The command rang out "Now!" Tyler's voice sliced through the night like steel. In a blur of motion, the entire pack shifted, bones snapping and fur erupting in a rush of power all except Jasper, who remained beside Bella's massive white wolf form, a pillar of calm in the chaos.
Tyler's sleek black wolf lunged straight for the red-haired vampire. The creature conjured a spear of dark magic and hurled it like lightning. Tyler twisted midair, dodging by inches, then slammed the vampire with crushing force into a tree, bark splintering from the impact.
Nearby, Sophia clashed with the black-haired vampire. It hurled jagged rocks at her with brutal telekinesis. She darted between them swift, graceful but one caught her side. Before the vampire could pounce, she roared and slammed it into a boulder with savage strength.
In the thick of the battle, Chucks in his ash-gray wolf form tore into a vampire, pinning it to the ground. With a brutal snap of his fangs, he shattered bone. But the creature twisted free and landed a powerful blow, sending Chucks staggering.
Henry and Marcel fought side-by-side. Henry charged first but was too slow he was flung into a boulder with a sickening thud. Marcel retaliated, sinking his fangs into a female vampire's arm, snapping it like a twig. But a vicious kick from another vampire sent him flying deep into the woods.
Emily and Patrick their wolves gray and violet struck hard and fast, tearing two male vampires to shreds. Just as they caught their breath, a hulking vampire barreled in. With monstrous strength, it sent Patrick flying and slammed Emily into a tree with a crash.
Meanwhile, Bella and Jasper were surrounded. Two vampires closed in fangs bared, eyes glowing. Jasper's heart lurched. If only I could shift in time, I would had helped …
The first vampire struck but Bella was faster. With a snarl, she flung him backward. The second lunged Bella met him with her fangs, matching blow for blow. Then the first returned, hefting a massive tree limb. He hurled it like a missile.
Bella and Jasper dove aside. The wood crashed beside them but Bella shielded Jasper, taking the hit. She yelped, injured but still standing.
Jasper's wide eyes scanned the battlefield. Chaos. Blood. Fury. Everywhere he looked, wolves were struggling. Marcel fought alone. Emily was down. Patrick held his ground, barely.
This night… was far more than the pack had prepared for.
Tyler lay sprawled on the ground, winded and bruised. The red-haired vampire stepped forward, lips curled in a cruel grin. He casually ran a hand through his slick hair and sneered.
"Did you really think you could defeat me? You wolves… you're all weaklings he shouted."
Tyler groaned and tried to push himself up.
"Tyler," a voice echoed in his mind sharp, urgent. It was Sophia, reaching him through their mental channel.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes," he thought back. "Concentrate on your fight. I'll handle this one."
With that, Tyler lunged forward. The vampire ducked to the side, laughing but Tyler snapped around and tackled him to the ground. Before he could finish the move, the red-haired vampire summoned a massive boulder with his dark powers and hurled it.
The impact sent Tyler flying.
He hit the ground hard, but adrenaline surged through him. He sprang back to his paws and charged. This time, he clamped down on the vampire's left limb, crushing it with a sickening crunch. Blood sprayed into the air like mist.
"You'll pay for that!" the vampire roared, eyes burning with rage as he launched himself at Tyler again.
Elsewhere, Sophia was a blur. She hurled the black-haired vampire across the battlefield with incredible speed. He tried to retaliate, seizing a rock midair with his powers and flinging it at her. She sidestepped it with ease then sank her fangs into his neck, tearing through flesh and bone until the vampire shattered into pieces.
Chucks mauled his opponent with raw fury. He crushed the vampire's legs, ignoring its cries of agony. His claws slashed across the creature's face, blinding it then with one brutal snap, he shattered its spine.
Henry launched himself at a vampire, snapping its right arm clean off. But the vampire, driven by rage, countered with a devastating strike sending Henry crashing into Marcel, who had been charging to help. The two wolves tumbled into the dirt with a thud.
Nearby, Patrick and Emily cornered another vampire. Emily struck first, her fangs digging deep into its ribs. The vampire shrieked. Patrick followed with brutal precision, tearing the creature apart until it stilled.
But things were different where Bella stood.
She fought fiercely but she was injured, Jasper clinging to her back, helpless. Every move was slower, heavier. Jasper's thoughts spun wildly Should I run? Would that only make it worse?
The first vampire a tall, savage-looking man kicked Bella, but she held her ground with a growl.
Then, both vampires closed in.
"I'm coming, Bella," Sophia's voice echoed in her mind.
Before help could arrive, the second vampire struck clawing Bella across her flank. She retaliated, biting back, but that's when the first vampire grabbed her from behind. With terrifying strength, he lifted her into the air, paws flailing.
And then he began to crush her.
Bella let out a tortured, muffled yelp, her body writhing in agony as the vampire's arms constricted around her like iron bands.
Suddenly
the night shifted.
From the darkness, a figure emerged a low growl rippling through the silence. Midnight blue fur shimmered in the moonlight… and behind it, a strange blue glow pulsed softly, brilliantly.
Something had changed.
Someone had shifted.