again.
This time—
Her wolf fangs sank deep into Kaela's shoulder.
Kaela screamed in pain.
She shoved Nora away violently.
Lucas blinked.
"Oh."
He raised his eyebrow.
"That looked painful."
Kaela backed away slowly, her eyes burning with rage.
She glared at them all.
"This isn't over."
Then she disappeared into the darkness of the forest.
No one noticed the wound on her shoulder.
Except Kaela herself.
Nora's bite.
A werewolf bite powerful enough to kill a vampire.
But Kaela only smiled to herself as she vanished.
Because she already knew…
How to cure it.
Back in the clearing—
The spirits' chanting reached its peak.
The light exploded around Eva.
Her body suddenly gasped for breath.
Eva's eyes opened.
Zoe collapsed beside her, crying with relief.
"She's alive…"
The spirits slowly faded into the night.
And the forest became silent once again.
But everyone knew.
The real danger had only just begun.
Morning came slowly to Ashwood.
The sun had already risen, but the house still felt trapped in night.
Julien's house stood quietly at the edge of the forest—tall windows, dark wooden floors, and walls filled with old paintings that watched silently like ghosts from another time.
But something inside the house was wrong.
The air felt heavy.
Like the entire building was holding its breath.
On the long couch in the living room, Eva Harper suddenly gasped.
Her eyes flew open.
For a few seconds she didn't move.
Her mind felt empty… like she had been floating in darkness for a long time.
Then the memories came rushing back.
The ritual.
The pain.
The moment everything went silent.
Her heart began beating faster.
"I'm alive…"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
But the moment she spoke—
Something strange happened.
The glass of water on the table beside her suddenly cracked.
A thin spiderweb of fractures spread across it.
Eva froze.
"…What?"
The air around her started trembling slightly.
Then she heard something.
Whispers.
Soft voices inside her head.
Not words.
Just sounds.
She grabbed her head suddenly.
"Stop… stop…"
The whispers grew louder.
And suddenly—
CRASH
A bookshelf across the room exploded open, books falling to the floor like rain.
Footsteps rushed down the stairs.
Julien appeared first.
His eyes widened.
"Eva?!"
Behind him came Zoe, Nora… and finally Lucas Kane.
Lucas stopped at the doorway and looked around at the chaos.
Broken glass.
Books everywhere.
The chandelier above Eva shaking violently.
He raised one eyebrow.
"Well…"
He crossed his arms casually.
"That's new."
Eva looked at them in panic.
"I didn't do that!"
Another crack ran across the ceiling.
The chandelier swung harder.
Zoe rushed forward quickly.
"Eva listen to me!"
Her hands glowed faintly with magic.
"You just came back from death. Your powers are unstable."
Eva's breathing became faster.
"I can't stop it!"
The lights in the room flickered.
A picture frame flew off the wall.
Lucas leaned casually against the doorframe, watching the scene like it was a movie.
"Looks like the witch got a software update."
Zoe shot him an angry look.
"Lucas!"
He lifted both hands innocently.
"What? I'm just observing."
Julien stepped closer to Eva.
His voice was calmer.
"Eva, look at me."
Her glowing eyes slowly met his.
"You're safe. Just breathe."
For a moment it worked.
The shaking slowed.
The chandelier stopped moving.
The whispers in Eva's head faded slightly.
She took a deep breath.
"…Okay."
Then suddenly—
A violent wave of magic exploded from her body.
The windows shattered.
Glass flew across the room.
Everyone ducked.
Lucas whistled.
"Okay that one was impressive."
Zoe grabbed Eva's shoulders.
"You cannot use magic for four days!"
Eva blinked.
"What?"
Nora stepped forward slowly.
Her arm was still bandaged from Kaela's attack.
"The spirits warned us."
"If you use magic before four days… it could kill you."
Eva looked down at her trembling hands.
"I'm not trying to use magic."
Her voice shook.
"It's happening on its own."
Lucas pushed himself off the wall and walked closer.
For once, his expression looked slightly serious.
He studied Eva carefully.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Your magic died with you."
Everyone looked at him.
Lucas continued.
"And when the spirits brought you back… it came back stronger."
He shrugged.
"Magic doesn't like being interrupted."
Eva whispered softly.
"So I'm a walking bomb now?"
Lucas smirked slightly.
"Well…"
He pointed around the destroyed room.
"Evidence suggests yes."
Zoe glared at him again.
"Lucas!"
He smiled innocently.
"What? Humor helps during emotional crises."
Julien sighed.
"This isn't funny."
Lucas leaned closer to Eva.
But his voice softened slightly.
"Relax, witch."
"For four days, just don't use magic."
He winked.
"How hard can that be?"
Eva stared at him.
"…You're unbelievable."
Lucas grinned.
"People tell me that a lot."
Later That Day
The forest outside Ashwood was quiet.
Tall trees moved slowly in the wind.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves like golden dust.
Nora stood alone in the clearing.
Her fists were clenched.
She looked at her hands.
Then she closed her eyes.
Her breathing slowed.
But the anger inside her chest remained.
Footsteps approached behind her.
Lucas appeared again.
Hands in pockets.
Looking completely relaxed.
He looked around.
"So…"
He glanced at the trees.
"Are we doing the dramatic werewolf training scene now?"
Nora didn't turn around.
"I bit Kaela."
Lucas nodded.
"Yes. I noticed."
She finally looked at him.
"If my bite can kill her… I need to become stronger."
Lucas leaned against a tree.
"Well lucky for you…"
He smiled slightly.
"I've fought werewolves for two hundred years."
Nora crossed her arms.
"You're going to train me?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Sure."
He pointed at the clearing.
"Step one."
"Try to hit me."
Nora blinked.
"What?"
Lucas grinned.
"Come on."
"Let's see what the big scary wolf can do."
Nora didn't hesitate.
She charged at him.
Lucas moved aside effortlessly.
She stumbled past him.
Lucas laughed.
"Oh wow."
"That was terrifying."
Nora spun around angrily.
"You're enjoying this!"
Lucas nodded immediately.
"Absolutely."
Then he added with a smirk—
"But you'll get better."
For the first time that day…
Nora almost smiled.
And somewhere far away in Ashwood…
Darkness was already beginning to move.
Something ancient was waking.
And none of them knew yet—
That their lives were about to become far more dangerous.