6. The Destiny Slayer

Xander POV

Isabelle's shock and fear after our conversation was understandable, but her disbelief in her own power is something that needs to be addressed. We need to uncover the truth of her abilities—and fast.

A knock on the door interrupted the tense silence between us. Jess entered; his expression grim. "Xander, we have a problem. The warriors have reported strange activity in the eastern forest. Unidentified wolves, moving in patterns that don't make sense."

I frowned, my heart sinking. "Zombie wolves?" The words tasted bitter in my mouth.

Jess nodded. "It seems like it. They're heading straight for us."

A chill ran through me. Zombie wolves were a rare, unnatural creation—animated corpses, controlled by dark magic. Their appearance could only mean one thing: the Destroyer was testing us, probing our defenses.

I glanced back at Isabelle, who sat quietly in the corner, still processing our earlier conversation. "Isabelle," I said softly, "We need to go. It's not safe here."

Her eyes met mine, filled with uncertainty. "What's happening?"

I took her hand, pulling her gently to her feet. "Zombie wolves. They're coming. We need to get you somewhere secure."

As we moved through the packhouse, the alarm was sounded, a mournful howl echoing through the halls. Warriors sprang into action, preparing for the onslaught. My heart pounded as we made our way to the inner sanctum, a fortified section designed to withstand heavy attacks. Pups, senior werewolves, and women werewolves who are not trained to fight run with us to the safe room.

My mother met us at the entrance, her expression tense. "I'll take care of her son. Be careful."

I kissed her forehead, then kissed Isabelle's as well before running to the exit as female warriors continued to let weaker pack members into the safe room. I feel better and more able to focus in defending our pack knowing Isabelle is protected.

Isabelle POV

I watched as Xander ran to the exit of the packhouse and quickly entered the safe room with Xander's mother and other members of the community. I remembered what Xander uttered earlier. "What's a zombie wolf?" I asked luna Clarissa.

"They're undead creatures, controlled by dark magic. They're almost impossible to kill, and they're usually sent to weaken our defenses."

"And they're coming here?"

"Yes. But... the men will stop them. I promise."

Suddenly, a deafening crash sounded from above us, and the entire room shook. Dust rained down from the ceiling as the walls trembled under the impact. I clutch luna Clarissa's arm in terror. 

"What was that?" I whispered; my voice barely audible. I could feel myself losing awareness as blood pounded too fast from my heart.

"Relax, honey." Luna Clarissa and another woman leads me to a couch. "Sit down honey. And take deep breathes." I could feel the questioning eyes of the others inside the safe room, but I focused on luna Clarissa's voice. Don't faint, Belle. Don't faint.

While we sat on the couch, another crash reverberated through the packhouse, and a cold, malevolent presence filled the air. The door to the safe room was gone, and a gaping hole was in its presence. a hulking figure stepped through, its eyes glowing with an unnatural light.

A zombie wolf, larger and more menacing than any animal I have ever seen, stood before us, its fur matted with blood and decay. It growled, a low, menacing sound that sent chills down my spine.

As if on cue, everyone of us screamed, the younger ones hiding behind their mothers. 

The beast lunged, its jaws snapping. I brace myself for the attack as the zombie wolf came in front of me and luna Clarissa, closing my eyes and screaming even more. Suddenly, blinding heat erupted from deep within me, making me open my eyes in shock. And that is then I see the light filling the room with an intense, shimmering glow, and it shockingly is originating from me as well.

My eyes widened in shock as I felt heat throughout my body, feeling the shocked looks of the others with us without even seeing the others' faces turn to me. I raise my hands to stare at the shimmering glow, my eyes blazing with an otherworldly light. Beams of pure energy, hot and strong, shot from my hands, striking the zombie wolf and engulfing it in a searing brilliance. The creature howled in agony, its body convulsing as the light burned through it. With a final, ear-piercing shriek, it quickly disintegrated into a pile of ash, leaving behind an eerie silence.

Silence. Terror filled my heart as I face luna Clarissa. "Isabelle, how did you—?"

I looked down my hands, the light slowly fading away. I could not believe what just happened. "I don't know," I managed to whisper with trembling voice. "I just reacted."

Before anyone could react, Xander's father and the warriors stormed in, their faces a mixture of awe and confusion. "What happened here?" he demanded, his eyes scanning the room.

Luna Clarissa, "Isabelle," she said. "She has the power. She's the Destiny Slayer."

The warriors exchanged glances, their expressions filled with new respect and fear. The alpha stepped forward; his gaze fixed on me.

"We'll talk about this later." he said, his voice grave. 

As they led us back toward the main hall, the weight of our situation settled over us like a dark cloud. Xander told me about my power earlier and I did not believe him. But what happened earlier is proof enough that I have a killer within me. Where did this power come from? And who am I to have this kind of power?

As we entered the main hall, a sudden hush fell over the room. I stood in the center, tightly holding on to luna Clarrisa's arm, my hands still glowing faintly with the remnants of my power. The people gathered around me, their eyes filled with a mixture of awe and fear.

"What's happening to me?" I could not help but ask silently.

"Your power is awakening, Isabelle. The power of the Destiny Slayer." Xander's father answered just as Xander burst through the door.

I looked at his father. "What does that mean?"

"It means," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of prophecy, "that you have the power to change the fate of our world, to make this world the world we have been praying for. But it also means that our enemies will stop at nothing to take you."

As his words sank in, a cold realization washed over me. Memories of all the times I saw shadowy men abruptly appear before me. And as the pack stared at me, their expressions a mixture of hope and fear, I felt the full weight of the responsibility brought about by my "supposed" power.

And that my journey as the Destiny Slayer had only just begun.