~Ella Windsor POV~
The doorway was filled with shadows, Leonard De Santos stepped in first, tall and sharp like the city skyline, rain dripping from his coat. His eyes glowed faintly gold in the half-dark hallway. Behind him, Edward moved forward, broad-shouldered, carrying the clean scent of mountain air mixed with pine and frost. His presence felt heavy, like an old mountain that would not move for anyone.
The third figure leaned against the door-frame with a lazy grin. Markus! His hair was messy, one pale eye catching the weak light, his stance relaxed but looks dangerous.
"So," Leonard said, voice smooth but edged like a blade, "the little wolf wakes at last."
"She isn't yours to claim," Edward replied. His voice was firm, calm, but there was a challenge in it. "The Accord demands a choice, not a hunt."
Markus let out a low laugh, pushing off the door-frame. "Maybe she chooses neither of you," he said, his gaze sliding to me. "Maybe she might runs with me instead."
My grip tightened on the moonsteel sword, the cut on my palm still stung, and I could feel my wolf moving under my skin, restless and watchful. I had barely known I had this side of me, and yet it was suddenly so loud I could hardly think.
"You all think you can come in here and decide my life," I said, my voice shaking at first but growing stronger. "But I don't even know any of you."
Leonard raised his hand slightly, his golden eyes softened just a little. "Ella, I have waited years for this day, your mother saved my pack from ruin. I owe her loyalty, and I offer you more than safety. I offer you power and protection."
Edward moved a step closer, his voice like distant thunder. "Power can turn into chains! I offer freedom, a bond that honors your spirit instead of locking it away."
Markus tilted his head and smirked. "Freedom, power, pretty words. I offer no lies, I offer a life with no rules, run with me and you'll never have to bow to anyone."
The storm outside cracked, lightning flashed across the room, and for a moment they all looked like wolves instead of men. The scents in the air thickened...cedar and rain, pine and cold stone, and something sharp and wild like burnt sugar. My head spun.
Ma'am Emilie stood at the bottom of the stairs, holding an old crossbow. "Ella, decide now, or they will tear this place apart."
I felt my pulse hammering in my ears, and my wolf wanted to leap and choose, but I couldn't. Not without answers!
"What happened to my mother?" I demanded. "Who killed her?"
The air froze instantly, none of them moved, their silence felt heavier than their words.
"Tell me!" I shouted. The sword seemed to vibrate in my hand.
Leonard's jaw tightened. "She died because a traitor hid among the packs, someone who still walks free. We all want revenge, but not for the same reasons."
Edward's voice was quieter but sharp. "Do not trust his version, your mother's blood was spilled because of greed, greed that built this city."
Markus's grin faded, his tone cold. "Your mother fought, she chose to fight, and she bled for her decision. Now, you'll have to make yours."
I looked at them...three wolves, three promises...and something inside me snapped.
The sword burned in my grip, the silver edge glowed faintly. My wolf roared inside me, and the sound seemed to shake the walls.
"Enough," I said, my voice steady now. "I won't be hunted or claimed tonight, if you want me to choose, you will all tell me the truth of her death. Every detail! Or none of you will have me."
The room went quiet, only the thunder outside broke the silence.
Markus tilted his head, pale eye glinting. "Fine, little wolf! You want the truth? You'll get it, but it might kill you."
Leonard's eyes narrowed, and Edward's jaw tightened. They all stared at me as though I had just thrown blood in the water.
Then suddenly, the front window shattered. A black-masked figure rolled into the shop, two short blades flashing in his hands, the sharp, toxic scent of silver filled the air.
"Down!" Ma'am Emilie shouted.
The intruder moved fast, lunging straight at me, and I barely had time to raise the sword as the shadow closed in.
The masked attacker came at me like a dark blur, and my wolf screamed in my head, instincts pushing me to move, but my human body froze for a heartbeat too long. The flash of silver blades cut the air just inches from my face.
Leonard was faster, his hand shot out, grabbing my arm, pulling me to the side. "Stay down," he ordered, his voice sharp and low. I stumbled, gripping the moonsteel sword, my blood still wet on its edge.
Edward didn't wait, he shifted mid-step, his bones snapping with a crack, fur bursting from skin in a smooth rush. In the blink of an eye, he was a massive wolf, his fur the color of snow shadowed by moonlight with a growl that shook the floor, he launched at the intruder.
Markus didn't shift, he just smiled like this was all a game. "Silver blades, that's cute," he muttered, grabbing a broom handle leaning by the door. In one swing, he broke it across his knee and lunged with it like a spear.
The attacker moved with deadly grace, ducking Edward's swipe, twisting away from Markus, and landing a kick that sent Leonard crashing into a shelf of wooden practice swords. Everything clattered to the floor.
I couldn't just stand there, my wolf wouldn't let me. I tightened my grip on the sword and stepped forward.
"Ella, no!" Ma'am Emilie shouted from below the stairs. She aimed the old crossbow, but I didn't stop.
The intruder turned on me, their mask glinted, eyes hidden in shadow. They raised both blades and ran straight for me. I swung the moonsteel sword.
It wasn't graceful, it wasn't even that strong, but the blade sang when it cut the air. The intruder's silver weapon met my sword with a loud metallic clash...and then snapped in two like cheap wire. A strange, high-pitched hum echoed from the moonsteel.
The attacker stumbled back for the first time, they hesitated.
"Who sent you?" I demanded, though my voice cracked.
The figure didn't answer, they tossed the broken weapon aside and pulled something from their coat...a small black vial.
Leonard's eyes widened. "Poison bomb!" he yelled, he dove, knocking me to the floor just as the attacker threw the vial at our feet.
The vial shattered, a dark mist spread across the room, burning my throat and stinging my eyes. I coughed, struggling to breathe.