Claimed by a vampire prince

Chapter 12: The Shadow Beast

Emerald's POV

The earth trembled beneath my feet.

A deafening roar echoed through the forest, sending flocks of birds into the night sky. The horses pulling our carriage reared in panic, their frightened cries mixing with the screams of the guards.

I stumbled backward as another violent tremor shook the ground.

"Emerald!" Lucian caught my arm before I lost my balance.

"What... what is happening?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

His crimson eyes remained fixed on the widening c***k in the earth.

His expression had changed.

For the first time since I had met him, I saw genuine concern on his face.

"This wasn't supposed to happen," he muttered.

The c***k stretched farther through the forest floor.

Roots snapped apart.

Ancient trees toppled with thunderous crashes.

Then...

A massive claw emerged from the darkness below.

It slammed onto the ground with enough force to send dust and broken stones flying into the air.

The claw was unlike anything I had ever seen.

It was covered in black scales that reflected the moonlight like polished obsidian. Long silver talons dug into the earth as though the creature was dragging itself out of another world.

Another roar shook the forest.

Every guard instinctively stepped back.

One whispered fearfully,

"Moon Goddess... what is that?"

Lucian slowly drew in a breath.

"A Shadow Beast."

The name alone seemed to drain the courage from everyone around us.

Even the experienced royal guards exchanged uneasy glances.

I looked at Lucian.

"You've seen one before?"

He shook his head.

"No."

"My father told me stories when I was a child."

"They were supposed to be extinct."

The creature continued climbing from the darkness.

Its enormous body emerged little by little until it stood taller than the surrounding trees.

Its eyes burned with an eerie violet light.

Its body was wrapped in black mist that moved like living smoke.

When it opened its mouth, rows of jagged teeth glistened beneath the moonlight.

A low growl rolled from its throat.

The sound alone made my heart pound against my ribs.

The scar-faced assassin smiled.

"Our task is complete."

He looked at Lucian with mocking satisfaction.

"Now try protecting your precious mate from that."

Before anyone could stop them, the surviving assassins vanished into the forest.

"They're escaping!" one of the guards shouted.

Lucian didn't even look at them.

"Forget them."

His voice was sharp.

"If that beast reaches the nearest village, hundreds of innocent people will die."

The captain of the royal guards immediately understood.

He turned to his men.

"Form defensive lines!"

"Protect the carriage!"

The guards obeyed without hesitation.

Steel rang through the forest as swords left their scabbards.

I watched the Shadow Beast take another step forward.

Each footstep shook the ground.

It lowered its enormous head and sniffed the air.

Then...

Its glowing eyes stopped on me.

A strange feeling spread through my chest.

It wasn't hunger.

It wasn't anger.

It was recognition.

The creature let out another roar, but this time it sounded different.

Almost...

Confused.

My wolf stirred faintly inside me.

Not with fear.

With curiosity.

"It knows you," the quiet voice whispered.

I froze.

"What?"

Lucian looked at me.

"What did you say?"

I shook my head.

"Nothing."

But I knew what I had heard.

My wolf had spoken.

For the first time since awakening, it had spoken clearly.

"Don't attack first."

The words echoed through my mind.

Lucian stepped in front of me, raising his sword.

"Stay behind me."

I grabbed his wrist.

"Wait."

He turned in surprise.

"Emerald?"

"I don't think it wants to kill us."

The guards stared at me as though I had lost my mind.

The captain frowned.

"Your Highness, she can't be serious."

"That thing has destroyed half the forest already."

I couldn't explain it.

I only knew what my instincts were telling me.

The Shadow Beast hadn't attacked.

Not yet.

It was searching.

Looking.

Watching me.

Lucian studied my face for a long moment.

Then he slowly lowered his sword.

"You trust your instincts?"

I nodded.

"More than anything."

He sighed quietly.

"Then I'll trust them too."

The captain looked horrified.

"My prince!"

Lucian raised a hand.

"No one attacks unless I give the order."

The soldiers reluctantly lowered their weapons.

A heavy silence settled over the clearing.

The Shadow Beast took another step toward us.

Then another.

Its enormous body towered over everyone.

I could hear my own heartbeat.

One more step.

Two more.

Then...

To everyone's astonishment...

The monster slowly lowered its head before me.

The entire forest fell silent.

Even Lucian stopped breathing for a moment.

The creature wasn't preparing to attack.

It was...

Bowing.

A faint silver symbol began to glow on its forehead.

The same symbol carved into the necklace my mother had left behind.

Before I could understand what it meant, a deep voice echoed inside my mind.

"At last..."

"The daughter of Alpha Luke has returned."