The forest was no longer a place of refuge.
It had become a battlefield.
Branches snapped beneath rapid footsteps.
Wind howled violently through the trees.
Birds scattered into the sky in panic.
And cutting through it all—
Two figures ran.
Emmanuel.
Fiyin.
His grip on her hand was firm.
Unyielding.
Like letting go wasn't an option.
"Faster," he said, his voice sharp but controlled.
Fiyin nodded, pushing herself harder despite the burning in her legs.
"I'm trying—!"
But her body was still human.
Still adjusting.
Still… changing.
Behind them—
Howls.
Not one.
Not two.
Many.
Different tones.
Different strengths.
Different Alphas.
"They're getting closer…" Fiyin whispered, panic creeping into her voice.
Emmanuel's jaw tightened.
"I know."
His eyes scanned the forest rapidly.
Calculating.
Planning.
This wasn't like before.
This wasn't just one group.
This was coordinated.
"They're working together…" he muttered.
That alone was dangerous.
Alpha packs didn't unite easily.
They ruled.
They dominated.
They fought each other.
But now?
They had one common target.
Him.
A sudden sharp pain shot through Fiyin's body.
She stumbled.
"Ahh—!"
Emmanuel stopped instantly, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Fiyin!"
Her body trembled violently.
"I… I can't—"
Her voice broke.
Her eyes flickered.
Gold.
Then normal.
Then gold again.
Emmanuel froze.
"…it's starting."
Her breathing became uneven.
"It hurts…"
He tightened his grip slightly.
"I know."
But his voice wasn't just concerned.
It was tense.
Because he understood what this meant.
"She's transforming…"
Not fully.
Not yet.
But soon.
Too soon.
Another howl echoed—
Closer now.
Emmanuel's expression hardened.
"We don't have time."
He lifted her into his arms without hesitation.
Fiyin gasped slightly.
"Emmanuel—!"
"Hold on," he said.
And then—
He ran.
Faster than before.
Faster than anything human.
The wind whipped past them violently.
Trees blurred.
The ground barely felt beneath his feet.
Fiyin clutched his shirt tightly.
Her heart raced—not just from fear—
But from him.
From how close they were.
From how safe she felt… despite everything.
"…you're not even tired…" she whispered weakly.
Emmanuel didn't respond immediately.
"I don't get that luxury anymore."
A beat.
"I don't get to be weak."
That hit her.
Hard.
She looked up at him.
Really looked.
At the tension in his jaw.
The darkness in his eyes.
The weight he carried.
"You're not weak," she said softly.
He didn't answer.
Because deep down—
He didn't believe that.
Suddenly—
He stopped.
Too abruptly.
Fiyin's grip tightened.
"What is it?"
Silence.
Then—
A figure dropped from the trees in front of them.
Then another.
And another.
Blocking their path.
Emmanuel slowly set Fiyin down behind him.
"Stay back," he said.
Her hand instinctively reached for his arm.
"Emmanuel…"
He didn't look at her.
"I mean it."
Something in his tone—
Made her obey.
Reluctantly.
The wolves stepped forward.
Three this time.
Different from the others.
Stronger.
Their presence alone felt… heavy.
One of them smiled.
"You can't outrun all of us."
Another tilted his head.
"Hand over the girl."
A pause.
"And maybe we'll let you live."
Silence.
Then—
Emmanuel laughed.
Low.
Cold.
"You really believe that?"
His eyes slowly shifted.
Crimson.
Burning.
"You've been chasing me…"
His voice dropped.
"But you still don't understand."
The air changed.
Pressure built.
Even the Alphas stiffened slightly.
"I'm not the one running from you."
A step forward.
"You're running into me."
The ground cracked beneath him.
And just like that—
Everything exploded.
They attacked.
All at once.
Fast.
Coordinated.
Brutal.
But Emmanuel?
He didn't hold back.
Not this time.
The first wolf lunged—
Gone.
A single strike.
Clean.
The second came from behind—
Emmanuel spun—
Claws tearing through flesh effortlessly.
The third—
Stronger.
Smarter.
But not enough.
They clashed violently.
Power met power.
But Emmanuel's strength wasn't just physical.
It was overwhelming.
Dominant.
The Alpha faltered.
And that was his mistake.
Emmanuel's claws struck—
Ending it.
Silence fell.
Again.
Fiyin stood frozen.
Her chest rising rapidly.
Her body trembling.
But not from fear alone.
Something inside her…
Was responding.
To him.
To his power.
To his dominance.
"Emmanuel…" she whispered.
He turned slowly.
Still in his wolf form.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment—
The beast paused.
Recognized her.
Then—
He shifted back.
Breathing heavily.
His body tense.
"…we need to move," he said.
But this time—
Fiyin didn't move immediately.
She stared at him.
"You're changing…"
A pause.
"And it's not just your body."
That hit him.
Harder than any attack.
He looked away briefly.
"…I know."
Silence.
Then she stepped closer.
Slow.
Careful.
But certain.
"Then don't shut me out," she said.
He looked at her again.
Conflicted.
"…you don't understand what I am yet."
She shook her head slightly.
"Then let me learn."
A beat.
"With you."
That word—
With.
It stayed with him.
Longer than it should have.
Before he could respond—
A massive howl echoed across the forest.
Different.
Stronger.
More powerful than all the others.
Emmanuel froze.
His expression darkened.
"…that's not just an Alpha."
Fiyin's heart dropped.
"Then what is it?"
A pause.
His voice came out low.
Grim.
"Something worse."
Far away—
A massive wolf stood on a cliff.
Watching.
Waiting.
Its eyes glowed…
Deep blue.
And filled with intent.
"…I've found you."
The hunt had just evolved.
And this time—
It wasn't just about power.
It was personal.