Bound by the Blood Moon

Chapter 16: The Siege of Serpent's Ridge

The storm roared through the narrow passes of Serpent's Ridge, masking the heavy footfalls of the Crimson Pack warriors. Ethan moved like a shadow through the howling wind, his amber eyes cutting through the pitch-black night. Behind him, fifty elite shifters advanced in dead silence, their weapons drawing no light.

Ahead, at the narrowest gorge of the ridge, the campfires of the Shadow Fang advance guard flickered against the damp cliffside. Dozens of rogue shifters were gathered around the flames, laughing callously as they drank stolen wine and sharpened their jagged blades.

"They have no idea we're here, Alpha," Eric whispered, crouching beside Ethan on a high rocky ledge overlooking the camp.

Ethan’s jaw set into hard stone. The scent of dark, tainted blood drifted up from the camp below. These weren't just warriors; these were butcher shifters who had terrorized innocents for years under Malakor's violent command.

"Leave none standing," Ethan growled, his voice a dangerous, sub-audible rumble. "Show them what happens to anyone who dares march toward the Crimson border."

With a single movement of his hand, Ethan leaped from the ledge.

He shifted mid-air, a massive black wolf with burning golden eyes, crashing directly into the center of the Shadow Fang camp. A deafening howl tore through the storm as the Crimson warriors rained down from the cliffs.

The surprise attack was absolute chaos. Ethan’s massive jaws snapped around the throat of an enemy warrior before the rogue could even draw his sword. Blood sprayed across the frozen mud as Ethan tore through their ranks like a unleashed force of nature.

Every swing of his heavy paws, every snap of his razor-sharp fangs was fueled by the protective urge humming through his bond with Elena. He wasn't just fighting for his pack's territory tonight—he was building an impenetrable wall around his Luna.

Within less than twenty minutes, the clash was over. The Shadow Fang advance guard was completely wiped out, their banners burning in the freezing mountain rain.

Ethan shifted back into his human form, wiping blood from his jaw as Eric approached him, holding a heavy leather scroll pulled from the lead enemy's body.

"Alpha," Eric said, his voice tense. "This isn't an invasion force... it was a distraction."

Ethan snapped the scroll open, his golden eyes narrowing as he read the blood-stained ink. His heart suddenly hammered against his ribs as a cold realization struck him like ice.

Malakor’s main army hadn't marched toward Serpent's Ridge at all. They were using ancient underground tunnels to bypass the mountain defenses entirely—heading straight for the undefended Crimson Citadel.

Straight toward Elena.