The clearing was bathed in a ghostly light, the shadows of the towering trees stretching long over the forest floor. The air felt heavy, charged with the energy of the approaching pack. Eryk’s senses were on edge, his heartbeat thundering in his chest, each breath sharp and focused. He could feel the wolves circling, their eyes gleaming with a primal hunger.

Kael’s presence at his side was a steadying force, though the tension in his shoulders betrayed his wariness. “They’re not going to back down,” Kael murmured, his voice low but firm.

“No, they won’t,” Eryk replied, his voice barely more than a whisper, as his eyes scanned the darkness. The Alpha wolf’s howl had been a warning, but the wolves weren’t just hunting for survival anymore—they were hunting for revenge.

He could feel the weight of the magic within him, stirring restlessly, a reminder of the power that had been awakened during his battle with Velkor. It throbbed beneath his skin, calling to him. Eryk knew he could use it, unleash it to fight the pack, but he also knew the consequences. The magic was wild, uncontrollable at times. If he let it loose, it could just as easily turn on him.

“We need to get to the kingdom,” Kael said, glancing around cautiously. “We don’t have time for a fight.”

Eryk nodded, but his gaze lingered on the trees. He could feel them—hear the soft padding of paws on the forest floor, the low growls reverberating through the air. The wolves were closing in, surrounding them.

“You’re right,” Eryk said. “But they won’t let us leave without a fight. Not after what happened.”

A low growl rumbled from the darkness, and a massive figure emerged from the shadows—the Alpha wolf, its coat dark and matted with the scars of battle. The creature’s amber eyes locked onto Eryk, filled with an ancient hatred. The wolf’s snarl echoed through the clearing, and its pack followed, stepping out from behind the trees. Their eyes glinted in the moonlight, glowing with the intensity of the hunt.

Kael moved a step closer to Eryk, his hand on the hilt of his sword. “Stay close.”

Eryk’s breath caught in his throat. The wolves weren’t just here to kill—they were here to break him. They had felt his power, and they wanted to see how far it could go before it consumed him.

The Alpha wolf stepped forward, its lips curling in a snarl. Eryk could feel its presence—its dominance—and yet, something within him stirred. It wasn’t fear, but a deep recognition. He had seen that wolf before, in the heart of the forest when Velkor had first attacked. This was no ordinary beast. It was something more—something tied to the power of the magic that coursed through Eryk’s veins.

"You," the Alpha growled, its voice low and guttural. “The prince who thinks he controls the magic. You are no different than Velkor. A fool.”

Eryk’s heart skipped a beat. The wolf knew him. It knew what he was.

“You’ve mistaken me,” Eryk said, his voice steady. “I’m not like him. I won’t be controlled by this magic. But I won’t let you destroy everything either.”

The Alpha let out a low, menacing growl, as if to challenge him. “You are no better. You are the same. The magic you wield will consume you, just as it did Velkor. You’re weak.”

Eryk’s fists clenched at his sides. He could feel the magic pushing against him, urging him to let go. It would be so easy, so simple to unleash it and wipe the wolves from the earth. But that was the very thing Velkor had done. The very thing he had almost done. Eryk couldn’t make that mistake. Not now.

Kael’s voice cut through the tension. “You don’t speak for him, wolf. You speak for a pack that doesn’t understand. But we’re not going to fight unless we have to.”

The Alpha laughed, the sound dark and mocking. “You think you can talk your way out of this? You’ve already angered the pack. They won’t let you leave.”

Eryk felt the shift in the air, the energy in the clearing snapping tight. The wolves began to circle, their growls growing louder, their movements predatory. They were preparing to strike.

“I won’t let you hurt him,” Kael growled, stepping in front of Eryk, drawing his sword in one fluid motion. “Not while I’m here.”

The Alpha wolf tilted its head, its eyes narrowing with disdain. “And what do you think you can do, human? You are nothing before the pack. You are nothing before me.”

But Eryk wasn’t listening to the Alpha anymore. His focus had shifted, his attention honing in on the magic inside him, feeling it pulse beneath his skin. He wasn’t just standing there as a prince anymore. He was a force in his own right—his magic, his power—he knew it would help them, but he also knew he couldn’t let it take control.

Kael’s voice cut through the tension again. “We don’t have time for this, Eryk. The pack is closing in.”

Eryk nodded sharply. They didn’t have time. But the Alpha wasn’t going to let them go easily.

The wolf growled and lunged, its powerful limbs propelling it forward with terrifying speed. Eryk’s instincts kicked in. He raised his hand, sending a wave of magic toward the Alpha. The force of it slammed the wolf back, its body skidding across the ground, but it didn’t retreat. Instead, it snarled and returned to its feet, the pack following its lead.

“Fight now or run later,” Kael said through gritted teeth, positioning himself in front of Eryk.

Eryk clenched his jaw. There was no running. Not anymore. He could feel the magic within him, but this time, he would not let it consume him. He would use it with purpose. He would control it.

As the pack closed in, Eryk raised his hand once more, this time focusing every bit of his will into the magic that swirled around him. It was like holding back a storm, but he had the strength to do it. The wolves surged forward, but this time, the power that Eryk released wasn’t just raw—it was deliberate, calculated.

The magic erupted, creating a forcefield of energy that rippled through the clearing, pushing the wolves back. The Alpha and its pack howled in frustration, but they could not breach the barrier Eryk had created.

Eryk’s heart raced, but he remained focused. “I won’t let you destroy us. Not today.”

The Alpha stared at him, its eyes filled with fury, but also something else—recognition. As if it realized that the power Eryk held within him was not to be underestimated. It snarled one last time before backing away, its pack following suit, retreating into the shadows from which they had emerged.

Kael let out a breath, lowering his sword. “That was too close.”

Eryk’s breath came in sharp gasps, but he didn’t lower his hand just yet. His heart was pounding, the magic still thrumming beneath his skin, but this time, it felt like it was in his control. He was in control.

“They’ll be back,” Eryk said, his voice steady but laced with the lingering tension. “And next time, they won’t retreat so easily.”

Kael nodded. “We’ll be ready.”

As the night settled around them, Eryk knew that this was just another battle in a war that was far from over. The wolves would return, but so would he. And when that time came, he would be ready to face them.

The path ahead wasn’t clear, but one thing was certain: no matter what came, he wouldn’t face it alone. Kael was by his side, and together, they would face whatever darkness the future held.