Elena's POV
The next morning, the forest was bathed in an ethereal glow, the sunlight filtering through the dense canopy, casting dappled patterns on the forest floor. The stillness was unnerving, as though the woods themselves were holding their breath for what was to come.
Elena adjusted the woolen shawl draped over her shoulders, a borrowed piece of clothing that barely protected her from the chill creeping through Blackwood Hollow. She walked beside Caleb, who had taken his usual protective stance close to her. His presence was both reassuring and nerve-wracking; his tension was palpable, and she couldn't ignore the flicker of worry in his amber eyes.
Ahead of them, Viktor led the way. His commanding figure was unyielding, his steps confident, as though the weight of the world didn't faze him. Behind them, a few other wolves trailed in their human forms, silent but ever-watchful.
"Do you think they'll listen to me?" Elena whispered to Caleb, her voice low enough to avoid drawing attention.
"They'll listen," Caleb replied, though his tone carried a hint of doubt. "The elders may be set in their ways, but they'll hear you out. Just… try to stay calm, no matter what they say."
Elena nodded, clutching the edges of her shawl tighter. The idea of standing before the most powerful and revered wolves of the Silverclaw pack made her stomach churn. But there was no turning back. If she wanted to unite the packs, she needed their approval.
As they approached a large clearing, Elena's breath caught. In the center of the space stood a massive stone circle, weathered by time but still imposing. The stones jutted toward the sky like ancient sentinels, each one engraved with intricate runes that seemed to hum faintly with energy.
"The Council Stone," Caleb explained softly, noticing her awe. "This is where the elders gather to deliberate. It's sacred to the pack."
Elena swallowed hard, nodding as she followed Viktor toward the center. The air grew heavier with each step, as though the weight of countless generations bore down on her.
The elders were already assembled, seated on carved wooden chairs arranged in a semicircle. There were six of them, each one more intimidating than the last. Their faces were lined with age and wisdom, their eyes sharp and piercing. They wore robes of deep gray, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered in the light.
"Elena Holloway," Viktor announced, his voice reverberating through the clearing. "She's the one the Oracle spoke of. She has come to seek your counsel."
The elders regarded her in silence, their expressions unreadable. Finally, the one seated in the center—a woman with hair as white as snow and eyes like frost—spoke.
"You are the human who claims to be our salvation," she said, her tone neither welcoming nor hostile.
Elena stepped forward, her knees threatening to buckle under the weight of their scrutiny. She straightened her spine, meeting the elder's gaze. "I don't claim to be your salvation. I only claim to have seen what's coming, and I'm here to do everything in my power to stop it."
The elder raised an eyebrow. "Bold words. But words alone do not sway the tides of fate."
Another elder, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, leaned forward. "You fought Ivan yesterday. That's not the kind of bravery we expect from humans. Why are you really here?"
"I'm here because the Oracle told me the packs must unite," Elena replied firmly. "I've seen the danger that looms over all of us—Ivanna Volkov and the Rogue Pack. If we don't stand together, we'll fall separately. The Oracle said so herself."
The scarred elder snorted. "The Oracle speaks in riddles. You're asking us to place our trust in the words of a seer and a human who doesn't even understand our ways."
Elena's temper flared, but she bit back a sharp retort. Caleb's earlier advice echoed in her mind: Stay calm.
"I may not understand everything about your world," she said carefully, "but I do understand what's at stake. I've seen the destruction Ivanna has caused. And I've seen the strength of this pack. If we work together, we have a chance. If we don't, we're doomed."
The white-haired elder tilted her head, studying Elena with an unreadable expression. "And what would you have us do, Elena Holloway? Abandon our traditions? Forsake centuries of enmity with the other packs? Convince us that your cause is worth risking everything for."
Elena hesitated, searching for the right words. The weight of their expectations pressed down on her, threatening to crush her resolve. But then she thought of Caleb—of the quiet strength he had shown her, of the way he had fought to protect her despite his own doubts. She thought of the Oracle's warnings, of the shadows that loomed over Blackwood Hollow.
"I would have you fight for your future," she said finally, her voice steady despite the trembling in her hands. "I know it's not easy. I know it goes against everything you've been taught. But this isn't just about the Silverclaws. It's about all of us—wolves, humans, everyone. If we don't stand together, there won't be a future for any of us to fight for."
The clearing fell silent. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from skepticism to cautious interest.
The white-haired elder leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Elena. "You speak with conviction. But conviction alone is not enough. We will deliberate. In the meantime, you will remain under our watch. If you are to earn our trust, you must prove yourself."
Elena's heart sank slightly, but she nodded. "I understand. Thank you for hearing me out."
The elders dismissed them with a wave, and Viktor gestured for Elena and Caleb to follow him out of the clearing. As they walked away, Elena's thoughts raced. She had taken the first step, but the road ahead was still uncertain.
"Do you think they'll agree to help?" she asked Caleb quietly.
He glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "The fact that they didn't reject you outright is a good sign. But it's not over yet. The elders don't make decisions lightly."
Elena sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I just hope it's enough."
"It will be," Caleb said, his voice soft but firm. "We'll make sure of it."
As they left the sacred clearing, Elena couldn't shake the feeling that the real test was yet to come.
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