Chapter 34 Masked
Derek approached the river, the eerie silence only heightening his unease. Raising his right hand, he motioned for his warriors to halt as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, every sense heightened to the subtle sounds and movements around him.
From where he was standing,he could see the vampire's hideout that Sara described—a small, ancient structure carved from the rocky cliffs by the water, it was hidden partially by a dense cluster of trees and overgrowth. If you don't look closely, you wouldn't notice it. Shadows draped across the entrance, and Derek noticed remnants of crude barricades and the unmistakable stench of vampire lairs—Which further proves Sara's confession.
But then, he caught it—a trace of Ella's scent, drifting faintly on the air. It wasn’t as strong as it should have been, which set his instincts on edge. Why was her scent so weak? Without wasting more time, he mindlinked his warriors, instructing them to fan out and proceed cautiously.
The warriors bowed, their silent forms melting into the shadows as they spread out, senses heightened. Derek followed the faint smell of Ella, his gut churning as he approached a small room inside the hideout. The walls were bare and cold, with scratch marks etched into the stone, as if someone had fought to escape. Chains hung from the walls, glinting ominously, and the air was thick with the lingering energy of a recent struggle.
He took a deep breath, letting the scent guide him deeper,he noticed a small bed by the side, close to the window, he leaned down as he inhaled the lingering scent of Ella, ’She must have laid here’ he thought. Inhaling the small bedsheet that was draped on the bed, allowing her scent overwhelm him. “Oh, how I miss you Ella” he growled, but suddenly he tensed.
There was something—no, someone—nearby. A shadow darted from the corner, almost knocking him over. Derek turned swiftly, clashing with a vampire who lunged at him, eyes gleaming with malice. Rage surged through Derek, his movements fueled by the frustration of not finding Ella. With a powerful grip, he grabbed the vampire by the throat, strangling him as he snarled.
The vampire grinned, taunting him, and Derek realized too late that he hadn't sensed the creature because their scent was almost... masked. "They’ve learned to hide their stench," he muttered under his breath, the implications sinking in.
Realizing the setup, Derek quickly mindlinked his pack. "Be on alert. The vampires are still around, but their scent is hidden…" A sudden scream from one of his warriors cut through the mindlink, followed by abrupt silence.
Derek’s blood ran cold. "What's going on?" he demanded, his mindlink strained with urgency.
The remaining wolves tensed up, their heads whipping around, eyes scanning for threats. Suddenly, another attack hit them, but this time they were ready, their bodies moving in sync to defend against the incoming vampires.
“Alpha, we’re under attack, and we’re outnumbered!” Haden, the leader of Derek’s pack warriors, reported through the mindlink as he fought off a vampire closing in.
Derek cursed, the realization dawning on him. “Sara warned us,” he growled to himself, closing the mindlink as he allowed his transformation to overtake him. His body shifted, and within seconds, he was in his powerful wolf form, muscles rippling beneath his thick coat as he transformed fully into a black wolf, letting out a loud growl.
Vampires swarmed from all sides, their agility unmatched. Derek fought with relentless fury, tearing through his enemies, though not without suffering a few scratches himself. Leo, his wolf, let out a vicious growl, lunging at another vampire and tearing its head off with a single, powerful slash of his claw.
Through the chaos, Derek caught glimpses of his warriors battling fiercely, but the vampires were gaining ground, more of them flooding in from the shadows. His warriors were falling back, some injured, others overwhelmed by the sheer number of enemies. He couldn’t let his own reckless desire put their lives at risk.
“Retreat!” he commanded through the mindlink, his voice strained with regret. “Head back to the pack. This is clearly an ambush!”
The wolves hesitated, loyal and determined, but his authority was absolute. One by one, they broke away, aiding their injured comrades as they withdrew. Derek followed, his heart heavy. He should have listened to Sara, taken time to strategize, but his anger and sense of betrayal had driven him here, costing lives he had sworn to protect. This wasn’t a simple battle. The enemy was prepared, cunning, and it was clear now that Ella had been here but had already been moved.
As they retreated, Derek stole one last glance at the hideout. The vampires didn’t pursue after them, instead they stood at the entrance, watching as he and his pack warriors disappeared into the forest.
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Once the wolves were gone, Dorian, Valen's second in command, emerged from the shadows, his lips curled in satisfaction. He held Ella firmly by her arms, her wrists bound with thick ropes, her mouth gagged to keep her from calling out. Her eyes were wide with a mixture of anger and frustration as she struggled against her restraints.
Dorian looked down at her, his amusement growing. “Did you really think he’d save you?” he sneered, tightening his grip. His hatred for werewolves clearly visible and for the fact that she's one of the very species Valen detested urged him further. Ella glared at him, her muffled protest only making him chuckle. The vampires had taken every precaution, coating her with a scent-masking spray that hid her presence entirely from Derek and his warriors. They had perfected this technique, a dark secret developed to outwit their ancient enemies.
From the shadows, Ella watched, devastated, as Derek and his pack warriors retreated, oblivious to her presence. Her heart sank as she realized the vampires had been one step ahead all along, and Derek had been led straight into their trap. This newfound ability to mask their scent was a powerful weapon, one that could shift the balance of power in the vampires' favor.
As Derek and his pack disappeared from sight, Ella’s eyes dimmed. Dorian’s cruel laughter echoed around her, and she knew this was only the beginning of a much darker game.
Suddenly, Dorian's phone vibrated, as he picks up, a powerful voice that sent a chill down her spine spoke out. “Bring her to the Clan, it's high time I meet this healer.