The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 79

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 79: The Death Thrall**

In the dimly lit alleyway, tension crackled like static in the air. Alissa, her voice barely above a whisper, leaned closer to Sharkie, her companion. “Boss, that’s her,” she said, her tone laced with a mix of fear and resolve. “She’s the one who disarmed our bomb and took down several of our brothers.”

The gravity of her words hung heavily in the atmosphere, and the men surrounding them exchanged wary glances. No one dared to underestimate the figure standing defiantly before them—a young woman whose wolf spirit had yet to awaken. The grip on their weapons tightened instinctively, a silent acknowledgment that they were facing an adversary far from ordinary.

Lance, standing a few paces away, maintained an air of calm, as if he had anticipated this moment from the very beginning. A faint smile played on his lips, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “I thought it might be you, kid. You really surprised me,” he remarked, amusement dancing in his voice, yet beneath the surface lay a chilling undertone that hinted at danger.

Thora’s gaze turned steely, locking onto Lance with recognition. Of course it was him. Memories rushed back to her—her encounter with him in the underground market and the chance meeting with Shirley at the academy. He was the man with the glasses, the one who had crossed paths with Shirley that fateful day, disguised in a way that had rendered him unrecognizable then.

“Right back at you,” Thora replied, her voice steady, betraying none of the tumultuous thoughts swirling within her.

Lance raised an eyebrow, a flicker of intrigue sparking in his blue eyes. Just then, the ground beneath Astralis College began to tremble ominously, sending vibrations through their feet.

“Boss, we can’t stay here,” Julio cautioned, urgency creeping into his tone. The military forces were closing in rapidly. If they didn’t retreat, they would be trapped, and the consequences would be dire.

Lance’s gaze shifted to Thora, a fleeting shadow of regret passing across his features. “Kill her,” he commanded, the words slicing through the air like a knife.

In an instant, every weapon was drawn, and the mercenaries unleashed a hail of bullets aimed squarely at Thora. But as the shots rang out, they passed through her, striking nothing but afterimages.

A moment of realization dawned on them—Thora stood untouched, her presence an illusion. She had intended to manipulate the bullets, but at that critical moment, time around her had slowed to a crawl, allowing her to evade the onslaught with ease.

Stunned by her own abilities, she marveled at the sensation. As the mercenaries prepared to fire again, she dove and rolled, narrowly escaping the next wave of bullets.

Lance’s frown deepened, a realization dawning on him. Speed ability?

With her heart racing, Thora concentrated, extending her fingers as she called upon her Fire Control. In a heartbeat, the mercenaries’ firearms erupted into flames, the fire consuming them in a violent explosion.

Screams echoed through the air, mingling with the acrid scent of smoke and burnt flesh. Several mercenaries were engulfed in flames, while others were shredded by the shrapnel of their own weapons.

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