Damon paced along the edge of the forest, his movements restless and sharp. Lucas leaned
against a tree nearby, arms crossed and a smirk on his face.
"You're going to wear a hole in the ground if you keep that up," Lucas said.
Damon shot him a glare but didn't stop. "Nathaniel wasn't bluffing. He's planning something."
Lucas shrugged. "That much is obvious. But the question is, why now?"
Damon's jaw tightened as he stared into the distance. "Because he knows we're vulnerable.
Ava, the academy, the packs—everything's in chaos."
Lucas straightened, his smirk fading. "And you think Ava's at the center of it?"
"I know she is." Damon stopped pacing, turning to face Lucas. "Nathaniel wouldn't be this bold if
he didn't see her as a threat."
"Then we'd better figure out what makes her so special," Lucas said, his tone serious now.
"Before he does."
---
Inside the academy, Ava tried to focus on her training, but her mind was a whirlwind of doubts
and questions. Lila watched her from the sidelines, concern etched on her face.
"You're pushing yourself too hard," Lila said as Ava stumbled during a sparring exercise.
"I don't have a choice," Ava replied, brushing herself off and stepping back into position.
Before Lila could argue, Cassandra entered the training hall, her expression grim. She motioned
for Ava to follow her, and Ava hesitated only a moment before obeying.
In a secluded corner of the academy, Cassandra stopped and turned to face her. "We need to
talk about your past."
Ava's heart skipped a beat. "What about it?
Cassandra sighed. "Your mother wasn't just a healer. She was part of a rebellion—a group that
stood against the old pack hierarchy. She knew things, secrets that could bring down the entire
system. And now, those secrets are tied to you."
Ava stared at Cassandra, her mind racing. "What does that have to do with Nathaniel?"
"Everything," Cassandra said. "He's not just targeting Damon or Lucas. He's targeting you
because he believes you hold the key to unraveling his plans."
---
Meanwhile, Damon and Lucas made their way to the pack archives, a dimly lit chamber hidden
beneath the academy. The air was thick with the scent of old parchment and dust, and rows of
ancient tomes lined the walls.
"What are we even looking for?" Lucas asked as Damon scanned the shelves.
"Anything that connects Ava to the packs' history," Damon replied, pulling a leather-bound book
from the shelf.
As they searched, a faint sound echoed through the chamber—a whisper of movement that
made both of them freeze. Damon glanced at Lucas, who nodded, and they moved silently
toward the source of the sound.
In the shadows, they found Selene, her hands resting on an open book. She looked up, her
eyes narrowing as she saw them.
"Well, isn't this interesting," Selene said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
"What are you doing here?" Damon demanded.
"Same as you, I imagine," Selene replied, closing the book with a snap. "Looking for answers."
Lucas stepped closer, his expression skeptical. "And what answers would those be?"
Selene smirked. "Wouldn't you like to know?"
Before they could press her further, the ground beneath them trembled—a low, ominous rumble
that sent dust cascading from the ceiling.
"What was that?" Lucas asked, his voice tense.
Selene's smirk faded, replaced by genuine fear. "Something's coming."
---
Back on the training grounds, Ava felt the tremor beneath her feet and looked to Cassandra,
who had gone pale.
"We need to get to the others," Cassandra said, grabbing Ava's arm.
As they ran toward the main courtyard, students and instructors gathered, their faces filled with
confusion and fear. Damon and Lucas emerged from the shadows, Selene trailing behind them.
"What's going on?" Ava asked as they joined the crowd.
Before anyone could answer, a deafening roar echoed through the air. The ground shook
violently, and a crack appeared in the stone courtyard, spreading rapidly toward the main
building.
"It's him," Damon muttered, his voice barely audible over the chaos.
Nathaniel stepped into view, flanked by a group of wolves clad in black. His smirk was cold and
calculating, his eyes locked on Damon.
"You should have listened, little brother," Nathaniel called out. "But now it's too late."
As the wolves surged forward, Damon stepped in front of Ava, his fists clenched. "Stay behind
me," he ordered, his voice low and deadly.
But Ava didn't move. Instead, she met Nathaniel's gaze, her own resolve hardening. "No," she
said, her voice steady. "This fight isn't yours alone."
Nathaniel's laughter echoed through the courtyard. "Let's see how long you can keep that
courage."
And then the first blow was struck