Chapter 10: DARK INSIDE

Luca's voice tore through the chaos like a blade. "Lina—move!" But I couldn't. My legs were cement, my breath caught in my throat. The creature let out a guttural snarl that vibrated through my bones. It wasn't just after me—it *wanted* me. Like it recognized something buried in my blood. Derrick stepped in front of me, shifting mid-motion. Fur rippled over his skin, bones cracking as he transformed. His wolf snarled, charging at the creature with reckless fury. I stumbled back, slamming into the stone wall, heart thundering. *Why me? Why now? Why does this thing want me so badly?* Luca was suddenly beside me, his hands gripping my face. "Lina. Look at me. You're not weak. You're not helpless. You *feel* the power, don't you?" Tears threatened. "I don't know how to use it." His forehead rested against mine, breath warm. "Then take mine." Before I could speak, his lips brushed against mine—not desperate, but grounding. Heat spread through me, searing and steady. Something shifted in my chest. Not fear. Not panic. *Power.* I felt it thrum beneath my skin like a drumbeat—ancient, wild, mine. Suddenly, a burst of energy surged from me—raw, electric. The creature roared, flung back as if struck by a shockwave. It slammed into a crumbled pillar, dazed. Luca's eyes widened. "You felt that?" I nodded slowly, trembling. "What *was* that?" He exhaled, a mix of awe and dread. "The prophecy," he whispered. "It's beginning." But before we could speak again, a second snarl came from behind. Another creature. Not one. Three. Luca stepped beside me, his expression hardening as he kept his gaze locked on the writhing creature. "That thing isn't just hunting," he murmured. "It's *summoned*. Someone sent it here." Alina caught up, her voice low. "The barrier won't last more than an hour under that pressure. We need answers—and fast." As we descended deeper into the sanctuary's stone halls, the air grew colder. Torches flared to life on the walls with every step, responding to something inside me. Or maybe *because* of me. My thoughts spiraled. *Why me? Why now? What if I lose control again?* "Breathe, Lina," Luca said gently, walking beside me. "I can feel your panic." "You're not the one with ancient monsters trying to rip you apart." He paused, then stepped in front of me, blocking my path. "You think this is happening *to* you. But it's happening *because* of you." I met his eyes—fierce, burning with something I couldn't name. "What are you saying?" "I'm saying," he said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from my face, "you were never meant to run. You were meant to rise." My breath hitched. "You scare me sometimes," I admitted. Luca leaned closer, voice a whisper. "Good. Power should scare you a little. It means you respect it." His fingers lingered just below my jaw, his warmth cutting through the chill. "But it doesn't scare *me*. Because I know you." Before I could respond, a low boom echoed through the corridor behind us—followed by silence. Too much silence. Derrick stiffened. "The barrier's weakening." Alina drew her blade. "Something's coming." Luca's hand found mine. And ahead, at the end of the corridor, a second door groaned open—on its own. The scent of blood drifted out. Luca stepped closer, his breath visible in the chill. "That presence... It's not natural. It's ancient—older than the pack, older than the hunters." I swallowed hard, my fingers trembling as they brushed against his. "How can you stay so calm?" He met my gaze, a flicker of warmth breaking through the cold. "Because I'm not alone." His hand found mine, squeezing gently. "And neither are you." A shiver ran down my spine—not from the cold, but from the closeness of him, the quiet strength in his touch. Suddenly, the symbols on the walls flared brighter, casting long shadows that danced like spirits awakened. Alina's voice cut through the tension. "We don't have much time. Whatever's coming—it's not just here to hunt. It's here to claim." Luca's eyes darkened. "And we're the prize." The ground trembled again, louder this time—an ominous drumbeat beneath our feet. I glanced at Luca, heart pounding, and whispered, "Whatever happens... promise me you won't leave." He looked at me then, a flicker of something unspoken passing between us before the shadows in the doorway shifted. His words settled in the heavy air, but doubt gnawed at me. *More powerful?* I barely controlled the wolf inside me. How could I face an ancient darkness when I couldn't even trust myself? Luca stepped forward then, his voice low but steady. "Power isn't just about strength, Lina. It's about trust—trust in yourself and those who stand with you." His eyes locked onto mine, a spark of something deeper flickering beneath the surface. "I believe in you." My breath caught. In that moment, despite the chaos around us, his presence grounded me. *Maybe* I could be more than the scared girl who froze in the woods. But then the ground trembled again, harsher this time, and the symbols dimmed—like the sanctuary itself was warning us of what was truly coming. Luca's hand brushed mine, a silent promise before the darkness pressed in closer. "We have to face it," he whispered. And I knew—we had no choice but to fight. Together. My heart slammed against my ribs as the crack widened, jagged and dark. Fear threatened to swallow me whole, but Luca's voice cut through the chaos, steady and calm. "Lina, look at me." I opened my eyes to find him just inches away, his hand warm over mine. "You're not alone in this." His gaze held mine, fierce and unwavering, and suddenly I felt a spark ignite—a pulse of energy answering the call inside me. The barrier shimmered, healing the cracks, but the creature's roar grew louder, more desperate. "We have only moments," Derrick warned. Luca's voice dropped to a whisper meant only for me: "Whatever happens next, trust yourself... and me." The shadows at the edge of the room twisted, and from the darkness, two glowing eyes appeared—watching, waiting. The fight was far from over.