Luna Aurora (Alpha Fenrir)

Chapter 358

Elyra's boots crunched softly against the mossy ground of the Moonlit Forest, a place that once radiated peace but now carried a sinister aura. The trees were shrouded in darkness, their twisted branches reaching like claws toward the crescent moon above. Shadow magic lingered thick in the air, making the forest feel alive with malice. Elyra tightened her grip on her blade, her senses heightened as she led a small party through the treacherous terrain. Cassian and Fenrir flanked her, their expressions grim, while three of her most trusted warriors brought up the rear. "This place feels wrong," Fenrir muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "The shadows... they move when they shouldn't."

Elyra nodded. She felt it too-the forest was tainted, corrupted by Dain's growing influence. She kept her voice steady as she replied, "Stay sharp. If his raiding party is here, they won't make this easy for us."

Their mission was simple: intercept one of Dain's raiding groups that had been terrorizing nearby territories. But as they ventured deeper into the forest, Elyra couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched.

A sudden rustle to their left made everyone freeze. Cassian raised his bow, scanning the darkness, while Fenrir bared his teeth, his claws elongating in anticipation. Elyra held up a hand, signaling for silence. The group moved cautiously, every step measured. Then it happened.

From the shadows, wolves lunged with unnatural speed, their eyes glowing an eerie crimson. The ambush was swift and brutal. Elyra barely had time to react before one of the shadow wolves pounced at her. She dodged, slicing her blade across its flank, but to her horror, the wound closed almost instantly.

"This isn't just shadow," Elyra shouted over the chaos of battle. "He's turned them into monsters!"

Cassian loosed an arrow that struck one wolf in the chest, but instead of falling, it snarled and charged him. Fenrir intercepted, tackling the beast and slamming it into a tree, but even his immense strength seemed barely enough to hold it off. "These things don't die!" Fenrir growled, wrestling the creature.

Elyra darted through the melee, her blade glowing faintly with the light magic she'd been training to harness. She slashed at another wolf, this time infusing her strike with power. The beast yelped as the light burned through its shadow-infused body, dissolving it into mist. "They can be killed!" Elyra yelled. "Use light magic if you have it!"

realized they were outnumbered. She spotted one of her warriors fall under a wolf's attack, and rage surged through her. She pushed forward, carving

in shadow stood just beyond the battle, his crimson eyes locked on

him," the lieutenant taunted, his voice dripping with mockery. "He doesn't need you anymore. You're nothing

gritted her teeth, refusing to

lunged, her blade meeting his with a

was fast, his movements

parried

precision. Elyra felt her

with

fought to keep

he sneered, pressing her back. "The Warden of Shadows has plans for you, Luna. And trust me,

flared,

before she could deliver a finishing blow, a shadow wolf leaped at her, knocking her off balance. She hit the ground hard, her vision swimming as pain

him. The Warden's power is absolute!" "Coward!" Fenrir roared, but

her side in an instant, his face etched with concern. "You're hurt," he