Chapter 19: A wolf in the shadows

Chapter Nineteen: A Wolf in the Shadows

It was a low, rumbling growl that rolled through the Hollow, like the lowing of an animal coming from all ways at once. Ava's breath tugged to a stop as she froze, her gaze darting through the trees around her. She couldn't see anything, but she could feel it-a presence out there, lurking on the periphery of her vision. The air thickened, filling with an almost palpable sense of impending doom.

Damien's posture stiffened, his wolf senses on high alert. His eyes narrowed as he peered into the darkened woods, trying to pinpoint the origin of the growl. His fingers brushed the blade at his side, but he didn't draw it yet. He was waiting-waiting for the enemy to reveal itself.

"Stay close," Damien whispered to Ava, his voice a low warning. "Something's not right.

Ava nodded, her heart racing. She took a half step closer to Damien, her own senses on high alert. The feeling of being watched overwhelmed her. The Hollow was alive, the energy swirling around them like a living thing, as if the very forest were part of the danger.

Another growl echoed through the trees, this one louder, closer. The sound sent a chill down Ava's spine. It wasn't just a wolf; it was something far more menacing. Her gaze darted to Damien, who was already moving, his body tense, ready for whatever was about to emerge from the shadows.

Then, from the darkness, a figure stepped out, its silhouette cut through the gloom. Ava's breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight: a wolf, massive and menacing, fur dark as night, eyes glowing with an unnatural yellow light. It moved with the lithe, fluid strength of a predator, its body rippling with raw power.

But it wasn't just any wolf. Ava recognized the markings on its fur, the signature scars across its muzzle. This wolf was different-it was Aric's.

Damien's eyes flashed with recognition, his jaw clenching. "So he's here.

The wolf was enormous, no more than a few feet away, staring at Damien, the low growl rumbling from its throat. There was no mistaking the hostility in its gaze, nor the malice that seemed to radiate from its form. It wasn't just a wolf protecting its territory; it was a message.

"Damien…" Ava began, her voice barely above a whisper. "What do we do?

Damien didn't look at her, his attention fully on Aric's wolf form. "Stay back," he muttered, his voice steady but filled with tension. "If he's here, it means he knows we're after the Bloodstone."

Ava's stomach twisted in fear, but she did as Damien said, stepping back a few paces, her eyes never leaving the towering wolf. The growl deepened, and Aric's wolf lowered its body, preparing to strike. Ava could feel the air crackling with the promise of violence, the forest around them holding its breath, waiting for the clash to come.

Damien stepped forward, his eyes flashing a warning to Aric's wolf. "This isn't your fight, Aric," he said, his voice firm, though his own wolf instincts were clearly struggling to stay in control. "Stay out of it.

The wolf growled-the sound vicious, almost primal-its teeth bared in a silent threat. One step forward and its claws were digging into the earth, Damien's stance shifting to his own muscles coiling ready. But before he could get into it, another figure emerged from the shadows-this one human.

Ava's breath caught in her throat as she recognized the woman who stepped into the clearing: it was the same woman she had seen in the most distant corners of the pack-Elara. The one that always appeared to be watching Damien, her eyes aflame with jealousy and hate whenever she saw Ava anywhere near him.

Elara," Damien growled, the anger and warning thick in his voice. "What are you doing here?"

Elara's lips curved into a wicked smile, cold with malice. "I should be asking you the same question, Alpha." Her eyes flicked to Ava, and her smile morphed into a sneer. "You really think you could come in here and take what belongs to me?

Ava's chest tightened, her instincts screaming that the woman was a threat. "What's yours?" she demanded, her voice steady despite the knot in her stomach.

Elara's eyes flicked back to Damien, her expression one of possessiveness. "Damien should have been mine," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "But you—you—came along, and now everything's falling apart. You don't belong here, human.

Ava's hands clenched into fists at her sides. She couldn't let Elara get to her, couldn't let her show how much her words were affecting her. But there was no denying the undercurrent of jealousy that laced Elara's words. The woman had been watching them, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Elara," Damien said, his voice cold, final. "This is about the Bloodstone, not you. Stay out of this."

Elara's lips twisted into a mocking grin. "Oh, I don't think I will. You see, the Bloodstone isn't just a relic to be buried and forgotten. It's a symbol of power-a power I intend to wield. And you-you-are in my way.

Ava's heart pounded in her chest as she realized Elara wasn't just some jealous woman; she was a threat in her own right, and she would do whatever it took to take what she believed was rightfully hers. She had been planning this all along, waiting for Damien's attention to shift so she could make her move.

Damien stepped forward, his eyes flashing with fury. "You have no idea what you're dealing with."

Before Elara could respond, Aric's wolf let out another low growl, the sound vibrating in the air like a warning.

"Enough," Damien growled. His voice was thick with authority as he shifted his stance, preparing to face both Aric's wolf and Elara.

Ava's heart was racing in her chest. The tension between the three of them was palpable, electric, and the air crackled with energy. She had no idea what would come next, but one thing was for sure-this was far fro

m over, this battle. And they were anything but safe.