chapter seventy

The scream ripped through the silence, echoing down the passage like a death knell. My wolf form dissolved, replaced by a chilling fear that paralyzed me for a moment. But then, instinct kicked in, fueled by a raw protectiveness for the Eldest One and everyone I cared about at the sanctuary.

Ignoring the tremors in my legs, I launched myself back through the swirling vortex, the whispers now a cacophony of mocking laughter in my ears. The once-daunting darkness of the Chamber of Echoes now seemed almost welcoming compared to the terror that awaited me outside.

Emerging back into the passage, I found the heavy stone door ajar. Moonlight streamed through the opening, illuminating a scene straight out of my nightmares. The Eldest One lay crumpled on the cold floor, his white fur stained crimson where a cruel gash marred his chest. Beside him stood a figure clad in black armor, a glint of triumph reflected in his visor. A soldier of King Aaron, just as I'd feared.