Chapter 25
626words
Derek launched himself at Victor, driving him away from me. They crashed into the wall, the impact shaking the entire room. Books tumbled from shelves, and glass shattered as framed diagrams fell.
"Run, Lena!" Derek shouted, ducking under Victor's massive arm.
I darted for the door, but Victor broke free from Derek's grip and lunged for me. His claws grazed my arm, tearing through fabric and skin. Pain seared through me, but I kept moving.
Through our bond, I felt Derek's fury spike. He attacked Victor with renewed ferocity, driving him back step by step. I reached the doorway, but couldn't bring myself to leave Derek behind.
*Together,* I reminded him through our bond. *We fight together.*
I turned back, focusing on our connection. Silver light began to emanate from both of us, growing brighter with each passing second. I channeled my energy to Derek, feeling his strength flow back to me in return.
Victor paused, his mutated features registering something like concern. "What is this?"
"The power you wanted to steal," I said, stepping forward to stand beside Derek. "The true strength of a Mate bond."
Together, we attacked. Moving in perfect synchronization, we struck from opposite sides. Where Derek was raw power, I was speed and precision. Victor fought back furiously, but he couldn't track both of us at once.
For a moment, we had the upper hand. Victor was bleeding from dozens of wounds, his movements slowing. But then he reached into his pocket and pulled out another syringe.
"No!" I shouted, lunging to stop him.
Too late. He plunged the needle into his neck, injecting another dose of the glowing blue liquid. His body convulsed again, growing even larger, his skin hardening like armor.
"You can't stop evolution," he growled.
With renewed strength, Victor charged at us. We dodged, but he changed direction with frightening speed, heading straight for me. I tried to evade, but my foot slipped on scattered papers.
Victor's claws extended, aiming directly for my heart.
"Lena!" Derek's voice tore through the air.
Time seemed to slow. Through our bond, I felt Derek's decision in the same instant he made it—a surge of love, fear, and absolute determination. He threw himself between us, his body shielding mine completely.
Victor's claws punched through Derek's chest with a sickening sound. Blood sprayed across my face as Derek's body jerked with the impact.
"NO!" The scream tore from my throat, raw and primal.
Victor withdrew his blood-soaked claws, and Derek collapsed into my arms. Through our bond, I felt his pain as if it were my own—a burning, tearing agony that stole my breath.
"Derek," I sobbed, cradling his head. "Why? Why did you do that?"
His eyes, dimming with pain, found mine. "Because... you are... everything." Blood bubbled at his lips with each labored breath.
Victor loomed over us, his grotesque face twisted in triumph. "How touching. The Alpha dies for his Mate. But it changes nothing. You're next, silver wolf."
Something broke inside me then. The grief, the rage, the love—it all crashed together like a tidal wave. Silver, my wolf spirit, howled in my mind, no longer a separate voice but merging completely with my consciousness.
"You've taken enough," I whispered, gently laying Derek down.
I stood, and power surged through me unlike anything I'd felt before. The silver light around me intensified until it was almost blinding. My body began to change, but not into my normal wolf form. I grew larger, my fur materializing as pure, luminous silver. My transformation was complete in seconds, leaving me standing as a massive silver wolf, nearly as large as Victor himself.
