THE VAULT OPENS
The silence in the vault felt alive, pressing against them like an unseen force. The heavy door, carved with ancient runes, had groaned open, revealing only darkness.
Then—
Golden eyes.
Selina’s grip tightened on her dagger. The air felt different now, as if it carried the weight of something old, something unnatural.
The thing inside stepped forward.
It was massive—easily seven feet tall, its body a fusion of man and beast. Thick, dark fur covered its broad frame, shimmering faintly under the flickering torchlight. Long claws flexed at its sides, each one sharp enough to carve through stone.
And its face—
Selina had seen werewolves before, had fought them, but this was something else entirely. The creature’s features were refined, almost regal, but with a predatory
