Elena's POV
The tension in the air was palpable as Caleb's words echoed in the small cabin: "We prepare, and we fight."
Elena's pulse quickened. She had been thrust into situations she couldn't have imagined before coming to Blackwood Hollow, but the idea of an immediate, physical threat brought a new level of fear.
Caleb moved with a predator's grace, grabbing weapons and supplies from hidden places around the cabin. She watched him, a mix of awe and apprehension.
"What can I do to help?" Elena asked, her voice steadier than she felt.
Caleb paused, looking at her intently. "Stay close to me. Don't wander. If things go south, you run and don't look back."
"I'm not leaving you to fight alone," she said, her jaw tightening.
His eyes softened for a moment. "You're braver than you know, but this isn't just about me. It's about keeping you safe. Promise me."
Elena hesitated, then nodded. "Fine. But only if it's absolutely necessary."
Satisfied, Caleb handed her a silver-tipped knife. "Keep this with you at all times."
The weight of the blade felt foreign in her hand, but she gripped it tightly.
---
The hours crawled by as they prepared. Caleb placed protective sigils around the cabin, explaining their purpose in hushed tones. The symbols reminded her of the ones in his journal, and she couldn't help but wonder about their origins.
"Where did you learn all this?" she asked as he etched a crescent moon into the wood of the front door.
"From my family," he replied without looking at her. "These are ancient protections, passed down through generations. They're meant to ward off unwanted visitors—human or otherwise."
The mention of his family piqued her curiosity. Caleb rarely spoke about them, and she had learned not to push.
"Do you think they'll work?"
He straightened and turned to her. "They'll slow them down, but if the rogues are determined, they'll find a way through. That's why we need to be ready."
---
As night fell, the cabin seemed to shrink under the weight of the impending danger. The forest outside was eerily quiet, the usual sounds of nocturnal creatures absent.
Elena sat by the fire, the knife resting in her lap. Caleb paced the room, his every movement radiating tension.
"Tell me about the rogues," she said, breaking the silence.
He stopped and looked at her. "They're wolves who've abandoned their packs. Some do it by choice, others are cast out. Without the structure of a pack, they become dangerous—desperate. They'll do anything to survive."
"Why would they come after us?"
Caleb's jaw tightened. "Because they can sense power. They know about the obelisk, and they know it's connected to you."
The firelight flickered, casting shadows across the room. Elena shivered, wrapping her arms around herself.
"What do they want with me?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "But I'm not going to let them get to you."
---
Caleb's POV
The first scent hit him just before midnight. It was faint, carried on the breeze, but unmistakable: the metallic tang of rogue wolves.
"They're here," he said, his voice low.
Elena's eyes widened, but she nodded, clutching the knife tightly.
He moved to the window, peering out into the darkness. The forest was a sea of shadows, but his heightened senses picked up movement at the edge of the clearing.
Three figures emerged from the treeline, their forms hunched and predatory. Caleb recognized the alpha instantly—a scarred wolf with a mangled ear and eyes that glowed with malevolent intent.
"Stay behind me," he told Elena, positioning himself between her and the door.
The rogues didn't attack immediately. Instead, they circled the cabin, their growls low and menacing. Caleb's sharp hearing picked up their whispered communications.
"She's in there," one of them said.
"The girl smells... different," another replied. "Powerful."
The alpha growled, silencing them. "We'll take her. The male is expendable."
Caleb's blood boiled, but he forced himself to stay calm. Anger wouldn't help him protect Elena.
---
Elena's POV
The growls outside sent a chill down her spine. She gripped the knife so tightly her knuckles turned white. Caleb's presence was reassuring, but she couldn't ignore the fear twisting in her gut.
"What do we do?" she whispered.
Caleb didn't answer immediately. He was focused, his eyes fixed on the door.
"They're testing us," he said finally. "Trying to gauge our strength."
"And if they think we're weak?"
"They'll attack."
---
The first strike came without warning. One of the rogues lunged at the cabin, slamming into the door with enough force to make it shudder. Elena jumped, her heart racing.
Caleb didn't flinch. He moved to the door, pressing his hand against it. The protective sigils glowed faintly, holding strong against the assault.
"Stay here," he told her, his voice firm.
"Wait—where are you going?"
"To deal with them."
Before she could protest, he stepped outside, the door closing behind him.
---
The fight was brutal. Through the window, Elena watched as Caleb shifted, his wolf form larger and more powerful than she had imagined. His fur glistened in the moonlight, and his movements were a blur of precision and strength.
The rogues attacked in a frenzy, but Caleb held his ground. His claws tore through one of them, sending the wolf retreating into the forest.
The alpha was the last to face him, and their clash was fierce. The air was filled with growls and the sound of claws scraping against flesh. Elena couldn't tear her eyes away, her fear mingling with a strange sense of awe.
Finally, Caleb emerged victorious. The alpha lay defeated at his feet, and the remaining rogues scattered into the night.
---
After the Battle
Caleb returned to the cabin, bloodied but victorious. He shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving as he leaned against the door.
Elena rushed to his side, her fear forgotten in her concern for him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," he said, though his voice was strained. "They're gone—for now."
She helped him to a chair, her hands shaking as she fetched a cloth to clean his wounds.
"You didn't have to do this alone," she said, her voice breaking.
Caleb reached out, his hand covering hers. "I'll always protect you, Elena. No matter what."
As she met his gaze, she felt a warmth spread through her chest. For the first time, she understood the depth of his devotion—and how much she needed him in return.