es and scattered the leaves like a violent storm had just passed through. The ground beneath her feet trembled, the earth vibrating with the

body, still frozen in place by Helena's magic, vibrated with the intensity of it. He could feel the tension b

her eyes wide with surprise and perhaps something darker-a hint of fear. For t

uscles straining, his entire body alight with frustration. The energy around him pulsed with his own fury, and he could f

ough the haze of magic that surrounded them.

asn't listening. In fact, she didn't even seem to hear him at all. The power in her surged a

his own form now, the wolf clawing at the edges of his mind, wanting to break free, w

Helena wasn'

think you can control it? You think you can just summon a storm and hope it obeys you? Foolish girl." Her voice dipped into

ing that wasn't fear-it was determination. "You don't control

moving in intricate patterns as if weaving a spell of her own. Dark energy spiraled around

oping Helena. She tried to fight against it, to push the power inside her to contain

irect hit to her chest. "You think you can fight me, child?" Helena's voice was full of mockery now, her tone alm

ore from Talon's throat as his body shifted, the need to protect Serena overriding everything else. His wolf form exploded forward, breaking through th

ith the growl of the wolf within him. "You

loyal Alpha. Always so predictable. But you forget, Talon..." She raised her hand, and the dar

g sense of dread. Helena was too powerful. Serena could feel it in her bones. She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready to

find the balance in the chaos. Her powers felt like a firesto

y running through her. She didn't know what would happen, didn't know how to control

stillness before a storm broke, but Serena wasn't waiting anymore. She could feel the power inside her crackling,

erena wh

, the world s

her exploded outward in a shockwave of energy. The force of it knocked Helena off her feet, sending

the sheer force of Serena's magic. It was no longer

ing was still. The fo

with rage. Her eyes blazed with fury as she wiped blood from the corner

feeling the energy surge around her, feeling the connection

round her, swirling and howling with the energy of her power. She wasn't afraid anymore. This

w," Serena said, her

within her surged again,

nergy from Serena's magic collided with it. A cry of frustrat

rena stood tall, her heart still pounding, her powers st

is was just the beginning. T

sure if she w