Broken Dreams

The world seemed to stop around Leah, and she breathed in ragged gasps, her heart thumping in her chest. Now that Eliot's metamorphosis was complete, his body was a perverse combination of beast and man, a massive, darkly energetic, and rawly powerful figure. Something between recognition and nothingness flared in his golden gaze, something she could not quite put her finger on. Their former bond seemed far away, like a long-forgotten memory disappearing from vision.

Leah was about to give up when he looked directly into her eyes, and for a split second, the turmoil on his face seemed to subside.

"Leah..." His voice was a tormented, guttural growl, but it was definitely Eliot's.

She reached out, her hands shaking as she struggled against the rift's tremendous pull, which threatened to rip them apart. "You must resist it, Eliot. She begged, her voice rough with emotion, "Please."

His eyes flashed with recognition—he knew her, the lady he loved. But he was being pulled away by the darkness's claws. A loud, agonizing growl sounded from deep inside his chest as his claws flexed.

"I am unable to—" His body shook abruptly, the transformation threatening to overwhelm him, and his words shattered into a scream.

Despite her broken heart, Leah resisted giving in. She was aware that she might lose him permanently if she did not take action right now.

A strong force dragged her back as she reached for him, sending her crashing to the ground. With a sly smile, the shadowy figure, its presence hovering like a specter, came forward. Do you still believe that you can save his life? It is too late.

Leah forced herself to get up, fighting the force of the energy whirling about them. The blackness was bearing down on her like a physical force, and she could feel the rift closing in. She couldn't—wouldn't—let go, but Eliot was drifting farther away, his thoughts consumed by the beast inside him.

"Please, Eliot! Fight it! Her voice was rough with desperation as she screamed.

However, the creature in front of her—Eliot's body, warped by the evil force—was not the same person she had known. It was an instinctive power, fueled by anger. For a moment, there was something—familiarity, recognition—but then it vanished, replaced by an almost vacant expression, as his eyes met hers once more.

Their relationship was rapidly deteriorating, however she was not sure if it was due to the influence of the dark figure, the rift's strength, or something else entirely. All of their instincts told them that this was a fight for their souls, not merely for survival.

"Leah..." Eliot's voice could hardly be heard over the noise of the rift, a strained whisper. "I apologize."

In her ears, her pulse thundered. He recalled her. She was still in his memory. That was the only thing that mattered. However, the shadows surrounding them were becoming closer and closer.

The ground underneath them shattered as Leah's fingers touched Eliot's fur, and the air was shaken by a deep, menacing rumble. Beneath them, something ancient and stronger than anything they had yet encountered was rising.

The shadowy creature looked on amusedly, as though relishing the pain. The image loomed enormous, suffocating every second, but Leah's eyes were constantly focused on Eliot. Right now, she did not have the luxury of time to handle him. Her main concern was getting to Eliot before the rift took him completely.

However, the figure's voice was venomous as he spoke again. "Leah, you are not even aware of what is going on?"

Her blood froze. "What do you mean?"

The figure moved closer, his form flitting in and out of reality as the shadows whirled about him. "You never really had Eliot to preserve. He had already been selected. Are you certain that you are the only one interested in this game?

A beat skipped in Leah's heart. "What are you discussing?"

The creature grinned, but it was a twisted, vicious smile. "You do not realize how long you have been a pawn in this. Everything has been put into motion, everything that has occurred, everything. It was never intended for you to stop it.

Leah felt nauseous. Each word twisted in her chest like a blade. She had believed that she had the ability to save Eliot. She was not so sure now, though.

Before she could respond, a wave of darkness crashed toward them as the fissure began to pulse violently. The last remnant of Eliot's humanity slipping through her fingers was all Leah could think of as the figure vanished into the darkness.

As she struggled against the surge of energy that threatened to engulf them, Leah's hands trembled. Though he was just in front of her, Eliot's struggle was intensifying. Even though the wolf inside of him had fully come to life, something—some small glimmer of the man she loved—resisted going away.

Desperate, she reached out one again. "I will not abandon you, Eliot. Together, we can accomplish this.

From the untamed beast to the man he had been, Eliot's golden eyes wavered. The thread between them ignited, and for the briefest instant the turmoil appeared to pause. With his clawed hand shaking as though he could still resist, he reached for her.

With the smallest trace of recognition in his voice, he muttered, "Leah…."

Then, however, the dark energy rushed once more, bringing with it the knowledge that the epiphany was over. The shadows were drawing closer, and the rift was closing in on them more quickly now.

Leah's thoughts were racing. What if she had to sacrifice everything she owned in order to save him? What if she could not afford the price?

The voice came from the shadows as Eliot's shape changed once more. "He cannot be saved. Not right now. Never.

Standing there defenseless and witnessing the man she loved being engulfed by the darkness broke Leah's heart. She was unable to give up, though. Not right now. Not when the stakes were higher than ever before.

She made up her mind.

Leah summoned the power within her, the force she had kept concealed, buried deep below, fearing the consequences, with all the remaining strength she possessed. But now there was nothing else to do. She would risk her life to save him.

"Fight, Eliot!" Her voice was harsh and frantic as she sobbed. "I am aware that you are still within. I have faith in you!

A strong light radiated from her palms, an energy she had never really comprehended but knew was essential. In the hope that he might be able to hang on long enough, she reached for Eliot and tugged on the thread that bound them together.

The surrounding darkness appeared to be responding to her wishes with a life of its own. The ground underneath them was separating even more as the rift became unstable. The planet itself was falling apart, and she sensed it.

Leah was about to reach out when a huge hand formed of darkness sprang from the rift and grabbed her by the throat. The figure was back, and he was not by himself this time.