Chapter 105 The silver wolf
Chapter 105 The silver wolf
THE KINGS LOUNGE
The clock on the wall ticked loudly, It was exactly eight o'clock at night. The sun had set, and the full moon was already rising in the sky.
Twila sat on the sofa, her hands shaking so much that she had to sit on them to keep them still, she wore a plain, oversized grey t-shirt and loose sweatpants.
"I am terrified," Twila whispered, staring blankly at the floor. "I feel like I am walking to my own execution."
Raiden sat right next to her but didn’t hold her. He sat stiffly, his jaw clenched tight, staring at the table.
"You are not walking to an execution," Raiden said, his voice rough and completely devoid of emotion. "You are going to walk into that room, survive the shift, and come back to me tomorrow morning."
"What if the pain is too much?" Twila choked out, hot tears filling her eyes. "Delaney said it breaks every bone in my body, Raiden, what if my heart just gives up?"
"I will not let you die, Twila," Raiden growled softly, turning to look into her eyes. "Do you hear me? I’m handing you over to him because he is the only one who can keep your heart beating tonight. If I thought for a second that he would let you die, I would lock you in this room and fight the moon myself."
Island walked over from the window and crossed her arms tightly over her shirt, she didn’t look mean or smug today, she looked scared for her best friend.
"You are the toughest person I know, Psycho," Island said softly, giving Twila a small, encouraging smile. "You literally defeated a death machine, turning into a big fluffy dog will be a breeze for you."
"Island is right," Cassian said, walking up behind his girlfriend and resting his hands on her shoulders. "You are a fighter, Twila. We will all be waiting right outside the door for you."
Neon dropped to his knees in front of Twila and grabbed both of her shaking hands, his eyes filled with love.
"I hate that I can't be in there with you," Neon whispered, a tear slipping down his cheek. "I hate that I don’t have enough magic back to anchor you, sis."
"It’s okay, Neon," Twila sniffled, squeezing his hands tightly. "You are safe, and that’s all I care about, just promise me you won’t do anything stupid while I am locked in there."
"I promise," Neon cried softly, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Just please come back to me."
"It is time," Levi announced quietly from the doorway, looking sad. "The moon will hit its peak in twenty minutes, we need to go down to the bunker now."
Twila let out a shaky sob and stood up from the sofa.
Raiden stood next to her, he didn’t say anything. He just took her hand, lacing his fingers with hers, and began to walk.
THE UNDERGROUND BUNKER
They walked down the stairs into the deepest part of the Academy.
The bunker was a large, empty room reinforced with steel and magical wards, It was built to hold dangerous magic, completely cut off from the rest of the school.
Niles was already standing in the middle of the room, he wore a plain black t-shirt and jeans. His skin glowed with power, his eyes locked onto Twila the moment she walked through the door.
Raiden stopped walking and let go of Twila's hand and stepped up to the vampire.
The entire Squad held their breath in the hallway, expecting Raiden to punch Niles.
"Listen to me very carefully, bloodsucker," Raiden whispered, his voice serious. "I trust you with her life tonight and I’m literally ripping my own heart out and giving her to you because you are the only one who can anchor her mind."
"I know," Niles replied simply, looking back into Raiden’s intense eyes without arrogance.
"If she cries, you comfort her," Raiden commanded roughly, his chest heaving. "If she screams, you take the pain away, If you let her feel even a bit of fear that you can prevent, I will tear your head off."
"I would die before I let her feel any pain I can take away, Vane," Niles promised, his voice raw and filled with commitment. "I swear on my soul, I will keep her safe."
Raiden stared at him for three seconds and gave a tight nod. The two reached a silent understanding for the girl they both loved.
Raiden turned to face Twila.
He didn’t care who was watching, he pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her body.
"Fight the wolf, Twila," Raiden whispered desperately in her ear, kissing her neck, cheek, and jaw. "Don’t let it take over your brain, just remember my voice, remember who you are and come back to me."
"I will," Twila sobbed loudly, kissing him, tasting the tears pouring down their faces. "I love you, Raiden, I love you so much."
"I love you too, Psycho," Raiden choked out, forcing himself to pull away.
He took a slow step back out of the room.
Cassian pushed the door shut.
THE BUNKER ROOM
Twila stood shivering on the floor.
"Are you ready, beautiful?" Niles asked softly, stepping closer.
"I am so scared, Niles," Twila cried, wrapping her arms around her stomach. "What if it kills me?"
"It’s not going to kill you," Niles promised, closing the distance between them. "I am right here, look into my eyes, Twila and don’t look away."
Twila looked up into his bright, glowing golden eyes.
Suddenly, a wave of pain shot down her spine.
"Ah!" Twila screamed, her knees buckling as she collapsed onto the floor.
"I got you," Niles dropped to his knees in front of her, grabbing both of her hands.
"It hurts!" Twila sobbed, her body arching violently backward. "Niles, my bones feel like they are on fire!"
"Open the bond completely, Twila," Niles commanded, his voice deep and vibrating with magic. "Push the pain into my hands. Give it all to me."
Twila squeezed her eyes shut and opened her mind entirely to the mate bond, tearing down the walls she had built.
A loud, sickening snapping sound echoed in the room as the first bone in her shoulder broke and reshaped.
Twila let out a horrifying scream.
Niles groaned loudly, his face twisted in agony, he didn’t let go of her hands. He pulled the pain from her body and absorbed it into his own veins.
"Fuck," Niles choked out, breathing heavily as blood dripped from his nose.
"You are bleeding!" Twila cried, panting heavily as the pain in her shoulder vanished, replaced by a warm numbness. "Niles, it’s hurting you!"
"Because your pain is my pain," Niles whispered, wiping the blood off his chin with his sleeve. "I don’t care if it hurts me, keep pushing it to me, Twila let the wolf out."
Her ribs, legs, and arms began to break and reform in rapid succession.
Twila screamed repeatedly, losing her human thoughts as raw instinct took over her mind.
Her brown eyes changed into silver, the Void magic faded away, replaced by the powerful Lunar magic of her royal bloodline.
"I am losing my mind," Twila panicked, her voice distorting into a low growl. "Niles, I can’t think straight!"
"Stay with me, Twila!" Niles yelled, his golden eyes flashing. "Don’t let the wolf take your mind, focus on my voice!"
The blinding silver light completely engulfed her body.
Niles squeezed his eyes shut, absorbing as much pain as he could handle, his whole body shaking from the force of the transformation.
When the light faded, the room fell silent.
Niles opened his tired eyes and wiped the blood off his nose.
Sitting on the floor in front of him wasn’t a teenage girl anymore.
It was a massive, majestic, pure silver wolf.
The wolf radiated terrifying royal power, her thick silver fur glowed in the dark room, and her eyes were a bright silver.
The wolf didn’t growl or attack him.
She let out a soft, gentle whine, stepped forward, and rested her head on Niles’s chest.
"You did it," Niles whispered, tears of relief rolling down his cheeks as he wrapped his arms around her neck, burying his face in her fur. "You are perfect, my beautiful girl."
THE HALLWAY
Raiden sat slumped against the wall outside the bunker.
He had listened to her horrible screams for ten long minutes, his heart breaking because he couldn’t stop her pain.
But suddenly, the screaming stopped.
A loud, beautiful howl echoed through the door, vibrating through the walls of the Academy.
Raiden let out a shaky breath and dropped his head back against the wall.
"She lived," Raiden whispered, wiping the tears off his face. "She actually survived."
But before anyone could celebrate or hug each other, Delaney sprinted wildly down the hallway, out of breath.
"Raiden!" Delaney yelled, holding his laptop like a shield. "We have a huge problem!"
"What is it, Delaney?" Cassian asked, standing up quickly.
"That howl," Delaney said, wide-eyed with terror. "It didn’t just stay inside the school walls, the Lunar magic was so pure it sent a signal straight across the planet."
Raiden froze and stood up from the floor. "What does that mean, Delaney?"
"It means every werewolf pack on earth just heard her," Delaney whispered, turning his laptop to show a map covered in blinking red dots. "They know the lost Lunar Queen is alive and they are all coming here to claim her."