Chapter 275

Nathan

The blazing fires painted the horizon in deep hues of orange and crimson, as if the very sun itself had descended upon our town.

We were on the outskirts, looking at the devastation from a distance. A black plume of smoke stretched skyward, punctuating the serene azure of the night sky with its blackened gloom.

Behind us lay the dense forest, with its tall trees and thick underbrush, a stark contrast to the burning town. Before us, chaos reigned, and Olivia was still not emerging from the mouth of the mines.

“The twins,” I whispered, the haunting thought of their safety slicing through my mind like a shard of glass. “And Clint.”

Levi, standing beside me, looked as haunted as I felt. His eyes, usually calm and collected, bore a storm of emotions. Angela, with her ever-present fighter's spirit, seemed ready to dive headfirst into the firestorm to pull out our friends.

“Damn it!” Angela hissed, her gaze scanning the town, looking for any signs of life amidst the destruction. "Olivia should’ve been back by now.”

Angela was right; Olivia had been in the mines for upwards of an hour now. But we hadn’t heard her voice, we hadn’t heard any gunshots, and she hadn’t tugged on her rope yet. All this time, I had just wanted to give her a few more minutes. I had faith that she would find the last artifact and emerge victorious from the mines.

But now that our town was on fire, likely caused by Ryan once again, there was no time left to wait. She either needed to emerge as the Ancient Wolf and command Ryan’s men to stand down, or we had to pull her out and find another method to end all of this.

“Olivia!” I shouted into the open mouth of the mines, praying she would hear me above the roaring fires. “Olivia!”

But there was no answer from the mines. Instead, the wind only carried back the distant cries of the townspeople and the eerie howling of wolves that seemed to permeate the very air.

“We can't just stand here,” Levi said, determination evident in his voice. “We need to get to the villa.”

“I’m with you,” Angela replied, brandishing a knife that she kept in her belt, her eyes shimmering with a mix of fury and fear.

I swallowed, calling into the mines one more time. “Olivia! We need to go!”

Again, there was no answer. “Shit,” I murmured, running a hand through my hair as I turned back to look at Angela and Levi. “You two take my car. I have to stay here in case Olivia needs me.”

Angela nodded firmly. “We’ll check on the twins and Clint first,” she said, her voice commanding through the din.

“Be careful,” I said.

Just then, as Angela and Levi braced themselves to head into the turmoil, a low, sinister growl echoed through the surrounding woods.

We glanced around, and my heart plummeted. Emerging from the shadows of the trees, wolves appeared. Not just one or two, but an entire pack.

Their fur looked mottled in the flickering light of the distant fires, their eyes glittering with a hunger that wasn’t just for flesh but for the hunt.

“Oh, hell,” Angela muttered, her grip tightening around her weapon.

“Back to back,” Levi ordered. We quickly formed a triangle, our weapons at the ready.

Every direction seemed blocked by a snarling face, the scent of burning timber merging with the metallic tang of our fear. I felt myself begin to shift, allowing my wolf’s strength to surge through me. Angela and Levi began to do the same. These were clearly wolves from the Redclaws, and they had come here with a purpose: to get the last artifact before Olivia. We had to stop them.

But then a particularly deep, rumbling growl made us all freeze. From the woods emerged a beast, larger and more terrifying than the others. Its very presence seemed to command the other wolves, making them still.

Alvin? I thought to myself. I recognized him; enormous in stature, glowing red eyes, and pitch black fur.

That’s when the wolf began its transformation. In a fluid motion, the colossal wolf started shifting, reshaping until a man stood where the beast had been. Even in human form, he radiated power and malice.

Recognition flared within me. My blood ran cold, yet boiled with anger. The world seemed to blur, leaving just the two of us in sharp focus.

“Alvin,” I breathed, struggling to keep my voice steady. “It’s you. I knew it.”

“What in the world has this town come to?” Angela whispered, disbelief evident in her voice as she eyed the approaching wolves. Levi’s hand was on his dagger, ready to draw it at a moment’s notice.

“Hold steady,” I murmured, trying to muster some semblance of calm. The memories associated with Alvin were ones I had buried deep, ones I never wanted to unearth ever again. Our shared history was tumultuous at best and violent at worst.

A sneer formed on Alvin’s lips, and his eyes danced with cruel amusement. “Nathan,” he drawled, letting my name hang in the air. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

“What do you want, Alvin?” I asked, eyes narrowed, assessing the situation.

“Oh, so defensive!” Alvin chuckled, his laughter echoing eerily amidst the howls and fires. “I’m just here to...catch up.”

Angela shifted, her blade reflecting the distant firelight. “We don’t have time for your games,” she snapped. “Move out of the way.”

Alvin’s gaze shifted to her, his eyes raking her up and down. “Who’s this fiery one?”

“It’s none of your business,” I retorted, my voice colder than I intended.

The corner of Alvin’s mouth quirked in amusement. “Always so protective, Nathan. It’s touching, really.”

“We need to get back to the village,” Levi interjected, voice firm. “If you’re going to stand in our way, you’d best be prepared.”

Alvin raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “Is that a threat, Levi?”

“Just a promise,” Levi shot back.

The tension was palpable, the night air charged with anticipation. We were outnumbered and surrounded, yet our resolve was unwavering.

Off in the distance, I could just barely make out the villa at the edge of town. It almost seemed to loom above the village, its once proud walls now partially obscured by the smoke and chaos. It was like a beacon of hope amidst the destruction. That was where my children were, and we needed to reach them.

But Olivia was still in the mines. I couldn’t leave her here. Not with Alvin and the other Redclaws ready to go in after her.

Angela took a deep breath, her gaze never leaving the wolf pack. “Look, we don’t want trouble. Let us pass, and we won’t harm you.”

Alvin’s chuckle was cold. “You? Harm us? Darling, you’re surrounded.”

A flicker of doubt crossed Angela’s face, but she shook it off. “You don’t want to test us, Alvin.”

At the mention of his name, Alvin’s attention snapped back to me. “Ah, so you did tell them about me. I’m honored.”

“The less said, the better,” I retorted.

The silence that followed was tense. The only sounds were the distant screams, the crackling fires, and the soft growls of the wolves. The wind carried the smell of ash and burning wood, a testament to the town's current state.

Alvin finally broke the silence. “It’s been quite a while, Nathan. I expected a warmer welcome.”

I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my anger. “Last time we met, you didn't leave room for pleasantries.”

His smile was cold, devoid of genuine emotion. “Always holding on to the past. You were always like that.”

“Enough of this,” Levi interjected, his patience clearly wearing thin. “We need to go. Now.”

As we braced ourselves, Alvin stepped forward, the shadows playing on his features, making him appear even more menacing. The last thing I noticed before everything went into overdrive was the wicked glint in his eyes.

“Alvin,” I said, voice low, “You’re a traitor.”