Chapter 5: The Night the Corrupted Wolves Attacked
586 Words
Chapter 5: The Night Something Entered the Territory
The atmosphere changed instantly.
Nyra felt it before she fully understood it.
The creatures surrounding the castle had gone completely silent.
Too silent.
Even the wind seemed afraid to move.
Zayden stood motionless near the gates, his sharp golden eyes fixed on the darkness beyond the territory walls.
Every muscle in his body looked tense.
Ready.
Dangerous.
Nyra slowly stepped closer despite the fear crawling beneath her skin.
“What is happening?” she asked carefully.
No response.
Only silence.
Then—
A deep howl echoed across the territory.
Nyra’s heart nearly stopped.
The sound was unlike anything she had ever heard before.
It wasn’t normal.
It sounded wrong.
Painful.
Violent.
The creatures near the castle immediately lowered themselves toward the ground in fear.
Nyra’s breathing quickened.
Even they were scared.
That realization sent cold fear rushing through her chest.
Another howl echoed again.
Closer this time.
Zayden’s jaw tightened slightly.
“Inside,” he ordered coldly.
Nyra frowned. “You still haven’t told me what’s out there.”
“You do not need to know.”
Anger flashed briefly inside her.
“I’m tired of you speaking to me like I’m a child!”
Zayden finally looked at her.
And the intensity in his gaze made her regret raising her voice for half a second.
But only half a second.
Because Nyra was tired of being afraid.
“You brought me here against my will,” she continued. “The least you can do is explain what’s trying to kill us.”
A dangerous silence followed.
Then unexpectedly—
Zayden stepped closer.
Slowly.
Controlled.
Predatory.
Nyra’s heartbeat became uneven as he stopped directly in front of her again.
Too close.
Always too close.
“You ask too many questions,” he murmured.
Nyra swallowed hard but refused to step back this time.
“And you avoid every answer.”
For a brief moment, something almost amused flickered in his expression.
Then it disappeared.
The howl echoed again.
Louder.
Nearer.
This time, the castle walls trembled slightly.
Nyra’s eyes widened.
“What was that?” she whispered.
Zayden’s gaze shifted toward the darkness again.
“A problem,” he said quietly.
Before Nyra could ask another question—
The gates exploded open.
A deafening crash tore through the territory as black smoke and splintered metal filled the air.
Nyra screamed instinctively.
Massive figures burst through the destroyed entrance.
Wolves.
But not normal wolves.
Their eyes glowed an unnatural red, their bodies twisted with dark veins spreading beneath their fur.
Corrupted.
Monstrous.
One of them lunged directly toward Nyra.
Everything happened too fast.
Nyra froze.
The creature’s jaws opened wide—
Then suddenly—
Zayden moved.
A terrifying wave of power exploded from him, shaking the ground beneath them.
The attacking wolf was thrown violently across the courtyard before it could touch her.
Nyra stared in shock.
The air around Zayden had changed completely.
Gone was the calm, cold Alpha from before.
This version of him felt deadly.
His golden eyes glowed brighter than ever as darkness spread through the courtyard like living shadows.
The corrupted wolves hesitated.
Afraid.
Zayden slowly stepped in front of Nyra protectively.
And for the first time—
Nyra realized something terrifying.
The monsters invading the territory were afraid of him.
One of the wolves growled low before charging again.
Zayden cracked his neck slightly.
Then a cold smile appeared on his face.
“Finally,” he said quietly.
“A real fight.”
- Writer
