138

Finn

The early morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as I stood in the training grounds, watching my mate.

Scarlett.

She had come so far.

When we first started training, she could barely hold her own against me. But now, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Each strike she threw was sharper, her footwork more correct. She was pushing herself past exhaustion, beyond every limit her body screamed at her to stop at.

And damn, if that didn't make me proud.

I watched her, my mate, the woman I loved, pour every ounce of herself into this fight.

Her beautiful eyes shone with determination, and the sweat glistening on her skin only made her look fiercer.

Oh my goddess, she is freaking hot right now.

"Again," I commanded, and she lunged at me.

I sidestepped easily, my instincts kicking in before I even had to think. She was fast, but not fast enough. Not yet.

"Faster, Scarlett."

She gritted her teeth, frustration clear in every fiber of her being. I could feel her anger and her hunger to prove herself. I had no doubt that one day, she would be able to take me down.

Just… not today.

She launched another attack, throwing a punch with all her might. I caught her wrist effortlessly, twisting her arm to throw her off balance.

But before I could flip her onto the ground again, she did something unexpected. She dropped her weight and spun, slipping out of my grip.

My brows lifted in surprise a split second before-

Smack!

Her fist connected with my jaw.

I barely stumbled, but the hit had landed. She had actually landed a hit.

I blinked, shock and something like pride swelling in my chest. "That was brutal," I muttered, rubbing my jaw. "At least not my face, darling."

She didn't even smirk at my teasing.

"Again," she growled, lunging once more.

And we continued. Blow after blow, dodge after dodge. She was getting stronger. Strong enough that I almost had to start trying.

Almost.

Then something changed.

At first, it was indirect. The air around her shifted, charged with an unfamiliar energy. The hairs on my arms stood on end. A shiver ran down my spine.

Then it hit me.

A surge of power exploded from her, like a streaming wave crashing into me, and before I could react-

Boom!

I was thrown backward, my body slamming against the unforgiving ground. Pain radiated through me, but I barely registered it. My eyes were locked on Scarlett.

She was standing in the middle of the training field, her body trembling, her beautiful eyes now glowing an eerie, unnatural shade.

The energy surrounding her sparkled like lightning, wild and uncontrollable.

I had never felt anything like it before.

This wasn't normal. This wasn't just her wolf.

This was something else entirely.

I gritted my teeth, ignoring the pain in my ribs as I pushed myself up. She was losing control.

If this strange power consumed her, she could die. No, I don't want this. I have to help her.

"Scarlett!" I shouted, forcing my legs to move toward her.

She didn't hear me.

Her breathing was ragged, her body stiff as though she were fighting something invisible. Her claws extended against her will, and a low growl rumbled from her throat.

She wasn't seeing me anymore.

She was seeing an enemy.

I forced myself forward, ignoring the sharp pain slicing through my side. "Scarlett, it's me, Finn," I said, softer this time. "You're not in battle. You're training. You're safe."

Her body jerked. Her lips parted, as if she wanted to say something, but then the power flared again.

If I didn't stop this now, she could hurt herself.

"Scarlett," I called.

She didn't hesitate to attack me. She threw me off with savage force.

I whimpered as white-hot pain shot through me like lightning. Trembling, I forced my battered body to rise once more, blood trickling down my chin.

"Wake up, mate," I howled. "Please."

Her eyes shimmered with blue fire, cold, beautiful, and utterly merciless.

Something ancient and terrible lurked behind that gaze as she turned to face me again, a predator toying with broken prey.

"Scarlett."

No matter what I did, she kept attacking me.

The woman I loved had become my executioner, and still, I couldn't stop reaching for her.

"I'm not your enemy. I am your mate, your beloved," I whispered, the words muffled by the metallic taste of my own blood.

Another attack from her shattered what remained of my bones. I let out a raw, guttural scream, this time, the pain was a thousand times worse than anything I had ever felt before.

In front of her, I couldn't lift my hand. I was powerless.

I pushed my body further, trying to stand, but I couldn't. I had reached my limit.

"Storm," I mind-linked my wolf. "Over to you."

Storm whimpered. It was as if he was about to face something dangerous, something powerful enough to kill us. My faithful companion, my other half, trembled in fear of what stood before us.

What was this unknown power that could turn my mate into a monster and strike terror into the heart of my wolf?

Was someone using my mate to launch an attack? To kill me?

But no one had that kind of power except the witches.

"Storm. Do something."

My wolf resisted, his presence shrinking back within me.

"Are you afraid we could hurt her, Storm?" I questioned, searching for any explanation for his reluctance.

"No." His voice was filled with something I had never heard before, fear.

"I can't even go near her, let alone hurt her, Finn," he finally responded. "In front of her… I am nothing."

"What?" I was stunned by his words. "You mean you can't do anything?"

"She isn't our mate right now," Storm said. "She is far more dangerous than you think."

No. I refused to believe it. The woman I loved, transformed into something that terrified even my wolf? Impossible.

Should I just watch her kill me? Then later kill herself? The thought of Scarlett awakening to find my blood on her hands terrified me.

Whoever is behind this… whoever is using my mate against me…

They should be ready to face my wrath.