Elena's POV
The night after the battle was hauntingly quiet. The usual chirps of crickets and rustling leaves seemed to have vanished, leaving an unsettling stillness. The weight of what had transpired settled on Elena's chest as she stared out the window of Caleb's cabin.
Caleb sat across from her, his wounds freshly bandaged. Despite the bruises and cuts, his expression was unreadable, his gaze fixed on the fireplace.
"I can't sleep," Elena admitted softly, breaking the silence.
His eyes shifted to hers, a flicker of concern breaking through his stoic mask. "You've been through a lot. Your mind is still processing it."
"I'm not scared," she said, though her trembling hands betrayed her. "I'm angry. I want to understand why they're after me. Why now?"
Caleb sighed, leaning back in his chair. "It's the obelisk. It's tied to you in ways we don't fully understand yet. Rogues are drawn to power, and right now, you're at the center of something they want."
Elena frowned, frustration bubbling to the surface. "Then I need to figure it out. I can't keep relying on you to save me, Caleb. I need answers."
"You're not alone in this," he said firmly. "We'll figure it out together. But you have to trust me."
---
The next morning, Elena woke to find Caleb already up, pacing near the door. He'd shifted into what she referred to as his "hunter mode"—alert, cautious, and ready for a fight.
"Did you sleep at all?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"A little," he admitted. "I've been thinking. If we want answers, we need to go back to where this all started."
"The obelisk," she guessed.
He nodded. "We need to investigate it further. There's something about it that we've missed, something that might explain why it's connected to you."
---
The Journey to the Obelisk
The trek through the forest felt different this time. The shadows between the trees seemed darker, and every snap of a twig sent Elena's heart racing. Caleb walked ahead of her, his senses on high alert.
"What if the rogues come back?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"They won't," he said confidently. "Not after last night. But just in case…" He handed her a small vial filled with a silver liquid.
"What's this?"
"Wolf's bane extract. If one of them gets too close, throw it at them. It won't kill them, but it'll hurt like hell."
She tucked the vial into her pocket, the weight of it oddly comforting.
---
When they reached the obelisk, Elena felt the same pull she'd experienced the first time she saw it. The ancient stone structure was weathered but emanated an undeniable energy.
"I feel it again," she said, stepping closer.
Caleb watched her carefully. "What do you feel?"
"It's like… it's calling to me," she admitted. "Like it knows I'm here."
She reached out, her fingers brushing against the cold surface of the stone. A sudden jolt of energy shot through her, and she stumbled back, gasping.
"Elena!" Caleb was at her side in an instant, his hands steadying her. "What happened?"
"I don't know," she said, her voice shaky. "It was like it showed me something."
"What did you see?"
"A woman," she said, her brows furrowing as she tried to recall the vision. "She was standing here, but it wasn't just the obelisk. There were others like it, arranged in a circle. She was chanting something… I couldn't hear the words, but it felt important."
Caleb's expression darkened. "A circle of obelisks… That changes things."
"What do you mean?"
"It means this isn't just about one artifact. It's part of something much larger."
---
A New Lead
As they made their way back to the cabin, Caleb was unusually quiet, his thoughts clearly elsewhere.
"What are you thinking?" Elena asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm thinking we need help," he said finally. "There's a pack elder who might know more about the obelisks. He's one of the few left who remembers the old ways."
"Where is he?"
"Far from here," Caleb said. "But if anyone can give us answers, it's him."
"Then let's go," she said without hesitation.
"It's not that simple," he said, his tone wary. "The elder doesn't trust outsiders, and he doesn't take kindly to visitors."
"I'll do whatever it takes," Elena said firmly. "I need to understand what's happening to me, Caleb. I need to know why this is happening."
---
That Night
Elena couldn't sleep. Her mind was racing with thoughts of the obelisk, the vision, and the mysterious elder Caleb had mentioned. She got up and went to the window, staring out at the moonlit forest.
She felt a presence before she heard the footsteps. Turning, she saw Caleb standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
"Couldn't sleep?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Too much on my mind."
He walked over to her, his movements quiet and deliberate. "I know this is overwhelming. But you're stronger than you think."
She looked up at him, her chest tightening. "I'm only strong because you're here, Caleb. Without you, I don't know what I'd do."
His gaze softened, and for a moment, the weight of their circumstances seemed to fade.
"You're not alone, Elena," he said quietly. "No matter what happens, I'm with you."
The intensity in his eyes made her heart race, and she found herself leaning into him. For a brief moment, everything else disappeared—the obelisk, the rogues, the danger. All that mattered was Caleb.