Sac sat still on the edge of the bed, pale but conscious. The darkness had retreated—at least enough for the clarity to return to his eyes. I sat down across from him, and silence settled between us.

  He was the first to break it.

  “Tracy…” His voice was hoarse. “I’m so sorry. I was in there, aware of everything, but unable to stop it. Like a stranger in my own body.”

  I looked at him and replied quietly, “I know it wasn’t you. I saw it in your eyes when the light touched you.”

  He closed his eyes for a moment and whispered, “She was there the whole time. Sacra. She controlled me like a puppet. Showed me her plans… how she wants to get to Seraya’s power. She’s afraid of you, Tracy. Afraid of what you can do with the light.”

  I shivered. “Seraya warned me that she wanted my power—to twist it into darkness.”

  He nodded slowly. “She whispered about breaking you from the inside. Using me to hurt you. I wanted to scream, to break free, but the darkness smothered me. It’s still there… I can feel it. Like a shadow in my chest.”

  “We won’t let it take over again,” I said and placed my hand over his. “You’re stronger than you think.”

  Sac hesitated, held my gaze. Then came the words—I felt their weight long before he spoke them.

  “There’s one more thing I need to say. I’ve loved you… for a long time. Maybe from the very first moment. But I always knew it wasn’t meant to be me. It was Will. You were meant for each other, like your souls were calling to one another even before you met.”

  I swallowed hard. His words touched something deep inside me, and at the same time, I felt a wave of respect for him.

  I blinked away a tear and squeezed his hand. “I know. And I’ve always felt your loyalty. I’ve loved you too, Sac. Maybe not in that way, but you have a place in my heart no one else ever could.”

  “I tried to forget it,” he went on. “Especially when I saw the way you looked at him. Will… he’s a good man. Strong, but not just on the outside. He’d die for you. That’s what makes him the right one.”

  I gave a faint smile. “He feels the same about you, Sac. We both do. That’s why we fought so hard to bring you back.”

  Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

  The door opened gently, and Will stepped inside. His eyes found mine first, then turned to Sac.

  “Everything okay?” he asked softly.

  I nodded. “We’re done.”

  Will came over to me. “Luc and Wics are back,” he said with a small smile. “They’re okay.”

  Relief washed over me. They were alive.

  Sac nodded slowly and sat up straighter, seeming more present now that his heart had found some peace again. But we all knew time was short.

  Will reached out his hand to help me up from the bed. His gaze was serious, yet filled with the familiar warmth I trusted. I took his hand and felt a wave of calm wash over me. We’d fought too hard to lose now.

  “We need to gather everyone from the village,” Will said. “It’s time to plan. We have to find Sacra and destroy the dark side once and for all.”

  We walked out to the small gathering place that had become our operations center over the last few days. The village was assembled—both wolves and humans. A sense of determination hung heavy in the air. The world was heading toward something big, and we had no time to lose.

  A map was stretched out across a table, and we began reviewing the areas where the dark side had previously been. Several strategic locations—places where they’d left behind destruction and clues. But Sacra… her exact location was still unknown.

  “This is where we believe she is,” Gus said, pointing to a spot in the forest. “But we have to be careful. We’ve seen signs of her presence, but no solid proof of where she’s hiding.”

  Luc and Wics sat closest to the map, listening intently. I smiled when I saw Luc’s furrowed brow, the focused look in his eyes.

  “We have to find her before she does anything more. And we have to be ready to strike back the moment we do,” Luc said, as serious as always.

  I turned to Wics. His gaze was steady, but I saw that flicker of worry in his eyes.

  “Wics… you look better,” I said, sitting beside him. “I’m glad you’re back on your feet.”

  He gave a faint smile, but his voice was heavy with gravity. “If it hadn’t been for Luc… If he hadn’t gotten me to the human hospital in time, I wouldn’t be sitting here.” His eyes were filled with gratitude, and Luc nodded at him, content with doing what he always did best—protecting his own.

  As the group began to align on the raid’s details, I felt a chill of unease creep in. It was subtle at first, like a whisper in the wind. But then it grew stronger, a pressing feeling I couldn’t ignore. The darkness was here.

  I looked at Will and Sac, and our eyes met—they felt it too.

  “The darkness is coming,” I said, but just as I opened my mouth to warn the others, it was already too late.

  From the forest, they came—dark side forces. Twisted shadows of wolves who had lost their humanity, now monstrous, threatening creatures. They came in full attack.

  “Run!” Will and Sac shouted in unison, racing toward me.

  They knew what I felt, and all three of us had to act fast. We ran—faster than we ever had before. The darkness was closing in, and I knew we were heading toward a final confrontation.

  The wind was cold when we reached the forest, and there she was—Sacra. Waiting for us, a wicked smile on her lips. Her presence was like a shadow, a malevolent force threatening to consume us all.

  “So here we are,” Sacra said, her voice like an echo from another world. “It took you long enough, but this is as far as you go.”

  I knew this was the moment—we were surrounded, but we would fight.