The world around me was a swirling haze of power, the energy surging through my body like nothing I'd ever experienced before. My senses were sharper, my muscles coiled with strength I didn't know I had, and the pulse of the moon in my veins was deafening. This was the awakening the Keeper had spoken of—the moment my true power as the last Alpha came to the surface.
I could feel it, a tidal wave of strength rising inside me, threatening to tear me apart if I didn't control it. Every fiber of my being was alive, charged with the primal force of my lineage, and the realization hit me with the force of a freight train: I was no longer the same. The wolf inside me had merged with something far more ancient and powerful.
The plain where I stood was gone, replaced by the real world once again. The Keeper had vanished, leaving only her words echoing in my mind.
The Old One had awakened me. And now, I was ready for him.
I took a breath, steadying myself as the forest materialized around me. Tobias stood a few feet away, his eyes wide with shock as he took in the change. I could feel his fear, the uncertainty radiating from him in waves, but I also felt something else—a connection. I could sense his emotions, his thoughts, as if our bond had deepened in the wake of my transformation.
"I... I saw what happened," Tobias said, his voice barely a whisper. "You... you're different."
"I'm still me," I said, though even as I spoke the words, I wasn't sure if they were true. Yes, I was still Kael. But I wasn't just a wolf anymore. I was something else—something stronger, more dangerous.
And I wasn't alone.
The moment I tapped into the power, I became aware of the pack. Not just Tobias, but others—wolves scattered across the land, their energy brushing against mine like flickers of light in the darkness. I could sense them, feel their presence as if they were right beside me. The Old One had called them forth, but now they were mine to command.
Tobias took a hesitant step closer, his eyes searching mine. "What happens now?"
Before I could answer, the ground shook again, the familiar tremor signaling the Old One's return. His presence slammed into me like a wrecking ball, a wave of darkness that sent chills racing down my spine. He wasn't just coming for me now. He was coming for all of us.
A low growl rumbled in my chest, and without thinking, I turned toward the source of the disturbance. I could feel him approaching, his power dark and twisted, suffocating the air around us.
"We fight," I said, my voice cold and hard.
Tobias nodded, his face set in grim determination. He knew as well as I did that there was no running from this battle. The Old One would keep coming until there was nothing left.
And this time, I wouldn't let him win.
---
The clearing where the Old One had appeared before was still and silent, but the air was thick with anticipation. I could feel him drawing closer, his energy pressing down on me like a physical weight. The forest was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of night creatures conspicuously absent. It was as if the entire world was holding its breath, waiting for the storm to break.
I shifted, my senses on high alert as I scanned the trees for any sign of movement. Tobias stood at my side, his dagger drawn, though we both knew it wouldn't be enough against the Old One's power.
The shadows between the trees shifted, and then, with a snarl that made my blood run cold, he appeared.
The Old One stepped into the clearing, his massive form towering over us, his eyes burning with the same red fire I'd seen before. But this time, there was something different about him. His power was more concentrated, more dangerous, and it radiated off him in waves, filling the air with an oppressive darkness.
"You've changed," the Old One growled, his voice dripping with malice. "I can feel it. The Alpha has awakened."
I didn't respond. There was nothing to say. This wasn't a battle of words—it was a battle of power.
The Old One took a step forward, his eyes locked on mine. "But you're still not strong enough. You may be the last Alpha, but you are not yet my equal."
"Maybe not," I said, my voice steady despite the fear gnawing at my insides. "But I'm not fighting alone."
At my words, the connection I had felt earlier flared to life, and I reached out to the wolves scattered across the land. They answered my call without hesitation, their energy surging through me like a flood. The pack was mine, and together, we were unstoppable.
The Old One's eyes narrowed, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of doubt in his gaze. He could feel the change, just as I could. The balance of power had shifted, and he was no longer the only one with control.
Without warning, he lunged at me, his massive form moving with impossible speed. But I was ready. I sidestepped his attack, my movements fluid and precise, and then I struck.
The power inside me surged, and with a roar, I unleashed it.
The force of the blow sent the Old One stumbling back, his eyes wide with shock. He hadn't expected this. He hadn't expected me to be strong enough to fight back.
But I was.
And I wasn't done yet.
I attacked again, faster this time, the wolf inside me reveling in the newfound power. Each strike was a blow against the darkness, a reminder that I was no longer the same helpless wolf he had toyed with before.
The Old One snarled, his red eyes blazing with fury as he fought back, but I could feel his power waning. He was strong, yes, but he was no longer invincible.
And neither was I.
The battle raged on, each of us trading blows, but slowly, the tide began to turn in my favor. The Old One was tiring, his movements becoming sluggish, his power faltering. He wasn't used to being challenged, to fighting someone who could match him blow for blow.
But I was more than his match. I was his end.
With one final surge of power, I lunged at him, my claws sinking into his chest. The Old One howled in pain, his body shuddering as the force of my attack ripped through him. And then, with a deafening roar, he crumbled, his form dissolving into the shadows from which he had come.
For a moment, I stood there, panting, my chest heaving as I tried to process what had just happened. The Old One was gone.
But the battle was far from over.
I could still feel his darkness lingering in the air, a reminder that he wasn't truly defeated. Not yet.