CHAPTER 5: Blood Moon Rising
560 Words
The night shattered with the sound of breaking glass.
Seraphina turned just in time to see a crimson flare streak into the wolves’ den, its light casting Kael’s towering figure in hues of blood and shadow. The metallic scent of iron and ash stung her throat. Witch hunters.
“Stay behind me,” Kael growled, his voice rumbling through the room like distant thunder. His molten gold eyes glowed with intensity, his wolf simmering beneath the surface, ready to confront the intruders.
The door burst open. Figures clad in obsidian armor rushed inside, marked by glowing sigils on their skin. Their weapons hummed with magic designed to hunt her kind.
Seraphina felt her curse stir restlessly beneath her skin, eager to strike. But she held it back; her power was unpredictable—a double-edged sword that she doubted Kael would forgive if unleashed.
Kael wasted no time. He moved with predatory grace, faster than the hunters could react, claws tearing through steel and flesh. Chaos erupted in the room: snarls, screams, and the sharp hum of enchanted blades slicing through the air.
“Seraphina!” Kael shouted her name, pulling her from her daze. A hunter lunged at her, his blade flickering with cursed fire. Instinct kicked in; her hands ignited with violet flame, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent him crashing into the wall, his body collapsing like paper.
For a moment, silence enveloped them.
Kael’s gaze darted to her hands, glowing with untamed magic. He didn’t flinch—but something primal flickered in his eyes, a recognition that made her heart race. He had seen her power. He had felt it—and he wasn’t afraid.
“You’re coming with me,” he said, his voice low and dangerous as he grasped her wrist—not roughly but firmly, as if making a promise. “Now.”
Together they surged through the Den, the chaos of battle trailing behind them. Wolves from Kael’s pack fought fiercely, but the hunters’ magic was overwhelming, forcing them deeper into the forest. The scent of pine and blood filled the night as Kael guided her through the darkness, his body tense and every sense heightened.
“Why are they after you?” Kael demanded as they paused in a clearing, his chest rising and falling with barely contained fury.
Seraphina’s heart raced. The truth burned on her tongue, but she held it back. “Because I’m cursed,” she whispered.
Kael stepped closer; his silver eyes glowed brighter in the moonlight. “Cursed or not, you’re mine now.”
His words sent shivers down her spine—not from fear but from something far more dangerous.
Then the blood moon broke free from behind clouds, flooding the forest with crimson light. Kael’s wolf surged forward; his power radiated like wildfire as he turned toward the shadows—and she followed his gaze.
They weren’t alone.
From beyond the treeline emerged more hunters—dozens of them—with weapons raised and eyes burning with hatred.
Seraphina took a step back but felt Kael's grip tighten on her arm. “Stay close.”
The Alpha's roar split the night air as his pack burst through the trees to confront their enemies. Seraphina raised her hands; violet flames danced at her fingertips.
If they wanted blood, she would give them fire.
- Writer
