A Luna For The Reaper

Chapter 8

The towering tree crashed toward the road like a falling mountain.

This wasn’t an accident of nature. The tree had been deliberately cut, and now it thundered toward the convoy with deadly precision, aimed directly at the space between the lead SUV and Aloha’s Range Rover.

“Brace for impact!” Greg shouted, slamming both feet on the brake pedal.

Aloha was hurled forward, her seatbelt digging painfully into her chest as the impact stole the air from her lungs.

The convoy had come to a complete stop.

“Back up!” Aloha cried, panic breaking through her voice. “Greg, Reverse Now!”

Without hesitation, Greg shifted into reverse and slammed his foot on the accelerator.

Then he looked into the rearview mirror.

Every trace of color vanished from his face.

Aloha turned around.

Behind them, another ancient tree crashed across the road.

Their escape route vanished beneath an avalanche of wood and branches.

They were trapped as their car now sat imprisoned between two fallen giants.

For several long seconds, an eerie silence settled over the forest.

The engine continued to idle while dust drifted slowly through the air.

“They planned this,” Greg whispered as he pulled his pistol from its holster. His hand trembled noticeably. “They knew exactly which road we’d take.”

Then the howls came. They echoed from every direction.

Not the lonely cries of wolves roaming the wilderness, but fierce battle calls filled with triumph and bloodlust.

Dozens of voices surrounded the convoy.

Then…A figure appeared.

Standing atop the enormous fallen oak ahead of them was a man who seemed to belong to the forest itself.

He remained in human form, yet there was something undeniably wild about him.

He wore no shirt despite the cold, revealing a broad chest covered in intricate tribal markings. Long dark hair partially concealed his face, while a deep scar stretched from his jaw to his collarbone.

In one hand rested a massive curved blade stained with something dark.

Greg inhaled sharply.

“The Reaper…” he whispered hoarsely.

The stranger looked directly toward the Range Rover.

Even through the darkened windows, Aloha could feel the crushing weight of his gaze.

It was calm and unwavering. He said nothing.

Instead, he slowly lifted one hand and pointed at Aloha.

In an instant, the silence shattered into complete chaos. The passenger-side window exploded inward. Glass rained across the luxury leather seats.

“Defensive formation!” Greg shouted into his radio. “We’re under attack! Code Red! Code Red!”

Only static answered him. Then came something far worse.

The desperate cries of dying men.

Aloha pressed herself against the remaining window, horror flooding her body as she watched the m******e unfold.

Lucien had assigned ten of his finest warriors to escort her.

They were elite enforcers, veteran fighters.

They shouldn’t be overwhelmed by ordinary Rogues.

Except that these were not ordinary rogues. Their movements were unnaturally fast.

Dark figures dropped silently from the towering branches above, landing on the armored vehicles with crushing force.

One of the convoy guards burst from the lead SUV.

Aloha recognized him immediately. His name was Darius, one of Lucien’s strongest Beta warriors.

He shifted before his feet even touched the ground.

But he barely lasted three seconds, as his head separated cleanly from his body before he could release a single howl.

Aloha clamped both hands over her mouth to stop herself from screaming.

“My Goddess…” Greg breathed.

His radio slipped from his hand as terror overtook him.

Drawing his silver pistol, he looked toward the battlefield.

“Stay inside!” he ordered without taking his eyes off the slaughter. “Whatever happens, don’t unlock these doors!”

“Greg, don’t leave, please let’s stick together!” Aloha pleaded, grabbing his sleeve.

He gently pulled free. “I have to buy you time, that’s the best I can do now.”

His voice shook.“If they capture you… Alpha Lucien will kill me himself.”

Without waiting another second, Greg shoved the driver’s door open and rolled onto the gravel.

Gunfire exploded through the forest, one shot after another

Aloha crouched low behind the rear seat of her car.

Her trembling fingers wrapped tightly around the hidden dagger strapped beneath her gown.

Her heartbeat pounded painfully inside her chest.

Her eyes were tightly shut, she listened helplessly as these predators tore through trained warriors with horrifying efficiency.

Suddenly, there was silence, the she could hear the footsteps

Someone was walking toward the Range Rover, slowly and deliberately.

Gathering every ounce of courage she had left, Aloha cautiously lifted her head above the seat, through the cracked windshield, she saw him approaching, gazing intently at her.