. But what the hell do we do now?"