Elena's POV
The cabin felt stifling, its walls pressing in on Elena as if to silence her racing thoughts. Caleb had barely spoken a word since they returned from the clearing, and the tension between them hung like a storm cloud ready to burst.
She sat at the table, tracing invisible patterns on the wood with her fingertip. The vision replayed in her mind—the woman's voice, the weight of her words, the ancient sorrow that seemed to echo through time.
Elena clenched her fists. She had to know more, no matter what Caleb thought about it.
The sound of boots on the wooden floor made her look up. Caleb stood in the doorway, his jaw tight and his golden eyes locked on her.
"You need to stay away from that place," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"I can't," Elena shot back, standing to face him. "There's something there, Caleb. Something connected to me. To us."
His gaze softened, but the frustration didn't leave his face. "It's dangerous. That energy—it's not something we can control."
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Elena asked, her voice trembling. "Ignore it? Pretend like I didn't see or feel anything?"
Caleb sighed, running a hand through his hair. "No. But you can't go rushing in blind, either. Whatever this is, we'll face it together."
Elena opened her mouth to argue, but the resolve in his eyes stopped her. She knew he was only trying to protect her, even if it frustrated her to no end.
"Fine," she muttered, crossing her arms. "But we need a plan. And I need answers."
---
Caleb's POV
Caleb watched Elena as she paced the room, her determination blazing in her eyes. He admired her strength, but it terrified him too. She didn't understand the danger she was walking into—not fully.
The vision she described had set his own memories stirring. He'd heard whispers of a bond, of a cycle tied to the moon and the pack's lineage, but the details were buried in the past, guarded by elders who spoke in riddles.
He would need to consult someone who might know more. But not yet. Not until he could ensure Elena's safety.
"Tomorrow," he said, breaking the silence. "We'll go to the archives in town. There might be something there that can help us understand what's happening."
Elena stopped pacing and looked at him, hope flickering in her eyes. "You mean it?"
"Yes. But only if you promise not to go back to the clearing alone," Caleb said, his tone firm.
She hesitated, then nodded. "Okay. I promise."
It wasn't much, but it was enough for now.
---
The Next Morning
The town library was housed in a stone building that looked like it had stood for centuries. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old books and dust, and the faint hum of fluorescent lights filled the silence.
Elena trailed her fingers along the spines of the books as Caleb spoke to the librarian, a stern woman with sharp eyes and silver-streaked hair.
"We're looking for information on Blackwood Hollow's history," Caleb said. "Specifically anything about the forest or ancient rituals."
The librarian studied him for a moment before nodding. "Follow me."
She led them to a back room lined with shelves that sagged under the weight of thick, leather-bound volumes.
"This is where we keep the town's older records," she said, gesturing to the shelves. "Be careful with them. Some of these documents are fragile."
"Thank you," Caleb said, and the librarian left them to their search.
Elena pulled a book from the nearest shelf, the cover embossed with a faded crescent moon. She opened it carefully, her heart racing as she skimmed the pages.
"Look at this," she said, holding the book out to Caleb.
He took it, his brow furrowing as he read the passage she pointed to.
"'The Crescent Bond,'" he murmured. "A union forged under the light of the full moon, binding two souls to protect the balance between worlds."
Elena's breath caught. "Do you think that's what the woman in my vision meant?"
"Maybe," Caleb said, his expression darkening. "But it doesn't explain the cycle she mentioned."
They continued to search, pulling book after book from the shelves. Hours passed, and the light outside began to fade, but their determination didn't waver.
Finally, Elena found something that made her blood run cold.
"Caleb," she said, her voice shaking.
He looked up from the book he was reading, and she handed him the document. It was an old, yellowed parchment, the edges frayed with age.
The text was written in an elegant script, and at the bottom was an illustration of the clearing they had found—the stone doorway, the crescent moon, and figures standing before it.
"It's a ritual," Elena said, her voice barely above a whisper. "A ritual to break the cycle."
Caleb's eyes scanned the text, his jaw tightening. "It requires a sacrifice," he said, his voice grim.
Elena felt a chill run down her spine. "What kind of sacrifice?"
He didn't answer, but the look in his eyes told her enough.
---
Later That Night
Back at the cabin, Elena couldn't shake the unease that had settled over her. The discovery at the library had only raised more questions, and the idea of a sacrifice filled her with dread.
She sat by the fire, staring into the flames as they danced and flickered. Caleb sat across from her, his expression unreadable.
"We'll figure this out," he said, breaking the silence.
Elena nodded, but her mind was racing. The bond, the cycle, the sacrifice—it all felt like pieces of a puzzle she couldn't see the full picture of yet.
As the fire crackled, she felt a sudden wave of exhaustion wash over her. She leaned back in her chair, her eyelids growing heavy.
But just as she was about to drift off, she heard a voice.
"Elena."
Her eyes snapped open, and she looked around the room. Caleb was still sitting across from her, but he hadn't spoken.
"Elena," the voice came again, soft and distant.
She stood, her heart pounding as she tried to locate the source of the voice.
"Elena."
It was coming from outside.
Without thinking, she opened the door and stepped into the cool night air. The forest loomed before her, dark and silent, but the voice called to her, pulling her forward.
"Elena."
She took a step toward the trees, then another. The voice grew louder, more insistent.
"Elena!"
A hand grabbed her arm, and she spun around to see Caleb, his eyes blazing with fury and fear.
"What are you doing?" he demanded.
"I… I heard someone calling me," she stammered.
"There's no one out here," Caleb said, his grip on her arm tightening. "You can't trust anything you hear in the forest at night."
Elena swallowed hard, her pulse racing. "It sounded so real."
Caleb pulled her back toward the cabin, his expression stormy. "Whatever it was, it's not safe. You need to stay inside."
As he led her back inside, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that the forest was trying to tell her something.
But what?
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