Rylan burst through the underbrush and skidded to a halt at the edge of the clearing, his heart pounding in his ears. The sight that met him made a chill run down his spine. There, at the base of a rocky crevice, a small white wolf—Celeste’s wolf form—had backed herself into a corner, her body tense and trembling as two vampire guards loomed over her, weapons drawn and glinting menacingly in the moonlight.

“Let her go!” Rylan shouted, desperation clawing at his throat as he took a step forward, but his voice caught in the quiet of the night.

One of the guards stooped, grasping Celeste by the scruff of her neck as she whined softly, curling into herself, making Rylan’s heart ache with fear for his sister. “Get off her, you monsters!” he yelled, his voice cracking under the weight of panic.

Just then, Rylan’s father charged into the fray, a roar of defiance ringing through the clearing as he lunged at the nearest guard. The clash of steel echoed as their weapons collided, and Rylan felt the surge of his father’s protectiveness wash over them like an unbreakable bond. But the battle quickly grew chaotic, and Rylan’s heart sank as—before he could comprehend—one of the vampires slashed at his father, leaving a deep cut across his eye. Blood flowed down his father’s face, but he didn’t waver, fighting fiercely to protect Celeste.

“Father!” Rylan yelled, fear escalating within him. He knew he couldn’t stand by; he had to do something. But deep down, he felt the suffocating realization that he couldn’t take on a vampire—at least, not alone.

Then, just as he felt a wave of despair wash over him, another figure entered the clearing. A weathered wolf, battle-scarred with a missing ear, charged into the fray—an ally in the form of Rylan’s old friend, a loyal Wolfbane warrior named Thorne. He had always been a formidable presence, his strength rivaling that of the finest wolves in their pack.

“Get to Celeste!” Thorne barked, snapping his jaws at one of the vampires and drawing his attention. The two vampires seemed momentarily distracted by the sudden change in combat, letting Rylan’s father get the upper hand for a moment.

Fueled by a surge of adrenaline, Rylan took a deep breath and sprang into action, hoping to reach his sister before the vampires could react. He transformed fully into his Wolfbane form, a rush of power igniting within him, his wolf ears perked up, senses sharpened. He darted toward Celeste as the vampire holding her was now preoccupied with the duel against Thorne.

“Don’t worry, Celeste, I’m coming!” Rylan called out, urgency propelling him forward.

Just as he was about to reach her, one of the vampires regained focus and turned towards him, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Look what we have here—a little pup thinking he can play with the big dogs,” he sneered.

Rylan felt the weight of fear claw at him again, but he refused to falter. His father and Thorne continued their struggle against the second vampire, and with a burst of courage, Rylan rushed past the guard towards Celeste.

“Celeste!” he urged, reaching the rock crevice where she stood. He nudged her with his muzzle, urging her to break free. The small white wolf hesitated, but Rylan nudged her again, more insistent this time. “You have to shift back! Trust me!”

With wide, panicked eyes, Celeste shifted back to her human form, appearing small and vulnerable in the face of danger. “Rylan!” she cried, scrambling out of the crevice and hugging him tightly, trembling against him.

Without wasting another second, he turned to assess the situation. Thorne was holding strong, his teeth bared and his growls rumbling as he warded off one vampire. Rylan's father was trading blows with the other, but it was clear the injuries he’d already sustained were weighing on him.

“Stay close to me, Celeste, I’ll protect you!” Rylan vowed, feeling the fierce instincts of his Wolfbane lineage kick in.

Rylan felt the presence of Lucian’s absence, a nagging worry echoing in the back of his mind. Where was he? This was the moment he needed him most, yet the darkness of the woods seemed to swallow him whole.

“No!” Rylan’s father roared, losing ground as the vampire struck with surprising speed. Rylan felt his stomach drop. They were losing.

With a sudden rush of determination, Rylan moved toward the fray, ready to join the fight. “We won’t let them take you, Celeste!” he shouted, channeling every ounce of his strength and spirit into one single thought: they would protect each other. And as he steadied himself beside his father and Thorne, the fire of loyalty ignited in his heart, ready to take on anything that threatened their pack.

“Let’s end this!” Rylan growled, rallying his forces and charging into battle, united by blood, by love, and by a fierce determination to keep their family safe. The chaos heightened around them, but Rylan had resolved to keep his sister and his father safe, no matter the cost. In that moment, with the moon as their witness, they would stand strong against the darkness of the night.