A heart of the vampire

Chapter 26

As twilight descended, the forest transformed, bathed in the ethereal glow of the setting sun. Shadows lengthened and merged, thick with anticipation. Lucian waited, concealed in the depths of the ancient cave, every muscle taut with the knowledge that the wolves were searching for him. He sensed their approach—predators moving with intent through the underbrush.

It wasn't merely that they had come; it was the realization that they had accepted his warning about Vlad. The air buzzed with the promise of bloodshed, and he felt the weight of inevitability settling around him.

As dusk painted the sky in shades of crimson and violet, Lucian emerged from his hiding place, the moon rising to cast silvery beams across the forest floor. The low growls and murmurs of the wolves filled the air, their voices edged with tension and determination.

"Keep your eyes open," the silver-furred leader commanded, her tone a low growl slicing through the encroaching darkness. "We are close."

Lucian stepped into the clearing, feeling the weight of their gazes upon him. The pack was gathered, a mix of hulking males and fierce females, their forms illuminated by pale light. The she-wolf he had encountered before stood with her head held high, amber eyes sharp with scrutiny.

"You came," she stated, her voice steady but laced with lingering hostility. "You were right. This war is upon us."

"And it's worse than we feared," Lucian replied, meeting her gaze directly. "Vlad is already gathering forces. We need to act swiftly."

Another wolf stepped forward, his dark fur shimmering like midnight. "You've hunted us for centuries."

"Yes," Lucian acknowledged, his voice unwavering. "But every moment we waste gives Vlad an advantage. If you're willing to listen, I can help us both."

The leader tilted her head, skepticism etched into her features. "We've captured one of your kind," she said, her tone clipped. "He claims to know how to enter Vlad's castle."

From the underbrush, a wolf emerged, shedding his animal form with ease. A rugged man, wild hair tousled, approached with intent, dragging a figure from the shadows—a man whose mere presence ignited fury within Lucian. The wolf threw the captive to the ground before him.

The familiar scent of blood hit Lucian like a punch, raw and intense, igniting a blaze of uncontrollable rage. It was Raoul, the traitor who had delivered Serena into Vlad's cruel grasp. Memories surged—Serena's laughter, the warmth of her touch, the nights they had shared—now tainted by the bitterness of betrayal.

"Lucian," Raoul croaked, struggling to rise, face bruised and bloodied. Fear flickered in his eyes at Lucian's seething rage. "I didn't—"

"Shut up," Lucian growled, stepping forward with predatory grace. "You sold her to Vlad. You betrayed me. Do you truly believe I care about your excuses?"

"I—" Raoul stammered, hands raised in a feeble gesture of surrender, but Lucian advanced, fury surging through him. "I didn't want it to end this way! But Vlad—he's powerful. He has my family!"

"Are you a fool?" Lucian spat, voice low and menacing, a rumble of thunder before the storm. "They are dead, and YOU condemned her to a fate worse than death."

Tension crackled in the air, the pack's growls forming a dark symphony of warning. The silver-furred leader stepped closer, eyes narrowed as she assessed the volatile situation. "We brought him here for answers, not a bloodbath, Lucian. You will have your vengeance, but we need to extract information first."

"Let me handle him," Lucian replied, voice a dangerous whisper laced with lethal intent. "I want him to feel the full weight of his betrayal before I end him."