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Elena's POV
The cabin was quieter than usual, a heavy silence settling over its wooden beams. Outside, the wind howled, carrying with it the scent of pine and snow. Elena sat at the dining table, nursing a cup of tea. Her thoughts were scattered, replaying the events of the ambush in the clearing.
Victor's smirk haunted her—his words, "This is just the beginning," echoing like a sinister promise.
Caleb entered the room, his movements stiff from the battle. He sat across from her, his eyes tired but sharp.
"You haven't slept," he said, his voice breaking the quiet.
Elena shrugged, tracing the rim of her cup with her finger. "Neither have you."
He leaned back, studying her. "What's on your mind?"
She hesitated before speaking. "Victor. The rogues. Why me, Caleb? What do they want with me?"
Caleb sighed, his jaw tightening. "It's not just you, Elena. It's what you represent."
"And what's that?"
"A link to something they've been after for years," he said cryptically.
Before she could press him further, James entered, his usual sharp demeanor softened by fatigue. "We need to talk," he said, addressing Caleb.
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James's Revelation
The three of them gathered in the living room, the fire crackling in the hearth providing the only warmth. James pulled a folded map from his jacket, spreading it out on the coffee table.
"These are the areas where the rogues have been spotted," he explained, pointing to several marked locations around Blackwood Hollow. "They're forming a perimeter. It's not random—it's strategic."
"They're boxing us in," Caleb said, his tone grim.
Elena leaned closer, her brow furrowed. "Why would they do that? If they want me, wouldn't they just attack?"
James shook his head. "It's not just about you. They're after control. Blackwood Hollow has always been a neutral territory, a place where packs could coexist without conflict. If they can take it, they'll have a stronghold."
"And I'm the key to that?" Elena asked, disbelief coloring her tone.
James exchanged a glance with Caleb before answering. "Not directly. But you're connected to something—or someone—they fear."
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Elena's Discovery
Later that day, Elena wandered the outskirts of the cabin, her thoughts swirling. The snow crunched beneath her boots, the cold biting at her cheeks. She needed answers, but Caleb and James were too guarded, too protective.
As she walked, she noticed a cluster of trees that seemed oddly arranged, their trunks forming a natural archway. Curiosity tugged at her, and she stepped through, finding herself in a secluded grove.
At the center stood a stone obelisk, its surface covered in strange symbols. Elena approached cautiously, her fingers brushing over the carved markings. They felt familiar, though she couldn't explain why.
"Elena!" Caleb's voice startled her. She turned to see him jogging toward her, his expression a mix of worry and frustration.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his golden eyes scanning the grove.
"I found this," she said, gesturing to the obelisk. "Do you know what it is?"
Caleb hesitated, his gaze darkening. "It's an old marker. A relic from before the packs settled here."
"Why does it feel... important?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Caleb's jaw tightened. "Because it is. But it's dangerous too. Come on, we need to leave."
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Caleb's POV
As he led Elena away from the grove, Caleb's mind raced. The obelisk was more than a relic—it was a link to a past he'd tried to bury. A past that now threatened to resurface.
Elena's curiosity was dangerous, but it was also part of what made her who she was. He couldn't stifle that without pushing her away, and the thought of losing her was unbearable.
"Caleb," she said, pulling him from his thoughts. "You're hiding something from me."
He stopped, turning to face her. "I'm trying to protect you."
"I don't need protecting. I need the truth," she countered, her eyes blazing.
For a moment, he considered telling her everything—the origins of the obelisk, her connection to it, and the reason the rogues were after her. But the weight of those secrets was too heavy.
"Not yet," he said finally. "When the time is right, I'll tell you everything."
She stared at him, disappointment flickering across her face. "I hope you mean that," she said before walking ahead of him.
---
The Meeting
That evening, Caleb called a meeting with the pack's inner circle. James, Elena, and a handful of trusted wolves gathered in the cabin, the atmosphere tense.
"We need to strengthen our defenses," Caleb began. "The rogues are organizing, and it's only a matter of time before they strike again."
"What about Elena?" one of the wolves asked. "If she's their target, shouldn't we move her somewhere safer?"
"I'm not running," Elena interjected, her voice firm. "This is my home now, and I'm not leaving."
Caleb nodded, his expression resolute. "She stays. But we need to be prepared. James, I want patrols doubled. No one enters or leaves without clearance."
James nodded. "Consider it done."
"And the obelisk?" another wolf asked.
Caleb's gaze flickered to Elena before he answered. "It stays under guard. No one touches it."
Elena felt a surge of frustration but kept quiet. She knew pressing the issue now would only cause more tension.
---
A New Threat
As the meeting broke up, Elena lingered by the window, watching the snow fall. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were missing something—that the obelisk held answers they desperately needed.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Caleb's presence beside her. "Are you okay?" he asked softly.
"I just wish I knew what all of this meant," she admitted.
He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm and reassuring. "We'll figure it out. Together."
Before she could respond, a sharp howl pierced the night, sending a chill down her spine.
James burst into the room, his face pale. "We've got trouble," he said.
Caleb was already moving, shifting into his wolf form as he headed for the door. Elena followed, her heart pounding.
Outside, the pack was gathered, their eyes fixed on the treeline. Emerging from the shadows was a group of rogues, their leader a towering figure with piercing blue eyes.
"I warned you," Victor called, his voice carrying over the wind. "You can't protect her forever."
Caleb stepped forward, his growl low and threatening. "You've made a mistake coming here."
Victor smirked. "Have I? Or have you?"
As the rogues advanced, Elena felt a surge of determination. She wasn't just a pawn in this fight—she was part of it.
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