Chapter 126: Predator

Kaelen's POV

I stayed in the shadows. Hundred meters out. Deep in the tree line where moonlight couldn't reach.

My eyes—both pairs—locked on the clearing ahead.

The dual pupils gave me an edge most wolves didn't have. In complete darkness, I saw everything.

The scar-faced wolf. His hand pressed against Seraphine's shoulder. Keeping her down.

The tattooed one. Cross marking visible even from here. Standing three meters to her right.

Seraphine on her knees. Blood soaking through her torn nightgown. Her right leg bent wrong.

The bond flared hot in my chest. Her pain crashed into me like a physical blow.

Shattered bone. Torn ligaments. Agony radiating through every nerve.

And underneath—fear. Not panic. Just cold awareness that she was trapped.

Easy. Think it through.

If I charged straight in, the scar-faced bastard would have three, maybe four seconds before I reached him.

More than enough time to break Seraphine's neck.

No. Direct attack was out.

I needed them separated.

My eyes tracked to the tattooed one. He kept glancing toward the tree line. Nervous. On edge.

Good. I could work with that.

I moved silently through the undergrowth. Circling left. Keeping to complete darkness.

My hand closed around a stone. Palm-sized. Heavy enough.

I waited. Then threw.

The stone sailed through the air. Hit something fifty meters to his right. Made branches snap. Leaves rustle.

Like something large moving fast.

The tattooed wolf's head whipped around. Body going rigid.

"Someone's there." His voice carried. Rough. Uncertain.

Scar-face barely glanced over. "Probably just a deer."

"No. Too loud." The tattooed one stepped toward the sound. "Could be their patrol."

"Then go check it out." Scar-face's tone went flat. "I'll handle the girl."

I picked up another stone. Threw it deeper.

More noise. Like multiple bodies crashing through brush.

"Fuck." The tattooed wolf shifted. Bones cracking. Fur erupting.

A massive black wolf bolted toward the sound.

I was already moving. Staying parallel through the shadows.

The black wolf reached the tree line. Slowed. Nose to the ground.

I came at him from the side. Full speed. Silent.

My jaws locked on the back of his neck. Not killing. Just controlling.

His body jerked. Tried to twist.

My claws dug into his shoulders. Pinning him. My other paw slammed over his muzzle.

He thrashed. Desperate.

I tightened my grip. Let my fangs press deeper. Drawing blood.

"Make a sound," I growled. "Any fucking sound. And I rip your throat out."

He went still. Body trembling.

My weight pressed down. One paw covering his mouth. The other on his windpipe.

"You're going to shift back." My voice dropped lower. "Slowly."

He shook his head.

I bit down. Hard. Fangs sinking into his shoulder.

His body convulsed. Muffled whine escaping.

"I said shift." Alpha command bleeding into every word. "Now."

The power in my voice wasn't optional.

His body fought it. But biology won out.

Bones cracked. Fur receded. A naked man lay beneath me.

I shifted too. Kept one hand locked around his throat. The other covering his mouth.

My dual pupils burned as I stared down at him.

"You want to live?" I asked quietly.

His eyes were wide. Terrified. He managed a jerky nod.

"Then you're going to do exactly what I say." My fingers pressed harder. "Starting with calling your friend over here."

He tried to shake his head.

I started squeezing. Slow. Methodical. Watching his face turn red. Then purple.

"I can make this last." My voice stayed calm. "Or you can cooperate. And I'll make it quick."

His struggles weakened.

I eased the pressure. Just enough for him to breathe.

"So?" I asked. "What's it going to be?"

He nodded frantically. Tears streaming.

"Smart." I pulled my hand from his mouth. Kept the other on his throat. "Here's what you're going to say."

---

The tattooed bastard's voice cracked as he shouted. "Help! I found them! Shadowmere patrol! Need backup!"

I pressed the knife harder against his ribs.

"Louder." I whispered.

"At least five of them!" His voice rose. "I need help! Now!"

Silence from the clearing. Then—

"How many did you say?" Scar-face's voice. Suspicious.

"Five! Maybe more!" The tattooed one was sobbing now. "Please! I can't—"

"Where the fuck are they?"

"In the trees! They're surrounding me! I—"

I jabbed the knife tip in. Just enough to pierce skin.

He screamed. High-pitched. Genuine terror.

"Goddammit." Scar-face's voice got closer. "You better not be fucking with me."

I could hear him moving. Dragging Seraphine.

The bond flared. Her pain spiking as he forced her broken leg to bear weight.

My jaw clenched. Every instinct screaming to rush out.

Not yet. Almost there.

Footsteps crunching through undergrowth.

"Where are you?" Scar-face called out.

The tattooed one looked at me. Pleading.

I nodded.

"Here!" He shouted. "Over here! I—"

"Why the fuck are you on the ground?" Scar-face emerged from the trees. Seraphine held in front of him like a shield.

I exploded from the shadows.

His hand started moving. Reaching for her throat.

Too slow.

My claws raked across his forearm. Deep gouges. Bone-deep.

He howled. Grip loosening.

I grabbed Seraphine. Shoved her hard. Away from him.

She hit the ground. Rolled. Came to rest against a tree trunk.

Safe.

I spun back. Putting myself between her and the two wolves.

Scar-face clutched his bleeding arm. Then he ran.

Away. Into the forest.

Coward.

I moved. The shift was instant. White fur. Enhanced speed.

I caught him in three bounds.

He tried to dodge. Tried to shift mid-run.

Too late.

My jaws closed on his shoulder. Dragged him down.

We tumbled. He was trying to shift. Trying to fight back.

I didn't give him the chance.

Ripped my fangs free. Shifted back to human.

Grabbed him by the throat before he could recover.

"Wait—" His voice came out garbled. "We can negotiate—"

"No." I squeezed. "We really can't."

His eyes widened.

"You tried to take what's mine." My voice dropped to something inhuman. "That's not negotiable."

I lifted him. One-handed. Off the ground.

His feet kicked. Hands scrabbling at my wrist.

I watched his face turn colors. Red. Purple. Blue.

Then I squeezed harder.

Bone cracked. Cartilage crushed. His windpipe collapsed.

But I wasn't done.

My other hand shot up. Grabbed his jaw. Wrenched it hard to the side.

The neck snapped with a wet crack.

His body went limp.

Then I twisted. Put my whole body into it.

The head tore free. Spine ripping. Blood spraying.

I dropped both pieces. Let them fall into the dirt.

One down.

I turned. Scanning for the tattooed one.

Gone. The fucking coward had run.

Didn't matter. I'd hunt him later.

Right now—

Seraphine.

I shifted again. Ran back to where I'd pushed her.

She was still there. Slumped against the tree. Conscious but barely.

Her right leg was a mess. Bone protruding through skin. Blood pooling beneath her.

Her face was gray. Shock setting in.

But her eyes were open. Focused on me.

"Kaelen." Her voice barely a whisper.

I dropped to my knees beside her. Hands hovering.

"I've got you." My voice came out rough. "You're safe now."