TYLER'S POV
The door swung open so hard the hinges rattled.
Mason stumbled inside, breathing heavily, dust and dried leaves stuck to his jacket. His hair was a mess, his face smeared with dirt, but he was alive.
"Ty—" he stopped, doubled over, hands on his knees, gasping. "Tyler… I swear… I hate you."
I raised a brow. "Good to see you too."
Liam smirked from the couch. "He's dramatic as hell."
"SHUT UP," Mason snapped.
I crossed my arms. "So how did you escape?"
He inhaled sharply. "I ran. Like a sensible wolf. I fought off two hunters, jumped into the river, shifted mid-air, and let the current drag me down for a mile. Lost them after that."
I blinked. "Damn."
"Yeah," Mason wheezed. "Damn indeed."
Before I could reply, Grandma stepped from the hallway, leaning lightly on the wall for balance.
"Mason," she said softly. "I'm sorry I couldn't bring you with them. My spell… it was too much. I nearly collapsed after pulling Emily, Tyler, and the wolves through."
Mason froze.
His entire face changed—from anger to shock to guilt.
"I… didn't know," he muttered. "I just… I thought—"
"It's alright," she smiled weakly. "You made it here safely. That's what matters."
Mason scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… thank you, ma'am."
Grandma's eyes twinkled slightly. "You're welcome, dear."
---
EMILY'S POV
Grandma sat me on the edge of the bed, the room dimly lit by flickering candles. I could still sense every heartbeat in the cabin—but they were distant, muffled. My senses were fluctuating again.
Grandma noticed immediately.
"Your power is unstable," she said gently. "That's normal. The First Blood awakening is… unpredictable."
I exhaled shakily. "You said you'd tell me everything."
She nodded. "Yes. And we start now."
She lifted her hand, and the candle flames steadied as if listening.
"Emily," she began, "the First Blood is the oldest lineage in supernatural history. Born from the union of the first wolf and the first witch."
My breath caught.
"A wolf… and a witch?"
"Yes," she whispered. "The original mate bond. The original power bond. Their offspring had abilities tied to both sides… but far greater. Power that could shake kingdoms and silence armies."
I swallowed. "So… I'm descended from them?"
"You're their last heir."
The room seemed to tilt.
Grandma continued, voice soft but heavy with ancient weight:
"The First Blood can command wolves—not by force, but by bond. They can sense danger, read energies, and awaken abilities that even witches fear."
I shivered. "That sounds like too much."
"It will be," she admitted. "But you won't face it alone."
She reached for my hands—
—and suddenly the candles flickered violently.
The air pulsed around us.
"Emily," she warned, "breathe. Your power is rising ag—"
A shockwave burst from my skin, rippling through the room.
Books shook.
The floorboards groaned.
The lamps sputtered out.
"No—no, no, no—" I gasped as the silver glow surged in my chest and then collapsed like a dying star.
Everything went dark.
My glow shut off.
My senses went silent.
For the first time since awakening… I felt blind.
"Grandma?" I whispered, panicked. "I can't feel anything. I—I can't sense you. I can't sense Tyler nor Mason. I can't hear the wolves. What's happening?!"
Grandma grabbed my hands.
Her voice trembled for the first time.
"Your power is glitching," she whispered. "It's overloading. And if we don't stabilize it soon…"
Her sentence trailed off.
She didn't need to finish.
The fear in her eyes told me enough.