---
Elena's POV
The icy wind clawed at her face as Elena stood just behind the pack's defensive line. The clearing in front of the cabin had transformed into a tense battlefield, wolves bristling with anticipation on both sides. The rogues, led by Victor, exuded menace as they crept closer, their glowing eyes reflecting the moonlight.
Victor's smirk was the kind of cruel confidence that sent a chill down her spine. His gaze zeroed in on her like a predator locking onto its prey.
"Elena," Caleb's voice broke through her haze, and she turned to see him in his wolf form, his golden eyes filled with a mix of warning and reassurance. Stay back, those eyes seemed to say.
But how could she? She wasn't going to cower while the pack fought for her.
Victor's voice rang out, smooth and venomous. "You can't keep hiding her forever, Caleb. She's the key, and you know it. Hand her over, and no one else has to get hurt."
Caleb let out a feral growl, his fur bristling. James, in his human form, stepped forward, his voice sharp. "The only one getting hurt here tonight is you if you don't turn around and leave."
Victor laughed, a hollow sound. "Brave words for someone so outnumbered."
Elena's heart sank as she glanced around. The rogues were indeed greater in number. But something about the way Caleb and James held their ground gave her hope. This wasn't just about numbers. This was about loyalty, strength, and the bonds that tied them together.
---
The First Strike
Victor raised a hand, and the rogues surged forward. Chaos erupted as the pack charged to meet them, a symphony of growls, snarls, and the sound of bodies colliding.
Elena found herself frozen for a moment, torn between fear and determination. She spotted Caleb in the thick of the fight, his powerful form holding off two rogues at once. Nearby, James fought with a ferocity she hadn't seen before, his movements calculated and precise.
A rogue broke through the line, heading straight for her. Panic flared, but she refused to be helpless. Grabbing a heavy branch from the ground, she swung it with all her might as the rogue lunged. The impact sent the wolf sprawling, and Elena stumbled back, her heart pounding.
"Elena!" James shouted, appearing beside her in an instant. He shifted mid-run, his wolf form slamming into the rogue before it could recover.
"Get inside!" he barked after shifting back.
"No," she said firmly. "I'm not hiding. I can help."
"Elena—"
"I'm staying," she insisted, gripping the branch tighter.
James muttered a curse under his breath but didn't argue further. "Stay close to me," he ordered before turning back to the fight.
---
Caleb's POV
Caleb's focus was razor-sharp as he tore through the rogues. His wolf was a blur of power, each movement calculated to protect the pack—and Elena.
He spotted her standing her ground with James, defiance written all over her face. Pride swelled in his chest, but it was quickly overshadowed by fear. She was brave, but she was also vulnerable.
Victor's scent hit him like a slap. Spinning, he saw the rogue leader stalking toward Elena, his steps slow and deliberate.
With a snarl, Caleb launched himself at Victor, their bodies colliding in a flurry of fur and fangs. The impact sent them rolling, but Caleb quickly pinned him down.
"You don't touch her," Caleb growled, his voice more animal than human.
Victor laughed, even as Caleb's teeth grazed his throat. "You can't protect her forever. She'll come to us willingly when she learns the truth."
Caleb's grip tightened. "What truth?"
Victor's grin widened, his voice a whisper. "You can't keep her in the dark. She's not just a human, Caleb. She's special."
Caleb's hesitation cost him. Victor twisted free, delivering a sharp kick that sent Caleb sprawling. Before he could recover, Victor was gone, disappearing into the chaos.
---
Aftermath
The fight ended as quickly as it began, the remaining rogues retreating into the woods. The pack stood panting and bruised but victorious.
Elena rushed to Caleb's side as he shifted back to his human form. His chest heaved, his shirt torn and bloodied.
"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice shaking.
"I'm fine," he assured her, though the weight in his eyes told a different story.
James joined them, his expression grim. "We need to regroup. This isn't over."
Caleb nodded, but his focus remained on Elena. "Go inside," he said softly. "Get some rest."
She shook her head. "Not until you tell me what Victor meant. What truth is he talking about?"
"It's complicated," he said, avoiding her gaze.
"Then uncomplicate it," she demanded.
Before Caleb could answer, one of the pack members approached. "Caleb, we found something," they said, holding out a small, weathered book.
Caleb took it, his brow furrowing. The cover was embossed with the same symbols Elena had seen on the obelisk.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Something I hoped we'd never need," Caleb admitted.
---
A Glimpse of the Past
Back inside the cabin, Caleb and James pored over the book while Elena watched, her patience wearing thin.
"Are you going to tell me what's going on, or do I have to guess?" she snapped.
James glanced at Caleb, who nodded reluctantly. "This book is a record of Blackwood Hollow's history," Caleb explained. "It's tied to the obelisk—and to you."
"To me?" she echoed, incredulous.
Caleb hesitated before continuing. "You're not just a random human who stumbled into our world, Elena. You're connected to the original settlers of Blackwood Hollow. The obelisk is a marker for a power that's been dormant for centuries, and somehow, you're the key to unlocking it."
Elena stared at him, her mind reeling. "Why didn't you tell me this sooner?"
"Because I didn't want to put you in danger," Caleb admitted.
"Too late for that," she muttered.
---
Determined Resolve
As the night deepened, Elena sat by the fire, the weight of Caleb's revelation settling on her. She was more than she'd ever imagined, but what that meant for her future remained uncertain.
Caleb joined her, his presence a comforting balm to her frayed nerves. "I'm sorry," he said softly.
"For what?"
"For keeping you in the dark. For dragging you into this mess."
She looked at him, her expression firm. "This isn't just your fight, Caleb. It's mine too. And I'm not going anywhere."
His golden eyes softened, and for a moment, the weight of the world seemed to lift. Together, they would face whatever came next.
---