Chapter 90
Taya POV
I woke up wrapped in a literal furnace of muscle. Rylen’s arm was slung heavy over my waist, his leg tangled with mine, and his face buried in my neck like he could scent me back to sleep. Zuki purred in the back of my mind like a smug cat.
“Damn fine way to start a morning,” she yawned. “You gonna tell him you drooled on his bicep or should I?”
“Shut it,” I mumbled, grinning as I untangled myself and smacked Rylen’s ass. “Up and at ’em, lover boy. We’ve got five hundred humans to escort through magical hell.”
He groaned like I’d just told him the world was ending, but he rolled out of bed anyway, flexing as he stood. Gods, that man was unfair. I threw on my gear while he chugged water and muttered something about Marines being harder to handle than Aegis vampires.
By the time we stepped outside, Captain Monroe was already waiting on the tarmac with her game face on and five hundred Marines standing in formation behind her, some wide eyed, others smirking like this was just another goddamn training op.
They had no clue.
A glowing portal shimmered to life just beyond the hangar, swirling like liquid moonlight. One of Draven’s mages stepped through in a swirl of robes, looking both regal and annoyed like he’d already had to explain this shit five times today.
“Listen up,” he called, projecting with magical amplification. “You’re about to pass through a moon threaded portal, forged by elemental magic. It will feel like your body is simultaneously on fire, freezing, and being turned inside out, just for a moment. Do not resist the magic, or you might puke. Or worse.”
The Marines laughed. A few elbowed each other and snorted. One guy muttered something about roller coasters.
Zuki snorted. “Oh, they’re gonna learn today.”
Captain Monroe, Rylen, and I stepped through first. And yeah, it was weird, but we were used to weird. The magic clung to my skin like fog, then yanked me through sideways, ass first, and dropped me on the soft earth of the Keep’s southern field. I landed on my feet this time, smug as hell.
We turned around just in time to watch the chaos begin.
Marines flew out of the portal like baby birds tossed from the nest. They hit the ground hard on their knees, stomachs, coughing and gagging, groaning like someone had kicked them in the soul.
Rylen and I stood there dying of laughter. Captain Monroe tried to stay professional, but even she cracked a grin.
“I warned ’em, the mage muttered behind us, vanishing with a pop of glittering air.
Alpha King Draven and Luna Aelira descended from the hill like literal royalty, flanked by guards and wolves in full uniform. Draven’s voice rang out deep and proud, “Welcome, warriors of humanity. You now stand on sacred land, protected by moon and blood. You are honored guests of the Stormclaw Pack.”
Luna Aelira, elegant and radiant, smiled at the gathered humans. “We thank you for your courage. Our world is changing, and you are now part of that change. Let us show you what it means to fight with wolves.”
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14:38 Thu, Oct 2 b
Chapter 90
The Marines actually stood a little straighter. Some saluted. And then we moved.
館
Rylen and I took the lead, guiding the squads west to the new military quarters built by the Keep’s mages. It was a damn miracle. Rows of long barrack style buildings, a full mess hall that smelled like heaven, training fields, armories, even bunk showers. All carved info the earth like they’d been here for years.
Remind me to hug a mage,” I whispered, my eyes wide.
Zuki hummed. “Only if they’re hot.”
I turned to the women in formation and barked, “Alright ladies, this way. We’re wolves, not babysitters. You fight. You train. You eat. You do not insult our customs. You piss us off, we’ll let the gamma females handle you, and trust me…you don’t want that.”
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14:38 Thu, Oct 2 M
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Hunted Hybrid Aegis War Saga 1
