Page 18 of Night with a Gamma
“Together!” Wren shouts, her eyes locked onto mine. “We can trap it!”
I charge forward again, my wolf’s instincts driving me as I leap at the figure, aiming for its core. The dark entity retaliates, sending waves of shadowy energy to push me back, but I’mrelentless. I land a powerful blow, and Wren follows with a surge of light, wrapping it around the darkness like a binding spell.
With a final push, we force the entity back, trapping it in a cocoon of energy. The clearing fills with a blinding light, and for a moment, the world around us feels suspended in time.
The dark figure struggles against the bindings, its form flickering with rage. “You think this is the end? I am merely a fragment of what is to come. You cannot stop the darkness!”
But Wren’s voice rings clear and strong. “You may be powerful, but you are not invincible. We will expose you, and with the strength of our pack, we will end your reign of terror.”
As the light grows brighter, I feel the energy of the forest responding to our call. The trees sway, the wind howls, and the very earth seems to come alive with the magic we’ve summoned.
With one last incantation, the bindings tighten around the dark entity, and it lets out a final, anguished scream before being pulled into the earth, swallowed by the light we’ve created.
Breathless, I shift back to my human form, collapsing to my knees as the energy dissipates around us. Wren falls beside me, her chest heaving as she fights to catch her breath.
“We did it,” I manage to say, a mix of disbelief and triumph flooding through me.
Wren nods, her eyes wide with amazement. “But it’s not over. We need to warn the pack. This was just a fragment of something much larger.”
I nod, the weight of her words settling in my gut. “Let’s get back. We need to regroup and figure out our next move.”
We rise, supporting each other as we make our way back through the forest after I pull on a pair of sport shorts that are left in hollowed trees for wolves who shred their other clothes for one reason or another, the remnants of our battle lingering in the air. The sun is setting, casting a twilight glow over thetrees, and as we walk, I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve only scratched the surface of the darkness that threatens our home.
As we approach the edge of the pack territory, I can see the lights of the packhouse flickering in the distance. My heart races, a mixture of anticipation and dread swirling within me. We have a lot to share, and I know the pack will need to be prepared for what’s coming.
When we finally reach the packhouse, the atmosphere is tense. I can sense the unease among the warriors and members of the pack, their eyes darting toward us as we enter the main hall.
Wyatt stands at the center, his expression grave as he meets my gaze. “You’re back! What happened?”
I take a deep breath, glancing at Wren before stepping forward to address the gathered members. “We confronted a dark presence in the woods. It was in contact with others who are behind the rogue attacks, but it’s only a piece of something much larger. We need to prepare ourselves for what’s coming.”
Murmurs ripple through the crowd, and I can feel the weight of their concern. Dalton steps forward, his brow furrowed. “What do you mean by ‘something larger’?”
Wren takes a step beside me, her voice steady. “The entity we faced was a fragment, a dark force that is gathering strength. There are others out there, and we can’t underestimate their power. We need to unite and strengthen our defenses.”
Wyatt’s jaw tightens as he processes the information. “How do we prepare for something we can’t see?”
“We gather intelligence,” I reply, my voice firm. “We reach out to other packs, work together, and create a network of support. We can’t face this alone.”
Dalton nods, determination in his eyes. “I’ll contact the other Betas and Alphas. We’ll find out if they’ve faced anything similar.”
As the pack begins to mobilize, I feel a rush of gratitude for my family, my pack. We may be facing a storm, but together, we are strong.
“Wren, can you sense if the darkness is near?” I ask, turning to her.
She meets my gaze, her expression serious. “I can feel it, but it’s hiding now. It knows we’re onto it. We need to stay vigilant.”
With that, we set to work, planning our next steps and fortifying our defenses. The air is thick with tension, but there’s also a sense of unity and determination that fuels us.
As the night wears on, I find myself stealing glances at Wren, her presence a constant source of strength. I know that whatever comes next, we will face it together.
And as I look around at my pack, I realize that we are not just fighting for survival; we are fighting for each other, for our home, and for the love that binds us all together.
That night, as I lay in bed, the shadows of uncertainty linger, but the warmth of hope flickers in my heart. We may be facing an unknown darkness, but with Wren by my side and the strength of the Waterton Pack behind us, I know we will fight until the end.
Tomorrow, we will uncover the truth, and no matter what darkness lies ahead, we will shine brighter together.
As dawn breaks,bathing the world in hues of gold and pink, I rise with a sense of purpose. Wren is already awake, sitting by the window, her gaze lost in the horizon. I join her, the warmthof the morning sun wrapping around us like a comforting blanket.
