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I gritted my teeth, every instinct screaming to argue, but there was no time. The first shifter rounded the corner, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim light, and the fight was on.

“Stay close,” I barked, pulling her behind me as I lunged toward the intruders.

My blade flashed, catching the first shifter across the chest. He snarled and fell, his blood slicking the floor. Annika darted past me, then helped one of the weaker prisoners to their feet.

The chaos of battle filled the corridor. There were growls, the clash of steel, the desperate cries of the prisoners. I fought with everything I had, my focus split between the enemies in front of me and the woman behind me. Annika wasn’t just part of this war anymore. She was a part of me, and I wasn’t going to lose her. Not here, not now that we’d come so far.

My blade continued to carve through the air, catching the shifter in the shoulder. He howled, spinning toward me with his claws raised, but I ducked low, sweeping his legs out from under him. He hit the ground hard, and I didn’t hesitate to drive my blade through his chest.

Another was on me before I could pull my weapon free. His weight slammed into me, driving me back against the wall. His breath was hot and rancid against my face as he snarled, snapping his teeth inches from my throat. I brought my knee up, catching him in the gut, and shoved him off.

“Lucas!” Annika’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and desperate.

I turned to see a shifter bearing down on her. My heart lurched, a cold, sharp panic slicing through me.

“Run!” I shouted, already moving toward her.

She didn’t run, of course. She stood her ground, raising her dagger in a trembling hand. The shifter lunged, and shedodged to the side, slashing at him as he passed. The blade caught his arm, but it wasn’t enough to stop him.

I reached them in three strides, slamming into the shifter with enough force to send us both crashing to the ground. We rolled, clawing and grappling, until I managed to get on top. I struck, the motion swift and brutal. The shifter stilled beneath me, his golden eyes dimming.

I stood, breathing hard, and turned to Annika.

“You okay?” I asked, my voice rough.

She nodded, her face pale but steady. “What about you?”

“Don’t worry about me,” I said, scanning the corridor.

More were coming. I could hear them.

The prisoners were frozen in place, their terror palpable.

That was when Callum’s voice cut through the noise. “Lucas!”

I turned to see him charging down the corridor with Lena by his side. A group of rebels followed closely, their weapons in their hands.

“Thought you could use some backup,” Callum said, his lips twisting into a wry grin even as he swung his axe with brutal precision, cutting down an approaching shifter.

“Perfect timing,” I managed, stepping back to let one of the rebels take my place at the front.

Lena’s twin daggers gleamed as she moved with deadly grace, slicing through the air and flesh with equal precision. She didn’t waste a movement.

“How many?” she called over her shoulder.

“Too many,” I replied, scanning the shadows for more movement. “They’re not holding back.”

The shifters kept coming, wave after wave. Each one was larger, angrier, and more desperate than the last.

I turned back to the fray, ducking under a swipe and plunging my blade into the chest of a shifter. It snarled, clawing at me even as it fell.

The fight was relentless, but the rebels held their ground. Every swing of an axe, every thrust of a blade, was a testament to the strength of those who had been oppressed for so long.

“Lucas!” Lena shouted, pointing toward a larger shifter barreling through the chaos. His golden eyes locked on me, his snarls louder than the rest.

“Stay back,” I ordered, stepping forward to meet him head-on.

The clash was brutal. His claws raked against my side, tearing through flesh and fabric, but I didn’t falter. I brought my blade up, catching him across the neck. He roared in pain, retaliating with a swipe that narrowly missed my throat.