Lucifer's heart skipped a beat when he saw the massive wolf glaring at him, its glowing blue eyes locked onto his. The creature's fur was matted and torn, but its fangs were sharp enough to tear through steel.
"Shit."
He didn't even think twice.
Without hesitation, Lucifer spun around and bolted for the door, his legs moving faster than he ever thought possible. He knew exactly what was happening now—Angel was gone, replaced by this ravenous beast, and if he didn't get out, he was going to be the next meal.
As he reached the door, he could hear the werewolf's growl behind him, a deep, guttural sound that sent chills down his spine. But he wasn't fast enough.
The werewolf pounced, its claws tearing into the ground as it lunged forward, just inches from Lucifer's back. He barely ducked through the doorframe, and it slammed behind him, but the werewolf wasn't done. It rammed into the door with a thunderous crash, wood splintering and metal bending as the hallway shook.
"Shit."
Lucifer didn't look back, but the sound of claws scraping against concrete filled the air. The werewolf was right behind him, a blur of fangs and fur, its glowing eyes burning with primal fury.
"She was already a hothead in human form…" Lucifer muttered through gritted teeth, his breath quickening. "Now she's just a monster…"
His heart pounded, and his feet never stopped moving, knowing full well that if he slowed down, that wolf would be on him in an instant.
In another part of the zone
Francisca crouched silently on the rooftop, her fiery orange eyes scanning the dimly lit warehouse below. The hunters were still reeling—some nursing wounds, others strapping on high-tech gear. Their scent told her everything she needed to know.
"Tch… they fought Angel," she muttered, her twin fox tails flicking behind her. "But she was too much for them. Lucky for me, they're already tired."
With a sharp breath, she leapt into the air.
Crash!
The building's lights shattered as her foxfire burst out, dim orange flames floating gently through the darkness like will-o'-the-wisps. Shadows danced across the metal walls, and her silhouette touched down in the center of the room—graceful, dangerous.
Her flames curled around her form, just enough to let the hunters see her glowing eyes and burning aura.
"A kitsune?!" one of the hunters barked.
Their leader stepped forward, aiming a sleek, futuristic rifle right at her. "Everyone, don't underestimate her. These foxes are tricky. Stay sharp—prepare for the worst."
The team quickly formed a half-circle, laser sights and charged gauntlets at the ready. Francisca stood tall, unbothered.
"I'm not here to kill anyone," she said flatly, her voice calm but sharp. "But I'm not gonna let any of you get in the way, either."
Before anyone could respond, she vanished—a blink of fire.
BAM!
She reappeared behind one of the hunters and swept his legs with a burning kick, sending him flying into a pile of crates.
"Shit! She's fast!"
One of them fired—pew! pew!—but the shots only hit her afterimage. She zipped through the air like a phantom, foxfire trailing her every move.
A gauntlet-clad hunter lunged at her from the side, swinging with electric fists. She ducked low, slid under him, then spun up with a burst of fire—whoosh!—blasting him into the wall.
She panted slightly, holding back her true power.
"These guys aren't weak," she muttered. "But I can't go all out... one wrong move and it's war."
The leader aimed again, switching to stun rounds. "Don't let her dance around you—surround her, now!"
Three hunters came at her from all angles—one from the left, one from above, one right behind. For a split second, she stood still.
Then—BOOM!—a pillar of foxfire erupted around her, blasting all three away in a wide arc. They groaned on the ground, weapons short-circuited, but alive.
Francisca stood in the center, tails swaying, her breath even. "I'm not your enemy," she said again, louder this time. "But if you come at me, I will drop you."
"You're the one in our way," the hunter leader said, stepping forward, his voice calm but heavy. "We're here to hunt a werewolf. One that broke the code… slaughtered a mundane family. Brutally. If you're protecting that monster… then you're breaking the code too."
Francisca's fiery glow dimmed. Her expression hardened. Angel…? No. She gritted her teeth.
"That's impossible," she replied, voice low. "My friend wouldn't do that. Even if she lost control… she'd never kill a human. Maybe livestock, sure… but never people."
The hunter leader narrowed his eyes. "Friend? You mean… she?"
Francisca blinked. "Yeah. Angel's a girl."
The leader stepped back slightly, confusion crossing his face. "Wait… no. The one we're after is a he. Massive. Strong. Savage. He tore through a whole family before we even got here. The other one… the one you're talking about… she showed up while we were getting torn apart. I think she stopped him from finishing the job."
Francisca's eyes widened.
The leader shook his head. "If she's your friend… I don't think she's gonna survive him."
He hadn't even finished speaking before Francisca vanished, launching into the air with a streak of blue foxfire behind her. The roof above them cracked from the force.
She didn't need more words.
Angel was out there.
And she was in danger.
Meanwhile…
Lucifer was sprinting like his life depended on it—because, well, it really did.
"Why me?! Why always me?!" he shouted as he dashed down the ruined hallway, knocking over pipes and crates. Behind him, the werewolf—massive, furious, and very much not giving up—was hot on his heels.
He glanced back mid-run. "Yup, still there! Great. Just what I needed today. A furry death machine with anger issues!"
The beast snarled and leapt.
Lucifer barely made the turn, but not fast enough—WHAM! The werewolf crashed into him, slamming him to the ground like a sack of potatoes. Dust flew. The whole floor seemed to shake.
Pinned under heavy claws, Lucifer stared up into glowing blue eyes and a mouth full of sharp, angry teeth.
"Oh my god," he gasped, face pale. "This is it. This is how I die… mauled by a furry ex-classmate."
The werewolf roared in his face.
Lucifer flinched. "Okay! Okay! Breath mint, please! Damn!"
Lucifer tried to squirm, to push the beast off him, but it was useless. The werewolf was too heavy, too strong. Its claws dug into his chest, not deep enough to pierce fully—but enough to pin him down. Enough to make him feel every second of helplessness.
"Come on… Angel… if that's you, I'm your friend, remember?" he gasped, voice shaking. "We've had coffee before! I carried your books once back in high school!"
But the beast didn't flinch.
No flicker of recognition.
Just those glowing blue eyes… and that low, guttural growl, rising steadily.
Lucifer's breath hitched as the werewolf opened its jaws. Time slowed.
He closed his eyes.
Chomp.
Blood splattered the walls like paint on a canvas. The roar that followed was wet, guttural, final.
The hallway went quiet… except for the slow dripping of blood hitting concrete.
Lucifer's body lay still, lifeless beneath the beast.