My pulse raced as the rogue werewolves circled us, their glowing eyes cutting through the dark like predators closing in on their prey. The air shifted, thick with tension, as Kieran pushed me behind him in one swift motion, his body coiled and ready to defend. His protective nature stirred something deep inside me, but there was no time to dwell on it—these rogues were out for blood.
Kieran growled low in his throat, the sound primal and full of warning. “Stay behind me, Aylin. These rogues are dangerous.”
The rogues moved silently, their hulking forms blending into the shadows. One of them, the apparent leader, stepped forward, his snarl revealing sharp, yellowed teeth. His eyes locked onto me, hunger and malice glinting in them.
“I smell fear,” the rogue leader hissed, his voice low
