---- I immediately backed away, but it was too late. The dizziness grew stronger, my vision blurring. "Don't fight it, it'll only make it worse for you," Lina said calmly. "The drug will take effect soon. We need you conscious, but unable to resist." "Why?" I struggled to ask. "Are you one of Lyra's? " "Not exactly," she approached, her voice turning eerie. ''I serve a greater power. On the other side of the 'Shadow Fissure, ' there's unimaginable strength. Lyra is just a tool, like you." My legs began to buckle, but survival instinct kept me alert. "You want my child." "Clever," she nodded approvingly. "An Alpha and Luna's first heir, pure bloodline, a soul strong enough - the perfect key to open the Fissure." "You're all insane," I gritted my teeth. "This is forbidden, it's black magic that will destroy ---- everything!" "Destroy? No," her eyes gleamed with fanaticism. "It's rebirth. A new order. When the Fissure opens, ancient powers will return to the world, and we, the loyal servants, will receive our due reward." I felt my consciousness slowly slipping, but I fought to stay awake. "Lyra... does she know what this means?" "She only cares about revenge," Lina scoffed. "For her, this is the perfect way to destroy you and Kaelen. She doesn't know the real plan, nor does she need to." Just as Lina was about to approach me, a black shadow shot out from the woods and tackled her to the ground! It was Kaelen in his wolf form! His fangs sank deep into Lina's shoulder, forcing a scream from. her. ---- Lina struggled, pulling a silver knife from her sleeve and lunging at Kaelen. "Kaelen, watch out!" I cried weakly. He dodged agilely but was still grazed on his side by the blade. Despite the injury, he didn't let go until Lina stopped struggling. Confirming Lina was unconscious, Kaelen quickly shifted back to human form and rushed to my side. "Sera! Are you okay?" "The drug... can't move..." I managed to say. He immediately scooped me up. "I'll take you to a safe place. A truly safe place." "The Sanctuary..." "It's fallen," his tone was heavy. "The Northern Pack controls most of it. We don't have enough people..." Howls and footsteps echoed from the woods; ---- enemies were approaching. "They're coming after us," I said nervously. Kaelen carried me swiftly into denser woods. " Don't worry, I know a secret path that can bypass their blockade." We pushed through a nearly impassable thicket to a hidden cave entrance. "This leads to the other side of the mountain," he explained, gently placing me on a flat rock inside the cave. "But we have to wait for the drug to wear off before we can go on." "What about the others? The Sanctuary residents? " Tasked, worried. "The Keepers activated an emergency teleportation array, evacuating most of the innocent residents," he said briefly, then checked my condition. "Can you feel your legs?" I tried to move them. "A bit numb, but I have