Chase
The moment Clara vanishes into the Shadows, the world goes silent. Not literally. The battle is still raging around us for a heartbeat longer—wolves snarling, vampires hissing, shadows whispering through the trees.
But inside my head?
Silence. Then fury. Pure, uncontrolled rage.
"CLARA!" I roar.
My wolf lunges forward, claws tearing into the ground as I sprint toward where the shadows had taken her. The scent of her was still there—wildfire, warmth, power—but it was already fading, dragged away by whatever dark magic those creatures used to move through the world.
I crashed through the line where the shadows had stood seconds before, snapping at empty air.
Gone.
They were gone.
Behind me, Vladimir chuckles.
I turn slowly.
The ancient vampire stands a few yards away
