Chapter 17: The Inner Voice

The wolf attack on Elias had thrown the city into chaos. The royal army and members of 'Blood Bound' were together facing the wild werewolves, but these wolves were not normal. Their ferocity and dark energy had awakened a strange sensation within Marcus. He had plunged into the battle, using his Bloody and Anomalous Chi, but his mind was elsewhere.

Suddenly, amidst the din and screams of battle, a deep, heavy voice echoed from within Marcus's heart. This voice didn't resonate in his ears, but directly in his soul, as if someone were speaking from the deepest corner of his being.

"Listen to me, Marcus."

Marcus paused for a moment, his eyes wide. He was startled by where this voice was coming from. He looked around, but there was no one speaking. Was it an illusion within him?

Then, the same voice came again, and this time it was even clearer, as if speaking directly into his mind.

"This voice is coming from your heart, Marcus. I am Alpha Zephyr."

Marcus's heart pounded. Alpha Zephyr! Orion had told him about this ancient spirit, residing within him. But he had never thought she would be able to speak to him directly. The voice was powerful, authoritative, and deep, as if centuries of knowledge were contained within it.

"I want you to complete your transformation. Devour the hearts of those wolves." Alpha Zephyr's voice held a strange hunger and determination.

Marcus looked at the wolves fighting in front of him. They were wild, cruel, but they were still werewolves like him. For a moment, Marcus was conflicted.

"But... they are your kin," Marcus said to himself, a hint of hesitation in his voice. "They are of your own kind."

A bitter, sarcastic laugh echoed in Alpha Zephyr's voice. This laughter was cold and cruel, harboring deep hatred.

"My kin? Ha! These traitors, these weaklings were never my kin, Marcus. These are the ones who betrayed me, who broke that ancient bond. They have suppressed my power for centuries."

A new energy entered Alpha Zephyr's voice, stimulating the Bloody and Anomalous Chi within Marcus.

"Just do as I say. Help me reclaim my powers. Devour their hearts, and you will absorb my power within you. This will give you the strength necessary to fight Dracula."

Marcus was in a dilemma. On one hand, Orion had taught him to maintain his humanity and control his power. On the other hand, this ancient spirit within him was pushing him onto a path where cruelty and primal instinct dominated. But Alpha Zephyr was right, he needed every ounce of strength to fight Dracula, and these werewolves were just a means to an end.

Marcus closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The ruins of Lilywood, the faces of his family, and the cruelty of the vampires flashed through his mind. The fire of revenge flared up in his heart once more. He knew that whether this path was right or wrong, it would ensure his victory. He opened his eyes, now glowing red, and they held a new, terrifying resolve.

"Alright," Marcus said to himself. "I will do as you say."

This was a new beginning for him, where he was about to embrace his inner primal instincts to defeat his enemies. Marcus was now completely ready to become the 'Red Wolf'.

How will Marcus now transform in the battle of Elias? How will this new, bloody form affect the battle?