Wolves of Betrayal

Chapter: 12. Caught by the beast..

Amara pushed herself harder, her lungs burning with the effort. She felt a surge of panic, the walls of the cave seeming to close in around her, trapping her in a maze with no escape. She had to get out. She had to get back to the packhouse, to warn Darius, to keep everyone safe.

But then, as she rounded a sharp corner, she felt a hand—strong and rough—grab her by the arm, yanking her back. She stumbled, letting out a sharp cry as she collided with the cold stone wall. She turned, eyes wide with terror, and found herself staring directly into the stormy gray eyes of Killian.

“Well, well,” Killian sneered, his grip tightening painfully on her arm. “Look who we have here. Did you really think you could just sneak around my territory, Amara?”

Amara’s breath caught in her throat, her body trembling with fear. She tried to pull away, but Killian’s hold was like iron. She could see the madness in his eyes, the dangerous glint that told her he wasn’t going to let her go.

“Let me go, Killian,” she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady, though it wavered with fear. “I’m not going back with you. I'm never going back with you.”

Killian chuckled, a low, menacing sound that sent a chill down her spine. “Oh, you don’t have a choice, my dear,” he said, leaning in closer, his breath hot against her skin. “You belong to me. You always have and you always will.”

Before Amara could respond, a commotion erupted behind Killian. A dark blur barreled into him, knocking him off balance and forcing him to release her. She stumbled back, her heart pounding in her ears, as she realized what had happened. Darius.

Darius had shifted mid-leap, his powerful wolf form colliding with Killian, sending both of them crashing to the cave floor. His gray fur bristled, and his blue eyes burned with fury as he bared his teeth at Killian, a deep growl rumbling from his throat.

“Get away from her,” Darius snarled, his voice low and deadly.

Killian shifted in an instant, his black fur gleaming in the dim light of the cave. His lips curled back in a snarl, and he lunged at Darius with a vicious growl. The two Alphas clashed with a force that sent shockwaves through the cavern. Fangs snapped, claws slashed, and their growls echoed off the stone walls, filling the cave with the sounds of a brutal struggle.

“Run, Amara!” Darius managed to shout between snarls, his eyes flicking to her for a brief second.

Amara hesitated, her instincts screaming at her to flee, but she couldn’t just leave him. Not now, not after everything. She watched as Killian’s wolf lunged again, his massive jaws snapping dangerously close to Darius’s throat. Her heart raced with fear, her body trembling as she fought to make a decision.

But before she could act, another wolf—one of Killian’s—emerged from the shadows, its eyes locked onto her. It charged, teeth bared, and Amara braced herself. But she wasn’t quick enough. The wolf crashed into her, knocking her to the ground with a painful thud. She tried to scramble away, but it pinned her down, its hot breath searing her skin.

She could see its eyes now—wild and frenzied—and she knew she had only seconds before it went for her throat. Panic surged through her veins, and she twisted beneath its weight, desperately trying to reach for the knife tucked into her belt.

Just as the wolf lunged, fangs bared, another figure slammed into it from the side, sending it flying. Maya. She had shifted into her sleek, brown wolf form and was on top of the attacker in an instant, her teeth sinking into its neck. The other wolf let out a yelp, struggling beneath her, but Maya held firm, her growl fierce and unyielding.

Amara pushed herself up, her leg screaming in pain, but she forced herself to stand. She had to help Darius. She couldn’t let him face Killian alone. She grabbed her knife and turned to where the two Alphas were still locked in a vicious battle.

Darius was holding his own, his powerful wolf form moving with lethal precision, but Killian was relentless. His eyes were wild with fury, his every move driven by the madness that had consumed him. He lunged at Darius, snapping his jaws, and this time he managed to sink his teeth into Darius’s shoulder.

Darius let out a snarl of pain, his body twisting as he tried to shake Killian off. Amara’s heart leaped into her throat, fear gripping her like a vice. She had to do something. She couldn’t just stand there and watch.

“Killian!” she shouted, her voice echoing through the cave.

Killian’s head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowing with a twisted smile. “Still here, little wolf?” he sneered. “I’ll deal with you next.”

But his moment of distraction was enough. Darius lunged forward, his powerful jaws clamping down on Killian’s side, throwing him off balance. The black wolf snarled, twisting in pain, and Darius used the opportunity to press the attack, his teeth flashing as he aimed for Killian’s throat.

Amara knew this was their chance. “Maya, we have to go!” she called, her voice strained.

Maya broke away from her own fight, her wolf form panting heavily but still strong. She nodded and moved to Amara’s side, her eyes darting to Darius. “Go, Darius!” she urged. “We need to get out of here now!”

Darius hesitated for a split second, his eyes locked on Killian, who was struggling to regain his footing. But then he turned, shifting back into his human form, his chest heaving with exertion. “Let’s move,” he growled, grabbing Amara’s arm to help her run.

Together, they bolted through the cave, the sound of Killian’s enraged howls echoing behind them. Amara’s leg throbbed with pain, but she pushed through it, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She could feel Darius’s presence beside her, his hand firm on her arm, guiding her through the darkness.

They burst out of the cave and into the open night, the cold air hitting them like a wall. Behind them, they could hear the howls of Killian’s wolves, the sound carrying through the trees, but they didn’t stop. They kept running, the forest a blur around them, driven by the need to put as much distance between them and the Blood Moon wolves as possible.

Amara’s lungs burned, her legs felt like they were on fire, but she didn’t dare slow down. She couldn’t afford to. They couldn’t.

Finally, when they were far enough away, Darius pulled them to a halt, his breath coming in heavy pants. “Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes searching hers, his voice filled with a mixture of anger and relief.

Amara nodded, though her body

trembled with exhaustion and fear. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. “I just wanted to help.”

Darius’s expression softened, though his eyes still held a storm of emotions. “I know,” he said quietly, pulling her into his arms. “But don’t ever scare me like that again. I can’t lose you, Amara.”

She nodded, her face pressed against his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. She had been so afraid, but here, in his arms, she felt safe. She felt like she was home.

Maya shifted back to her human form, her own breaths heavy as she leaned against a tree. “We need to get back to the packhouse and warn them,” she said, her voice urgent. “Killian’s coming.”

Darius nodded, his arms still around Amara. “Then let’s move. We don’t have much time.”

As they turned to head back to the packhouse, Amara felt a new determination settle in her chest. She had faced Killian and survived. She had seen the madness in his eyes, and she knew he wouldn’t stop. But she also knew she wasn’t alone. She had Darius, she had the pack, and together, they would stand against whatever came next.

They would be ready.