Elena's POV
The days in Blackwood Hollow were starting to blur together, a strange monotony overlaid with unease. On the surface, life in the small town seemed quiet—too quiet. But beneath the calm, there was an undercurrent of something darker, something that tugged at Elena's instincts and whispered that she wasn't safe.
She sat by the window of her small cabin, staring out at the forest that bordered the town. The trees stood tall and silent, their shadows stretching across the ground as the evening sun dipped below the horizon. Elena had always loved the woods, but now they felt different—watchful, almost alive.
A soft knock on the door broke her thoughts, and she jumped to her feet. Her heart raced as she crossed the room, but the moment she heard his voice, she felt a wave of relief.
"It's me," Caleb called softly.
She opened the door to find him standing there, his golden eyes sharp and focused. He looked more serious than usual, his broad shoulders tense beneath his jacket.
"Come in," she said, stepping aside.
Caleb entered the cabin, his gaze sweeping the room as though checking for unseen threats. His presence was comforting, but there was a tension in the air that she couldn't ignore.
"We need to talk," he said, his voice low.
Elena frowned, crossing her arms. "What's going on?"
Caleb hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Ivanna."
The name sent a chill down her spine, though she didn't fully understand why. Caleb had mentioned her only once before—a brief reference to someone dangerous, someone connected to the feral wolves that roamed the forest.
"What about her?" Elena asked, her voice steady despite the unease growing in her chest.
"She knows about you," Caleb said, his gaze locking onto hers. "And she's coming."
Elena's heart sank. "Coming for me? Why?"
Caleb ran a hand through his dark hair, his frustration evident. "Because you don't belong here, Elena. Not in Blackwood Hollow, not in this world. And Ivanna sees that as a threat—or an opportunity."
Elena's mind raced. "What do you mean, 'not in this world'? I live here now, Caleb. I'm not just going to pack up and leave because some… wolf woman has a problem with me."
"It's not that simple," Caleb said, his tone firm but gentle. "Ivanna isn't just some wolf woman. She's the leader of the ferals—the wolves who've given in to the curse. She's dangerous, ruthless, and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants."
"And what does she want?" Elena asked, though she wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer.
Caleb's eyes softened, but there was a sadness in them that made her stomach twist. "You," he said quietly.
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Victor's POV
The forest was alive with whispers, the trees seeming to lean in closer as Victor made his way through the dense underbrush. He moved with the ease of someone who belonged in the wild, his sharp senses picking up every sound, every movement.
He stopped at the edge of a clearing, his eyes narrowing as he caught sight of Elena's cabin in the distance. The faint glow of a lamp illuminated the window, and through the glass, he could see her silhouette.
"She doesn't even realize it yet," Victor muttered to himself, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
For days, he had been watching her, tracking her movements and studying her interactions. There was something about her, something that drew him in despite himself. She was different, though he couldn't quite put his finger on why.
Ivanna had been clear about her orders: bring Elena to her, unharmed but not unshaken. The thought of delivering her to Ivanna didn't sit well with Victor, but he knew better than to cross the most feared werewolf in Blackwood Hollow.
"She'll learn soon enough," he said, his voice barely audible over the rustling leaves. "They all will."
As he turned to leave, his ears caught the faint sound of a low growl. He froze, his smirk fading as he realized he wasn't alone. Slowly, he turned, his sharp eyes scanning the trees.
"Caleb," he said, his voice calm but laced with irritation. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
From the shadows, Caleb stepped into the clearing, his golden eyes glowing with barely restrained fury.
"You're not welcome here," Caleb growled, his voice deep and threatening.
Victor chuckled, his smirk returning. "Oh, come now. Is that any way to greet an old friend?"
"We were never friends," Caleb said, his tone cold.
Victor shrugged, leaning casually against a tree. "Fair enough. But that doesn't change the fact that we're on the same side. Or at least, we could be."
"I'm nothing like you," Caleb snarled, his muscles tensing.
Victor's smirk widened. "No? Then why are you so desperate to protect her? What's she to you, Caleb? A human plaything? Or something more?"
"Stay away from her," Caleb said, his voice a dangerous growl.
Victor laughed, the sound sharp and mocking. "Oh, I don't think so. You see, Ivanna has plans for her, and I'm not about to disappoint her. But don't worry—I'll make sure to keep her safe… for now."
Before Caleb could respond, Victor disappeared into the shadows, leaving nothing but the faint echo of his laughter behind.
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Elena's POV
Back at the cabin, Elena paced the floor, her mind racing with questions she couldn't answer. Who was Ivanna, really? Why was she interested in Elena? And what was Caleb hiding?
The knock on the door startled her again, but this time, she didn't hesitate. She opened it to find Caleb standing there, his expression grim.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.
"We need to talk," Caleb said, stepping inside.
Elena took a deep breath, bracing herself for whatever truth he was about to reveal.
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