Amara.
Seraphina and I took the back seat while the twins sat in front.
The moment Lance started the engine, my heartbeat picked up, and when the car rolled forward, my stomach dropped.
I clasped my hands in my lap and whispered a small prayer in my head.
Please let us return home safely.
Please let nothing happen.
Yet, even as I prayed, a quiet part of me was already bracing for the worst.
"Hey."
I turned from the window to find Seraphina leaning closer to me.
"Are you alright?" she whispered, careful to keep her voice low.
I forced a small smile and nodded. "Yeah… just a little anxious."
She squeezed my hand gently. "No need to worry. Even if anything happens, we'll be fine. Just relax and enjoy the ride, okay?"
"Okay," I murmured, though the unease in my chest still pressed without fail.
When we finally reached the gate that led out of Everlone, several guards stood watch, just like the night I first arrived. Back then, they had been strict—almost hostile—refusing to let my mother drive any farther. True to their words, they did not let her through the gate no matter what.
This time, the moment our car slowed, every man snapped to attention. Showing nothing but respect.
One of them stepped forward. "Happy New Year."
"Happy New Year," Vance and Lance replied in unison.
Vance leaned out to quietly explain where we were headed and when we planned to return. Moments later, the massive metal gates creaked open.
"Keep up the good work," Lance said as he drove through.
"Yes, sir."
And just like that, we left Everlone behind.
The road beyond the gates was eerily quiet—too quiet. And the tall trees towered over our car, casting a dark shadow over us. There were no other cars. No distant lights. Just endless dark stretching ahead.
Lance turned on the music, filling the heavy silence with something light and upbeat, but that did nothing to ease the tension coiling in my chest.
I sat quietly, listening as the siblings exchanged small, casual comments. I kept my expression neutral, trying my hardest to pretend that everything was normal.
"So, Amara," Vance said suddenly, glancing at me through the rearview mirror. "What do you want to do once your training is done?"
The question caught me off guard .
What did I want to do?
I had never really thought about it. All my energy had gone into surviving each day—into controlling the monster inside me.
Maybe I would run back to my mother—return to the human world.
But was that smart?
At the end of the day, I was still a werewolf. And no matter how much control I had over my wolf, was it truly safe to be around other people?
Really, will anyone be safe around me?
"I… haven't decided yet," I said honestly.
Seraphina smiled. "You could join the medical team with me. They're the most level-headed wolves in town."
I smiled back at her, but the moment was cut short by a scoff from the front seat.
"They're also the best at controlling their wolves," Lance said. "Not exactly the right place for her, is it?"
"Lance!" Seraphina snapped.
"Enough," Vance warned.
I opened my mouth to respond—
Dangerous.
It's dangerous.
My wolf's voice slammed into my mind, sharp and urgent.
Before I could even process it, I felt both twins tense. Vance's gaze darted to the side mirrors, his posture instantly alert.
Immediately, Lance stepped harder on the accelerator.
"What's wrong?" Seraphina asked.
"Everything's fine," Vance said, but his tone was far from convincing.
My chest tightened.
The strange feeling from earlier surged violently now, like an invisible hand squeezing my lungs.
Then out of absolutely nowhere—
BANG!
The car slammed into something in the middle of the road.
Seraphina screamed as we were thrown forward. The vehicle swerved off the road and headed straight toward the trees, but Lance hit the brakes just in time, stopping us inches from impact.
"Are you two okay?" Vance demanded.
"We're fine," Seraphina said quickly, gripping her seatbelt. "But what's happening?"
She got her answer instantly— but it didn't come from the twins.
Because as soon as her question landed, Figures started to emerge from the woods.
Their number was outrageous.
They were filthy. Feral-eyed. Crazed with hunger and rage. Everything about their presence exuded nothing but danger.
"Rogues," Seraphina whispered.
My blood ran cold.
"Damn it," Lance growled. "And today was supposed to be our day off."
"Stay in the car," Vance ordered, already reaching for the door. "Both of you. Don't move."
We nodded frantically.
The twins leapt out, cold air snuck into the car in the process—and with it came a stench so foul it made my stomach turn.
And so, as their feet touched the ground, Vance and Lance transformed—two massive brown wolves like every other member of our family…except me.
But I had no time to wallow in depression—the situation didn't permit that.
So instead, I sat at the edge of my seat, heart in the palm of my hand, and my composure on the floor somewhere.
Soon, the rogues collided with my cousins with an otherworldly speed.
Teeth was bared. Blood started to splash. And soon bodies started to collapse.
I couldn't even follow the movements—only flashes of violence and flashes of red.
Despite his gentleness towards me, Vance was merciless in battle, he tore through the rogues with terrifying precision. Lance fought just as fiercely, though his movements were wilder and more aggressive.
Not used to such violence and bloodshed, I turned away, but the images were burned into my mind anyway.
Why did I come?
A sudden impact shook the car. My eyes flared open once more. A loud gasp escaped my lips as several rogues slammed into the doors and windows, fists and claws pounding against the metal.
Up close, they looked even worse—scarred, drooling, barely human. Simply, they were unsightly.
I shrank back against my seat. Trembling as I stared in fear at the terrible sight.
Then, in the next second, Lance tore through them to rid us of them. Still, more and more came.
My heart grew heavy at the sight of the twins slowing down. They were exhausted, yet the number of rogues still standing was alarming.
The next thing I knew, a new, much energetic wolf burst into the fight.
I froze, I could recognize that wolf from a mile away.
It was Smaller. Faster. But less brutal compared to the other two.
My heart stopped.
"Seraphina—?"
I turned sharply to the empty seat beside me.
She was gone.
She fought beside her brothers without hesitation, her movements fierce but reckless.
Every time she took a hit, pain flared in my chest like it was happening to me. I found it harder to watch her get hurt than her brothers.
I clenched my fists at my helplessness. If only I hadn't been so weak. If only I were stronger. If only I could help.
Turn.
My breath slowed.
Let me out…I'll protect them.
Fear locked my body in place. I knew I needed her at that moment but—
What if I lost control again?
What if I became another problem my cousins would have had to fight?
Then suddenly, the rogues changed targets and rushed the car. Vance and Lance fought desperately to hold them back, but there were just too many.
My lungs burned, as I felt my breath shortening.
Then, before I knew what was happening—
The car door was ripped from its hinges and tossed aside.
At that moment, I felt my heart stop beating for a second or more.
Seraphina screamed my name and charged toward me, but she was too far—
Out of nowhere, a filthy hand grabbed my trembling wrist.
The unpleasantness of that touch instantly caused my wolf exploded inside my skull.
Enough.
Pain ripped through my body as something inside finally broke.
And then—
Everything went black.