Always And Forever | ENG ✓

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Ancient One Awakens

The figure's laugh echoed through the clearing, a sound that seemed to reverberate from the very earth beneath us. Its yellow eyes glowed with a malevolent intensity, its hands raised toward the dark summoning circle. The shadowy form that was rising from the circle was growing larger with each passing moment, its shape becoming more distinct, more terrifying. The air was thick with energy, crackling like static, the very ground vibrating with the force of the ritual.

The figure turned toward us, its gaze filled with dark amusement. "You think you can stop this?" it hissed, its voice chilling. "The ancient one is already awakening. It cannot be undone. You are nothing but insects before it."

I stood my ground, my claws digging into the earth, my white fur glowing faintly in the firelight. "We've fought worse than you," I snarled, my voice steady despite the flood of power that threatened to overwhelm me. "And we've won. We will stop this."

Dean's growl joined mine, his posture firm beside me as he readied himself for whatever came next. "We'll see who's the insect," he muttered, his hand gripping the hilt of his blade.

The creature in the center of the summoning circle let out a low, guttural roar, its form now fully visible-a massive, hulking figure, its skin covered in thick, scaled armor. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, the same as the figure's, and its enormous wings unfolded with a terrifying sound that echoed through the clearing. This was no mere beast. It was an ancient force of destruction.

I could feel the power radiating off the creature, ancient and raw, filling the air with an overwhelming presence. This was the thing the figure had been building toward. This was the threat that had been hovering over us all along. And it was waking.

"We need to destroy the circle!" I shouted to Dean. "It's the only way to stop this!"

Dean nodded, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the clearing. The energy around the summoning circle was pulsating, almost alive, a dark force that was fueling the creature's awakening. We had no time to waste.

"We break the circle, we break its hold on the beast," I continued, my voice steady despite the urgency gnawing at me. "The pack needs to hold off the creature while we take down the figure."

Dean clenched his jaw, his gaze locked on the figure. "We'll make sure it's done."

As we surged forward, the pack pressed on, fighting the creatures that still surrounded the clearing. The battle raged on, but there was no time for distraction. I had to reach the summoning circle. I had to stop it before the creature could fully emerge.

The figure turned to face me, its eyes burning with a cold fury. "You think you can stop this?" it sneered. "This creature is mine to control. You are nothing."

I moved with a speed that surprised even me, darting toward the platform with Dean close behind. The figure raised its hand, sending a burst of dark energy toward me, but I dodged, the power barely missing me as I leapt onto the platform.

"You're not in control," I growled, my voice filled with defiance. "Not anymore."

The figure snarled and extended its other hand, but before it could strike, Dean was there, his blade cutting through the air with deadly precision. The figure blocked the strike with a shield of dark energy, but the distraction was enough to give me a moment.

I reached the edge of the summoning circle, my claws digging into the stone as I examined the intricate markings. The symbols glowed with an eerie light, their power pulsating beneath my touch. I could feel the dark energy swirling around the circle, feeding the creature's rise. It wasn't just a barrier-it was a conduit for the creature's power. If I destroyed it, I could sever the connection.

"Now!" I shouted to Dean, my voice hoarse with urgency.

Dean moved to cover me, his blade flashing as he fought off the figure's attempts to stop him. The figure was powerful, but I could feel its concentration wavering as I focused on the circle. I had to do this quickly.

With a final, desperate thrust of my claws, I ripped through the first layer of the circle, the symbols shattering with a burst of light. The energy around us crackled violently, the force of it slamming into me with enough power to throw me back. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay conscious as the figure screamed in fury.

"You can't break it!" the figure shouted, its voice filled with rage. "The ancient one is already here!"

I struggled to my feet, my body battered but still holding together. "It's not too late to stop this," I said, my voice low and firm. "And we will."

I turned back to the circle, my claws trembling as I focused every ounce of my strength into breaking it. The power that surged through me was blinding, but I couldn't stop now. The future of the pack depended on this moment.

With a final, heart-pounding strike, I shattered the last of the circle's symbols, the energy around it collapsing in on itself with a deafening roar. The dark power that had been feeding the creature flickered and died, and with it, the creature's form wavered.

The beast let out a guttural roar, its wings thrashing in the air as its enormous form faltered, unable to sustain itself without the power of the summoning circle. The air around us grew still, and I could feel the energy of the ritual dissipating into the atmosphere like smoke.

The figure's eyes burned with hatred, but it could do nothing. The summoning was broken.

"You..." the figure hissed, its form flickering with dark energy. "This isn't over. The ancient one will rise again. You've only delayed the inevitable."

I stepped forward, my wolf form still pulsing with power, my body aching but resolute. "Then we'll be ready."

Dean joined me, his eyes locked on the figure. "This ends here. No more games."

With one final, devastating howl, I lunged at the figure, my claws aimed directly at its heart. The fight had taken everything from us-but we were not finished.