The midnight air was thick with cold mist, curling around the gnarled branches of the trees like spectral fingers. The moon hung low, shrouded by a gauze of thin clouds, casting a silver sheen over the forest path. Each step the pack took crunched against fallen leaves, the only sound in the haunting stillness apart from the distant hoot of an owl.
Tyler led the way, his eyes scanning the dark woods with quiet focus. Their breath came out in faint puffs, visible in the cold air.
"C'mon, guys, it's a good idea," Bella said, her voice low but eager as they pushed deeper into the shadows.
"I think it is too," Sophia added cautiously, "but if we're caught out here, it'll be serious trouble."
Henry chuckled lightly. "Still worth it. I haven't been out with you guys like this since we met."
Sophia's tone dropped. "Remember what happened at Dickson Park?"
James nodded grimly. "Mr. Hudson disbanded their pack. Scattered them into different units."
"What did they do?" Bella asked.
"They were caught hanging out by a lake at night," Sophia said. "No patrol. Just messing around."
Since that incident, every pack in the region had been on edge. Rules were strict. No unauthorized night wanderings. But tonight felt different reckless, yes, but necessary.
Suddenly, Tyler raised his hand. "Wait."
The pack halted immediately.
"You smell that?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Henry sniffed the air dramatically. "Apart from these awesome leaves and my stomach growling? Not really."
"I can't smell much," Sophia said, "but… I hear something. Distant. Cries. Screams."
"Let's check it out," she added, her voice tightening with urgency.
The team dashed forward, weaving between trees and jumping over low thickets. Ten minutes of brisk running brought them to a wide clearing, strangely circular and unnaturally still.
"It's here," Bella whispered, scanning the area.
Henry frowned. "I don't see anything."
"Trust me," she replied. "The sound is stronger here."
Jasper turned to her, his gaze steady. "I believe you. Let's just be sure."
Tyler knelt, placing his palm against the frosted earth. He leaned forward, inhaling deeply then recoiled, grimacing.
"Gosh…"
"What is it?" James asked, stepping closer.
"Vampires," Tyler muttered. "Down there."
He and James scraped away at the mossy earth with their boots, revealing the entrance to a concealed underground tunnel a catacomb hidden beneath the forest floor.
"A lair," Jasper said slowly, awe creeping into his voice.
"A vampire one," Sophia confirmed, staring into the darkness.
The cries grew louder, echoing up from the depths like haunted whispers.
"There are humans down there," Bella said quietly, her voice shaking slightly. "Alive."
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The pack descended the tunnel, shadows swallowing them as they moved deeper.
Bella looked back. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" she asked Jasper, who stood guard at the entrance.
"I'll be fine," he said, forcing a smile. "Be careful out there."
"Stay safe," Tyler added.
The others nodded before turning away. Jasper exhaled, then leaned back against a tree, tension written all over his face.
The tunnel was damp and narrow. Skeletons littered the corners, bones cracked and scattered like broken promises. The stench was unbearable.
"This place is freezing," Henry muttered, hugging himself.
"The scent of vampires is everywhere," Tyler said, his nose wrinkling.
"I hear something…" Bella whispered, pressing her hands to her ears. "Like… someone in pain."
"Stay close," Sophia warned. "We don't know what's ahead."
They turned a corner and froze.
Two vampires stood ahead, unaware of the wolves watching.
"What an excellent meal," the first vampire said, tossing a lifeless human to the side.
The second had deep scars across his forehead. His nails were sharp, unnaturally long, scraping against the stone.
"More power," he hissed.
"The vampire meeting is next week," the first vampire Stratus grunted. "If we don't impress Susun, we're finished."
He looked at his companion.
"Cemetri… more blood. More power."
"That'll be the last time you touch a human," Tyler growled, stepping forward.
The pack revealed themselves all five in battle stance, eyes blazing.
"Humans?" Cemetri laughed. "Stratus! Free food!"
Stratus threw an arm out, blocking him.
"No. They're not humans… those are wolves."
In a blink, Tyler and Sophia shifted fur ripping through skin. James, Bella, and Henry followed.
Sophia lunged first, sinking her fangs into Stratus' back.
But he twisted, kicking her so hard she crashed into a wall.
Tyler charged, claws bared. Stratus raised a hand and the room warped.
Walls twisted. Tyler vanished into a metal vault.
James and Henry had Cemetri pinned, but the vampire grabbed a vault door and hurled it at Henry. It slammed into him with a crash.
Bella dove in, claws slashing but Cemetri with a pulse of demonic energy, shifting the room again. Bella and James collided mid-air and fell.
Tyler rose and tackled Stratus, pinning him.
Sophia leaped in to help.
But Stratus growled, flexing his power the floor warped again, and both were flung aside.
Too strong, Tyler thought. These vampires aren't normal.
Stratus leapt into the air.
"You think you can defeat us?" he roared. "There are more like me!"
Henry latched onto Cemetri's leg and dragged him down.
James, Bella, and Henry tore into him.
"Stratus! Help me!" Cemetri cried.
Stratus glared coldly. "Weakling."
He shifted the room again Tyler was tossed into a heap of dried bones.
Stratus sniffed the air. His eyes lit up, glowing red.
"I smell human… I smell blood."
He sprinted toward the tunnel entrance.
The wolves lunged—too late. Stratus vanished in a flash.
Jasper's heart pounded as he crouched behind a tree.
"Come out," Stratus whispered.
He sniffed again. Then he vanished.
Jasper gasped and bolted through the woods.
Stratus shot from tree to tree above him.
The pack emerged seconds later fully shifted, charging through the forest.
Jasper ran, branches tearing at his clothes. His lungs burned.
Stratus descended, feet crashing onto the ground in front of him.
He licked his lips. "Sweet blood…"
Jasper froze, trembling.
From behind, the pack thundered forward.
Jasper, Bella thought
Jasper, James thought
Jasper, Sophia thought
Jasper, Henry thought
Jasper, Tyler thought
Each wolf thought the same name at once.
Suddenly, something sparked.
A pulse.
Tyler lunged first, slamming Stratus into a tree.
Nice one, Tyler.
What? Tyler blinked. Henry? Are you in my head?
Not bad, James thought.
Wait… Sophia's mind echoed. You're all… in my thoughts?
Yes! Bella screamed mentally. It worked!
It opened!
They stood together, back-to-back, thoughts now one.
Stratus snarled. "Let's end this."
Sophia and Tyler lunged.
Stratus hurled a cluster of boulders, knocking them away.
"Bend!" James thought.
He and Bella bit into Stratus's neck.
He roared, tossing them like ragdolls.
Henry struck from behind sinking his fangs into Stratus' leg.
The vampire howled in agony.
"Didn't see me, huh?" Henry smirked.
Nice one, Henry, Tyler thought.
Sophia and James ripped into Stratus' arms.
Bella and Tyler struck next tearing through flesh and bone.
Stratus screamed.
Pieces of him flew.
His body crumbled.
Silence.
Jasper stared, stunned. The wolves stood over Stratus' remains, breathing hard.
Their minds still linked.
Could it be… Jasper thought.
No way.