The forest behind us erupted.
Branches snapped like bones. Leaves tore from their stems. The ground trembled beneath our feet as something massive pushed through the trees — something ancient, something wrong, something that did not belong in our world.
Jayden tightened his grip around me, pulling me and the baby close. Hayden and Kayden flanked us instantly, their bodies tense, their eyes sharp. Jonah sprinted toward us, shifting mid‑stride into his massive dark wolf. My mother followed, her silver wolf glowing faintly under the moonlight.
The baby — Jax — whimpered softly, curling into my chest. His tiny fingers clutched my shirt, his blue eyes glowing with a faint, eerie light.
Selena pressed forward, trembling. Protect him.
I held him tighter. “I’ve got you.”
The growl came again
