The forest was still, unnaturally so. The wind that had been whispering through the trees all night had vanished, leaving behind an eerie silence that pressed in on me from all sides. I could still hear the voice in my head, faint but insistent, urging me forward, deeper into the woods.
It had called to me again, just like before, but this time it wasn't a whisper. It was clear, precise. A name. My name.
I glanced back at Tobias, who had followed me into the forest. His eyes were scanning the surroundings, his body tense, as if he was waiting for something—anything—to jump out at us. But nothing did.
"Something's not right here," he muttered under his breath, his hand resting on the hilt of the dagger at his side.
I nodded, unable to shake the feeling that we were being watched. The presence I'd felt earlier had returned, stronger now, like an unseen weight pressing down on my chest. I wasn't sure if it was the Old One's doing, but it didn't feel the same. This was something different. Something older.
"We need to find out what's calling me," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Tobias shot me a sharp look. "And what if it's a trap? You saw what happened last time. You almost didn't make it out of there."
"I know." The memory of the Old One's power, the crushing darkness that had nearly swallowed me whole, was still fresh in my mind. But this felt... different. The Old One had been all malice and fury. This was more like a pull, something that tugged at the deepest part of me, as if it was drawing me toward a truth I wasn't ready to face.
"We can't keep running in circles, Tobias," I added. "If we don't figure this out, we'll never be able to stop him."
Tobias opened his mouth to argue, but before he could say anything, the voice came again, louder this time.
"Kael."
It was clearer now, almost familiar. I froze, my blood turning to ice as the sound of my name echoed through the stillness. Tobias tensed beside me, his hand tightening around his dagger.
"You heard that, right?" I asked, my voice shaking.
He nodded, his face pale. "We're not alone."
The trees around us seemed to shift and sway, though there was no wind. Shadows danced along the ground, flickering in and out of existence like ghostly figures. My heart raced, and the wolf inside me snarled, on edge, ready to fight—or flee.
But I wasn't going anywhere. Not this time.
"We need to keep moving," I said, my voice firm. "Whatever's out there, it's calling me. And I'm not going to stop until I find out why."
---
We moved deeper into the forest, the trees growing denser, their gnarled branches reaching out like skeletal fingers. The farther we went, the stronger the pull became. I could feel it in my chest, a tightness that made it hard to breathe, as if something was drawing me toward a place I couldn't yet see.
Tobias kept pace beside me, his eyes flicking to the shadows every few seconds. I could tell he didn't like this—neither did I—but there was no turning back now.
After what felt like hours, we came to a clearing. The trees parted, revealing a wide open space bathed in the pale light of the moon. And in the center of the clearing, there was a figure.
At first, I thought it was the Old One. My heart leaped into my throat, and I took a step back, but then I realized this figure was different. Smaller. More human.
She stood with her back to us, her long, silver hair cascading down her back like a waterfall. She wore a simple, flowing dress, and though I couldn't see her face, I knew she wasn't just any woman. The power radiating from her was palpable, like a current in the air, crackling with energy.
"Who... who is that?" Tobias whispered, his voice tight with tension.
"I don't know," I admitted, my heart racing. But I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. The pull I'd felt all night was stronger now, almost unbearable, as if some invisible force was pushing me toward her.
Without thinking, I took a step forward. Tobias grabbed my arm, stopping me. "Wait. We don't know what she is."
"I have to find out," I said, pulling free from his grip. "This is what's been calling me."
I approached the woman cautiously, my senses on high alert. She didn't move, didn't acknowledge my presence, but I knew she was aware of me. The air around her seemed to hum with energy, vibrating with something ancient and powerful.
When I was just a few feet away, she finally spoke.
"I've been waiting for you, Kael."
Her voice was soft, melodic, but there was a weight to it, a kind of authority that made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.
"Who are you?" I asked, my voice barely audible.
She turned then, slowly, her silver hair shifting like liquid moonlight. When her eyes met mine, I felt a jolt of recognition. I didn't know her—had never seen her before—but something about her was familiar, like a half-remembered dream.
"I am the Keeper," she said, her voice soft but firm. "And you... you are the last of your kind."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "The last?"
She nodded, her expression solemn. "The last Alpha. The one destined to restore the balance, to bring an end to the darkness."
I staggered back, my mind reeling. The last Alpha? No. That couldn't be true. There were others, other Alphas, other packs. I wasn't the only one.
"I don't understand," I said, my voice shaking. "What are you talking about?"
The Keeper stepped closer, her eyes piercing into mine. "You have felt it, haven't you? The power inside you. The change. You are not like the others, Kael. You were born for something greater."
My heart pounded in my chest. I didn't want to believe her, but deep down, I knew she was right. I had always known I was different. The power that surged inside me, the connection I felt to the moon, the way the Old One had singled me out—it all made sense now.
"But I'm not ready," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "I can't do this. I can't be the Alpha."
"You have no choice," the Keeper said, her voice soft but firm. "The darkness is coming, Kael. The Old One grows stronger every day, and soon he will consume everything. You are the only one who can stop him."
I shook my head, my mind racing. "But I don't know how. I'm not strong enough."
"You will be," she said, her eyes locking onto mine. "But first, you must face the truth of who you are. Only then can you unlock the full extent of your power."
Before I could respond, the ground beneath us trembled, and the air around us grew thick with energy. The trees swayed violently, as if caught in a storm, and the shadows around us began to shift and twist, taking on monstrous forms.
"The Old One," the Keeper said, her voice urgent. "He knows you're here. You must go, Kael. Go, before it's too late."
I took a step back, my heart pounding. "What about you?"
The Keeper shook her head, her eyes glowing with power. "I will hold him off. But you must go. Find the others. Prepare for the battle ahead."
I hesitated for a moment, torn between the urge to fight and the need to escape. But I knew she was right. I wasn't ready. Not yet.
With one last look at the Keeper, I turned and ran, the shadows closing in behind me.