Chapter 125 Chapter 114

Chapter 125 Chapter 114
Ethan
The forest flew past me in a blur of greens and browns, the sound of my paws pounding against the earth loud in my ears. Every instinct I had screamed at me to move faster, to get to her. Rose’s scent was faint but distinct, and it lit a path that cut straight through my mind like a lifeline.
She’s close.
The thought spurred me on, though every instinct in me roared that something was wrong. The air thickened with each stride, its weight pressing against my fur like invisible hands. The scent of magic hung heavy, choking the atmosphere with darkness that curled around the trees like smoke. My wolf snarled deep in my chest, agitated, ready to tear through whatever lay in wait.
I knew this trail. The realization hit like a blade to the gut - I had been here before. The cave. My pulse spiked with the memory of the place, the hum of magic, the uneasy wrongness that had seeped into my bones the last time I’d set foot here. And now, with Rose’s trail leading me straight to it, a deep dread pooled in my gut. I pushed harder, a growl rumbling through me.
When the thick line of trees finally gave way, the ridge came into view. Moss, twisted roots, and shadow concealed the entrance, just as I remembered. I skidded to a halt at the mouth of the cave, claws digging into the damp earth as I shifted back to my human form. The sharp snap of bones, the ache in my limbs - a dull hum compared to the panic clawing at my chest.
“Rose…” I murmured, her scent still lingering - fresh, close. She had come here. She had come inside.
I ducked under the entrance and descended into the darkness. The heavy, suffocating air closed around me like a shroud, damp and cool against my skin. My eyes adjusted slowly as I moved deeper, the faint sound of water dripping echoing through the stone chamber. My bare feet crunched against gravel, the silence only broken by the steady beat of my own pulse pounding in my ears.
Focus.
My fingers brushed along the rough stone walls as I moved, searching for any trace of her. The cave felt familiar, but something was different. That’s when I saw it. A glow.
Faint at first, like mist illuminated by a distant flame. The light pulsed gently, suspended in the air as if it were alive. My footsteps slowed, my breath catching in my throat as I reached the spot where I’d once stopped. The cave had been sealed here, an unyielding wall of stone. But now… The rock had split.
A gaping passage yawned ahead of me, its jagged edges smoothed by unnatural force. I reached out, my palm resting against the cleaved stone. It was warm to the touch, faint tremors of magic buzzing under my skin, crawling up my arm.
“Rose…” I whispered, her power unmistakable in the lingering hum. She had done this, torn the cave open.
A new fear took root in my chest. What had she uncovered?
With no time to waste, I shifted again, embracing the form of my wolf. My paws carried me forward cautiously, every step laced with dread as I slipped into the tunnel. It was narrower here, the walls closing in, forcing me to duck and weave through uneven spaces. The deeper I ventured, the colder it became, the air biting at my fur.
The tunnel opened abruptly into a cavern, a chamber so vast my senses momentarily faltered. I stilled at the threshold, taking it all in.
The walls were alive with symbols, ancient and sinister, glowing faintly in a sickly light that made my fur bristle. The air buzzed with power, thick and electric, vibrating through the stone like the beat of some monstrous heart.
And then I saw her.
Rose.
At the center of it all, her white wolf glowed like a beacon against the darkness, her golden eyes burning with a light so fierce it nearly stole my breath. She moved with lethal grace, her powers rippling in the air as she fought - every swipe of her claws, every burst of energy sending waves of magic crashing outward.
But she wasn’t alone.
Across from her stood Andromeda, dark and terrible, her presence a storm of shadow. Her black robes billowed unnaturally, her lilac eyes burning with malevolent delight as she unleashed torrents of power toward Rose. The dark energy twisted through the air like snakes, tearing into the earth and leaving scorched trails in their wake.
And beside Andromeda, a figure loomed, a man who looked both human and not. His presence was suffocating, his very existence unnatural. His sharp features and burning crimson eyes marked him as something more - a demon.
A chill swept through me as understanding dawned. This was what the sacrifices had been for. This was what Andromeda had summoned.
The demon’s gaze flicked toward me then, as though sensing my presence. His crimson eyes glowed faintly, his lips curling into a smile that promised nothing but ruin.
I didn’t stop to think. I lunged into the fight.