I've never been one for prophecies. In my experience, they're usually vague nonsense peddled by charlatans. But as I stand here in the musty old library, surrounded by ancient tomes and the acrid smell of herbs, I can't shake the feeling that something big is about to happen.
"Are you sure about this, Skye?" Liam asks, his voice tight with concern.
I meet his gaze, seeing my own apprehension mirrored in his eyes. "No," I admit. "But we're out of options."
The curse ravaging our pack grows stronger by the day. We've tried everything else - potions, rituals, even bargaining with the fae. Nothing has worked. This cryptic prophecy is our last hope.
I turn to the wizened old witch who brought us here. Her milky eyes seem to look right through me as she speaks. "The answers you seek lie within the Codex Lupus. But be warned, child. Knowledge comes at a price."
With trembling hands, I reach for the ancient book. Its leather cover is cracked and worn, the pages yellowed with age. As I open it, dust motes dance in the dim candlelight.
The words are written in an archaic script, but somehow, I can understand them. My voice shakes as I begin to read aloud:
"When the moon bleeds red and the stars align,
A child of two worlds shall be born.
Neither fully wolf nor human,
But something new, something more.
In their veins runs the power to heal or destroy,
To unite the divided or tear all asunder.
The fate of all races hangs in the balance,
As the old order crumbles and a new age dawns."
I pause, my heart racing. "This can't be about..."
Liam finishes my thought. "Our child."
The revelation hits me like a physical blow. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach, where our unborn child grows. A child I've only just begun to accept as real.
The witch nods sagely. "The signs are clear. The blood moon approaches, and the stars are aligning as they have not done in millennia."
"But what does it mean?" I ask, desperation creeping into my voice. "How can our child heal the pack?"
She shakes her head. "The prophecy speaks of more than just your pack, child. It foretells a change that will affect all supernatural beings."
Liam steps forward, his protective instincts kicking in. "You're saying our baby is some kind of... chosen one?"
"Perhaps," the witch replies cryptically. "Or perhaps a harbinger of doom. The prophecy is unclear."
I feel the weight of responsibility settle on my shoulders, heavier than ever before. It's not just about protecting my pack anymore. The fate of the entire supernatural world might rest on the shoulders of my unborn child.
"There's more," the witch says, gesturing to the book. "Read on."
With a deep breath, I continue:
"Beware the one who walks between worlds,
For they hold the key to unmaking all.
A choice must be made, a sacrifice given,
Lest the veil be torn and chaos reign."
A chill runs down my spine. "What does that mean? Who's the one who walks between worlds?"
The witch's gaze is piercing. "That, I cannot say. But the warning is clear. Great power brings great danger."
Liam wraps an arm around me, pulling me close. I lean into him, drawing strength from his presence.
"So what do we do now?" he asks.
The witch reaches out, her gnarled hand hovering over my stomach. "Protect the child. Prepare for what's to come. The fate of many rests in your hands."
As if in response to her words, I feel a flutter in my belly. Our baby, moving for the first time. The sensation is both wondrous and terrifying.
"Wait," I say, a thought occurring to me. "The prophecy mentioned a sacrifice. What kind of sacrifice?"
The witch's expression grows grave. "That, my dear, is the question that has haunted seers for centuries. Some believe it speaks of a life given willingly. Others interpret it as the sacrifice of power or position."
My mind races, considering the implications. Would I be willing to give up my position as Alpha to save my child? To save the supernatural world? In a heartbeat. But something tells me it won't be that simple.
"There's one more passage," the witch says, her voice barely above a whisper.
With trepidation, I read the final lines:
"When the child of two worlds comes of age,
A choice must be made, a path must be chosen.
To embrace the wolf or the human within,
For in unity lies salvation, in division, damnation."
The words hang heavy in the air. I look up at Liam, seeing the same mix of fear and determination in his eyes that I feel.
"We'll figure this out," he says, squeezing my hand. "Together."
I nod, trying to believe it. But as we leave the library, the prophecy echoes in my mind. So many questions, so many potential pitfalls. How can we prepare our child for a destiny we don't even understand?
As we step outside, the night air cool on my skin, I freeze. There, in the sky above us, hangs a moon tinged with red. The blood moon, just as the prophecy foretold.
"Liam," I whisper, pointing upward.
His eyes widen as he follows my gaze. "It's starting."
A sharp pain lances through my abdomen, causing me to double over. Liam catches me as my knees buckle.
"Skye! What's wrong?"
I look up at him, fear and wonder warring within me. "The baby," I gasp. "I think... I think it's coming."
Liam's face pales. "But it's too soon. You're only a few months along."
Another contraction hits, stronger this time. As Liam scoops me up, rushing me towards the car, I catch sight of the witch watching from the doorway. Her words follow us into the night:
"And so it begins."