The roar of engines ripped through the quiet night. Sarah, jolted from sleep, rushed to the window. A cold certainty settled over her as she saw the black vehicles swarming the estate, disgorging masked men. Damien. It had to be because of Damien and his reckless dealings in the underground dealers. This wasn't the first time his shady business had attracted unwanted attention, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.He stood beside her, his usual arrogance replaced by a grim tension that he was clearly trying to hide. "They found me," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the scene below."You mean, they found us," Sarah corrected, her voice laced with a bitter edge. "Again."He didn't reply, but the flicker of guilt in his eyes was confirmation enough. As she followed his gaze, she saw a solitary figure standing at the gate, bathed in the dim moonlight. He looked almost ethereal with his silver hair and piercing scarlet eyes. "Why does Palmer always have to clean up after your mess?

Damien, with his characteristic swagger, strode into the room, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Palmer," he announced, "we're going on a little trip."Sarah's head snapped up, alarm bells ringing in her ears. "A trip? Where?"Damien smirked, enjoying her apprehension. " Relax darling. Don't worry, just going to have some fun.""Fun?" Sarah scoffed. "The last time you had 'fun', the yard was bathed in the blood of people you had pissed off."Damien rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Sarah, don't be such a stick in the mud. A little adventure never hurts anyone.""Adventure?" Sarah's voice rose. "Damien, your idea of adventure usually involves illegal auctions, shady deals, and life-threatening situations!""I'll go with him, Sarah."Sarah's gaze snapped towards him, her eyes wide with concern. "Palmer, no. You don't have to put up with—""I'm worried for his safety," Palmer insisted, his voice gentle but firm. "And perhaps," he added, a subtle glint in his scarlet eyes, "it's an opportuni

Meanwhile, Palmer and Damien faced their own peril. The werewolves snarled and circled, their hot breath clouding the cold air. Palmer, despite his outward calm, felt a creeping disorientation. A strange, cloying scent filled his nostrils, making his head spin and his senses swim. He fought to maintain focus, his vision blurring, his usually sharp reflexes sluggish.Damien, his face pale with fear, watched from the car as one of the werewolves stepped forward, a wickedly curved blade glinting in its hand. "Look out!" he screamed, his voice cracking with panic.Instinct took over. With a burst of adrenaline, Palmer whirled around, seizing the werewolf by its thick fur. He slammed the creature against the floor, a guttural snarl ripping from his throat. The other werewolves hesitated, momentarily stunned by Palmer's sudden ferocity.But as Palmer held the struggling werewolf aloft, he noticed a strange sensation. His hand, where it gripped the creature's fur, felt… hot. He glanced

The werewolves lay scattered across the ground, their unconscious forms lit by the eerie red glow of the sky. Palmer, his scarlet eyes still blazing with power, surveyed the scene, a thoughtful expression on his face. "The person who sent them is quite thorough," Palmer mused, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. He knelt beside one of the unconscious werewolves, his keen senses analyzing the subtle traces of magic clinging to its fur. "A silencing spell, woven with potent dark magic. They all passed out after I asked them some questions." He stood, his gaze sweeping over the fallen pack. "No loose ends. Interesting." A flicker of concern crossed his features. "But that's not all..." He paused, his gaze shifting to Damien, a smirk playing on his lips. "Pfft, some 'monster' you turned out to be. You pretty much exhausted what fear is left in you," he chuckled.Damien, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment, mumbled, "Argh, don't laugh!" He looked down at his trembling hands, his voic

A hush fell over the cathedral hall as the skinwalker, disguised as Edward, started walking back into the meeting room. From behind a towering marble pillar, a figure emerged, his face etched with a mixture of disgust and disdain."You guys are as disgusting as usual," the Pope spat, his voice dripping with contempt. "You make me want to puke."The skinwalker paused, a sardonic grin spreading across its stolen face. "Coming from someone like you, that's saddening. Selling out your comrades for power... You make me want to puke. I'm only doing this because I'm benefitting a great deal from it. I despise betrayers.""I hope you remember your part of the deal when the day comes," the Pope hissed, his voice laced with a venomous threat.With a dismissive wave of his hand, the skinwalker strode back towards the Elders' chamber, leaving the Pope fuming in his wake.Inside the chamber, the Elders sat in tense silence, their faces etched with worry."So, any luck reaching the kid?" Gorion gro