The arena doors exploded inward.
Metal twisted like paper. Stone shattered across the floor.
And through the cloud of dust stepped something that should not have existed.
It looked vaguely wolf-like.
But only vaguely. Its body was twice the size of a normal wolf, covered in black scales instead of fur. Silver veins pulsed beneath its skin, and glowing red eyes scanned the arena with unnatural intelligence.
Its mouth opened. Rows of sharp teeth stretched far beyond what any creature should possess. Several Council guards froze in horror. One whispered:
"What… is that?"
The chained creature beneath the arena answered with amusement. "A failed creation." The monster roared.
The sound alone sent weaker wolves stumbling backwards. Then it moved fast. Far too fast.
A guard never even had time to scream before the creature tore through him, sending blood across the stone floor. Chaos exploded.
"MOVE!" Kaiden roared.
His aura surged violently as he launched himself at the beast. At the same moment, Magnus attacked from the opposite side.
For the first time since arriving, the two Alphas fought together.
The impact shook the arena. Kaiden's strike forced the creature sideways while Magnus slammed his fist into its ribs hard enough to crack scales.
But instead of dying, the monster smiled.
Actually smiled. My stomach turned.
"That thing enjoys pain," Lucien muttered.
Ragnar leapt forward next, his massive form crashing into the creature with brute force.
Orion followed immediately, moving with surprising speed and precision. Four Alphas.
Against one creature. And somehow, the monster wasn't losing.
It slammed Ragnar into a pillar. Knocked Orion across the floor. Blocked Kaiden's attack. And forced Magnus backwards.
The entire arena watched in disbelief.
These were some of the strongest Alphas alive.
And one creature was overwhelming them.
The chained beast beneath the arena laughed. "Imagine hundreds." The Elders went pale. Hundreds? My mark suddenly flared painfully.
The attacking creature froze. Its red eyes slowly shifted toward me. Everything stopped. Then it dropped to one knee. The entire arena fell silent. The creature bowed its head.
Exactly like the wolves had earlier. "No way," Lucien whispered. Kaiden immediately turned toward me.
"Selene?"
The monster spoke in a distorted voice.
"Luna Fear raced through me. "I don't know what you want!" Its glowing eyes softened slightly. Not aggression.
Recognition.
The creature beneath the arena growled.
"Do not obey her!" The kneeling creature trembled violently. Confused. Torn.
As though two commands fought inside its mind. Then another roar echoed from deep below the mountain. The kneeling creature suddenly screamed in pain. Its body twisted violently.
And whatever intelligence it had disappeared.
The red eyes became completely feral. "BACK!" Magnus shouted. Too late.
The creature exploded forward. Straight toward me. Kaiden moved first. Magnus moved second. Both reached me at the same time.
The monster's claws struck And both Alphas took the attack instead. Blood splattered across the arena. My heart stopped. Kaiden staggered. Magnus dropped to one knee.
Both had shielded me. For a moment, nobody moved.
Then rage unlike anything I'd ever felt erupted inside me. Not fear. Not sadness. Rage. My mark blazed white. Silver flames burst around my body.
The entire arena shook. The attacking creature froze in terror. And for the first time since my awakening, I raised my hand. Not accidentally. Not instinctively. Deliberately.
My voice echoed with power that did not sound entirely human. "Kneel." The command exploded across the arena. The creature crashed face-first into the stone floor.
Then every corrupted beast beneath the mountain suddenly roared together. Because they had heard me. And far away, beyond the Council territory, Something ancient opened its eyes.