The Apocalyptic Queen's Werewolf Journey (Thora and Darius) novel Chapter 80

**Shadows Hearts by Joseph King**
**Chapter 80: Awakening**

Thora’s fingers tightened around the grip of her pistol, the cold metal biting into her palm like a cruel reminder of her dire situation. Her heart raced, a furious rhythm echoing in her ears, yet the ominous silence from the chamber told her all too clearly that the weapon was empty. No reassuring click of a bullet sliding into place—just the hollow weight of a gun that was useless in this moment of peril.

Frustration surged within her, a tempest of anger and despair. This was what they meant by bad luck stacking up like a house of cards, ready to collapse at any moment.

“Damn Darius Blackwood,” she muttered under her breath, the name bitter on her tongue. “When you crafted this gun, why didn’t you think to add a few extra rounds?”

But cursing him wouldn’t change her fate. With a swift motion, she flipped her wrist and tucked the empty firearm back into her waistband, a futile gesture that only served to remind her of her vulnerability.

Her fists instinctively rose to protect her chest, her stance wide and firm, spine erect like a taut bowstring. She understood the brutal truth: the next confrontation would be a raw test of her physical strength, a clash of wills where weapons would be of no use.

Across the room, Julio’s lips twisted into a chilling smile, a thin line that promised nothing but malice. His voice dripped with the taint of black magic, a sound that sent shivers down her spine. “Execute.”

“Yes!” came the eager response, a chorus of voices that sent a wave of dread coursing through her.

In an instant, the air filled with a cacophony of howls, a dozen transformed wolves erupting from the shadows. Their claws raked the floor, deep grooves marking their path as they surged forward, primal fury radiating from their very beings.

Time seemed to slow as Thora’s pupils dilated, her instincts kicking in. She twisted to the side just as a gray wolf lunged, its jaws snapping dangerously close to her flesh. With a swift jab of her elbow, she struck its side, but the impact was like hitting a wall. The wolf’s hide was tough, like armor, and the dull thud reverberated up her arm, numbing her senses.

Before she could regain her footing, another massive wolf barreled toward her from the right, its tail slicing through the air like a whip, claws poised to tear into her. Thora leapt back, narrowly avoiding its deadly strike, but a third wolf was already upon her, its claws snagging the fabric of her coat. The sound of tearing fabric was accompanied by a searing pain as its claw raked across her waist, leaving a burning gash.

Pain flared hot and sharp, a reminder of her precarious situation. These mercenaries, though not as formidable as Lance’s elite fighters, were seasoned killers, their battle-hardened instincts honed to a lethal edge. In their wolf forms, their attacks were mercilessly precise.

Thora’s enhanced speed and strength were far beyond that of any ordinary human, yet against a pack of wolves, she felt like a mere leaf caught in a tempest. And Julio, lurking at the edges of the chaos, only compounded her troubles.

He danced along the periphery, his twin blades spinning with a sinister mist that spoke of death. Each time Thora barely evaded a wolf’s claw, those cursed knives darted toward her, seeking her vulnerabilities with deadly intent.

A sharp hiss sliced through the chaos, and Thora realized too late that she hadn’t fully escaped his assault. The blade found its mark, tearing deep into her left arm. The wound gaped, exposing raw flesh as black-gray energy seeped in, draining her strength like a thief in the night.

Stumbling back, she barely had time to brace herself before a giant wolf collided with her chest, the force of the impact sending her crashing against the wall. Pain exploded through her body, and she coughed up blood, each drop a testament to her precarious state.

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