Hunters: Moonlit Shadows

Elena barely had time to steady herself before the roar echoed again, deeper this time, rolling through the forest like a warning. She gripped her wounded shoulder, blood seeping through her fingers as she scanned the shadows for movement.

Liam's golden eyes gleamed, his calm demeanor unshaken. He tilted his head as if listening to a melody only he could hear.

"What now?" Elena snapped, her voice tinged with irritation.

"You tell me," Liam said, infuriatingly calm. "You're the one who walked into my forest."

She glared at him. "Your wolf didn't exactly roll out the welcome mat."

The beast growled low from the shadows, and Liam raised a hand. The wolf stilled instantly, its amber eyes burning with restrained aggression.

"Impressive," Elena muttered. "Does he do tricks, too?"

Liam's smirk returned. "Only the entertaining ones."

Another roar interrupted their exchange, louder and more forceful. The ground trembled, and Elena instinctively steadied herself. Whatever was coming, it was massive.

Elena drew her pistol in one fluid motion; her silver dagger still clutched in her other hand.

Liam's playful air vanished. His gaze shifted toward the darkness, his posture rigid. "You might want to sit this one out hunter," he said, his tone darker now. "You're not equipped to face this alone."

"I don't sit out," she snapped, her finger hovering over the trigger. "Whatever it is, I'm not letting it walk away."

His lips twitched, like he wanted to argue but decided against it.

The shadows finally parted, revealing a figure towered over the tree. Its fur was matted with blood, its claws long enough to carve through steel. Its eyes glowed a sickly yellow, its snarl reverberating through the clearing like a thunderclap.

"A rouge," Liam muttered, almost to himself.

Elena's grip on her weapons tightened. "That's a rouge? That thing looks like it's been dragged out of hell."

"It might as well have been," Liam said grimly.

The rouge moved faster than Elena expected. One moment it was at the edge of the clearing and the next it was charging straight at them, its massive claws slicing through the air.

Elena dove to the side. She rolled to her feet, raising the pistol and firing off two shots in quick succession. The bullets hit their mark, sinking into the creature's chest.

The rouge staggered but didn't fall. Instead, it turned toward her, its yellow eyes burning with rage.

"Well, that's just great," she muttered, bracing herself as the creature charged again.

In a blur of movement, Liam was in front of her, his body twisting as he leaped at the rouge with a feral snarl. The two collided with a force that shook the ground.

Elena watched, her heart racing as Liam fought the rogue with a savage grace that was almost mesmerizing. He moved like a predator, every strike calculated, every movement efficient.

Liam aimed for the head but the rogue blocked it. Grabbing Liam's arm, it tossed him away.

Liam's body slammed into a sickening crack. He groaned but pushed himself to his feet, his golden eyes blazing with fury.

"Stay down," Elena warned, raising her pistol again.

"I don't stay down," he growled, his voice more animal than human.

Before she could respond, the rouge lunged at her. She barely had time to fire another shot before it was on her, its claw slashed through the air. She ducked and rolled, then struck it at the side with her dagger.

The rouge roared in pain, its movements growing more erratic. But even injured, it was terrifyingly fast.

"Elena!" Liam's voice cut through the chaos.

She didn't have time to look at him. The rogue was too close, its claws inches from her face.

The rogue raised another arm to attack when it suddenly stopped, its body shuddered violently. Its glowing eyes widened as it stumbled back, a guttural snarl escaping its throat.

Elena stared, her chest heaving. "What the--"

Liam was there in an instant grabbing her arm and pulling her back. "Don't touch it."

The rouge let out one final, ear-splitting roar before collapsing to the ground. Its body convulsed once, twice and then stilled.

The clearing fell silent.

"What just happened?" Elena asked her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam didn't answer. His gaze was fixed on the rogue's body, his expression was unreadable.

But then, slowly, he turned to her.

"You shouldn't have come here," he said, his voice low, almost full of regret.

Elena frowned. "What are you talking about?"

He stepped closer, his golden eyes piercing. "You're not ready for this"

Before she could argue, a sound echoed through the forest, a howl deep and mournful, far louder than the rouge's.

"They're here" Liam growled.