Into the Heart of Madness

Kosa’s chest tightened as Lara’s scream tore through the air again—sharp, raw, and unmistakably her sister’s. Fear clutched her heart, extinguishing the embers of desire that had flared only moments ago.

“I have to go!” she gasped, pushing against his chest with frantic urgency.

“Not yet,” he snarled, his voice low and laced with the commanding edge of his wolf. “You can’t leave.”

“Let me go!” Kosa cried, twisting desperately in his grip. Her wolf raged within her, an instinctual resistance to the hold tightening around her.

“Can’t you hear her? Lara needs me!”

But he didn’t relent. Instead, he pulled her closer, his breath warm and possessive against her ear.

“It’s too late,” he murmured, the chilling finality in his tone cutting deep. “The bond is already forming.”

Her body froze, dread pooling in her stomach as his words weighed on her like a physical chain.

“What do you mean?” she whispered, confusion and panic colliding in her voice.

“I warned you,” he said, his hands sliding down her arms with a grip both possessive and unyielding.

“Once it starts, there’s no turning back. You belong to me now, Kosa.”

The words struck like a physical blow, knocking the breath from her lungs. The primal pull she’d felt earlier vanished, leaving only cold, stark clarity. She looked up at him—really looked at him now—the sharp angles of his face, the wildness in his eyes, and the oppressive aura of dark power surrounding him.

A chill raced down her spine.

“No,” she whispered, shaking her head. “This isn’t right. I didn’t—”

“You did,” he cut her off, his voice hard and unyielding. “You came to me, Kosa. You wanted this. And now, there’s no escape.”

Tears burned her eyes as Lara’s scream rang out again, fainter this time, as if the distance between them was growing. “Please,” Kosa begged, her voice cracking. “She’s my sister. I have to save her!”

He didn’t release her. Instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing her ear, his words dark and mocking. “She’ll survive. This,” he said, his grip tightening, “matters more.”

“No!” Kosa shrieked, her voice breaking as she thrashed against him with everything she had. Her wolf surged within her, a burst of raw power shattering his hold. She stumbled back, her heart pounding as she glared at him, shock and defiance etched on her face.

“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice softer now but no less dangerous. “You can’t fight this. The bond—”

“I don’t care about the bond!” she spat, her fury igniting. “If being tied to you means abandoning my family, I want no part of it.”

His lips curled into a twisted smile, his eyes dark with cruel amusement.

“Oh, Kosa, you still don’t understand,” he said, his voice dripping with scorn.

“This isn’t about choice or love. This is survival. You’re mine, and there’s no escaping that.”

Kosa shook her head, trembling as another scream—Lara’s—split the silence.

“You’re wrong,” she said, her voice sharp with defiance despite the fear tightening in her chest.

He tilted his head, a cruel gleam flickering in his eyes. “You want to save your sister?” he asked, mockery lacing his tone.

“Why don’t you let her enjoy herself with her mate? Won’t that make you happy?”

Cold dread swept through Kosa like a tidal wave. “What do you mean?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He smirked, stepping back with a casual cruelty that made her stomach churn.

“Run,” he said, gesturing mockingly toward the forest.

“See for yourself.”

Kosa didn’t hesitate. She bolted, her feet pounding the earth in a desperate rhythm as she followed the sound of Lara’s cries. Her heart hammered in her chest, her wolf surging forward, driven by fear and an unrelenting need to protect.

The forest closed in around her, shadows shifting beneath the pale moonlight. Gnarled branches clawed at the sky, slicing through the silvery glow. The damp scent of crushed leaves filled the air, mingling with something sharper—metallic and acrid. Blood.

Her breath tore from her lungs in ragged bursts, the icy night stinging her throat. Every sound seemed magnified: the snap of twigs underfoot, the rustle of unseen creatures, the distant echo of Lara’s fading screams.

The forest seemed alive, its oppressive energy pressing against her, as if it sought to hold her back.

A faint vibration hummed beneath her feet, a primal warning that prickled along her skin. Her wolf whimpered within her, instincts screaming for her to turn back. But Kosa pushed forward, dread coiling tighter with every step.

The tang of iron grew stronger, the stench of fresh blood cutting through the cold air. Another smell followed—musky and fetid, like rotting leaves steeped in sweat. Bile rose in her throat as she shoved through a dense thicket.

And then, she stumbled into the clearing.

An unnatural silence fell over her. Not the tranquil stillness of the woods, but a suffocating void. Moonlight spilled across the clearing, illuminating a scene that froze her in place.

Lara lay crumpled on the ground, trembling and fragile against the pale grass. Her clothes were in tatters, clinging to her blood-streaked body. Kosa’s breath caught as she locked eyes with her sister—wide, tear-filled, and brimming with terror.

“Run,” Lara rasped, her voice barely audible. The word pierced the silence like a blade.

But Kosa couldn’t move.

The smell hit her fully now—a nauseating blend of blood and musky decay. The air vibrated with an unnatural energy, making her limbs feel sluggish, her chest tight.

Her gaze shifted to the hulking figure standing over Lara. The creature’s massive frame loomed in the moonlight, its dark fur shimmering wetly as if steeped in shadow.

Its glowing yellow eyes locked onto Kosa, burning with malice. Each breath came slow and guttural, steaming in the frigid air. Drool dripped from its jagged fangs, pooling in the dirt below. The scrape of its claws against the ground sent shivers racing through her.

Even the forest seemed to recoil, the trees leaning away as though repelled by its corruption. The grass at its feet was flattened and darkened, as if the earth itself had been defiled.

The beast moved, deliberate and menacing, its low growl vibrating in her bones. This wasn’t just a werewolf. It was something ancient. Something primal.

This wasn’t just a predator.

It was the predator.

Kosa’s knees buckled, her wolf howling in terror, torn between fleeing and protecting Lara. But the truth hit her with brutal clarity: this was a fight she couldn’t win.

“You were warned,” the boy’s mocking voice echoed in her mind.

The creature stepped closer, every movement steeped in menace. The icy air clawed at her skin, the scent of blood suffocating her. She wanted to run, to scream, to fight—but she couldn’t.

She was helpless.

And now, it was her turn.