Page 207 of Moonlit Fate

“Your hubris will be your downfall,” they warned, circling me like vultures waiting for a carcass to fall.

“Enough talk,” I snapped, setting my stance and readying for what I knew was coming. “Do what you came here to do.”

They hesitated, but only for a second. Then they advanced, and I braced myself for the onslaught.

The wind answered my call with a howl, spiraling around me as I stood my ground. Leaves and debris whipped into the air, creating a barrier between the warped shifters and me. They staggered, arms raised to shield their faces, but I was already moving, kicking up a wall of earth to intercept a volley of dark energy hurled in my direction.

“Come on then, “ I taunted, feeling every bit of my elemental magic surge within me. The familiar strength it brought drowned out any lingering pain from earlier. My hands moved with purpose, crafting gusts sharp enough to slice through the thickening tension.

One lunged at me but I sidestepped, letting his momentum carry him past. “Your fate is sealed,” he hissed, recovering and turning to face me again.

“Sealed by who? You?” I laughed as I threw a punch that carried the force of a gale behind it. He flew backward, skidding across the ground.

They outnumbered me, but they weren’t coordinated enough to withstand the havoc of my storm. I drew the moisture from the grass beneath my feet, forming ice along the surface, watching them slip and scramble.

“Enough of your games,” one of them growled, regaining his footing.

“Games?” I said. “This is survival.”

Another assault came, dark tendrils of tainted magic reaching for me like the fingers of death. I threw my arms wide, shattering them with shards of ice. Each movement was crisp, deliberate, a dance I had never performed but somehow knew.

I could feel Atticus’s presence in the back of my mind, a silent support that bolstered my courage. I wouldn’t let these zealots win. Not today.

“Is that all you’ve got?” I challenged, even as fatigue began to creep in.

They regrouped. Behind their masks, I saw the uncertainty and fear in their eyes. They were beginning to realize they weren’t fighting just another shifter; they were fighting a storm incarnate.

With a roar that was both primal and magical, I summoned a final, powerful gust. It swept through the ranks, leaving themscattered and defeated. Their retreat was a sweet symphony to my ears.

I scanned the forest. The path ahead twisted into a narrow chokepoint between gnarled trees. Perfect. I darted forward, feigning weakness. Behind me, their footsteps pounded in pursuit.

“There she goes! Don’t let her escape!” one shouted, eager with anticipation.

“Spread out,” another commanded, trying to keep their formation.

“Idiots,” I muttered.

I reached the path and turned sharply, channeling a surge of wind to topple a nearby tree, blocking the way behind me. Only a few had managed to follow me through.

“Got you now,” I said.

One lunged at me, dark magic swirling in his hands. I sidestepped, grabbed his arm, and used his momentum to slam him into a tree. The connection to my power buzzed through my veins. I wasn’t just using the elements, I was one with them.

“Take her down, “ another screamed.

“Try it,” I challenged.

They came at me, but the cramped space worked against them. I ducked a blow, sent a gust of wind to knock another off balance, then summoned roots from the ground to wrap around his legs. My movements were fluid, each step deliberate. I was the squall, the river, the earth beneath us, I was everything.

“Fall back, “ one of the men yelled, terror lacing his command.

“Too late for that,” I said.

I was Aria Winters, heir to the Silver Claw Pack, and this was my fight.

I stood my ground as the last of them circled me. He charged, a blur of rage and shadow, but I was ready. I kicked him in hischest, and he stumbled back. With a twist of my hand, water surged from the nearby steam and knocked him off his feet .

“Enough,” I said.

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