Page 11 of His Spellbound Mate

Garrett looked up, his eyes narrowing. "If it’s not one of ours, then where did it come from? There haven’t been any rogue wolves in this area for years."

Neville didn’t have an answer, and that scared him more than anything. The curse was changing, growing stronger, and now there was another wolf-shifter or some kind of shapeshifter in his territory, one capable of this level of violence. The implications were chilling.

"We need answers," Neville said, his voice tight with anger and frustration. "And I think I know who might be able to help."

Garrett stood, removing the latex gloves. "Tamzyn March?"

Neville nodded. Garrett frowned. "We don’t have a choice. If the curse is evolving, if there’s another wolf-shifter out there killing people, we need to know how to stop it. I think Tamzyn can help."

Garrett nodded reluctantly. "All right, but I’m coming with you."

"No," Neville said firmly. "I need you here. Work with your deputies and keep an eye on the pack. We can’t afford to let our guard down, not with the full moon so close.”

Tamzyn

The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees as Tamzyn made her way back to her secluded cottage in the woods. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and the silence of the forest was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a night bird. Normally, the solitude of the forest brought her peace, but tonight, the stillness felt oppressive, like a heavy weight pressing down on her.

Her mind was still reeling from the events of the day. The vision of the young girl trapped by dark magic had shaken her, but it was the encounter with those who had come looking for the child that lingered in her thoughts. She had managed to hide her powers from them, but it had been a close call. Too close.

As she walked, Tamzyn couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being watched. It was a sensation she had grown accustomed to in the past few days, ever since the dark magic had begun to stir in the woods. But tonight, it felt more intense, more immediate. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she quickened her pace, her senses on high alert.

The shadows around her seemed to deepen, and the path ahead grew darker, as though the light of the moon was being swallowed by the night. Tamzyn’s breath hitched as she felt the unmistakable presence of dark magic closing in around her. She stopped, her hand instinctively reaching for the small pouch of protective herbs she always carried with her.

But before she could react, the shadows came alive.

They surged out of the darkness like a tidal wave, coalescing into forms that were both solid and ethereal, their shapes shifting and writhing as they moved. Tamzyn’s heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, her eyes widening in horror. These weren’t just any creatures; they were shadow beings, ancient entities born of dark magic, and they had come for her.

She barely had time to think before the first one lunged at her, its clawed hand slashing through the air where her head had been just a moment before. Tamzyn ducked, her instincts taking over as she summoned a protective barrier of energy around herself. The creature’s claws scraped against the invisible shield, sending sparks of magic into the air.

But the shadow creatures were relentless. More of them emerged from the darkness, their red eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They circled her, probing at her defenses, searching for a weakness.

Tamzyn knew she couldn’t hold them off for long. The barrier she had erected was strong, but it wouldn’t last against an onslaught of this magnitude. She needed to fight back, to push them away before they could overwhelm her.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed the full extent of her power to surge through her veins. It was a dangerous move, one that she had avoided ever since she had been banished from her coven. But she had no choice now. If she didn’t use her magic, she would die here, alone in the woods.

Tamzyn closed her eyes and reached deep within herself, tapping into the well of energy that lay dormant beneath the surface. The magic responded instantly, roaring to life like a long-dormant flame that had been reignited. She felt it flow through her, filling her with strength and clarity, sharpening her senses until the world around her seemed to slow.

She opened her eyes, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent a blast of pure energy toward the nearest shadow creature. The force of the attack shattered the creature’s form, scattering it into wisps of darkness that dissolved into the air. But there were more—too many more.

Tamzyn spun on her heel, her movements graceful and precise as she unleashed a flurry of spells, each one designed to repel the dark entities that surrounded her. Fire burst from her hands, searing through the shadows, while bolts of lightning cracked through the air, illuminating the night with blinding flashes.

The creatures shrieked in pain and fury, their forms flickering and wavering under the onslaught. But they didn’t retreat. Instead, they pressed forward, their numbers seemingly endless. Tamzyn’s heart raced as she realized the full extent of the threat she was facing. These weren’t just random attacks; they were coordinated, driven by a purpose she couldn’t yet understand.

As she fought, Tamzyn’s mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. The dark magic she had sensed in the woods, the strange events in Silver Ridge, the visions—everything was connected. But how? And why were these creatures after her?

The answer came to her in a flash of insight, like a piece of a puzzle clicking into place—the prophecy.

It was something she had only heard whispers about when she was still a part of her coven. An ancient prophecy that spoke of a witch who would rise to face a great darkness, a darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. The details had always been vague, shrouded in secrecy and speculation. But now, as she faced the relentless assault of the shadow creatures, Tamzyn knew with a chilling certainty that the prophecy was real—and that she was at the center of it.

The realization sent a surge of determination through her. She couldn’t allow herself to be consumed by fear. She had to survive this, had to uncover the truth about the prophecy and the dark forces that were gathering in Silver Ridge.

With a final burst of energy, Tamzyn unleashed a spell that rippled through the clearing, a wave of light and power that swept the shadow creatures off their feet and sent them scattering into the night. The air hummed with the residual energy of the spell, and for a moment, everything was still.

But the victory was short-lived. Tamzyn could feel the presence of the creatures lingering at the edges of the clearing; their power and ranks had been diminished, but she was sure they would strike again. She knew they wouldn’t give up easily, not until they had accomplished whatever dark purpose they had been sent to fulfill.

Breathing heavily, Tamzyn lowered her hands, the last remnants of her magic fading into the air. She was exhausted, the toll of the battle weighing heavily on her, but she couldn’t rest yet. She needed answers, and there was only one place she could think of to find them.

The town’s archives.

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