Read My Werewolf Boyfriend :: The Masquerade of Shadows(2/2)

Back at the manor, Henry watched the chaos unfold through the monitors, his fists clenched. “She’s playing with us,” he muttered, his voice cold. “But she’s forgetting one thing—this is my territory. And no one escapes me.”

The flickering moonlight filtered through the dense canopy, casting jagged shadows on the forest floor. James Lee stood at the edge of the clearing, his breath visible in the cold night air. He clenched his fists, the leather of his gloves creaking softly. Where are they? he thought, his eyes scanning the darkness. The distant sound of a struggle reached his ears—growls, shouts, and the sharp crack of branches. His heart skipped a beat. Ava.

Without hesitation, James sprinted toward the noise, his boots crunching against the frost-covered leaves. As he burst into a smaller clearing, the scene before him was chaos. Ava, in her gray wolf form, was locked in a ferocious battle with two armed men. Her fur was matted with blood, but her eyes burned with defiance. One of the men lunged at her with a knife, but she dodged with feline grace, her teeth sinking into his arm. He screamed, dropping the weapon.

James didn’t waste a second. He drew his own blade—a sleek, black dagger—and charged. “Ava, behind you!” he shouted, his voice cutting through the night. The second man turned just in time to meet James’s strike. Their blades clashed, sparks flying.

“Took you long enough,” Ava growled, her voice a mix of relief and sarcasm as she shook off her attacker.

“Nice to see you too,” James shot back, his tone dry but his eyes serious. He parried a blow and countered with a swift kick, sending the man stumbling backward.

Meanwhile, Emma stood frozen at the edge of the clearing, her hands clutching the straps of her backpack. Her wide eyes darted between the fight and the shadows beyond. This is real. This is really happening. Her chest tightened with fear and disbelief.

James noticed her out of the corner of his eye. “Emma, stay back!” he barked, his voice firm but not unkind. He didn’t wait for a response, turning his attention back to the fight.

Ava, now free from her attacker, joined James in a coordinated assault. Together, they made quick work of the remaining man, their movements a seamless dance of violence. When the last man fell, the forest fell silent, save for the sound of their heavy breathing.

“We need to move,” James said, wiping his blade on his pants before sheathing it. “More could be coming.”

Ava shifted back to her human form, her clothes torn but her posture unyielding. “Agreed. But where?”

James glanced at Emma, who was still staring at the fallen men. “Somewhere safe. For her.” He stepped closer to Emma, his voice softening. “Are you hurt?”

She shook her head, her lips trembling. “No. I’m... I’m fine.” But her eyes told a different story—one of fear and uncertainty.

James placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch grounding. “We’ll get through this. I promise.”

Ava crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “Promises won’t keep us alive, James. What’s the plan?”

“We head to the cabin,” he said, his tone decisive. “It’s off the grid. We’ll regroup there.”

Emma finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. “And then what?”

James met her gaze, his eyes steady. “Then we figure out our next move. But first, we survive.”

As the trio began their trek through the forest, the tension between them was palpable. Ava walked ahead, her senses alert for any sign of danger. James stayed close to Emma, his presence both reassuring and unsettling. The weight of the night’s events hung heavy in the air, and the road ahead was anything but certain.

But one thing was clear: the game had changed. And they were all playing for their lives.

The flickering light of the chandelier cast long shadows across the opulent study, where Henry Thomas paced like a caged beast. His polished boots clicked sharply against the marble floor, each step echoing his growing fury. "They’re playing games with me," he muttered, his voice low but laced with venom. "The Lees think they can outsmart me? I’ll show them what happens when you cross the wrong wolf."

A knock on the door interrupted his pacing. "Enter," he barked, his tone sharp enough to cut glass. A wiry man in a tailored suit stepped inside, his eyes darting nervously. "Sir, the perimeter has been secured. No one’s getting in or out without your say-so."

Henry’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Good. But let’s not stop there. Double the guards. Triple them if you have to. I want this place locked down tighter than Fort Knox." The man nodded but hesitated, his fingers fidgeting with the edge of his jacket. "Something on your mind, Professor Carter?"

Professor Carter cleared his throat. "Sir, the Lees... they’re not just any family. If they’ve already started moving against us, shouldn’t we—"

"Shouldn’t we what?" Henry interrupted, his voice a dangerous whisper. "Cower? Retreat? No. This is war, Professor Carter. And wars aren’t won by playing it safe." He turned to the window, his reflection staring back at him like a ghost. "Emma’s blood is the key. With it, I’ll unite the packs under one banner. The Lees won’t know what hit them."

Professor Carter shifted uncomfortably. "And the other alphas? They’ve been... hesitant to join us."

Henry’s laugh was cold, devoid of humor. "Hesitant? They’ll fall in line once they see what’s at stake. Power, Professor Carter. It’s the only language they understand." He pulled out a sleek silver phone, its screen glowing faintly in the dim light. "I’ve already sent word to the Northern Pack. They’ll meet me at the old mill tonight. If they refuse, well..." His voice trailed off, but the unspoken threat hung heavy in the air.

As Professor Carter left, Henry’s gaze lingered on the phone. He opened a message thread, his fingers hovering over the screen. The last message read: "Some doors shouldn’t be opened." A cryptic warning, or a taunt? He smirked, typing a single word in response: "Watch me."

Outside, the wind howled through the trees, carrying with it the scent of rain and something darker. The flickering neon light of a distant gas station reflected off the wet pavement, casting eerie shadows on the empty road. Somewhere in the night, a wolf howled—a mournful, haunting sound that seemed to echo Henry’s unspoken promise.

The stage was set. The players were moving. And the world of wolves would never be the same.