Chapter 8 – The First Attack
1014 Words
POV: Rory Hale
Another appeared ahead, cutting me off. My chest heaved, panic keen and scorching.
“No, no, no…”
I grabbed the nearest book and tossed it. It went straight through the monster like it was mist. But the mist hissed, pushing tighter, creating claws.
“Help!” My voice cracked. “Somebody”
And then the growl came.
Deep. Savage. Close.
A flurry of silver and black tore past the aisle, crashing into the gloom. Snarls filled the air, volumes flying, shelves cracking under the impact.
I knew that sound. That presence.
“Kael?”
The wolf turned, fur bristling, eyes gleaming molten gold. Blood stained his fangs as he ripped into the thing, tearing shadows like it was flesh. The monster screeched before melting into smoke.
My knees shook. Relief hit but it was short-lived.
Because Kael didn’t stop.
He whirled at me, chest pumping, teeth bared. The animal inside him was unleashed, too savage, too ravenous.
His voice was nothing human, more growl than words. “Run.”
“I’m not leaving you!” My voice quavered, but I stood my ground.
His claws clawed into the floor, breaking stone. “You don’t understand. I can’t hold it back.”
“Then fight it!”
His head snapped up, golden eyes flaming. “I already am!”
He lunged.
I stumbled, heart racing, the world a blur. His body smashed into mine, slamming me to the ground. A hot breath touched my neck, his fangs skimming dangerously close.
“Please,” I pleaded, tears stinging my eyes. “Kael, it’s me.”
His snarl deepened. His claws brushed my skin.
And for a scary second believed he would murder me.
Something inside me cracked. A burning sensation tore through my arm. My sleeve sparkled, light spilling from beneath my skin.
The rune.
It burned hot, gold and white, engulfing the space with incredible heat.
Kael froze.
His growls broke into ragged breaths, his body quivering above mine. He sank his head against my shoulder, shivering violently.
The light pulsed again, and suddenly his wolf stilled. His claws withdrew. His breaths slowed.
And when his eyes lifted, the gold was gone. Only Kael remained, human again, kneeling above me with terror on his face.
“What… what did you just do?” His voice cracked, raw with dread.
I touched my arm, the rune still blazing faintly. “I don’t know. It just… happened.”
He backed away from me like I was the monster. “You calmed the wolf. No one can do that. No one.”
I forced myself up, shaking. “Then maybe I’m not no one.”
He stared at me, chest rising and falling hard. His hands trembled as he dragged them through his hair. “You shouldn’t exist. What you are, it's impossible.”
“Tell me what I am then!” My voice shattered. “Because everyone here looks at me like I’m cursed, like I’m marked for something I don’t even understand. And now shadows are attempting to murder me, and you almost” My throat closed. “You almost killed me too.”
Kael flinched. His voice was rough. “I would never hurt you.”
“You already did.”
Silence crashed between us, heavy and sharp. His jaw tensed, shame flaring in his eyes.
Finally, he murmured, “I told you before you don’t belong here. This place isn’t safe for you. Tonight proved it.”
“I can’t just leave,” I answered coldly. “They won’t let me. My stepfather made sure of that. And now these things” My voice shook. “What were they?”
His eyes clouded. “Shadows. They hunt what doesn’t belong.”
“So they were after me.”
“Yes.”
They would destroyed the frail air between us.
I stepped forward despite the anguish in my chest. “But why? What am I to them?”
His throat moved, like he was swallowing secrets. “You’re something they fear.”
“Fear? Me?” I almost laughed, broken and bitter. “I can’t even survive gym class without almost being burned alive. Why would they fear me?”
“Because fire bends to you. Because the wolf bends to you.” His voice was low, threatening. “Because you’re more powerful than you know.”
I shook my head, backing away. “No. That’s not me. I didn’t ask for this.”
His gaze softened, but only a bit. “None of us did.”
His words bore weight, a confession lurking beneath them.
The rune on my skin pulsed again, quieter this time, like a heartbeat matching with mine. Kael’s eyes flicked to it, his body stiff.
“That mark…” His voice was strained. “It isn’t just power. It’s a bond.”
“What kind of bond?”
His stare locked with mine. “The kind that can destroy us both.”
Before I could react, the lantern flickered. A faint hiss resonated from the aisles. More shadows stirred in the dark.
Kael hissed, stepping in front of me. “Stay behind me.”
“No,” I replied, fire in my voice even through the terror. “We fight together.”
He gazed back at me, torn between rage and something that seemed like pride.
For the first time, we weren’t enemies. We were something else totally.
The shadows circled closer, hissing, clawing, ravenous for blood. My arm burned with light, Kael’s wolf simmered under his skin.
We stood side by side, ready.
And I realized something terrifying.
This wasn’t the first attack.
It was merely the beginning.
The rune on my arm flared brighter, sending a shockwave through the library. Every shadow shrieked and vanished.
When the hush fell, Kael’s voice was ragged.
“Rory… do you even know what that mark means?”
I turned to him, my body shaking. “No.”
His eyes burned with a truth I wasn’t ready for.
“It means you’re not just marked. You’re chosen.”
- Writer
