The night had settled uneasily over the packhouse, the moon casting an eerie glow across the forest. Talia sat by the window, her knees drawn to her chest, watching the treetops sway in the breeze. She couldn't sleep. Something felt off, a heavy presence lingering just beyond her senses.
Her wolf stirred uneasily, pacing in her mind. Something's wrong, it whispered, its voice tinged with an edge of fear.
Talia's breath caught as a shadow shifted at the edge of the forest. Her eyes narrowed, searching for movement. Then she saw it—two glowing eyes staring back at her from the darkness.
A chill crept down her spine as she held its gaze, unable to look away. The figure didn't move, its stillness more unsettling than if it had charged. It was watching her, a silent warning in its presence.
Her hand instinctively reached for the windowpane, her fingers trembling. Who—or what—is that?
Before she could make sense of it, a sharp knock at the door shattered the silence.
"Talia?" Kael's voice was muffled but urgent.
She tore her gaze from the window and hurried to the door, unlocking it. Kael stepped inside, his presence commanding, his eyes scanning her face.
"You felt it too," he said, his voice low.
Talia nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was there—at the edge of the forest. Watching me."
Kael's expression darkened. "The Shadow Wolf."
The name sent a jolt through her. "What does it want?"
Kael closed the door behind him, his stance tense as if bracing for a fight. "It's not just here to scare you. It's testing us. Testing you."
Talia's frustration flared, her fear transforming into anger. "Why me? Why is it targeting me?"
Kael hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Because of what you are. The bloodline you carry."
Her breath hitched. "You've mentioned that before. But what does it mean, Kael?"
He looked away, his silence heavy with unspoken truths.
"Don't keep me in the dark," she demanded, stepping closer. "If this thing is after me, I deserve to know why."
Kael exhaled sharply, his shoulders slumping slightly. "There's a prophecy," he admitted. "It speaks of a wolf with a rare bloodline. One destined to unite the packs—or destroy them."
Talia's heart sank, the weight of his words pressing down on her. "And you think that's me?"
"The rogues think it's you," Kael said, his voice quiet but firm. "And if they're right, the Shadow Wolf won't stop until it either captures you—or kills you."
---
The next morning, Talia found herself on the training grounds, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Kael stood beside her, his arms crossed, his demeanor as unyielding as the stone beneath their feet.
"You're not just going to sit around and wait for the Shadow Wolf to strike again," he said. "You need to be ready."
Talia clenched her fists, the memory of the glowing eyes still vivid in her mind. "I'm not afraid of it."
"Good," Kael said, his lips twitching in the faintest hint of approval. "Because this will be the hardest fight of your life."
He turned to the pack members who had gathered, their murmurs falling silent under his commanding gaze. "This isn't just about Talia," he announced. "The Shadow Wolf is a threat to all of us. If we don't prepare, it will destroy everything we've built."
The wolves nodded in agreement, their resolve hardening.
Kael turned back to Talia. "You'll train with me. You need to learn how to fight both as a wolf and as a human. Your instincts are strong, but instincts alone won't save you."
---
The training was brutal. Kael pushed her harder than she thought possible, his every move calculated to expose her weaknesses.
"Faster," he barked as she dodged his strikes.
Talia growled in frustration, her wolf fighting to surface. "I'm trying!"
"You're holding back," he said, his voice cold. "You're afraid of losing control."
His words stung, but they also ignited a fire within her. She lashed out, her movements sharper, her strikes more precise. Kael blocked her punches effortlessly, his smirk infuriating.
"Better," he said, stepping back. "But not good enough."
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon, Talia's body ached, her muscles screaming in protest. She collapsed onto the grass, her chest heaving.
Kael crouched beside her, offering her a water bottle. "You did well today," he said, his tone softer than before.
Talia accepted the bottle but didn't reply, her exhaustion too overwhelming.
Kael hesitated, his gaze lingering on her. "You're stronger than you realize, Talia. Don't let fear hold you back."
She met his eyes, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Why do you care so much, Kael? Why bring me back after all this time?"
His expression darkened, guilt flickering in his eyes. "Because I failed you once," he admitted. "And I won't make the same mistake again."
---
That night, as Talia lay in bed, her body sore and her mind restless, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched.
A faint scratching sound pulled her from her thoughts. She sat up, her wolf on high alert.
Cautiously, she approached the window, her heart pounding. Carved into the wooden frame were words that sent a chill through her entire being:
You cannot escape your destiny.
Talia's hands trembled as she backed away, her wolf growling in defiance. The Shadow Wolf's warning was clear—this was only the beginning.