CHAPTER FIVE — THROUGH THE PORTAL
666 Words
Damian’s POV
The air around the portal pulsed like a living thing, thick with ancient energy that made the hair on the back of Damian’s neck stand. The stone arch shimmered faintly, runes etched into its surface glowing a cold blue. This magic wasn’t wolf-made — it was older. Darker.
Marcus stepped up beside him, unease clear in his scent. “Alpha… we don’t know what’s on the other side.”
Damian’s wolf growled deep in his chest. “I don’t care. She’s there. And I’m not leaving her in the hands of whoever took her.”
He took one last breath and stepped through.
The world around him twisted. For a heartbeat, he felt weightless, like he was falling through darkness. Then his feet hit solid ground, and a blast of icy air hit him full in the face.
He wasn’t in the forest anymore.
The new place was underground — a labyrinth of stone corridors, torches flickering on the walls, their light casting long shadows. The air was damp, filled with the scent of moss and faint traces of blood. His wolf senses flared; Aria’s scent was here, stronger than before.
Marcus and two trackers followed through the portal, shifting into wolf form immediately. “Stay close,” Damian ordered. “They won’t expect us this fast.”
They moved silently through the tunnels. But almost immediately, Damian felt it — a trap.
The ground trembled beneath them. Runes on the walls flared red, and a wave of energy surged through the corridor. The wolves leapt back just in time as spikes shot up from the floor, clanging against stone.
“Magic traps,” Marcus hissed.
Damian’s eyes glowed silver. “Keep moving. They’re trying to slow us down.”
Every step forward was a battle — shifting floors, illusion walls, and sudden bursts of magic meant to disorient intruders. But Damian’s wolf instincts cut through the tricks. He followed her scent like a lifeline, his bond pulling him closer and closer to her.
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Aria’s POV
The strange energy inside her grew stronger. Her wolf clawed against the invisible barrier in her mind, howling to be let out. She gripped the chains, breathing hard, as more flashes of memory attacked her.
She saw herself — younger, standing in a circle of robed figures. A woman with glowing white hair placed a hand on her forehead and whispered words in a language she didn’t understand. A burning mark appeared on her neck.
Not the mate mark.
Something else. Older.
She saw a man with black eyes lifting her in his arms, carrying her toward a dark forest. She heard the name again — “Ariana.”
She gasped and stumbled back against the wall, heart racing. “Who am I?” she whispered.
The chains pulsed in response, and then… snapped.
She stared at her wrists in shock. The barrier inside her shattered like glass, and her wolf surged forward with a roar that echoed through the chamber. Her eyes glowed gold, and her scent filled the air — wild and powerful.
Somewhere down the corridor, she heard footsteps. Guards.
For the first time since her capture, Aria stood tall. She wasn’t going to be their prisoner anymore.
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Damian’s POV
The moment her chains broke, Damian felt it.
A surge of energy blasted through the bond — wild, untamed, like a storm breaking free. He stumbled for a second, his heart slamming against his ribs.
She’s fighting back.
A fierce grin spread across his face. “Hold on, Aria,” he growled. “I’m coming.”
They turned a final corner, and ahead, the tunnel opened into a vast underground chamber. He could smell her — close. But between him and her were cloaked figures, their eyes glowing black as they raised their hands, magic swirling in the air.
Marcus shifted beside him, ready for battle.
Damian’s wolf surged forward, eyes blazing silver.
The hunt was over. The war was about to begin.
- Writer
