"I can't believe you're mine," he murmurs.

I open my mouth to answer but then the sound of a horn blaring freezes us. Our bodies go completely still.

We both know that sound. It's a warning every werewolf knows... An attack.

Alec bolts upright. "Shit-"

I'm already on my feet, grabbing my clothes, heart slamming against my ribs.

The horn screams again. This time, it's louder.

We don't talk. We don't think. We just move.

I yank on my dress or what's left of it, cursing under my breath before Alec throws me his shirt. I pull it on and bolt out the door with him right behind me.

We shift into full speed as soon as we hit the trees, our feet pounding the earth, lungs burning. When we reach the pack clearing, my blood runs cold.

It's pure chaos. Dozens of hybrids have infiltrated the pack.

Huge, monstrous wolves with twisted, unnatural energy crackling off their skin tear through people, ripping throats, snapping bones.

Alec shifts mid-run, Knox exploding out of him in a blur of dark fur, tearing through the crowd of people screaming and straight for the hybrids.

There is no time to organize or anything. Those that can't fight run away to safety, while those that can stay and fight.

I leap at the first hybrid I see, hooking my legs around its torso and slashing its face with everything I have. It howls, stumbling, and I flip off its back, landing in a crouch.

Another one charges at me. My fist connects with its jaw hard enough to crack bone.

I want to use my powers, but with how unsteady they are, if I unleash them now, with so many people around, I might kill the wrong person... So instead, I use the combat skill Nyx taught me.

A vampire warrior flashes past me, tearing into a hybrid's throat. A witch to my left summons a burst of violet flames that engulfs another beast.

There is Screaming, snarling and magic crackling like lightning, but the hybrids keep coming and they're killing everyone.

That's when it hit me; except for our warriors, the others don't know how to deal with hybrids.

My heart races as I watch those from our side drop like flies.

"Go for their heads or their hearts," I shout to the others.

Knox rips one apart, blood coating his muzzle. He turns to check on me just in time

to see a hybrid lunging at my back.

He roars so loudly the ground vibrates.

I duck, spin, punch through it's chest and rip out his heart. I watch as he crumples to the floor.

We continue fighting, but with so many people inexperienced, we are losing badly. For a moment, I think they're going to kill almost everyone, but then they all freeze and then all at once, the hybrids retreat

They Vanish into the shadows, leaving behind mangled bodies, destroyed homes, and a pack drowning in blood. I straighten slowly, chest heaving, hands trembling.

Alec shifts back into human form, blood streaking down his arms and chest. He

scans the destruction, jaw clenched so tight I think it might crack.

There are bodies everywhere.

So many werewolves... dead. So many vampires... bleeding. So many witches... unmoving.

I swallow hard, my stomach twisting.

"What the hell were those creatures?" someone whispers behind me.

No one answers.

Alec walks toward me, eyes dark with fury and fear, his voice raw: "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," I whisper, staring at the blood drying on my hands.

I stare at where they disappeared to, and I know. Deep down I know this wasn't a random attack.

Someone planned this. Someone

sent them. Someone knew we

would all be gathered here net

And we

all know exactly who benefits from chaos during the annual ball.

Xena.