*NEW* Chapter XXXVIII

Vanessa's POV

While Derek and the others engaged in battle at the frontlines, I moved silently with a handful of wolves, slipping through the shadows at the rear of Lars' stronghold. We didn't know exactly where Lydia was being held, but we would tear this place apart until we found her.

The only thing we needed was time—time for Crescendo Moon to keep the enemy distracted while we searched.

Moving carefully, we avoided detection for as long as possible, taking down stray guards when necessary and hiding their bodies in the darkness. We were running out of time.

Then, I saw her.

Arabella.

She was rushing through a corridor, a wolf beside her, urgency in her steps. I signaled to my wolves, motioning for them to stay quiet. We ducked behind a stack of crates, watching.

"We must extract the power now," Arabella hissed. "There's no time left."

The wolf with her nodded. "The ritual is ready. Everything is in place."

Arabella exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Derek won't stop. I can feel him coming. We need to act before it's too late."

I clenched my fists. Not if I had anything to say about it.

We followed them, keeping a safe distance as they made their way down a winding staircase into the lower levels of the stronghold. A basement. That's where they were keeping Lydia.

Once Arabella entered a dimly lit room, we held back just long enough to formulate a plan. Two guards stood at the door. They had to go first.

I turned to my team, whispering, "Take the guards. I'll handle what's inside."

My wolves nodded. Without hesitation, they struck, moving like shadows, taking down the guards in near silence.

The moment they hit the floor, I moved. Lydia was in there. I wasn't leaving without her.

I pushed open the door and slipped inside, ready for a fight.

Time was up.

Lydia's POV

I woke up bound, my wrists tied, panic rising in my chest. What good was having so much power inside me if I couldn't even use it? My head ached, my body sore from whatever they had done to me. The fear settled deep, clawing at my mind. I hated being restrained.

Chloe had done this to me before—locked me away, trapped me just to watch me suffer. That's why I had hated Derek for so long. He felt like another captor. But Derek had never been cruel—he had tried to keep me safe, even when I fought him every step of the way.

But this wasn't Derek's doing. He had never tied me up, never gagged me. He ordered me to stay, but he had never forced me.

Was this the council? Or was it Lars?

I didn't have to wonder for long. The door swung open, and Arabella strode in, her smirk cold and triumphant.

"Finally awake, I see," she purred. "The girl who stole everything from me. My mate. My power."

She yanked the gag from my mouth. "Tell me, why didn't you reject him? Do you actually love Derek?"

Tears burned down my cheeks. "Take it," I whispered. "Take all of it. It's a curse. The only thing keeping me from staying with him. Just—don't hurt anyone."

Arabella laughed, a cruel sound. "So shall it be. Soon, I will be the most powerful being on earth."

She disappeared, and the hours stretched endlessly. Then, they came—setting up the ritual. Candles, bowls, symbols. My stomach twisted. I wasn't getting out of this.

Then, Arabella returned, chanting, mixing the dagger into a bowl of water, her eyes burning with hunger.

A noise outside. A scuffle.

Arabella spun around, hissing a spell. The door burst open—Vanessa collapsed to the ground, groaning. Damn witch.

Arabella ignored her and continued, lifting the dagger. "Don't worry," she crooned. "You'll just fall asleep."

A sharp sting—she slit my wrists. Blood dripped into a bowl.

Then, I grabbed her.

She screamed, struggling. "What are you doing?!"

I didn't know. I just held on. Arabella's strength drained—she fell to her knees, gasping. The barrier around the room shattered, Vanessa stumbling inside.

Arabella collapsed. My wounds healed. I felt stronger.

Vanessa untied me. "Did you... did you do that?"

I shook my head, still trembling. "I don't know."

She grabbed my hand. "It doesn't matter. We need to leave. Now."

Vanessa pulled me through the dimly lit corridors, her grip firm yet urgent. My body was weak, my wrists still tingling from the remnants of Arabella's twisted ritual, but there was no time to dwell on it. We needed to get out.

We slipped past unconscious guards and fallen enemies, the scent of blood thick in the air. The howls of battle raged outside, but our path through the stronghold remained eerily quiet—too quiet. A sinking feeling formed in my stomach.

Then, a growl echoed behind us. My heart slammed against my ribs as dark figures emerged from the shadows. Wolves. Their yellow eyes gleamed with malice as they bared their teeth, blocking our escape.

Vanessa shoved me behind her, shifting into her wolf mid-motion. She lunged at the first attacker, fangs sinking into flesh. I stumbled backward, searching for a way out when another wolf charged. I braced for impact—

A deafening roar shook the walls. A blur of black and silver crashed into the enemy, sending wolves flying like rag dolls. Derek.

He had found me.