Sophia! Dodge!
James's voice tore through the mind link just as Sophia's wolf form slammed against a mighty boulder. The impact rattled through her bones.
The vampire strode toward her, laughter curling from his lips. Flames licked his hand, the glow casting a sinister light on his pale features. He drew his arm back, ready to unleash the inferno and end her right there
Henry struck from behind, his fangs sinking deep as his red wolf form blazed under the moonlight. Around them, chaos raged wolves locked in desperate battle against more than fifteen vampires, their movements wild and brutal like newborns gorged on blood for months.
The vampire only laughed.
"You remind me of a little wolf I killed… what was it fifty? Fifty-three years ago? I've lost count. He was strong. But in the end " Fire burst in his palm. "he burned."
He hurled fiery orbs with murderous speed, but Henry dodged each one, closing the distance and slashing the vampire's chin. A thin line of blood welled up. The vampire wiped it lazily with two fingers, licking them with relish.
"What a waste."
He unleashed another volley of flame. Henry leapt, lunging midair but the vampire's counter was brutal, sending Henry crashing through a stand of trees.
The vampire paused, surveying the battlefield. His smile was cold, knowing.
"Look around you. The vampires are winning. Soon, every wolf here will burn."
"Not if I can stand it," Sophia's voice cut through the mind link.
"Let's crush this guy already," James answered.
They attacked together. The vampire's movements blurred his kick sent James tumbling, while a blast of fire slammed Sophia into the ground. James recovered, charging again, but the vampire caught him mid-leap, slamming him into the earth. With a fiery twist, he drove James deep into the forest.
The vampire's laugh echoed through the trees, chilling and endless.
Sophia forced herself to her feet, her breath ragged, fur bristling. She growled low, her eyes locked on the smirking vampire before her.
"I'm really sorry to say this," the vampire drawled, tilting his head as though studying her like some rare specimen, "but you're strong fast. It's such a shame you'll die a painful death. Imagine if you were a vampire… you'd live forever. You'd never grow old. You'd never lose a fight." He shook his head in mock pity. "Such a waste."
Beside Sophia, James rose, shaking dust and debris from his fur. Henry staggered in, his red wolf form still tense, barely steady on his paws but unwilling to show weakness.
"Why don't you just beg already?" the vampire continued, his grin widening. "Maybe I'll make your deaths only slightly horrible."
Sophia's gaze flicked toward the chaotic battle raging behind them. What do we do, guys? she asked through the mind link, her voice urgent. Those young wolves look at them. They're getting torn apart.
They've got no real skill, Henry replied, his tone bitter. Why Mr. Jack sent them on a mission like this baffles me.
Right now, James added, we could use a little help.
The air split with a sudden, deafening rip a sound like the earth itself tearing. Three massive wolves landed hard on the battlefield, the ground shaking beneath them. Every eye turned toward the newcomers.
At the center, Tyler's black wolf form burned with blue, fiery eyes alive with barely contained rage. To his left, Bella stood poised, white fur gleaming. To his right, Jasper's midnight-blue pelt seemed to ripple with energy.
Tyler! Sophia's voice in the mind link trembled with relief.
So glad you guys are safe, Bella sent warmly.
Just talking about you, James added with a flash of dry humor.
The vampire clapped slowly, mockingly. "More wolves impressive. I like it. But it still won't change anything." He lit his palm with fire, the glow reflecting in his eyes. "More wolves. More strength. More death."
Jasper, Henry, Bella help the others. Take down the rest of those vampires. Leave this one to us, Tyler ordered, his mental voice laced with determination and controlled fury.
Without hesitation, the three peeled away toward the struggling young wolves, while Tyler, Sophia, and James faced the vampire alone.
"I like you," the vampire said, pointing toward Tyler's towering black wolf. "You remind me of someone."
They attacked in unison, a blur of motion. The vampire slipped aside, sending a torrent of flame at them, but Tyler and Sophia closed in with supernatural speed. Tyler's fangs caught the vampire and drove him down, while Sophia tore into his left leg.
The vampire roared, surging back to his feet, and unleashed a storm of glittering fiery orbs. James darted around them, closing in only for the vampire to intercept and slam him into the dirt.
Tyler struck hard, snapping the vampire's left arm cleanly. Bone and flame both cracked under the force. The vampire fell, groaning but still smiling.
"That won't stop me."
He powered his right hand with a blaze so intense it lit the night sky, then struck. The explosion of fire threw Tyler and Sophia into the trees with bone-jarring force.
"You think you can win?" His laugh carried across the battlefield, cold and poisonous. "Humanity is weak and will always be weak. Let them feel pain. Let them live in pain, nothing makes me more happier."
Tyler regained his footing. James rose beside him, both wolves eyeing the vampire with grim focus.
They lunged again. Tyler kept pace, but his sharp eyes caught it James was moving faster than ever before, almost unnaturally so. The vampire leapt, sending a hail of massive fireballs. They split apart, dodging every searing blast. James slammed into the vampire with brutal force, driving him to the ground.
Tyler leapt in to finish it but the vampire rolled away at the last second. Staggering, he glared at James.
"What is this? That brown wolf… his strength it's increased."
With a snarl, the vampire summoned a final storm of fire, casting it in all directions. Tyler and James wove through it, tearing waves through the heat. Tyler raked his claws down the vampire's face, and in the same breath James locked his jaws onto the vampire's remaining arm ripping it apart in a spray of ash and embers.
The vampire's expression shifted from rage to sudden dread. "No both arms… I'm dead"
James soared upward, then crashed into him with overwhelming force, slamming him into a tree. In seconds, the vampire was torn apart gone.
Tyler stood frozen for a moment, staring. James had done it he had entered the One Mind Wolf.
James shook his fur and bolted into the forest, shifting back to human form. Tyler followed, transforming as well.
When he caught up, James's face was a strange mix of pride and grief.
"You did it," Tyler said with a smile. "You entered the One Mind Wolf. How did you do it? What was your emotional trigger?"
James's gaze darkened. "That vampire… when he spoke about humanity being weak, about making them suffer, being in pain it reminded me of Helen. I couldn't bear it."
Tyler grinned faintly, but he could still feel the heaviness in James's heart. He placed a hand on his shoulder.
The others approached Bella, Sophia, Henry, Jasper victorious, the remaining vampires slain.
"Great job, guys," Henry said.
"Yeah," Sophia added with a smile.
"I'm glad you came when you did," Henry said.
"Mr. Jack sent you at the right time," Sophia noted.
Tyler shook his head. "Mr. Jack didn't send us. Jasper had a vision that's why we're here."
Henry looked at him, seems your visions are becoming more useful Jasper, am proud of you he said grinning.
"James," Jasper said with quiet amazement, "you entered the One Mind Wolf."
The pack's eyes all turned to James. He nodded once.
Smiles spread across every face except Tyler's. His gaze was fixed on the young wolves behind them, still shaken from battle but giggling and making expressions with their arms on how they fought.
"Good experience for them, huh?" Tyler asked softly.
"Yeah," Sophia said, following his gaze. "Great experience."
"Did you… fly?" Henry asked James with a chuckle.
"Shut up," James muttered, though a hint of a smile broke through.