Chapter 96

Chapter 96
Skylar’s POV

The silence in the woods was oppressive, broken only by the crunch of dead leaves beneath her boots. Skylar’s heart hammered in her chest as she pushed through the underbrush, the dense trees clawing at her arms like skeletal fingers. The moon was high, casting eerie shadows over the path ahead, and every creak of a branch made her flinch.

She wasn’t sure what she was following anymore—only that something had drawn her here. A whisper, maybe. A memory. Or perhaps it was that unshakable tug in her soul. Damon.

She hadn’t seen him in over a day. Not since he’d gone to confront the elders. But when the packhouse exploded in chaos and screaming filled the air, Skylar had known something had gone horribly wrong. She had bundled the triplets into the care of a trusted friend and taken off with nothing but her instincts and the wild fury of a mother—and a mate.

Now, she was in the depths of the forest where legends said spirits still roamed and old blood soaked the earth.

“Damon,” she whispered, hoping the wind would carry his name. “Where are you?”

A growl echoed in response—low, feral, and far too close.

Skylar froze.

From the shadows, a pair of glowing amber eyes emerged. A rogue, its fur matted with blood, stalked into view. Its snarl revealed yellowed teeth, and Skylar knew she wouldn’t be able to outrun it. Not now.

But she wasn’t here to run.

She dropped into a fighting stance, her fingers curling into fists. The memories of Luna Daisy’s training came rushing back—sharp reflexes, steady breathing, never showing fear. The rogue lunged, and Skylar spun, grabbing a thick branch from the ground and swinging with all her might.

It connected with a sickening thud. The rogue staggered back, dazed—but not down.

Skylar took her chance and bolted, zigzagging through the trees. Branches whipped at her face, thorns scratched her legs, but she kept going, heart pounding louder than the snarls behind her.

Then, just when she thought the rogue would catch her—a blur of silver and black shot through the air.

Damon.

He tackled the beast mid-leap, his wolf form a blur of muscle and fury. The two tumbled across the forest floor, snapping and snarling, a blur of teeth and claws. Skylar watched in horror as Damon was thrown against a tree, the impact cracking wood. Blood stained his fur.

“Damon!” she screamed.

But he rose again, his eyes glowing with rage. With a snarl that shook the ground, he pounced, teeth sinking deep into the rogue’s neck. The creature let out a gurgled cry before collapsing in a heap.

Panting, Damon shifted back to human form, blood trickling from a gash above his eye. “Skylar,” he rasped, stumbling toward her. “You shouldn’t be here.”

She caught him before he fell. “You left. I had to find you.”

He winced as she guided him toward a fallen log. “The council… they betrayed us. They knew. They knew about the prophecy all along.”

Skylar’s stomach twisted. “What are you talking about?”

Damon took a shaky breath. “They used Luna Daisy’s death to cover it. There’s a war coming, Sky. Not just with rogues—but with something darker. Something ancient.”

A howl rose in the distance. Not just one. Many.

Skylar’s grip on him tightened. “We need to move.”

“No,” he said, eyes locking onto hers. “We need to end this. Tonight.”

Lightning cracked across the sky. Thunder rolled through the woods, and rain began to pour. The howls were getting closer.

Damon pulled something from his belt—a silver dagger etched with runes.

“The Heartblade,” he said. “Luna Daisy kept it hidden for years. Said it was the only thing that could kill the Shadow Alpha.”

Skylar’s blood ran cold. “I thought he was a myth.”

“He’s not. He’s leading them.”

The wind howled through the trees, and the temperature dropped sharply. The shadows thickened, and from them emerged a figure cloaked in black. Tall. Unnaturally still. His eyes glowed a deep crimson.

Skylar instinctively stepped in front of Damon.

“Well,” the figure said, voice like gravel over stone, “the prodigal Alpha and his mate. What a reunion.”

Damon stood, the dagger gleaming in his hand. “You’ll never touch her.”

The Shadow Alpha chuckled. “You should be more concerned about yourself, boy. You’ve already failed once.”

Before Damon could strike, the shadows surged forward. Skylar screamed as cold darkness wrapped around her, dragging her back. She fought wildly, her fists and feet flailing, but it was like being trapped in smoke and ice.

Then—just as suddenly—the grip loosened.

A blast of golden light erupted from Damon’s chest, flaring across the forest like a shockwave. The shadows screeched and recoiled.

Skylar hit the ground, gasping. Damon collapsed beside her, the dagger rolling from his hand.

The Shadow Alpha staggered, his cloak burning at the edges. “So… it’s true. The bond has awakened.”

Skylar crawled to Damon, who was barely conscious. She grabbed the dagger, her fingers wrapping around the cold metal.

“Stay away from him,” she growled.

The Shadow Alpha smirked. “You think you can stop me?”

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she plunged the blade into the ground.

The earth cracked. Light burst upward in a column, striking the Shadow Alpha in the chest. He screamed—a terrible, otherworldly sound—before vanishing into the storm.

Then silence.

Skylar slumped forward, the adrenaline draining from her body. She felt Damon stir beside her, his hand reaching for hers.

“You did it,” he whispered.

“No,” she replied, holding him tightly. “We did.”

But as the storm passed and the howls faded, Skylar couldn’t shake the feeling it wasn’t over.

Because something still stirred in the dark. Something that had only just begun to awaken.