Chapter 22
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Amelia pressed her back against the wall of the closet, the sharp edges of the wooden slats biting into her trembling shoulders. The muffled sounds of her parents‘ voices floated through the narrow gap in the door. Her father’s voice, calm but firm, resonated with authority. Her mother‘ s softer tones followed, a quiet reassurance masked with worry.
“Amelia,” her mother whispered, kneeling before the sliver of light filtering through the closet door. Her eyes, a mirror of Amelia‘ s own, glimmered with unshed tears. “No matter what happens, promise me you’ll stay here. You won’t make a sound. You won’t come out.”
Amelia, barely seven years old, nodded quickly, her small hands clutching the hem of her mother‘ s dress. “But, Mama, what about you and Papa?”
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Her mother cupped her face, a forced smile stretching her lips. “We’ll be fine, my love. Just promise me.”
“I promise,” Amelia choked, tears spilling over her cheeks.
Her father’s voice cut through their moment. “It‘ s time.”
Amelia‘ s mother placed a kiss on her forehead before standing and stepping out of the closet. Through the thin crack, Amelia saw her parents shift, their bodies. contorting as fur sprouted and their forms grew. Her father’s massive gray wolf
stood tall and steady, while her mother’s sleek silver wolf exuded a quiet grace.
Then, he arrived.
The door to their small home burst open with a deafening crash, and a man stepped inside. His laughter echoed through the walls, cold and cruel. His human form was striking yet terrifying, a massive figure cloaked in a dark leather jacket. But what
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captured Amelia’s attention was the red dragon tattoo curling around his arm, its tail disappearing beneath his sleeve.
“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice laced with mockery. “Luna and Alpha of this insignificant pack. How quaint.”
Amelia’s father let out a low growl, his hackles raised. “What the fuck are you talking about,” he spat, his voice guttural in the mind–link projection. “Who are you?”
The wolf grinned, showing off a row of sharp, yellowed teeth. “Oh, nothing much. Just hunting for a little pests.
Amelia’s heart hammered in her chest.
Her mother growled in warning, stepping protectively in front of her mate. “We don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The stranger laughed again, a sound so devoid of warmth that it sent chills down Amelia‘ s spine. “Then why don’t we play a little game to see if you‘ re lying?”
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Without warning, the wolfs form twisted and cracked. His human figure dissolved into a monstrous wolf–larger than any Amelia had ever seen. His fur was ashy gray, sickly and matted, and his eyes burned with a crimson glow.
The fight began in a blur of movement.
Amelia’s father lunged first, his powerful jaws aiming for the rogue’s throat. But the rogue was fast, ducking and slamming his shoulder into the Alpha’s side. Her mother leaped into the fray, her silver wolf a blur as she aimed for the man‘ s exposed flank.
The clash of claws and teeth reverberated through the house, shaking its very foundations. Amelia pressed her hands over her ears, her small frame trembling as the sounds of the battle grew louder.
“Is this all you can do?” the rogue
taunted, his voice a deep growl even in his wolf form.
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merk, but the monstry of a wolf
Rototrol, tumeoing him off balance Her mudha dorted in, her jaws snupping at his hand beg, but he countrand with a neious. sope of like bee, sending her sprawling mpose the room
Andic bit her lip hard to stifle her scream.
Her father regained his footing and changed pain, this time managging to sink his tooth into the rogue’s shoulder. Blood sprayed ne Poss the wooden floor, but the
his massive paw slamming into her father’s side, sending him crashing info the wall
Amelia,” her father’s voice echoed faintly in her mind, a whisper of desperation. “Stay hidden, my star.”
Tearsstreamed
camed down Amelia’s face as she watched her mother rise, limping but determined. The silver wolf lunged at the rogue, her jaws aiming for his throat. For a
Chapter 22
moment, Amelia thought she might
succeed.
But the monster was merciless. He twisted with unnatural speed, his fangs sinking into her mother’s neck.
“No!” Her father roared, shifting back into his human form as he staggered to his feet. His eyes burned with grief and fury as he hurled himself at the rogue, fists swinging.
The man dropped the lifeless form of the silver wolf and turned to face her father. His laugh was cold and mocking.
“Pitiful.”
The fight was over in moments.
Amelia couldn’t look away as her father fell to the rogue’s claws, his body crumpling to the ground beside her mother‘ s.
Silence fell over the house, broken only by the monster‘ s heavy breathing. He shifted back into his human form, wiping blood
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from his mouth as he surveyed the
carnage.
“Such a waste,” he muttered, stepping over the bodies. He paused in the center of the room, his crimson eyes scanning the
space.
Amelia held her breath, her body frozen in
terror.
The stranger smirked, his gaze lingering on the closet door. For a heart–stopping moment, Amelia thought he would open it. But then, he turned and walked away, his laughter echoing as he disappeared into the night.
Amelia stayed in the closet, silent and unmoving, until dawn broke through the shattered windows.
END OF FLASHBACK
