Riley’s POV

Just then something shook the walls really hard. It vibrated like the whole place was about to fall apart. Dust came down from the ceiling. I stopped walking and looked around fast.

Then a big shadow came out from the dark part in front of us. We all turned our heads at the same time. There it was. An enormous beast. It was super huge with silver fur all over its body. Its eyes glowed bright and scary. Its teeth looked sharp and long. It stood on two legs but looked like it could run on four too. The beast was breathing heavy and loud.

I knew him right away. It was the same beast that saved me back in the Lunar Hollow cave. The big strong one that protected me when I was in trouble. And it was Gunnar.

"Riley, we need to get out of here," Cane said fast. "Gunnar is mindless right now."

We had not taken even one step when the beast growled so loud it hurt my ears. Then it lunged at us right away. It jumped forward super quick with its claws out.

Cane grabbed me fast and pulled me away. We both fell to the ground hard. My knee hit the stone floor and it hurt but I did not care. The beast crashed into the wall next to us. The wall broke and pieces of stone fell everywhere. Dust went all over the place.

I sat up quick and looked at the beast. My heart was beating so fast. "Oh my goodness, what is happening to him?" I said in fear. My voice came out shaky.

Cane jumped up right away. He grabbed me and pushed me toward Caden who had dodged to the other side too. "Caden, take her out of here," Cane said. "I will hold him down for a while. Take Riley out now!"

In a blink Cane shifted into his own enormous form. He changed fast. His body got bigger with fur and muscles. He looked almost the same size as Gunnar but Gunnar was a bit more bigger. Gunnar’s beast looked full of danger and death and destruction. It made me scared but I could not run.

Caden grabbed my arm tight. He started to pull me away to take off. But the beast lunged at him instead. Cane blocked it fast with his own body. The beast grabbed Cane and pushed him hard against the wall. The wall cracked more. Then the beast rushed straight at Caden.

The beast grabbed Caden with its big claws. Caden dropped me and shouted, "Run, Riley!"

But I could not run. My legs felt stuck. This did not seem like it was going to end well at all. I stood there watching everything.

Just then the beast turned to Caden and kicked him hard with its leg. Caden flew back a little. Then the beast released a very powerful scent. It filled the air fast. Cane shouted from where he was stuck against the wall, "He is releasing his fucking pheromones!"

The scent was so strong. It made Cane not able to move. He was stuck in his place and could not fight.

The beast started choking Caden now. Its big hand was around Caden’s neck and Caden could not shift. Caden was struggling. Cane shouted loud from the wall, "No! He is going to kill Caden! Riley, get out now!"

But I could not leave. I stood there and Caden’s life flashed in my eyes. I saw all the good times with him. The way he was softer with me than the rest of them. The way he cares first for me. In that moment a voice screamed loud in my head. ’ATTACK!’

I looked around the ground fast. I saw a sharp iron bar lying there. The beast must have broken it from the cell bars earlier. It was long and pointy at the end. I ran to it and grabbed it tight. I was not thinking at all in that moment. My hands were shaking but I held on.

I shut my eyes tight. Some words came out of my mouth like I was possessed all of a sudden. I did not even know where they came from. "By the blood of the moon and the power of the bond, give me strength to save my mate, break the curse and protect what is mine!"

The iron bar started to glow bright blue in my hand. It got hot but not too hot to drop. It felt like magic was in it now.

I opened my eyes and rushed at the beast with all my strength. My heart was pounding so hard. I jumped as high as I could. I sank the glowing iron right in the middle of his back.

"Leave him alone!" I shouted loud.

I stood there after I did it. The beast made a loud roar. Its body shook. I was still holding the iron bar tight in his back. Caden was on the ground trying to breathe. Cane was still stuck on the wall but he looked at me with big eyes. The whole place was full of dust and noise from the fight. The walls had more cracks now. The powerful scent was still in the air but I did not care. I just wanted to save them.

The beast turned its head slow toward me. Its glowing eyes looked right at me. I was scared but I did not let go of the iron. My arms hurt from holding it. I could feel the muscles in the beast’s back moving under the iron. It was breathing heavy and fast. Blood started to come out around the iron bar. Dark blood.

"Gunnar," I said soft. "It is me. Riley. Please stop."

But the beast did not stop. It tried to reach back with one big arm to pull the iron out. Its claws scratched the air close to me. I held on tighter. My legs were shaking. I was standing on my toes because I jumped so high to reach his back.

Caden tried to get up. "Riley... run..." he said weakly.

I did not run. I pushed the iron deeper. The glow got brighter. The beast roared again. It shook its whole body and I almost fell off but I held on with both hands. My fingers hurt. The stone floor was cold under my feet. The air was still full of that pheromone smell that made everything feel heavy.

Cane was trying to move from the wall. "Riley what did you do?" he shouted. His voice sounded shocked.

I did not answer. I was too busy holding the iron. The beast took a step and the ground shook. It tried to turn around to face me. Its big tail hit the wall and broke more stones. Pieces fell near Caden. He rolled out of the way just in time.

I was breathing fast. My heart felt like it would come out of my chest. Sweat was on my forehead even though the underground was cold. I thought about all the times Gunnar protected me. Now I was trying to protect him and his brothers. It felt right even if it was scary.

The beast growled low and deep. It sounded hurt and angry at the same time. I could see the fur on its back moving. The iron was still glowing. I did not know if the magic words I said would work but I hoped they did.

"Please Gunnar," I said again. "I’m sorry. Do not hurt them."

The beast stopped moving for a second. Its head turned toward me again. Its eyes looked a little different. Maybe it knew my voice. But then it roared loud once more and tried to shake me off. I held on tight. My arms were burning from the effort.

Caden got up slowly. He looked at me with wide eyes. "His strength is leaving him, Riley, he’s fading, the prophecy really did happen"

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