Chapter 177
DANE
The weight of the darkness pressed against me, an unrelenting force that felt as though it was crushing the life out of me. The air was thick, the shadows pulsing like a living thing.
I sat slumped against the rough stone wall of my prison, my wrists still raw from the shackles that I had just managed to break. The marks left behind were faintly glowing, a cruel reminder of the Nameless’s grip on me.
But Aurora’s fear had reached me. It hadn’t been sharp or loud, but rather a faint, trembling thread in my mind. Still, it was enough to make my wolf stir, clawing at my insides with renewed urgency.
She was in danger. I couldn’t sit here and do nothing. I glanced toward the far corner of the cavern, where a shadow creature lingered, its form flickering and unstable.
Unlike the others, which prowled with purpose and malice, this one seemed hesitant. Its golden eyes never strayed far from me, watching as though waiting for something.
My wolf growled softly. This one could be the key. I forced myself to my feet, my legs trembling beneath me. Every movement was a struggle against the remnants of the Nameless’s magic, which seemed to seep into every crack of my being.
But I straightened my spine and called out. “You. Come here.”
The creature froze, its shifting form stilling for a moment before it drifted closer. It stopped a few feet away, its glowing eyes narrowing.
“I know you can understand me,” I said, my voice low and steady. “You’re not like the others.”
It didn’t speak—none of them did—but the way it tilted its head gave me hope that it was listening.
“I felt her,” I continued, taking a slow step closer. “Aurora. She’s trapped, just like I am. And if you’ve ever felt the pull of something greater, if you’ve ever wanted to break free from this darkness, I need your help.”
The creature’s edges flickered again, its shape rippling as though in conflict. “You weren’t always like this, were you?” I pressed, my voice softer now.
“You had a life before the Nameless took it from you. I know what that’s like. He took mine, too. But we don’t have to stay his pawns. Not anymore.”
The creature edged closer, its golden eyes dimming slightly. It felt like a question, unspoken but heavy in the air. “I need you to help me break out of here,” I said. “If you do, I’ll make sure the Nameless pays for what he’s done. To you. To me. To all of us.”
For a long moment, there was only silence.
Then, slowly, the creature extended a shadowy limb toward the wall behind me. The darkness twisted and shifted as it pressed against the stone, revealing a hidden passageway I hadn’t noticed before.
Relief flooded through me, but I didn’t let it show. “Thank you,” I said simply, meeting its glowing gaze. “You’re doing the right thing.”
It didn’t respond. Instead, it melted into the shadows, disappearing as quickly as it had come. I turned toward the newly revealed passage, my chest tightening with a mix of hope and dread.
I didn’t know where it led, but it was the only chance I had. The air in the tunnel was colder, the walls narrowing as I moved deeper into the unknown. My wolf growled softly, a warning that something wasn’t right.
But I pushed forward, driven by the faint connection to Aurora that pulsed faintly in the back of my mind. She was out there and she needed me.
As I rounded a corner, the ground beneath me shifted. The stone trembled, and a low growl echoed through the passage. My heart sank as I realized I wasn’t alone.
The Nameless’s forces were waiting for me. They emerged from the darkness, their forms flickering and unstable, but their golden eyes burned with purpose. There were too many to count.
My wolf surged to the surface, teeth bared as I prepared to fight. The darkness came alive with snarls and growls as the creatures closed in. My claws slashed through the air, connecting with their twisting forms. For every one I struck down, two more took its place.
But I couldn’t stop. Aurora’s fear burned in the back of my mind, a constant reminder of what was at stake. The creatures lunged again, their golden eyes glowing with malice. I braced myself, my claws ready…
And then, all at once, they stopped. The silence was deafening, broken only by my ragged breathing. The creatures stepped aside, their forms melting into the shadows to reveal the Nameless himself.
He stood at the far end of the passage, his golden eyes gleaming with triumph. “Well, Dane,” he said, his voice low. “It seems you’ve been busy.”
I growled low in my throat, my claws still extended. “Let her go.”
The Nameless chuckled, a deep, mocking sound. “Oh, Dane. You’re in no position to make demands.”
He raised one hand, and the darkness surged forward, coiling around me like a snake. I struggled against it, but it was no use.
“This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” The Nameless’s voice echoed through the tunnel, cold and mocking.
His form then materialized again at the far end of the passage, lowering and shadowed, his golden eyes glowing with cruel amusement. “You thought you could defy me, Dane. That you could escape.”
I didn’t respond. My claws extended, my body tense as the darkness pressed in around me. The Nameless stepped closer, his smile widening.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t see this coming? I know you better than you know yourself.”
He gestured to the creatures surrounding me, their snarls growing louder. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one lifetime. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure Aurora knows just how much you’ve failed her.”
The mention of her name sent a surge of rage through me. I lunged, claws slashing through the air, but the darkness tightened around me, forcing me to my knees.
The Nameless laughed, a deep, guttural sound that echoed through the passage. “You’re a fool, Dane,” he said, his voice dripping with disgust.
“And now, you’ll watch as everything you care about crumbles to dust.” He raised a hand, and the darkness surged forward, their golden eyes burning like fire.
I braced myself, every muscle in my body taut with defiance. The Nameless’s voice was the last thing I heard before the darkness consumed me. “Let’s see how strong you really are.”