Elena's POV
The vision lingered in Elena's mind, its weight growing heavier with every step back to the village. The memory of Ivanna's burning red eyes and haunting voice felt as real as the cool forest air around her. Caleb stayed close, his presence grounding her, but even his quiet strength couldn't push away the chill running down her spine.
"What did she mean?" Elena finally asked, breaking the silence. "Why am I standing in her way? I don't even know who she is."
"She sees you as a threat," Caleb said, his tone clipped. "The altar's reaction proves it. But we'll protect you."
"I don't want to just be protected," Elena said, frustration edging into her voice. "If this is about me, I need to know what's going on. I can't fight back if I don't understand."
Elias's voice cut through the tension. "Understanding comes at a price, Elena. The more you learn, the deeper you're pulled into this world. Are you sure you're ready for that?"
Elena stopped walking and turned to face him. "I don't have a choice, do I? Whatever this is, it's coming for me whether I like it or not."
Elias nodded solemnly. "Then we need to move quickly. Ivanna's reach is long, and if she's already found you in a vision, it's only a matter of time before she tries again."
---
Back in the Village
The village felt different when they returned, as though a shadow had settled over the Hollow. The usually friendly townsfolk seemed tense, their greetings subdued, their movements hurried. Elena couldn't shake the feeling that they knew more than they let on.
As they reached Caleb's cabin, James was waiting for them on the porch, his expression a mix of worry and anger.
"Where the hell have you been?" James demanded, his eyes narrowing at Caleb.
"We had to check something in the woods," Caleb said curtly, brushing past him.
James turned to Elena, his tone softening. "Are you okay? You look... shaken."
"I'm fine," Elena said, though her voice betrayed her exhaustion. "It's just been a long day."
James didn't look convinced but didn't push further. "Well, next time, don't disappear without telling me. I thought something had happened."
Elena nodded, guilt twisting in her chest. "I'm sorry, James. I didn't mean to worry you."
---
Caleb's POV
As the sun set over the Hollow, Caleb couldn't relax. The memory of Ivanna's name on Elena's lips kept replaying in his mind. The idea of the powerful, merciless she-wolf targeting Elena made his blood run cold.
Elias joined him outside the cabin, leaning against the railing as they watched the forest in silence.
"She's marked," Elias said after a while, his voice low.
"I know," Caleb replied, his jaw tight.
Elias glanced at him. "And you're still planning to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, aren't you?"
Caleb didn't answer immediately. Instead, he let his golden gaze sweep over the darkening trees. "I've made my choice. No one—Ivanna or otherwise—is taking her away."
"That kind of determination can be dangerous," Elias warned. "You need to think clearly, Caleb. Protecting Elena is important, but it can't come at the cost of the pack."
Caleb turned to him, his expression fierce. "The pack can survive without me. Elena can't."
Elias sighed but didn't argue. "Just remember, this isn't just about you or her. Ivanna is playing a larger game, and we're all pieces on her board."
---
Elena's Search for Answers
The next morning, Elena woke with a sense of purpose. The vision and the altar were too important to ignore, and she needed answers. While Caleb and Elias were busy fortifying the village's defenses, she slipped away to the town library.
The building was quiet, the air filled with the faint scent of old paper and ink. Mia was at the front desk, her warm smile faltering slightly when she saw Elena.
"Elena," Mia said, setting down the book she was holding. "What brings you here so early?"
"I'm looking for anything about the history of Blackwood Hollow," Elena said. "Specifically, the altar in the woods."
Mia hesitated before gesturing to a section in the back. "The legends and lore section might have something. But be careful. Some of those stories are... unsettling."
"Thank you," Elena said, heading to the shelves.
The books were old and worn, their covers faded with time. She ran her fingers over the spines until one caught her eye: Secrets of the Moonlit Woods. She pulled it down and flipped through its pages, stopping at a chapter about the Moonstone Altar.
"The Moonstone Altar, said to be a relic of great power, serves as a conduit between the mortal and the divine. Only those chosen by the moon may unlock its secrets. But such power comes at a cost, for it draws the attention of those who would seek to claim it for themselves."
Elena's breath hitched as she read further. The book described how the altar could be used to amplify power, but only under a full moon and only by someone deemed worthy by the moon itself.
As she turned the page, a name caught her eye, scrawled in the margins in faded ink: Ivanna.
---
The Confrontation
"Elena." Caleb's voice startled her, and she looked up to see him standing in the doorway, his expression tense.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping closer.
"I found something," Elena said, holding up the book. "Look at this."
Caleb's eyes scanned the page, his frown deepening. "This just confirms what we already know. Ivanna has used the altar before. She'll try to use it again."
"But why does it react to me?" Elena asked, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What makes me so special?"
Caleb hesitated, his gaze softening. "You're connected to it, Elena. Somehow, the moon has marked you. That makes you both a target and a threat to her plans."
Elena set the book down, her hands shaking. "I don't want to be a target. I don't want to be part of any of this."
"I know," Caleb said, his voice gentle. "But we don't always get to choose. What matters is that you're not alone. I'll stand with you, no matter what."
His words, though comforting, didn't erase the fear gnawing at her. She couldn't escape the feeling that something even darker was on the horizon.
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