CHAPTER 79

Ariana’s POV

Elara adjusted the straps of her cloak, frowning at her reflection in the mirror. “Are you sure this is necessary?”

I pulled my boots on, securing the laces tightly. “If we want to know what Seline and Jordan are up to, we have to see it for ourselves.”

Elara sighed, picking up the scarf I handed her. “Spying on our pack members… This feels wrong.”

I looked at her through the mirror. “Seline isn’t just any pack member. You saw the video. She’s plotting something, and Jordan—whoever or whatever he is—is involved. We need to find out what they’re planning.”

Elara hesitated for a moment before nodding. “Alright. Let’s go.”

We slipped out of the room quietly, making our way through the pack house. It wasn’t long before we saw Seline and her group—Sabrina, Vivian, and a few other women—leaving through the main entrance.

I exhaled slowly. “Showtime.”

Focusing, I activated my invisibility, wrapping both Elara and myself in a cloak of concealment.

Elara gasped softly. “You’re getting stronger.”

The bustling market square was alive with activity. Merchants called out their wares, customers haggled over prices, and the scent of fresh bread and roasted meat filled the air.

Elara and I stood hidden in the shadows, watching as Seline and her group—Sabrina, Vivian, and a few other women—moved through the crowd. I kept us both invisible, ensuring we remained unseen.

For hours, we observed.

Nothing.

No secret meetings. No suspicious exchanges. No signs of Jordan.

Elara shifted beside me, her voice hushed. “Are you sure they’re going to do something today?”

I kept my eyes on Seline, my jaw tightening. “I heard them talking about it last night. Jordan told her to bring the women out. Something is supposed to happen.”

Elara exhaled, rubbing her arms. “Well, if they’re planning something, they’re taking their sweet time.”

Just as doubt started creeping in, a sudden commotion erupted.

Screams.

Panic spread like wildfire. People shoved past each other, knocking over baskets and barrels as they ran in all directions.

My pulse spiked.

Elara and I stepped forward, our eyes scanning the chaos. And then we saw them.

Grotesque creatures—twisted, monstrous things with glowing red eyes and jagged claws—lunging at the townspeople.

Elara grabbed my arm. “Ariana… what are those things?”

I didn’t answer. My focus was locked on the horrifying scene before me.

One of the creatures pounced on a young wolf who had fallen, claws raised to strike.

Without thinking, I flung my hand forward.

The creature was yanked back mid-air and slammed into a wooden stall, the force sending splinters flying.

Elara turned to me, eyes wide. “Did you just—?”

I wasn’t listening. My attention snapped to Seline.

She was moving away with the other women, her expression disturbingly pleased as chaos erupted around us.

The warriors had arrived, shifting into their massive wolf forms and lunging at the creatures. Claws and fangs tore through monstrous flesh, but it was useless. Every wound that should have been fatal only made them stronger. Severed limbs reformed. Shattered bones knitted back together. The more damage they took, the harder they were to kill.

I cursed under my breath. What the hell are these things?

The creatures roared, their guttural voices shaking the ground. Then, without warning, fire erupted from their mouths, spreading through the marketplace like a deadly wave.

Screams filled the air. Stalls went up in flames. People ran in every direction, but there was nowhere to hide.

I turned to Elara. “Get the pack members out of here! Make sure no one else gets caught in this!”

Elara hesitated but nodded. She dashed toward the fleeing people, guiding them away from the fight.

I turned back to the battle. The wolves were struggling. Even the strongest among them couldn’t overpower creatures that refused to die.

“What kind of plan is this?” I thought furiously. “This isn’t just a distraction. It’s slaughter.”

Then, out of nowhere, a figure blurred into the battlefield.

A sword sliced through the air in swift, precise movements, severing the creatures’ limbs. Unlike before, when their bodies would regenerate, this time the wounds remained. The creatures shrieked, their monstrous forms writhing in agony as the severed parts crumbled into dust.

I barely had time to process what was happening. Whoever he was, he moved like a shadow—fast, lethal, cutting through the creatures with an efficiency that even the strongest warriors lacked. He fought not just with skill but with a purpose, positioning himself between the wounded warriors and the remaining threats, ensuring no more lives were lost.

I could hear the distant thunder of paws pounding against the ground. A fresh wave of warriors was coming.

I turned to see them approaching at full speed. At the front of the pack was Damien.

The moment he arrived, he shifted back into his human form, his eyes scanning the battlefield. But it was already over.

The flames that had consumed the market had been extinguished by others, the last embers dying in the wind. The remaining creatures collapsed, their bodies disintegrating into dust. The market square, though devastated, was no longer under attack.

Damien’s expression was dark as he took in the destruction. His jaw tightened, his voice sharp as he demanded, “How did this happen?”

The man who had ended the fight stepped forward. Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee before Damien, lowering his head in a formal display of respect.

I narrowed my eyes, studying him.

“Who was he?”

The man lifted his head, and for the first time, I got a good look at him.

He was handsome—too handsome for someone who had just fought off an army of nightmare creatures. His dark hair was tousled, but it only added to his charm. His sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and confident smirk made it impossible to ignore him.

“My name is Jordan,” he said smoothly, his voice steady. “I’m a bounty hunter.”

My blood ran cold.

Jordan.

I schooled my expression, but my mind was already racing. He had changed his face. The man from last night—the one who had been with Seline—was now standing here, playing the role of a hero.

Jordan continued, “I’ve been tracking a criminal who uses dark magic to turn dead bodies into these… abominations.” He gestured toward the piles of dust where the creatures had once stood. “I followed the trail here.”

Damien folded his arms. “And how were you able to defeat them?”

Jordan’s smirk deepened. He unsheathed his sword, holding it out for Damien to see. The blade gleamed under the fading light, but what caught my attention was his hand—covered by a black glove.

I filed that detail away for later.

Before I could overthink it, I stepped forward. “How can an ordinary sword kill creatures that even our warriors couldn’t defeat?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

Jordan’s gaze flicked to me. For the briefest moment, something unreadable passed through his eyes before he answered, “This isn’t just any sword. It’s forged from a rare metal—one that disrupts dark magic. It can even dispel evil spirits.”

His explanation was solid, but I wasn’t convinced.

Damien, however, seemed satisfied. “If what you say is true, then you may have just saved my people from a disaster.”

Jordan gave a slight bow. “I only did what needed to be done.” Then he straightened, meeting Damien’s gaze. “If you’ll allow it, I’d like to stay in your territory until I find the one responsible for this attack.”

Damien considered his words for a moment, his gaze sharp and assessing. Before he could respond, a soft, trembling voice cut through the tense atmosphere.

“Oh, Alpha Damien,” Seline spoke, stepping forward, her expression a perfect mask of fear and fragility. “This entire scene was… horrifying. I don’t know how I’ll sleep tonight after witnessing such a nightmare.”

She clutched her arms, shivering for effect, and I had to resist the urge to roll my eyes.

“I just… I’d feel so much safer knowing that Jordan is staying in the pack house,” she continued, her voice laced with just the right amount of vulnerability. “Wouldn’t you agree, girls?”

The women who had accompanied her—Sabrina, Vivian, and the rest—nodded vigorously, murmuring in agreement.

“Yes, Alpha Damien,” Vivian added, her voice trembling slightly. “He’s already proven himself. Having him close by would ease our fears.”

Damien exhaled, looking between them and Jordan. Then, with a firm nod, he made his decision.

“Very well,” he said. “Jordan, you will stay in the pack house while you carry out your search.”

I clenched my jaw. This was exactly what he wanted.

As the conversation wrapped up, I pulled Damien aside, lowering my voice. “Damien, you can’t just let some stranger stay in the pack house. You don’t even know him.”

His gaze flicked to me, irritation flashing in his eyes. “Ariana, he saved our people. He fought alongside us.”

“That doesn’t mean we can trust him,” I pressed. “What if he suddenly attacks us? The pack members? What if this is all part of some plan to take over the territory?”

Damien’s lips curled into a smirk, his confidence unwavering. “No mere person can get rid of me.” His voice was calm but filled with authority. “The only one who can fight me one-on-one is Lycus. And last I checked, he wasn’t hiding behind a false face.”

I hated how sure he was. How he brushed off my concerns like they were nothing.

I could argue further, but I knew I wouldn’t win.

So I swallowed my frustration and turned away, but not before muttering under my breath, “I just hope you don’t regret this.”