CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Elena's pov

The figure stepped into the chamber, his eyes glowing with a deadly, unnatural power. When I realized this wasn't Darius, I froze, my heart racing. It was something far worse.

"Remain back!" With her body tight and prepared for battle, Selene positioned herself between me and the invader and hissed.

The man's eyes darted between us as he grinned icily. "You believe you can keep her safe?" He had a silky, low voice that was full of danger. "You don't realize what you're facing."

Selene stepped forward, her voice firm, her eyes glowing slightly. "I am fully aware of my challenges. You also refuse to touch her.

His eyes met me as he laughed darkly. Already, the prophecy is coming to pass. I own the child.

I was overcome with fear, but I refused to back down. "You won't take my child."

The man's smile vanished as his face became gravely serious. "You're not getting it. The key lies with the youngster. I don't require your consent.

Selene growled, her tone piercing. "You must first pass through me."

The man's movements were unbelievably quick as he pounced toward Selene without saying another word. In a flash, Selene transformed into a wolf and confronted his onslaught. Teeth and claws tore into one another as their bodies struck with a power that rocked the earth.

"Selene!" I yelled as I watched them battle, fear growing in my chest.

The man had strength beyond anything I had ever witnessed. His movements were precise, and each blow was deadly and well-planned. Selene, however, was not about to back down. Her howls filled the air as she battled with a ferocity equal to his.

"Ellen, run!" The urgent tone of Selene's voice reverberated over the mind-link. Leave this place!

With my heart pounding, I paused. "I won't abandon you!"

The man smiled cruelly as his gaze shifted to me. "She can't keep you safe forever."

His claws dug into Selene's side as he knocked her to the ground before I could respond. Selene let out a painful yelp, but she continued. Her teeth were bared as she lunged at him once more, yet I could sense the tension in her movements.

"No!" Fear and rage boiled up inside me as I screamed. I reached for a hefty piece of wood nearby and swung it as hard as I could at the man.

He hardly flinched when the wood struck him across the back. His eyes glowed with rage as he turned to confront me. "That will be something you regret."

Selene pounced at him once more, her teeth digging into his arm before he could move. She was thrown off with a forceful shaking as he shouted in pain, but I had enough time to take action because of the distraction.

I reached for the branch once more, aiming for his legs this time. He stumbled, roaring in rage as the contact threw him off balance.

"Selene, wake up!" With desperation in my voice, I yelled.

With blood streaming from her wounds, Selene stumbled to her feet. We must go—right away!

We turned to go, and I nodded as panic swept through me. However, the man was on us once more, his claws swiping in my direction, before we could escape the chamber.

Panic filled Stephen's voice as it echoed over the mind-link. Where are you, Elena?

"The chamber is where we are!" With a racing heart, I screamed back. "He's coming for the baby—he's here!"

Stephen's voice was determined and full of fear. I'll be there. Wait a moment.

However, the man seized me before Stephen could get to us, his palm around my arm with an iron grasp. "You won't get anywhere."

My heart was pounding with fear as I fought him. "Give me a break!"

Once more, Selene pounced at him, slamming into him with enough force to knock him back in her wolf form. She said, "Run!" with a sense of urgency.

My legs trembled in terror as I staggered toward the entryway. However, the man's hand seized me once more as I approached the threshold, pulling me back.

He said, his voice low and menacing, "Enough of this." "You're accompanying me."

Despite my best efforts, he was too strong to overcome. I could feel the chilly touch of his strength pouring into me as his fingers tightened.

The air was suddenly filled with a thunderous roar that shook the chamber's walls. When I recognized the sound, my heart jumped.

Stephen.

His wolf form was a whirl of power and rage as he rushed into the room. He growled viciously and swung at the man, bringing him down. I briefly believed it was over when the man was smashed into the wall by the force of the attack.

The dude wasn't finished, though. He turned to confront Stephen, his eyes blazing with anger. "You believe that you can stop me?"

With his eyes burning with rage, Stephen transformed back into a human. "I will not allow you to take her."

The man spoke softly and grinned maliciously. "You have no other option."

The figure swung at Stephen before he could react, his claws cutting through the air. Stephen's body moved at a speed I had never seen before, barely avoiding the attack. Once more, they clashed, their bodies moving in a whirl.

Still injured, Selene fought to her feet, her gaze fixed on the conflict. He is too strong, and we must stop him.

With my heart racing, I nodded. However, the guy roared in rage before I could move, sending Stephen to the ground as his strength exploded outward.

"No!" I ran to Stephen's side and shouted.

With a murderous resolve in his gaze, the man turned to face me. "You're accompanying me. Right now.

He sprang at me once again before I could respond, his hand aiming for my throat. He was ready to seize me, though, when a dazzling light pierced the room like a blade through the darkness.

The man's shocked eyes widened as he froze. "No, it isn't possible."

I noticed the figure standing in the doorway and looked up, my breath seizing in my throat.

The silver wolf was the one.

The silver wolf advanced, its eyes glimmering so intensely that I felt a chill. This was not the end of it. The actual battle has hardly just started.