Chapter 99
Skylar
Lucas’ heavy breathing worries me. I don’t want him to lose control, but I also don’t want to dishonor him by pointing out 1 don’t think he should help us in this battle against the shadow lycans.
I her down and focus on Lucas.
You can’t keep quiet either. Jinx whispers inside my head before pu
‘Are you okay?’ I ask through the mind-link.
Lucas lifts his head, a snort leaving his snout. ‘Do I look okay to you, Skylar?’
Before I can respond, he continues. ‘I feel like shit. My head is a f*cking mess, and I’m my own worst enemy. I can barely. keep myself in check, which is why I avoid shape-shifting…
1 am taken aback when I realize he is only communicating with me through a personal mind link, excluding everyone else from our conversation. Does that mean that Jaiden doesn’t know about Lucas’ secret? That his angelic side and demonic side are constantly fighting against each other?
Suddenly, the air around us thickens. It’s as if the world is holding its breath, waiting for the next move. The shadow lycans prowl at the edges of the clearing, baring their teeth and growling low in their throats.
“Uh, guys?” Jaiden speaks through the mind link. I hate to interrupt whatever conversation you two are having, but Max and his pack might need help.
After Jaiden has finished his sentence, a shadow lycan slings a werewolf from Max’s pack through the air. The wolf lands in front of our noses, whimpering before its eyes close forever.
Is he dead?’ Irma asks.
‘Oh, I don’t know. He was thrown thirty feet into the air and landed on the ground-of course, he is dead, you idiot!” Lucas barks at my sister.
She winces at his tone. ‘Dude, chill…
‘I have no chill, Lucas growls.
She stares at him, and I roll my eyes. ‘Guys, can you stop fighting each other and focus on defeating the lycans?”
‘Sorry, Irma says before pulling herself upright and baring her teeth at the enemy. I’m focused now.
‘Good because we need to end this once and for all before more pack members die!’ Jaiden says grimly.
Irma focuses her eyes on our enemies. ‘Agreed!’
I feel just as determined as Irma and Jaiden, but a whimper coming from Lucas makes me glance down. He seems to be in great pain, yet he forces himself to stand despite the brewing storm in his eyes.
When he notices me studying him in silence, he glares at me with offended eyes. “I’m fine.
I deadpan. I don’t believe you.
It doesn’t matter what you believe!’ he barks. “We have a fight to win, and unfortunately, you can’t win without me. Alpha. Max is useless, and so is his pack.”
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Chapter 99
I snort. “Are you telling me you’re more useful than Max?”
‘Oh, Skylar, he laughs inside my head. ‘You haven’t seen me do my worst!”
In the next moment, Lucas lets out a spine-chilling howl that sends ripples through the air; even Alpha Max turns to stone to witness the other Alpha fight.
And Lucas is putting on a show, alright. His body begins to ripple and convulse, his transformative process more violent this time around. I can literally see his two sides battling for control inside him as his wings stretch out from his back, a terrifying spectacle of raw power personified.
“Wow…” I whisper inside my mind, unsure whether to be amazed or terrified. One thing is clear: Lucas has thrown caution to the wind.
With his demonic and angelic wings stretching out towards the sky, Lucas runs forward at an incredible speed. Blood is running down from his miscolored eyes, and it’s such a gruesome picture that even the Alpha of the shadow lycans hesitates for a moment, visibly unnerved by Luca*’s terrifying transformation.
And honestly?
I don’t blame the shadow Alpha for being afraid of Lucas, I am torn between awe and fear at the sight of Lucas. Isn’t he scared he will lose control?!
Lucas is at the front line now, his demonic wing a whirling black storm, his angelic one radiating a blinding light. He raises his clawed paws to the sky, and suddenly, I feel pressure in my ears-as if the very air around us is changing. It’s impossible, but ir feels like he’s tugging at the fabric of reality, ready to unleash God knows what.
“Stand back!” Irma screams over the mind link, but her warning comes too late.
With a deafening roar, Lucas slams his paws onto the ground with such force that the ground shakes, sending everyone stumbling for balance. A brilliant shockwave of dark and light energy bursts from him, rippling through the battlefield and striking fear into the hearts of our enemies.
He straightens and turns to look at me, his face twisted in pain as he fights to keep himself under control. His eyes meet mine briefly before he lunges toward the shadow lycans with newfound ferocity.
Shadow after shadow falls beneath his claws and teeth, their roars of pain echoing through the clearing. Lucas is relentless, not giving them any chance to regroup or retaliate.
My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I watch him. This is a side of Lucas I’d never seen before – raw, unrestrained power, unlike anything I’d ever witnessed.
Lucas makes a beeline for the Alpha, who barks furiously at its pack members to hold him off. But they don’t stand a chance; Lucas is a cyclone of destruction and fury that makes short work of them.
But his transformation is taking its toll on him.
Lucas’ movements are becoming slower, and his breath is labored. Yet, the Alpha of the shadow lycans shows no sign of backing off. If anything, it seems more determined to take down Lucas.
‘He’s tiring, Irma says, her voice filled with worry. “We need to help him.”
Without waiting for my response, she darts forward. No longer the injured, out-of-breath woman I had seen earlier but a fierce wolf, ready to protect her own.
The tide is turning all around us. Encouraged by Lucas*s display of power, Max’s pack rallies against the shadow lycans with
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Chapter 99
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Jaiden follows close behind Irma, making his way toward Lucas, who’s now locked in a one-on-one battle with the shadow Alpha.
“Lucas!” I shout through the mind link as I rush towards him, buthis eyes flash to mine, freezing my movements with just one single look.
‘Stay back!” he growls, but although he is trying to sound tough, can hear he is losing control. “It’s happening… You… You have to get everyone out of here.”
What do you mean?!”
Before Lucas can respond, the shadow Alpha attacks him, biting into his neck relentlessly. It shakes its head like an alligator, and Lucas howls in agony.
…for about one minute before something strange happens to his body: it seems to be growing, and scales, white and black
ones, are rapidly replacing his fur.
Shockwaves of raw energy ripple out from Lucas, forcing the shadow Alpha to release him and stumble back. The battlefield is bathed in an ethereal glow, and the air fills with an odd metallic scent. My heart hammers in my chest as I watch in both awe and feat.
With a guttural roar that sends shivers down my spine, Luc*s’s form begins to change dramatically. His fur recedes, replaced by shimmering scales that are stark white and jet black. They glint under the light, mesmerizingly beautiful in a terrifying sort of way. His body elongates and grows broader, his paws morphing into dragon claws that gouge deep lines into the earth
His face shifts last. Wolfish ears become horns while his red and blue eyes remain the same but start to glow with an insane intensity.
In mere moments, Lucas transforms into an elegant yet monstrous creature of old legends-a black-and-white dragos its colors split in the middle. One side represents light and the other darkness.
There’s a unified gasp from everyone on the battlefield. Friend or foe, we’re all struck by the spectacle unveiling before eyes. The shadow lycans falter in their steps, uncertainty flickering across their faces. Even the shadow Alpha appears tak aback at what Lucas has become.
A deep rumble escapes from Lucas – more resonant and far-reaching than anything his wolf form could produce. It ripples through the air like a clap of thunder, prompting shudders all around. The ground beneath us vibrates subtly – whether from fear or anticipation, I can’t tell.
And then, Lucas opens his mouth and a blast of blue fire erupts from deep within his throat, engulfing a group of shadow lycans. They scream in agony, their bodies disintegrating into ashes in a matter of seconds. The fire also engulfs the Alpha, who howls in pain before collapsing onto the ground, defeated and burnt.
The whole battlefield falls utterly silent. All eyes are locked on Lucas, and no one dares make a move.
Jaiden, who has taken his human form, is the one brave or dumb enough to break the silence. “Holy shit, that was amazing!” he exclaims and grins up at Lucas, “You were amazing!”
Lucas glances down at Jaiden, but something tells me Lucas isn’t the one in control and I shriek when he opens his mouth as if he’s about to unleash another plume of fire.
“Lucas, no!” I scream, throwing my hands up in a feeble attempt to get his attention, He better not kill his own friend!
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