Chapter 153: The Trap

Lyla stood at the edge of Alder territory beneath the cold stretch of the night sky.

Frost clung to the thin layer of dirt beneath her boots. The forest pressed heavy and dark around them the thin stretch of moonlight barely cutting through the thick canopy above.

Her breath sharpened beneath the cold bite of the air.

Jonas stood at her left side, his dark gaze cutting toward the tree line. Eli stood at her right, his silver eyes burning.

Dani crouched near the base of a low tree, her dagger spinning lazily between her fingers. Mason stood further back, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark gaze sharp beneath the thin light of the moon.

Behind them, twenty wolves waited in tight formation Blackwood and Alder wolves standing shoulder to shoulder beneath the thin press of cold air.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "He’s coming."

Lyla’s silver gaze burned toward the dark line of the trees.

"I know."

Eli’s silver eyes narrowed. "You think Vaughn’s with him?"

Lyla’s jaw flexed.

"Yes."

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "And if they both attack?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"Then we stop them both."

Jonas’s jaw tightened.

Dani’s mouth curled faintly. "Finally."

Lyla’s breath steadied.

"They think we’re going to defend the ridge," Lyla said coldly. "We’re not."

Jonas’s gaze sharpened. "Then what’s the plan?"

"We draw them into open ground," Lyla said. "Cut off their retreat. Pin them between the ridge and the border."

"And if Vaughn fights with him?" Jonas’s voice was low and sharp.

"Then we kill him first," Lyla said.

Jonas’s dark gaze flashed.

Dani’s mouth curled darkly. "Sounds like a plan."

Mason’s dark gaze sharpened. "And if the rival calls the forest to him?"

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"Then we make him bleed before he finishes the spell."

Jonas’s breath sharpened.

"And if you’re wrong?"

Lyla’s silver gaze flashed beneath the moonlight.

"Then we don’t walk out of here."

Jonas’s chest tightened.

Eli’s silver gaze burned toward her. "You think we can win this?"

"No," Lyla said. "I know we can."

Jonas’s dark gaze sharpened.

"Then let’s get this over with."

The clearing was too quiet.

Lyla stood at the center of the frost-laced field. The thin stretch of moonlight slid across the cold ground, casting pale light across the dark shapes clustered near the treeline.

Jonas crouched to her left. Eli stood at her right. Dani was a shadow just beyond the thin edge of the light. Mason stood near the back line, his dark gaze cutting toward the trees.

Twenty wolves stood behind them. Their bodies were low and tense, breath fogging beneath the cold press of night.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The ground beneath her boots pulsed faintly.

Dark magic.

Thin and sharp beneath the surface.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "He’s here."

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "Positions."

The wolves shifted into a tight formation. The line held beneath the dark stretch of trees.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

A low growl slid through the dark.

Shapes moved between the trees.

Dark wolves.

Amber eyes.

The rival’s wolves.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "Contact."

Lyla’s silver gaze narrowed toward the dark shapes moving toward them.

The rival stepped from the trees a moment later.

Dark hair. Amber eyes.

Blood clung to his claws.

His smile widened faintly beneath the thin stretch of moonlight.

"High Alpha," the rival said smoothly. "How thoughtful of you to come to me."

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"You’ve taken enough from this territory," Lyla said coldly.

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed. "And you think you’re going to stop me now?"

Lyla’s jaw flexed.

"Yes."

The rival’s smile widened faintly. "We’ll see."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s claws slid free beneath the thin light of the moon.

And then

Another figure stepped from the shadows.

Dark hair. Cold eyes.

Vaughn.

Jonas’s breath hitched.

Lyla’s silver gaze sharpened.

Vaughn’s dark gaze gleamed beneath the thin stretch of light.

"Surprised?" Vaughn’s mouth curled faintly.

Lyla’s breath sharpened. "Not really."

Vaughn’s smile widened. "Good."

Jonas’s dark gaze burned toward Vaughn. "You made your choice."

Vaughn’s mouth curled. "It was never a choice."

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Vaughn’s claws slid free beneath the pale light.

The rival’s smile sharpened.

"Shall we?" the rival said smoothly.

Lyla’s breath steadied.

"Now," Lyla said.

The wolves behind her surged forward.

Jonas’s body blurred as he struck the nearest dark shape. A sharp crack of bone echoed through the clearing. Dani’s dagger flashed in the dark.

Mason lunged toward the left side of the line. His claws tore through dark fur.

Lyla’s body twisted toward the rival.

He lunged toward her fast and lethal.

Their claws collided.

A sharp pulse of dark magic split the air.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

The rival’s claws slid toward her chest fast.

Lyla’s body twisted beneath the strike. Her claws sank into his side.

The rival’s breath sharpened.

His amber gaze burned beneath the thin stretch of light.

"You’re strong," the rival said softly.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned. "You have no idea."

The rival’s claws flashed toward her throat.

Lyla’s body twisted beneath the strike. Her claws tore through his ribs.

Blood sprayed across the frost-laced ground.

The rival’s breath hitched.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s breath sharpened over the comms. "Lyla "

"Busy," Lyla said.

Jonas’s breath hitched. "Vaughn’s moving."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s claws shot toward her side.

Lyla twisted beneath the strike.

Vaughn’s form blurred toward the left side of the field.

Jonas’s breath sharpened.

"He’s going after Rowan!"

Lyla’s chest tightened.

"Jonas " Lyla’s voice was sharp.

Jonas’s body blurred toward Vaughn fast and lethal.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

The rival’s claws shot toward her ribs.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

Their claws collided.

A sharp pulse of dark magic split the air.

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed.

"You think you can stop me?"

Lyla’s breath steadied.

"No," Lyla said.

Her silver gaze burned beneath the dark stretch of the sky.

"I know I can."

Her claws drove toward his throat.

The rival’s breath sharpened.

Their bodies slammed hard against the frost-laced ground.

Lyla’s breath steadied.

The rival’s gaze sharpened.

"You think you’ve won?" the rival said softly.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"No," Lyla said coldly.

Her silver gaze burned beneath the thin stretch of moonlight.

"But you’re about to find out what losing feels like."

The ground beneath Lyla’s feet pulsed violently.

Dark veins curled through the frost-laced dirt, twisting unnaturally beneath the thin light of the moon.

Cold magic.

Deep and ancient beneath the surface.

The forest was waking up.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned toward the rival.

His amber eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight. His breath was sharp and steady despite the blood trailing down his ribs.

"You feel that?" the rival’s voice was low and smooth.

Lyla’s jaw flexed.

"Yes."

The rival’s mouth curled faintly. "It’s waking up for me."

Lyla’s silver eyes flashed.

"No," Lyla said coldly. "It’s warning you."

The rival’s claws slid free beneath the pale stretch of moonlight. "You sure about that?"

Lyla’s chest tightened.

The ground beneath her feet pulsed again.

Sharper this time.

Jonas’s breath sharpened over the comms. "Lyla he’s pulling something."

"I know," Lyla said.

The rival’s amber eyes burned.

"Do you?" the rival said softly.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

The ground beneath them split.

Dark roots tore free from the frost-laced dirt, twisting unnaturally toward the surface. A low hum slid beneath the earth a deep, resonant pulse of ancient magic.

The rival’s smile widened faintly.

"It’s not just the wolves I’m taking," the rival said. His gaze burned toward her. "The forest itself is mine."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s claws slid toward her throat fast and sharp.

Lyla twisted beneath the blow. Her claws caught his wrist, dragging him hard toward the ground.

Their bodies collided.

A sharp pulse of dark magic split the air.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

The rival’s amber gaze gleamed beneath the thin stretch of moonlight.

"You think you can stop me?" the rival said softly.

Lyla’s breath steadied.

"Yes," Lyla said coldly.

Her claws drove toward his ribs.

The rival twisted beneath the strike. His claws raked across her side sharp and deep.

Blood soaked through her jacket.

Lyla’s breath hitched.

Eli’s voice sharpened over the comms. "Lyla!"

"I’m fine," Lyla’s voice was hard.

Her claws caught the rival’s throat fast and clean.

The rival’s breath sharpened.

"You think the forest chose you?" Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

The rival’s amber gaze darkened.

"You don’t understand what you’re fighting," the rival said quietly.

Lyla’s silver eyes burned.

"Neither do you."

Her claws tore through his side.

The rival’s body twisted beneath the blow. Blood sprayed across the frost-laced dirt.

The rival’s breath hitched.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

Jonas’s voice was sharp over the comms.

"Vaughn’s moving!"

Lyla’s gaze snapped toward the edge of the clearing.

Vaughn’s dark form blurred through the tree line fast and lethal. His claws shot toward Rowan’s back.

Jonas’s body blurred toward him

A sharp crack of bone split the clearing.

Jonas slammed into Vaughn’s side, dragging him hard toward the ground.

Blood sprayed across the frost-laced dirt.

Jonas’s claws tore through Vaughn’s ribs.

Vaughn’s breath hitched. His mouth curled darkly.

"Careful," Vaughn’s voice was low.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "Try me."

Vaughn’s claws shot toward Jonas’s throat fast.

Jonas’s body twisted beneath the strike. His claws caught Vaughn’s wrist fast and brutal.

A sharp snap of bone split the clearing.

Vaughn’s breath hitched. His dark gaze burned toward Jonas.

Jonas’s jaw flexed. "Stay down."

Vaughn’s dark gaze sharpened.

"You really think I’m going to stop?" Vaughn’s voice was low.

Jonas’s breath sharpened. "I hope not."

Vaughn’s dark gaze burned.

And then

A sharp pulse of dark magic split the air.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s body twisted beneath her hands. His amber eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight.

The ground beneath their feet pulsed violently.

Cold magic twisted through the dirt sharp and unnatural.

The rival’s claws shot toward Lyla’s ribs.

Lyla’s body twisted beneath the strike

But the rival’s claws caught her side.

Lyla’s breath hitched. Blood sprayed across the ground.

The rival’s amber gaze burned.

"You feel that?" the rival’s voice was low and sharp. "The forest knows me."

Lyla’s chest burned.

"You think it’s going to save you?" Lyla’s voice was cold.

The rival’s mouth curled faintly. "No."

His claws tore toward her throat.

Lyla’s body twisted beneath the strike fast.

Her claws caught his wrist.

And then

She pulled.

A sharp pulse of magic tore through the clearing.

The ground beneath them trembled.

The rival’s amber eyes flashed.

"What "

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"You’re not the only one the forest answers to."

The ground beneath her feet pulsed.

And then

Dark roots shot toward the rival’s legs, twisting around his ankles.

The rival’s breath sharpened.

The ground split beneath his feet.

The rival’s body twisted violently toward the dirt.

"What " The rival’s breath hitched.

Lyla’s claws pressed against his throat.

"You think the forest belongs to you?" Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

The rival’s amber gaze sharpened.

"It doesn’t," Lyla said.

Her claws drove toward his chest.

A sharp pulse of dark energy tore through the clearing.

The rival’s breath hitched

And then his body crumpled beneath her hands.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s breath steadied barely.

His amber gaze burned toward her.

"You think you’ve won?" the rival’s voice was low and cold.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned.

"No," Lyla said. "Not yet."

Vaughn’s breath sharpened behind her.

Jonas’s breath steadied behind her.

The ground beneath them pulsed faintly.

The forest was watching.

Eli’s voice sharpened over the comms.

"Lyla "

Lyla’s silver gaze narrowed.

"They’re regrouping."

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

The rival’s amber gaze burned toward her.

"You think you can stop this?"

Lyla’s silver eyes flashed.

"Yes," Lyla said coldly.

Her claws pressed deeper against his throat.

"Because I’m not finished yet."

Jonas leaned against the edge of the clearing after the fight. His breath was sharp and thin beneath the cold bite of the air.

Lyla crouched beside him.

"Still breathing?" Lyla’s voice was low.

Jonas’s mouth curled faintly. "Barely."

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s gaze burned toward her.

"You really think you’re going to win this?" Jonas’s voice was quiet.

Lyla’s silver gaze burned beneath the thin stretch of the sky.

"Yes," Lyla said.

Jonas’s mouth curled faintly.

"You sound sure."

"I am."

Jonas’s breath steadied.

"Good," Jonas said.

Lyla’s chest tightened.

Jonas’s hand brushed lightly against her wrist.

"We’re not done yet," Jonas said quietly.

Lyla’s breath sharpened.

"No," Lyla said.

Her silver gaze burned toward the dark line of the trees.

"Not yet."