Chapter 65

Marcus and Shea hurried through the dark passage, their footsteps echoing softly against the stone walls. The sounds of battle continued to reverberate through the mansion, growing fainter as they descended deeper into the hidden corridors.

"We're almost there," Marcus whispered, his keen senses alert for any sign of pursuit.

Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from somewhere above them. Shea flinched, her grip on the silver dagger tightening. Marcus placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Stay calm," he murmured. "The safe room is just ahead."

They rounded a corner and came face to face with a massive steel door. Marcus quickly entered a code into a hidden panel, and the door swung open with a soft hiss. He ushered Shea inside, then sealed the entrance behind them.

The safe room was a stark contrast to the rest of the mansion. Bright fluorescent lights illuminated a space filled with modern technology and supplies. Monitors lined one wall, showing various areas of the mansion through security cameras.

Shea's eyes widened as she took in the chaotic scenes playing out on the screens. Werewolves in various stages of transformation were locked in fierce combat throughout the house. She caught glimpses of Achilles and Lucius, their movements a blur as they fought off multiple attackers.

"They're outnumbered," she breathed, her heart clenching with worry.

Marcus moved to a control panel, his fingers flying over the keys. "They can handle themselves. Right now, we need to focus on keeping you safe and gathering intel on our attackers."

He pulled up additional camera feeds, zooming in on the faces of their assailants. "We need to identify as many of these intruders as possible. It could give us leverage against the Hawkins faction later."

Shea nodded, forcing herself to focus on the task at hand rather than her fear for Achilles and the others. She moved closer to the monitors, studying the faces of their attackers.

Marcus and Shea worked diligently, scanning the monitors and identifying as many of the attackers as they could. The sounds of battle continued to echo through the mansion, occasionally punctuated by howls of pain or rage.

"I recognize that one," Shea said, pointing to a burly werewolf with a distinctive scar across his muzzle. "He was at the college, always hanging around Ryder."

Marcus nodded, typing rapidly. "Good catch. Every bit of information helps."

As they worked, Shea couldn't help but glance at the screens showing Achilles. Despite the chaos surrounding him, he moved with fluid grace, his attacks precise and devastating. She felt a mixture of awe and fear watching him fight.

"He'll be alright," Marcus said softly, noticing her concern. "Achilles is one of the strongest fighters in our faction."

Shea nodded, trying to push down her worry. She forced herself to focus on the task at hand, committing faces to memory and relaying information to Marcus.

Suddenly, a loud explosion rocked the safe room. The lights flickered, and several of the monitors went dark.

"What was that?" Shea gasped, her heart racing.

Marcus's expression was grim as he furiously typed at the control panel. "They're trying to breach the mansion's defenses. We need to—"

His words were cut off by another explosion, even closer this time. The remaining monitors showed smoke billowing through the halls of the mansion.

"Marcus," Shea said, her voice tight with fear, "what do we do if they make it down here?"

He turned to her, his eyes fierce. "We fight. Remember your training, Shea. You're stronger than you know."

As if on cue, a loud banging echoed from the steel door. Someone—or something—was trying to break through.

The pounding on the door grew louder, the metal beginning to buckle under the relentless assault. Shea's heart raced as she looked at Marcus, his jaw clenched in determination.

"Remember," he said, his voice low and steady, "you're not just fighting for yourself. You're fighting for Achilles, for Lucius, for all of us."

Shea nodded, steeling herself. She could feel a strange energy coursing through her veins, her senses sharpening. Was this what it felt like to tap into her werewolf powers?

With a deafening crash, the door finally gave way. Two massive werewolves burst into the room, their eyes gleaming with murderous intent. Marcus immediately sprang into action, shifting mid-leap and tackling one of the intruders.

Shea found herself face to face with the other werewolf. It snarled, baring razor-sharp teeth. For a moment, fear threatened to overwhelm her. Then she remembered Achilles's words during their training sessions: "Trust your instincts. Your body knows what to do."

As the werewolf lunged, Shea's body moved on its own. She ducked under its swipe, feeling claws whistle past her ear. In one fluid motion, she drove her fist into its solar plexus, channeling every ounce of strength she possessed.

To her amazement, the werewolf flew backward, crashing into the wall with enough force to crack the concrete. It slumped to the ground, momentarily stunned.

Across the room, Marcus was holding his own against the other attacker. His teeth were locked around the enemy's throat, slowly choking the life out of it.

Shea's opponent shook off its daze and charged again. This time, she met it head-on. As they grappled, she felt a surge of power unlike anything she'd experienced before. Her nails lengthened into claws, her teeth sharpening to points.

With a primal roar, Shea threw the werewolf off her. It hit the ground hard, and before it could recover, she was on it. Her newly formed claws raked across its chest, drawing blood and a howl of pain.

The fight continued, a brutal dance of tooth and claw. Shea moved with a speed and strength she never knew she possessed, matching the werewolf blow for blow. She could feel her body changing, the transformation taking hold, but she remained in control.

The battle raged on, Shea and Marcus fighting side by side against the intruders. As Shea grappled with her opponent, she felt her transformation progressing further. Her muscles bulged, fur sprouting across her skin. With a final surge of strength, she pinned the werewolf beneath her, her jaws clamping down on its throat.

The enemy werewolf thrashed and clawed at her, but Shea held firm. She could taste blood in her mouth, feel the life slowly draining from her opponent. A part of her recoiled at the violence, but a deeper, more primal instinct urged her on.

Across the room, Marcus had subdued his attacker. He turned to Shea, his eyes widening as he took in her partially transformed state. "Shea, you can let go now," he called out. "It's over."

Shea hesitated, her grip on the werewolf's throat tightening. The beast beneath her had stopped struggling, its eyes glazing over. With a tremendous effort of will, she forced herself to release her hold and step back.

As she did, the transformation began to recede. Her claws retracted, her muscles shrinking back to their normal size. Shea stumbled, suddenly exhausted. Marcus was at her side in an instant, supporting her.

"You did it," he said, a note of pride in his voice. "You tapped into your powers and held your own against a full-grown werewolf. That's... that's incredible."

Shea looked down at her hands, still stained with blood. "I... I didn't know I had it in me," she whispered.

Marcus squeezed her shoulder. "You're stronger than you know, Shea. And you're going to need that strength for what's coming."

Before Shea could respond, the sound of running footsteps echoed down the hallway. They tensed, ready for another fight, but it was Lucius who burst through the doorway, followed closely by Achilles.

Achilles's eyes immediately locked onto Shea, relief washing over his face. He rushed to her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

Shea nodded against his chest, allowing herself a moment of comfort in his arms. "I'm fine," she assured him. "We handled it."