AT THE SAME TIME
MICHAEL
The air trembled before it tore. My bones cracked, my body convulsed, silver light searing through my veins. I screamed, but the sound shattered, splintering into a howl that split the night. Silver fur burst across my body, gleaming like molten moonlight. My claws sank into the dirt, my tail lashed, and my ears flicked high as the shift completed in a breathless blaze. I stood there, not the trembling boy they cornered, but a wolf, lean and fierce, coat shimmering like the Goddess's own blessing. Silence slammed into the courtyard. Adrian froze mid-step, his amber gold eyes wide, his grin faltering into something hungrier, sharper.
"Silver." His voice was ragged, awed. "A silver wolf."
Xavier let out a low, stunned laugh, dark eyes glinting.
"So that's what you were hiding. No wonder you shake like that, no omega should ever burn so bright."He grinned.
Terrence's storm gray gaze locked on me, rigid, unreadable, but the tension in his jaw betrayed him.
"Impossible. The silver wolves died out with the first saints. This… this shouldn't exist."Terrence smirked.
Zavier stepped forward, stormy silver eyes reflecting mine like mirrors. For once, his grin faltered, replaced by a look darker, deeper.
"Not just silver. The Goddess marked you." His voice was hushed, reverent. "You are the storm, Michael."
Even Selene, lingering in the shadows, drew in a sharp, shocked breath. Her silver eyes widened, disbelief cracking her perfect poise.
"No… no, this isn't right." She whispered, her voice trembling despite herself. "The Moon Goddess only gifts that form to her chosen… only saints should-"Selene muttered.
"I told you." I growled, my wolf's voice rumbling through sharp, bared teeth. My fur bristled, claws gouging the earth. "I am not your saint. I am not your heir bearer. I will never be."
The air rippled with tension. My howl ripped through it, furious, desperate, echoing against the walls like thunder. My paws pounded the dirt, aiming straight for the west gate, every muscle screaming for freedom. But the alphas snapped out of their shock. Adrian moved first, his laugh returning like fire in his throat.
"Run, little wolf. Run so we can chase you." Adrian's massive black wolf form exploded from his skin in a rush of shadow and flame.
Xavier followed with a deep, rumbling growl, his chestnut wolf towering over me, eyes gleaming with the thrill of the hunt.
"You can shine all you want, silver cub. You're still prey."Terrence grinned. Terrence's wolf hit the ground like a storm breaking, gray fur bristling, eyes locked on me with unshakable force.
"The stronger you are, the less we can let you go."He grinned.
And Zavier, Zavier shifted slow, deliberate, silver fur gleaming brighter than the moon, his storm colored eyes fixed on me with terrifying certainty.
"You can't outrun yourself, Michael. And you are ours."Xavier grinned.
I lunged anyway, silver fur flashing, paws tearing the earth. For a heartbeat, I thought I was free until their shadows crashed around me. Adrian's claws snapped at my tail, Xavier slammed into my side, Terrence's weight pinned my back, and Zavier's muzzle pressed me into the dirt, his growl echoing through my bones. I snarled, thrashed, bit, my silver fur glowing against their darker coats, smaller but radiant, furious. My howl tore through the night again, defiance and terror bound together.
"I won't be yours!" I spat between growls, struggling against their crushing weight.
Adrian's muzzle brushed my ear, his growl velvet and cruel.
"You already are."Adrian grinned.
Xavier's laugh rumbled, his teeth grazing my neck.
"Shine brighter, little star. We like our prey rare."Xavier smirked.
Terrence pressed harder, his storm wolf voice calm but unyielding.
"You can't fight destiny, Michael."He whispered.
And Zavier leaned closer, storm meeting silver, his whisper cutting sharper than teeth.
"You belong to no one but us."He whispered slowly right into my ear.
"I'll find Rose." I swore through clenched teeth, claws gouging the dirt. "She'll save me. She has to."
From the shadows, Selene's low, cold laughter slid across the night.
"Oh, little wolf. Even silver breaks. And when you do… you'll beg."Selene grinned, knowing that she not going to let you go anytime soon.
The words scraped through me like claws. My wolf thrashed, and this time I didn't just struggle, I bit. My teeth sank deep into Terrence's foreleg, hot blood flooding my mouth. His growl ripped across the courtyard, loud enough to shake the walls. For a heartbeat, they were stunned. I spat the blood, lips curling back.
"Told you." I snarled, silver fur bristling. "I bite."
Adrian threw his head back and laughed.
"Gods, I love him. He's chaos wrapped in fur."He kept laughing.
Xavier grinned even as I twisted, raking claws across his chest hard enough to draw blood. He hissed, then chuckled, low and amused.
"He's like a kitten with knives. Annoying as hell, but I'm impressed."Xaveier grinned.
"Not funny." Terrence snapped, blood dripping down his leg as he leaned harder into me.
"Actually-" I panted, squirming beneath his weight. "It's a little funny."
That earned me a crushing press from Zavier. His massive wolf form shoved my muzzle into the dirt, his voice low and cold.
"Enough. You can scratch, bite, scream all night. You're not walking away from us."Zavier said.
I snarled again, claws gouging the earth, silver fur blazing bright under the moon.
"I'll never be yours."I contunied argument.
Adrian leaned closer, golden eyes gleaming like fire.
"You already are, little wolf. Every breath, every fight it's all ours."Adrian teased.
Xavier licked the blood from his chest wound, smirking.
"Keep fighting. Makes carrying you more fun."Xavier said.
Terrence growled low, his weight immovable.
"We're done here. He's not leaving."He added.
Zavier's grip tightened, and in a single, fluid motion, he snapped me up by the scruff like a cub. My body jerked, teeth snapping in the air, paws clawing uselessly at his fur. I yelped, twisting hard, but his hold didn't budge.
"Put me down!" I snapped, thrashing.
Adrian shifted back to his human form, grinning wide as he reached for my legs.
"Oh, we'll put you down, just not where you want."He said.
Xavier moved to the other side, catching my tail with a sharp tug when I kicked at him.
"Stop wiggling, pup, or I'll start calling you fluffy."Zavier teased.
Terrence rose, limping but steady, eyes narrowed. He looked furious, but his voice stayed calm.
"Inside. Now."He said.
Together, they hauled me back, four predators dragging one silver wolf thrashing between them. My claws scraped stone, leaving deep gouges, my snarls echoing down the halls as they carried me.
"Let me go! I'm not your-" I howled, biting again at whoever came close enough. My teeth almost caught Xavier's hand this time, but he jerked back with a laugh.
"Careful, sunshine." He teased. "Bite me again and I might start enjoying it."
Adrian leaned down, voice velvet and cruel.
"Oh, you'll enjoy it too. Just wait."He said.
I thrashed harder, heart hammering, eyes burning with helpless fury. Selene's voice floated after us as they dragged me into the keep, smooth and taunting.
"Break him slowly, boys. Silver doesn't shatter in one strike."She smirked.