The pain from the mark lingered long after it had been branded onto her skin. Alina could feel it now, a constant reminder of the choice she had made, searing her consciousness every time her wrist brushed against something. But as the days passed, the ache began to dull, and the mark became less of an intrusion and more of a part of her. It was a reminder of the world she had entered, a world that was no longer just a distant story or myth.
Her nights were filled with restlessness. Every dream was haunted by wolves shadowed figures with glowing eyes, circling her in the darkness. They weren't the same wolves she had heard about in stories; these creatures were more real, more dangerous. And they weren't just in her dreams anymore.
Lysander had warned her about the pull. It was stronger than she had ever imagined. Even during the day, she could feel it a constant, gnawing sensation that tugged at her, urging her to find the source of the power that bound her to this world. But no matter how hard she tried to understand, it remained elusive.
And then, one evening, the peace of the forest was shattered.
Alina had been walking alone, trying to clear her mind, when a sudden rustle in the underbrush made her stop. Her heart leaped in her chest, and her senses went on high alert. The air felt thick, charged with something she couldn't name. She reached for the knife she carried, its hilt cold against her palm, though she had never needed it before. It was more for comfort than for protection.
The noise came again, closer this time, and Alina's breath caught in her throat. It wasn't the usual rustle of the wind or the movement of animals. This sound was deliberate. Someone or something was moving toward her.
She turned, her pulse quickening, but there was no one in sight.
Then, out of the shadows, a figure appeared.
It wasn't Lysander.
The man who stepped into the clearing was tall, his build muscular but not bulky. His face was partially obscured by a hood, but even from a distance, Alina could feel the menace radiating from him. His eyes, dark and unyielding, locked onto hers, and in that moment, she knew he wasn't just another traveler lost in the woods. He wasn't human. At least, not entirely.
"You're in the wrong place," the man's voice was low, rough, and carried a warning in its tone.
Alina didn't respond immediately. She studied him, her fingers tightening around the knife. He was no ordinary man. The way he stood confident and predatory told her everything she needed to know. This was no chance encounter. He had come for a reason.
"I could say the same to you," she said, her voice steady despite the growing unease in her chest.
The man's lips curled into a half-smile. "You don't know what you've gotten yourself into, little wolf."
The phrase sent a chill down her spine. Little wolf. The words echoed in her mind, laced with something darker, something threatening. Her eyes narrowed.
"I don't know what you mean," she replied, keeping her tone as calm as possible. "Who are you?"
The man stepped closer, his movements smooth and fluid, like a predator sizing up its prey. "I'm someone who knows the truth of what you are," he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. "You may have chosen to walk among them, but that doesn't mean they'll protect you."
Alina's heart skipped a beat. The wolves. She thought of Lysander, of the bond she had sworn to embrace, and the fear she had been trying to suppress suddenly rose to the surface. "What do you want?"
His smile widened, and his eyes glinted with malice. "What I want is to make sure you never get to choose. You see, others think like me. Those who believe that wolves should remain wolves, and humans should remain humans. There are people out there who won't let you walk freely between the two worlds. You've already marked yourself. And now, I'm here to make sure you don't forget where your true allegiance lies."
The weight of his words hit her with a sickening force. He was threatening her. But who was he, and what did he know about her bloodline?
"I don't need your threats," Alina said, her voice hardening, though doubt lingered in her chest. "Leave me alone, or I'll make you."
The man chuckled, as though her words were nothing more than a game. "Make me? Do you think you can stop me? You're not ready for what's coming. And when the real wolves come for you, you'll understand just how little power you have."
Before Alina could respond, he turned and melted back into the shadows, disappearing into the underbrush as quickly as he had appeared. The silence that followed was deafening.
Alina stood frozen, her body trembling with a mix of fear and adrenaline. Her mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. Who was that man? And why had he threatened her in such a cryptic way?
It wasn't until she felt the unmistakable presence of another figure that she realized how much time had passed.
Lysander emerged from the trees, his face hard, his eyes scanning the area with precision. His gaze fell on her, and in an instant, the concern in his expression shifted to something darker something that seemed to crackle in the air.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice urgent.
Alina shook her head, though the fear still gripped her chest. "I'm fine. But… someone was here. He knew who I was. What I am."
Lysander's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "What did he say?"
"He said I wasn't ready. That others thought wolves should stay wolves, and humans should stay human. That I was marked, and that meant I had no choice in the matter."
Lysander cursed under his breath, stepping closer to her, his hands hovering as if he wanted to touch her but didn't know if he should. "We need to leave," he said, his voice low but firm. "There's a faction of our kind rogue wolves who want to take control. They don't believe in the balance we've fought to maintain. They'll stop at nothing to eliminate anyone who threatens that balance. And you, Alina…" His gaze softened, but the intensity of his words didn't waver. "You're a threat to them."
A knot formed in her stomach. She had barely begun to understand the world she had stepped into, and now it seemed as though enemies were already lining up against her. The wolves were supposed to protect her, but others wanted her dead.
Her heart pounded as Lysander's words sank in. "What now?" she whispered, the reality of the situation hitting her full force.
"We fight," Lysander said, his voice hardening. "And we do it together."