"What is that?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Darius didn't answer immediately. He stepped in front of her, his body tense, and his eyes scanning the shadows for any sign of movement. "Stay behind me," he muttered, his voice low but firm.
A deep, guttural growl rumbled through the clearing, vibrating the ground beneath their feet. The creature stepped forward, its massive form emerging from the darkness.
The wolf was unlike any Luna had seen before. Its fur was pitch black, absorbing the light, and its eyes burned with a menacing red glow. Scars crisscrossed its body, and its teeth glinted like sharp daggers under the faint moonlight.
"Run," Darius said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Luna hesitated, her feet rooted to the ground. "I'm not leaving you—"
"Go!" he snapped, glancing over his shoulder at her. "I'll hold it off."
The beast lunged before she could argue further, its massive paws tearing through the dirt as it charged. Darius shifted in an instant, his transformation seamless and swift. His wolf form stood nearly as large as the creature, his silver-gray fur shimmering as he met the beast's attack head-on.
The impact sent a shockwave through the clearing, the sound of claws scraping against fur and snarls filling the air. Luna stumbled back, her eyes wide as she watched the two wolves clash.
Darius bit into the beast's shoulder, but it twisted, throwing him off with a force that made the ground shake. He landed hard, but he was back on his feet in seconds, growling low and circling the creature.
Luna's instincts screamed at her to run, but she couldn't tear her eyes away. Her heart raced as she watched Darius dart forward again, this time aiming for the creature's throat.
"Luna!" he shouted in his human voice, startling her. He had shifted back mid-fight, blood dripping from a cut above his brow. "Go now!"
The urgency in his voice snapped her out of her trance. Clutching the pendant tightly, she turned and ran, her feet pounding against the forest floor. The trees blurred around her as she weaved through the dense woods, her mind racing.
The howls and growls behind her faded as she ran further, but her fear only grew. What if Darius couldn't defeat the beast? What if it came after her next?
She glanced over her shoulder, her chest heaving. The forest was eerily silent now, the only sound her own ragged breathing.
Up ahead, the trees began to thin, and she spotted the faint glow of the mansion's lights through the darkness. Relief flooded her, and she pushed herself harder, her legs burning as she sprinted toward safety.
Bursting through the back door, she slammed it shut behind her and leaned against it, gasping for breath. The cold, familiar walls of the mansion surrounded her, but the tension in her chest didn't ease.
"Luna?"
She jumped at the voice and turned to see Caleb Thorn, the pack historian, standing at the end of the hallway. His brow furrowed as he took in her disheveled appearance.
"What happened?" he asked, stepping closer.
"There's something in the woods," she said, her voice shaky. "It attacked us—Darius stayed behind to fight it."
Caleb's expression darkened, and he grabbed her by the shoulders, his eyes searching hers. "What did it look like?"
"It—it was huge," she stammered. "Black fur, red eyes... it wasn't like any wolf I've seen before."
Caleb's grip tightened, and for a moment, Luna thought she saw fear flash across his face. "You need to tell Gideon," he said, his voice urgent.
"No," Luna said, shaking her head. "I can't—I found something in the woods. Something my mother left for me."
She pulled the pendant from her pocket and held it out to him. Caleb's eyes widened as he studied it, his hands trembling slightly as he took it from her.
"Where did you find this?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"In the ruins," Luna replied. "There was a map in my mother's journal. It led me there."
Caleb's jaw tightened, and he let out a slow breath. "This changes everything."
"What does it mean?" Luna pressed, stepping closer. "What's so important about this pendant?"
Caleb hesitated, his eyes flicking toward the hallway as if expecting someone to appear. "Not here," he said finally. "We need to talk in private."
Caleb led her to his study, a small room lined with shelves filled with ancient books and scrolls. He locked the door behind them and motioned for Luna to sit.
He placed the pendant on the desk in front of her and sat across from her, his expression grave. "This belonged to your mother," he began, his voice steady. "It's more than just a piece of jewelry—it's a key."
"A key to what?" Luna asked, leaning forward.
"To the truth about your family," Caleb said. "Your mother and father were keeping secrets—secrets that others would kill to protect."
Luna's heart raced. "What kind of secrets?"
Caleb hesitated again, his gaze dropping to the pendant. "Your mother came from a line of wolves unlike any other. They were... special. Some called them the Guardians. They had abilities that set them apart, abilities tied to the balance of power between packs."
"Abilities?" Luna repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Your mother's family could sense danger, uncover lies, and even heal wounds," Caleb explained. "But their bloodline was nearly wiped out in a war decades ago. Your mother was one of the last."
Luna stared at the pendant, her mind spinning. "Why didn't she tell me any of this?"
"She was protecting you," Caleb said. "If the wrong people found out about your lineage, they would come for you, just like they came for her."
A chill ran down Luna's spine. "You think that creature in the woods was after me?"
"I don't think—it's certain," Caleb said, his voice grim. "And it won't stop until it gets what it wants."
A sharp knock on the door made them both freeze. Caleb stood, his hand hovering over the pendant.
"Who is it?" he called out.
"It's Darius," came the reply, but his voice sounded strained.
Caleb glanced at Luna, his expression wary, before unlocking the door.
Darius stumbled inside, his clothes torn and blood staining his hands. "It's not over," he said,
his voice low and urgent. "There's more coming."