The Call of the Savage
The days following our pact felt like the calm before a storm. In the quiet, I could sense the tension in the air, like a string pulled taut, waiting for something—or someone—to break it. Jason, Kane, and I had committed to fighting against the prophecy on our terms, but I knew our defiance wouldn't go unanswered for long.
At Crescent Moon Academy, everything looked normal on the surface, yet I could feel the whispers in the hallways. Word had spread about the attack, about the rogue wolves encroaching on our territory. No one knew the full story, but rumors had a way of growing like wild vines, wrapping themselves around half-truths and embellishments. Whispers about a prophecy began surfacing, too—one of two brothers and the girl caught between them. I pretended not to notice, but every murmur fed the growing weight of the prophecy I was fighting to control.
Jason and Kane had been even more protective since the attack, barely letting me out of their sight. But I couldn't live in fear; I couldn't be bound by others' expectations, not when we had worked so hard to break free. So, I threw myself into my training, honing my skills and focusing on building my strength.
Late one evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon and cast the sky in a wash of red and purple, I made my way to the training field, craving the solace of the open space. I closed my eyes, breathing in the cool evening air, letting it calm my mind.
Suddenly, I felt a shift in the energy around me. I opened my eyes to see a familiar figure moving toward me from the shadows. It was Claire, her face painted with a smug grin.
"What do you want, Claire?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. She and I had our differences, but this wasn't the time for petty rivalries.
Claire looked me up and down, her gaze dismissive. "I heard you've been spending a lot of time with Jason and Kane," she sneered. "Do you think just because they're paying attention to you that you're somehow special?"
I took a deep breath, fighting the urge to snap back. "I don't have time for this, Claire. Believe what you want, but don't stand in my way."
She stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. "You think you're untouchable now, don't you? Because of that ridiculous prophecy? Don't fool yourself, Kira. The Savage Night Pack won't stop until they have you. And when they do, you'll wish you had never been born."
Her words sent a shiver down my spine, but I held her gaze, refusing to back down. "If they come for me, I'll be ready. But you? All you can do is stand on the sidelines and watch."
Claire's smirk faltered, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of fear in her eyes. Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode off into the night.
I tried to shake off the encounter and focus on my training, but her words lingered. The Savage Night Pack was relentless, and I couldn't ignore the threat they posed, not when they had already made their intentions clear. As the darkness deepened, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something bigger than any of us had anticipated.
I was about to leave the field when I saw Jason and Kane approaching, their faces shadowed by the dim light.
"Did Claire bother you?" Jason asked, his voice tight.
I shrugged, trying to brush it off. "Nothing I can't handle. But we need to talk about the Savage Night Pack. They're not going to back down, and I'm not sure we're ready for whatever they're planning."
Kane's expression hardened. "You're right. We can't just sit here waiting for them to make the next move. We need to gather information, find out exactly what we're up against."
Jason nodded. "I've been thinking the same thing. There's someone who might be able to help—a contact who knows the Savage Night Pack better than anyone. He's… complicated, but if anyone can give us an edge, it's him."
I raised an eyebrow. "Who is he?"
Jason hesitated. "His name is Silas. He used to be part of their pack before he defected. He has a reputation, but he's kept his distance from both packs since then."
Kane crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. "And you trust him?"
Jason looked conflicted. "Not exactly. But he has no loyalty to the Savage Night Pack, and if he can give us insight, it's worth the risk."
The idea of meeting a former member of the Savage Night Pack made me uneasy, but I knew we had little choice. If Silas could help us, I was willing to take the chance.
The next evening, under the cover of darkness, Jason, Kane, and I made our way to a remote cabin deep in the woods. Silas's reputation was enough to keep most people away, but I could feel Jason's determination propelling us forward. As we approached, I noticed the eerie stillness surrounding the cabin, the only sound being the crunch of leaves underfoot.
Jason knocked on the door, and after a few tense seconds, it creaked open, revealing a tall, wiry man with sharp, calculating eyes. Silas looked us over, his gaze lingering on me, and I felt a chill at the intensity in his eyes.
"So," he drawled, leaning against the doorframe. "You're the ones causing all the trouble."
Jason squared his shoulders. "We're not here to cause trouble. We need information on the Savage Night Pack, and you're the only one who can help us."
Silas tilted his head, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "Help you? What makes you think I owe you anything?"
Kane took a step forward, his voice calm but firm. "Because you know what they're capable of. And if you have even a shred of decency left, you'll want to stop them as much as we do."
Silas studied us for a long moment, his eyes glinting with something unreadable. Finally, he stepped aside, motioning for us to enter.
The cabin was dimly lit, with only a few candles casting flickering shadows across the walls. We sat around a small table, and Silas leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms.
"So," he began, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "you want to know about the Savage Night Pack. Well, they're more ruthless than you could imagine. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want, and right now, what they want is her." He nodded toward me.
"Why?" I asked, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice. "Why are they so obsessed with the prophecy?"
Silas's gaze turned calculating. "The prophecy is more than just words to them. It's a promise of power. They believe that whoever controls the one spoken of in the prophecy will wield a force unlike any other. And they're convinced that force will secure their dominance."
Jason clenched his fists, his jaw tight. "And what about the prophecy itself? Is there any way to break it?"
Silas shrugged. "Prophecies are tricky things. They don't just vanish. But they're also open to interpretation. The Savage Night Pack thinks they've figured it out, but that doesn't mean they're right."
I exchanged a glance with Jason and Kane, feeling a glimmer of hope. "So, if we find a way to redefine the prophecy, to take control of it on our terms, they won't have power over me?"
Silas gave a slow, approving nod. "Exactly. But it won't be easy. The Savage Night Pack isn't going to sit by while you rewrite their destiny."
Kane leaned forward, his gaze intense. "Then we'll be ready. We'll train, prepare for whatever they throw at us. We won't give them a single inch."
Silas smirked. "Bold words. But I'll give you credit—you're willing to fight. Just be careful. The Savage Night Pack has spies everywhere. And trust me, they're not the only ones interested in that prophecy. There are forces at play here that you don't understand."
A shiver ran down my spine, but I nodded, steeling myself. "We'll face whatever comes our way. We've already made a pact to stand together, no matter what."
Silas's smirk faded, replaced by a look of mild surprise. "A pact, huh? Interesting. That might just give you a fighting chance." He glanced at each of us, a strange glint in his eyes. "But remember this—every choice has consequences. The path you're walking isn't just dangerous; it's lethal. Be ready for sacrifices, because the prophecy… it always demands a price."
As we left the cabin, his warning echoed in my mind, each word settling into my bones like a cold weight. The prophecy might have been a burden I was born with, but now it was a choice I was making. I had chosen Jason and Kane, and together, we would face whatever darkness lay ahead.
But as the forest closed around us, I couldn't shake the feeling that our journey was only beginning, that each step we took brought us closer to a reckoning we couldn't avoid. We had defied the prophecy, challenged the Savage Night Pack, and made a pact in defiance of fate.
Now, all that was left was to see if our bond could hold against the storm that was coming.