The Wolf Within

Chapter 7: The bloodline

The den was burning.

Smoke curled through the tunnels, and the scent of scorched fur filled Luca’s lungs as he sprinted back toward the main hall. Sparks rained from the ceiling as flames licked the edges of the ancient stonework.

“RAINE!” he shouted.

No answer. Only screams. Growls. Silver bullets pinging off stone.

He leapt over a collapsed archway and landed hard on the blood-slick floor. Three bodies—two wolves, one human. Dead. Eyes still open. Luca’s stomach twisted.

Then he saw him.

Silas.

Pinned against the wall, one hand over his side where blood poured through his fingers. He was pale, but still breathing.

“They… they knew,” Silas rasped. “They knew where to hit. The outer sentries were already dead before the first howl.”

“Who?” Luca knelt beside him. “Who betrayed us?”

Silas locked eyes with him. “Someone close. Someone with your scent on them.”

Luca froze.

“No,” he said. “Raine would never—”

“I’m not talking about her,” Silas spat. “I’m talking about you.”

The words cut deeper than any blade.

“What are you talking about?” Luca demanded.

Silas coughed, blood spraying his lips. “Your father. He wasn’t just a wolf. He was Alpha-Born—the original bloodline. The last of the ancient house. The hunters thought it was wiped out. But they were wrong.”

Luca’s heartbeat slowed.

“I don’t understand…”

“You were meant to be a weapon, Luca,” Silas growled. “A wolf bred in secret to take down both sides. Pack and hunter.”

“No,” Luca whispered. “That’s not who I am.”

Silas grabbed him by the collar. “It’s in your blood. And someone knew. Someone triggered your shift on purpose. You didn’t just turn under the blood moon… you were activated.”

Footsteps echoed from behind.

Luca spun around—and found Raine standing there. Her face was unreadable, but her eyes flicked to Silas, then to Luca.

“What did he tell you?” she asked carefully.

Luca’s throat tightened. “That I’m not who I thought I was.”

Raine didn’t speak.

“Is it true?” he asked. “Did you know?”

Her silence was answer enough.

Luca took a step back.

“You used me,” he said, voice breaking.

“I didn’t know at first,” she said. “But I felt it. The moment you turned. There’s something inside you, Luca. Something ancient. Something dangerous.”

She stepped closer, tears in her eyes now. “But I wasn’t lying. What we have—it’s real.”

Before he could speak again, an explosion rocked the den. Stone cracked. The ceiling groaned.

Raine grabbed his hand.

“We don’t have time for this,” she said. “Either you trust me now… or we both die here.”

Luca stared at her—everything in him torn.

Then he tightened his grip on her hand.

“Let’s run.”