Chapter 51: Portal

Azura’s POV

The rest of the pack was still asleep when we met outside the pack house. The air was biting and cold, sharp enough to make my lungs burn with every breath. It smelled strongly of damp pine needles and the sweet, heavy scent of dew clinging to the grass.

I stood off to the side, away from the chatter, keeping my arms crossed tightly over my chest to fight off the chill. I just wanted to watch, to keep my distance while everyone got ready to leave.

Genevieve was already on her horse. It was a beautiful chestnut color, its coat shining even in the dim light. She looked completely relaxed, sitting straight and tall in the saddle, like this was just a comfortable morning ride rather than a dangerous mission.

The horse was restless, pawing at the dirt with a sharp hoof, but Genevieve calmed it with just a gentle nudge of her leg. She was calm and regal, a queen prepared for battle.

Silas and Axel were huddled near the steps, speaking in low, serious tones. They were dressed for travel, in simple tunics, worn leather boots, and various weapons strapped to their sides. They looked tough and ready for whatever was coming.

Then, there was Rhydor. He stood totally apart from the group, his arms crossed over his chest just like I had mine. His face was like rock, hard, unmoving, and impossible to read. He hadn’t looked at me once since I came outside.

Not once. It was like I was invisible to him, a ghost standing in his yard. I tried to tell myself I didn’t care. I was used to his coldness by now, right? But the tight feeling in my chest said otherwise.

Finally, there was Torin. He was leaning against a nearby tree, looking totally relaxed, with a lazy, small smile playing on his lips. He looked like he was waiting for a friend, not preparing for a fight. But his eyes told a different story. They were sharp and fast, taking in every single person, every detail of the surroundings.

When he noticed me watching him, his smile broadened, becoming warmer. I immediately snapped my gaze away, feeling a hot prickle of embarrassment creep up my neck and face. Why did he always have to be looking right at me?

"Alright," Silas announced, clapping his hands together loudly to get everyone’s attention. "Is everyone ready to move out?"

Axel nodded, tightening the strap on his sword sheath. "Let’s get this done."

Genevieve adjusted the reins of her horse, her voice firm. "The sooner we leave, the sooner we find answers."

Rhydor didn’t say a single word. He just gave a tiny, curt nod, his jaw tight.

That’s when Torin pushed off the tree and began walking toward me. My heart gave a stupid, frantic jump in my chest. He stopped just a few feet away, hands tucked casually into his pockets, still wearing that easy, confident smile.

"So," he said, his voice warm and unhurried. "I was thinking... You should ride with me."

I blinked. "What?"

"Ride with me," he repeated, like it was the most natural thing in the world. "I’ll shift. You can ride on my back. It’ll be faster than walking, and way more fun than riding with the grumpy one over there."

I opened my mouth to argue, to say I could walk, but before a single word could come out, a low, rumbling groan cut through the quiet air. It wasn’t a sound from the forest; it was a sound of sheer frustration. I turned quickly. Rhydor was staring straight at us. His jaw was clenched so hard I thought his teeth might break, and his eyes were dark with a dangerous intensity.

"She rides with me," he said flatly. It wasn’t a question, it wasn’t an offer. It was an order.

I froze, caught between them.

Torin raised a playful eyebrow, his smile fading just a tiny bit. "Why? It makes more sense for her to be with me."

"Push me, cousin, and you’ll find out why." Rhydor took a heavy step closer, his voice a silken threat.

Torin studied him for a long moment, watching the rage brewing under Rhydor’s skin. Then, slowly, he raised both hands in a dramatic gesture of surrender.

"Alright, alright," Torin said easily, backing down. "She rides with you. No need to get all territorial about it."

Rhydor’s jaw stayed clenched, and he said nothing, just glared at Torin.

I heard a quiet snort from behind me. I turned and saw Silas and Axel standing a few feet away. They were both trying, and failing to hide huge grins. Silas caught my eye and smirked, shaking his head. Axel just looked amused, like he was watching a play.

"What?" I asked, frowning at them. "What is so funny?"

Silas waved a hand dismissively. "Nothing. Nothing at all. Just enjoying the view."

Axel muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Trouble."

"What’s trouble?" I asked, looking between them.

"Nothing," Silas said quickly, still grinning like an idiot. "Don’t worry about it."

I narrowed my eyes at both of them, but they just turned away, still smirking. I felt like I was missing a joke, and I hated it.

I looked back at Torin, who was watching me with a strange expression. He wasn’t angry, and he didn’t look hurt. He just looked... thoughtful, like he was figuring me out. Then he smiled again, but this time, it was softer, more gentle.

"Alright, my lady," he said, his voice dropping low and intimate. "I’ll see you there."

Before I could answer, he reached out and took my hand. His skin was warm against my cold fingers. My breath caught in my throat. He lifted my hand gently, his thumb brushing slowly over my knuckles. It felt like a caress. Then he lowered his head and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the back of my hand. My heart stuttered, beating against my ribs in a frantic rhythm.

"See you there," he murmured, his brown eyes locked on mine, intense and focused.

Then he let go, stepped back, and shifted. The transformation was fast and impressive. One moment he was standing there, a human, and the next, a massive brown wolf stood in his place.

His fur was thick and rich, his eyes the same warm brown, and he was huge, easily as large as Rhydor’s wolf. He looked at me one last time, a silent promise, then turned and bolted into the dark forest, disappearing among the trees instantly.

I stood there, frozen, my hand still tingling where he’d kissed it.

"We don’t have time to waste." Rhydor’s voice was sharp, cutting through my thoughts. I turned around. He was standing a few feet away, his expression totally unreadable. But his eyes... his eyes were burning with a dark, intense fire.

"Let’s go," he said curtly.

Then, without waiting for a response, he shifted. The transformation was quick and seamless, a testament to his power. One moment he was a man. Next, a massive black wolf stood before me.

Logan. That was the name of his wolf, which I got to know because Genevieve explained to me what happened when I was unconscious. I’d only seen him like this once before, and it still took my breath away.

His fur was pitch black, so dark it seemed to swallow the light around it. His eyes were amber, glowing faintly in the early morning sun. He was bigger than Torin’s wolf, broader, more powerful. Every muscle beneath his fur was defined, coiled with intense strength. He was breathtakingly beautiful.

I didn’t realize I was staring until he took a step closer, his eyes intense. I blinked, snapping out of my daze. He stopped right in front of me, his amber eyes locked on mine.

I reached out slowly, almost without thinking, and touched his fur. It was softer than I expected. Thick, warm, and comforting beneath my fingers.

Logan went very still, watching me intently. Then, quietly, he made a low sound in his chest. Not a growl. Something else. Something almost... pleased. I felt my cheeks heat up instantly.

"Sorry," I whispered, pulling my hand back quickly.

But Logan moved forward, pressing his large head gently against my hand, urging me to continue. I froze, surprised by the affection. He wanted me to touch him. Slowly, carefully, I ran my fingers through his thick fur again. This time, I didn’t stop. I stroked the top of his head, down his strong neck, feeling the immense strength and warmth beneath. Logan’s eyes closed briefly, and he made that sound again. Deeper this time.

My chest tightened, a strange feeling blooming in my stomach. I didn’t understand this. I didn’t understand why being near his wolf form felt so different from being near the man. Why it felt... safe. Right.

Logan shifted, lowering himself to the ground so I could climb onto his back. I hesitated for just a moment, scared of falling. Then I climbed on, gripping his fur gently. The moment I settled, he rose smoothly to his feet and turned his head slightly, checking to make sure I was secure.

Then he took off, but not fast, not like I expected from a wolf. He moved slowly, carefully, his pace steady and controlled. Like he was making sure I wouldn’t fall. The wind brushed against my face, cool and fresh. The trees blurred past us, but Logan’s movements were so smooth that I barely felt the bumps in the terrain.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my hand on his neck, feeling his heart beating steadily. Logan’s pace evened out even more.

I didn’t know why, but I felt... calm. For the first time, the knot in my chest loosened just a little bit. We ran in silence, just the sound of his paws against the earth and the rustle of leaves around us.

It didn’t take long to reach the stream. When we arrived, everyone was already there. Torin’s brown wolf stood near the water’s edge, already shifted back into his human form wearing only shorts, and it seems his shirt got destroyed during transformation. Silas and Axel were nearby, scanning the area. Genevieve dismounted from her horse, tying the reins to a low branch.

Logan slowed to a stop, and I slid off his back. The moment my feet hit the ground, Logan shifted. The black wolf shimmered, and then Rhydor stood in his place, tall, broad-shouldered, his expression as cold as ever. And his shirt was gone too. He looked at me. Just for a second. Then he looked away and walked toward the others.

I stood there, staring after him. What is he thinking? Now I’m starting to miss my big black dog.

I took a breath and followed.

When I reached the group, I immediately noticed Torin’s expression. He wasn’t smiling anymore. His brow was furrowed, his jaw tight. He looked... troubled.

Rhydor approached him. "What did you find?"

Torin didn’t answer right away. He looked at the stream, then back at Rhydor. "The traces vanished," he said quietly.

Rhydor frowned. "What do you mean, vanished?"

"I mean I can smell something," Torin said, his voice low. "Something bad. Not anything I recognize. But it’s here. The scent is all over this area."

"Then track it," Rhydor said sharply.

Torin shook his head. "I can’t. The scent just... circles the stream. It doesn’t go anywhere. It doesn’t lead anywhere. It just stops."

Silence. Rhydor’s jaw tightened. He turned to look at me. Then at Genevieve. "Which way did they go?" he asked. "When they took the children. Which direction?"

I hesitated. Genevieve looked at me, her expression calm but serious.

I took a breath. "They didn’t walk," I said quietly.

Everyone turned to look at me.

I continued, my voice stronger now. "They didn’t come from any direction."

Torin frowned. "Then how did they get here?"

I met his eyes. "Through a portal."

Silence. Complete, absolute silence.

Torin stared at me. "A portal."

"Yes," I said. "A tear in the air. One moment it wasn’t there. The next, it was. And then they stepped through... and took the children."

Silas swore under his breath. Axel looked pale.

Torin ran a hand through his hair, his expression dark. "That’s not possible."

"It is," Genevieve said quietly. "If you are powerful enough."

Rhydor turned sharply to her. "What kind of power are we talking about here?"

Genevieve met his gaze. "The kind that’s been forbidden for centuries."

Torin looked at the stream again, then back at us. "If they came through a portal," he said slowly, "they could be anywhere. Any realm, territory. Any..."

He stopped. His expression shifted. Darkened.

"We’re not just looking for kidnappers," he said quietly. "We’re looking for someone with access to ancient, forbidden magic. Someone powerful enough to tear open reality itself."

No one spoke. The weight of his words settled over us like a heavy blanket.

I looked around at their faces. Silas looked grim. Axel looked shaken. Genevieve looked thoughtful, calculating. Rhydor’s face was stone, but his fists were clenched.

And Torin... Torin was watching me. Not with suspicion, nor with fear. Just... watching. Like he was trying to figure something out.

I looked away. My hand went to my pendant, gripping it tightly.

Where could the kids be?