Marked for Danger

Lena's POV

I had just closed my eyes, the weight of sleep pulling me in, when I heard a low growl cut through the silence like a knife.

It was deep and quiet. almost too low to hear at first, but the sound was there, I was so sure I heard it.

My eyes immediately opened. Asher. I didn't even have to think twice about it. It was him. His growl could be heard through the whole room, but sharper this time, like a warning.

I blinked my eyes, trying to look into the darkness, with the unspoken confusion clouding my mind.I was still half-asleep, my body exhausted and tired. That growl…. It was ..different.

It wasn't just a normal sound. It was… something else. Something urgent. I sat up slowly, my heart beating in my chest. Asher was standing at the edge of the bed, his body motionless, his ears laying against his head. 

His amber eyes glowed in the dark, looking hard at the window. It was that look…that intense,unwavering stare—that made my stomach twist.

Something was out there that had made him act like this.I immediately stood up from my bed, landing my feet to the floor, my bare toes touching against the cold wood. 

The house was quiet, but my senses were on high alert. Every single sound made by my footsteps, every shift in the air felt too loud, too alive.

I looked over at Asher again, this time, he wasn't just watching. His head was raised, his body low to the ground, he took a step closer to the window, his eyes never stopping to stare outside of it.

Another growl,barely heard again, made noises in his chest. It was a warning, but to whom?

An unsteady movement that was on and off caught my eye outside. I could hear footsteps, slow, quiet, They were coming closer to my doorstep. 

My heart jumped, quick and panicking. The hairs on the back of my neck rose up and I felt the world around me shrinking. everything else is fading away. 

My thoughts scattered to different pieces, trying to figure out what to do.I had nothing,no weapon, no escape plan. Just I And Asher.

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice trembling. It felt too small, too fragile, But I had to say something. At least I had to try to act brave.

No answer. Just the sound of the footsteps getting louder and louder….getting closer. I peeked through my window blinds, hoping to see who it was.

Then I saw them. Two figures standing in my yard., they looked like shadows. They were too still, too quiet. their eyes…..it glowed like twin lanterns in the dark.

One of them began coming forward to my front door, the sound of their boots making noises on grass outside. And that's when I heard it.

"We know you're in there, Lena," the voice called out.

I couldn't move, just stood there, staring blankly. They knew my name. How?

My mouth went dry. "Who are you?" I shot back, more The words felt weak, even though I was trying to sound brave.

The figure's voice came again, low and commanding, as if they were speaking to someone they already controlled. "You are the key, Lena. 

Key? What did that even mean? I wanted to scream at the figure to get off my property, but the words stuck in my throat. 

There was nothing but silence in the air, an oppressive weight that felt like it had been put on my chest. I could feel the temperature in the room starting to drop, making the hairs on my body rise up.

Something was about to happen. Something I did not have the power to stop. Asher's growl grew intense and louder, vibrating through the floor.

 He took another step forward,his body becoming ok high alert and his eyes never leaving the window. He stood as a watchdog ready to pounce on an intruder in his owner's property.

He wasn't just a dog anymore—he was my protector. And whoever was out there had made a huge mistake of entering my property.

Then, without warning, Asher jumped off the window. He moved with a speed that was beyond what I could predict. his body crashed into the glass with an immense force.

The sound echoed through the room, as I saw my window shattered on the floor. I backed away immediately, avoiding the broken glasses on the floor.

But Asher was not stopping. He was already on the move, his claws scraping against the floor as he tried to get hold of the figure outside.

I began to run, trying to meet up with Asher's speed but even with that I couldn't catch up with him. The figure outside raised its hand, and a wave of dark and cold energy came out from them.

The moment the energy hit Asher, it sent him flying backward,hitting the ground with a heavy sound,his body rolling on the floor.

For a while, everywhere went silent. "Stay down, mutt." The figure spoke again. Sounds cold and ruthless this time.

I felt my hands trembling, I had to do something, I could not just stand here and watch him hurt Asher…my Asher.

I took a step closer to the window, my body moving before my brain could figure out what I needed to do. But then, immediately something shifted inside me.

I didn't know how to explain it, but that same wave of energy that sent Asher on the floor was now pulling towards it, like a magnet. 

My body reacted to it, every fibre in me vibrating with power I didn't understand. It felt terrifying, but also like a charge of adrenaline at the same time.

The figure's eyes looked toward me, I reached out, my hand trembling as the energy circled around my fingers. It was like I opened a door, one that had been locked for years. 

I could feel the force. It was there—raw, like a wild animal. I wanted it out. Or maybe not, I didn't question it. I just let it happen.

A surge of light came forcefully from me, a wave of power rushing toward the figure like a storm. It hit him with a violent force, throwing it back further several feet.

The glow in their eyes disappeared and I could hear them scream in pain as they struggled to get back up. For a moment, I just stood there, breathing heavily.

The air around me shifted and a mark appeared on my wrist. something that had never been there before. It felt hot under my skin, as if it was alive.

The figure pushed itself up, its eyes flashing with anger. It raised its hand to strike again, and I braced myself for what was about to come next.

But before it could do anything, I felt a strange pressure, like something was pulling me in deep inside. I reached for Asher, running towards where he was later as fast as I could.

His body lay motionless on the floor, his breathing quiet and empty. I could no longer see the glow in his amber eyes, And his fur, too—there was a strange light under the surface of his skin.

"No," I screamed in agony. "Please, not him."I reached for him, my fingers brushing rubbing against his fur, but immediately the mark on my wrist burned with heat, as I was left screaming in pain.

It was burning. I looked down at my wrist, and that's when I saw it. A mark or maybe a symbol. It was dark, and ancient. 

I had never seen it before, but it was there now, clinging to my skin as if it had always been meant to be there. I kept looking at it, my heart pounding in my chest, it immediately dawned on me that the figure was still there.

As I turned towards it, it had already disappeared, it was…gone. I looked back at Asher, and that's when I saw it, his body started shrinking, his muscles moving quickly. 

And then, he collapsed, his body going completely still. His fur was glowing, but the light was fading.

"No," I whispered, panic rising in my throat. "Asher… Please…" But he didn't move.

The world seemed to move around me,and then the last thing I saw before darkened crept into me waa the mark on my wrist.