We wait for Torben to finish eating and head off toward the windmill, using that as our reference point.
The answers are close. I can feel it.
Chapter 31
Feray
The next day...
The rhythmic crunching of leaves underfoot mingles with the thudding of my heart, creating a disconcerting symphony that accompanies our approach to the mysterious house. The wind shifts, and the musky scent of rotting leaves wafts through the air, sending a shiver up my spine.
Khal strides confidently at the forefront, having deciphered the clues that lead us to the house in question. His assuredness, however, cannot quell the unease coiling within me.
I steal a glance at Torben, his bear form walking beside me. He remains staunchly in his animal state—an obvious manifestation of his discomfort in this haunted place. The tension radiating from him is a palpable force, and I can't help but share in his unease.
As we draw nearer, the silhouette of a half-rotted windmill looms on the horizon, a stark symbol of decay that has befallen this forsaken town. Each step closer amplifies the anxiety that has settled in my stomach.
We stand frozen at the fork in the road, uncertainty casting a shadow over our group. My gaze is drawn to the left, an unseen force tugging at me.
"Something doesn't feel right," I murmur, dread pooling in my stomach.
Torben's bear lets out a thunderous roar, an instinctive response to an impending threat. He pushes me backward, a silent warning etched in the intensity of his actions.
My senses heighten. I scan the woods, and in the shadows, red eyes ignite one by one.
The realization hits us like a chilling gust—we've found what happened to the pack.
The scent of death and old blood. The scent of a dank crypt.
"Vampires..." Diaval's voice cuts through the tension, and he extends an arm to shove me protectively behind him.
A soft, almost unhinged laugh escapes my lips. "Perfect..."
Easton's incredulous gaze fixes on me. "Perfect? What do you mean, perfect?"
I meet his gaze, a wicked smile playing on my lips, my wolf's canines extending. "They're allergic to me."
In an instant, the transformation begins. My snow-white wolf erupts from my human form, and I pad forward, taking a position closer to Torben's roaring bear.
The forest seems to hold its breath.
As the first vampire emerges,my presence disrupts the unnatural calm, and all hell breaks loose.
The charge of the vampires echoes through the air—the swift rustle of leaves and the soft patter of their footsteps creating a disconcerting cadence. But as suddenly as they move, they come to an abrupt halt, their predatory instincts frozen.
The vampires, a sinister congregation with eyes that burn like crimson embers, fixate on me. Every gaze is a needle-like prick against my skin.
"Get the white wolf!" One vampire screeches, a gnarled finger pointing accusingly in my direction.
The vampires, fueled by frenzied determination, surge forward once more.
Before we can charge into battle, Easton moves forward and ignites every vampire he can see. The world seems to move in slow motion. I turn to watch him control the fire like a conductor before an orchestra.
Movement behind him catches my attention.
My body seems sluggish as my muscles bunch, preparing to launch over Torben's back. Everything is moving so slowly. Fear builds in me as the vampire gets closer to Easton.
I scream, but as my wolf, it comes out as a howl.
