Marked by the Moon, Bound by Blood

Chapter 14

I stared at the wolf’s back. Even though he’d fully transformed into a beast, I knew that scent. The smell of teakwood and rain that always followed Anderson. This was his full transformation—something Wilfredo said an Alpha only does when they’re backed into a corner or absolutely livid.

Anderson growled at the remaining hunters. His aura was so powerful the air around us seemed to vibrate. The hunters hesitated. They backed away slowly, leveling their spears.

"Fall back! He’s turned into a Black Fenrir!" one of the hunters shouted, sounding terrified.

They grabbed their unconscious leader and bolted into the darkness of the mountain forest. Anderson didn't chase them. Once they were gone, he slowly turned toward me.

His golden eyes looked deep into mine. His breath misted in the cold air. He leaned in and started biting through the silver net wrapped around me, moving with extreme care. Even though the silver had to be burning his mouth, he didn't stop until the net was completely off.

Once I was free, Anderson slowly shifted back into human form. He fell to his knees right in front of me. His body was covered in gashes and bruises. He looked completely broken.

"Are you... okay?" he asked, his voice almost gone.

I immediately hugged him, ignoring the pain that shot through me from the physical contact. I sobbed into his shoulder.

"I was so scared, Anderson. I thought you were dead," I cried.

Anderson hugged me back weakly. His rough hand stroked my back.

"I told you... I won't let anyone touch you," he whispered.

Suddenly, Anderson coughed and spat a large amount of black blood onto the white snow. His body went icy cold in an instant.

"Anderson? Anderson! Wake up!" I screamed, shaking his shoulders.

His face turned a sickly blue and his breathing slowed down drastically. Luna and Juro rushed over, looking panicked.

"The silver wounds are poisoning his regeneration system! He forced a full transformation while his body was weak!" Luna checked his pulse quickly.

"Then what the hell do we do?" I asked, desperate.

Luna looked at me with a heavy, serious expression, like she was weighing a dangerous decision.

"There’s only one way to neutralize this silver poison before it hits his heart, Misha," Luna said.

"What is it? Tell me!"

Luna picked up my small dagger that had fallen in the snow. She handed it to me.

"You have to give him some of your energy-blood. You're a hybrid; your blood has incredibly strong neutralizing properties. But the risk... if you can't control the flow, you could kill him or drain yourself dry," Luna explained.

I stared at the dagger, then at Anderson, who was turning paler by the second. I didn't have a choice.

"How do I do it?" I asked, my voice steady.

"Slice your palm, then press it against the wound on his chest. Let your energy follow it in," Luna instructed.

I sliced my palm without a second thought. Red blood shimmering with a faint purple light began to flow. I pulled open Anderson’s shirt and pressed my palm directly over the stab wound on his chest, which was still leaking bluish poison.

*Zzzttt!*

A hissing sound erupted as my blood hit his wound. Anderson jolted, his body arching in agony. I felt a sensation like my very soul was being yanked out through my hand.

"Hold on, Misha! Don't let go!" Luna yelled.

I closed my eyes and focused every scrap of strength I had left. In the darkness of my mind, I saw a stream of purple energy enter and begin to scrub away the blue poison inside Anderson. Slowly, his body temperature started to rise.

But at the same time, my vision started to fade to black. My head felt light, and Luna’s voice sounded like it was miles away.

"Anderson... you have to live..." I mumbled before my world went completely dark.