The howl echoed through the trees, long and mournful, sending a shiver racing down Elena's spine. She glanced at the stranger, whose sharp features were tense with unease.
"What does that mean?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"It means we're out of time," he said, his glowing amber eyes scanning the forest. "We need to move. Now."
Elena hesitated, her instincts screaming to demand answers, but the urgency in his voice left no room for argument. She followed him as he led her deeper into the woods, his strides swift and purposeful.
"This doesn't feel like moving to safety," she said, struggling to keep up.
"Trust me," he replied without looking back. "We're avoiding a fight."
"A fight with what?"
He paused, turning to face her. "The pack."
Her blood ran cold. "The wolves? The ones we just saw?"
"They're scouts," he explained. "The howl you heard? That was a call to the rest of the pack. And if they find us here…"
He didn't finish the sentence, but the grim look in his eyes said enough.
Elena's breath quickened. "What do they want?"
"They're protecting their territory," he said, his tone clipped. "And they see you as a threat."
"Me?" she asked, incredulous. "I'm just a human! Why would I be a threat to a pack of wolves?"
His gaze darkened. "Because you're not just a human, Elena."
Her heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean by that?"
He hesitated, as if weighing how much to reveal. "This forest has rules. Rules that humans and wolves alike are bound by. But you… you're different. You don't belong to either side, and that makes you dangerous."
"I don't understand," she said, shaking her head. "How can I be dangerous when I don't even know what's going on?"
He opened his mouth to respond, but another howl cut through the air, this one closer and more aggressive.
"No time to explain," he said. "We need to keep moving."
Elena followed him, her heart pounding as they weaved through the trees. The forest seemed alive, the shadows shifting and the air heavy with tension. Every crack of a branch or rustle of leaves made her jump.
After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a small clearing. The moonlight poured down, illuminating the stranger's tense figure.
"We should be safe here for now," he said, his voice low.
Elena leaned against a tree, trying to catch her breath. "Safe? In the middle of the woods? Are you kidding me?"
"I don't joke about survival," he said, his tone sharp.
She glared at him, her frustration boiling over. "Enough with the cryptic warnings! I deserve to know what's happening. Who are you? What are those wolves? And why do they care about me?"
He stared at her for a long moment, his jaw clenched. Finally, he said, "My name is Damien Kane. I'm the Alpha of the Silverclaw Pack."
Her breath caught. "You're… one of them?"
"Yes," he admitted. "But my pack isn't like the one you saw. The wolves in these woods—the Blackfang Pack—don't follow the same rules. They're dangerous, ruthless. And they see anyone outside their ranks as a threat."
"So why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
His amber eyes softened, just for a moment. "Because I owe it to you."
"What does that mean?"
He hesitated, as if torn between telling her the truth and keeping it hidden. "You'll find out in time. For now, you just need to trust me."
Elena let out a bitter laugh. "Trust you? A man who turns into a wolf and drags me into the middle of some pack war? Yeah, sure, sounds great."
"I'm trying to protect you," he said, his voice firm.
"Protect me from what?" she demanded.
"From them," he said, gesturing toward the dark forest. "And from the truth about yourself."
Before she could respond, a deep growl rumbled from the shadows.
Damien immediately stepped in front of her, his body tensing as his eyes glowed brighter.
"They found us," he muttered.
Elena's stomach twisted as three wolves emerged from the trees. These weren't like the ones from before. They were larger, their black fur bristling and their eyes glowing an unnatural red.
The largest wolf stepped forward, its lips curling into a snarl. Then, to Elena's shock, it spoke.
"Damien Kane," it growled, its voice guttural and menacing. "What are you doing in our territory?"
"Protecting someone who doesn't belong here," Damien replied, his voice calm but laced with authority.
The wolf's eyes shifted to Elena, and a cruel grin spread across its muzzle. "Ah, the human. Or is she?"
Elena's knees felt weak, but Damien didn't waver. "She's under my protection," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The wolf laughed, a sound that sent chills down her spine. "Your protection means nothing here. You're outnumbered, Alpha."
Damien's lips curled into a smirk. "I've never been afraid of numbers."
The tension in the air was palpable as the wolves closed in. Damien glanced back at Elena. "Stay behind me. No matter what happens, don't run."
Elena nodded, her throat too dry to speak.
The first wolf lunged, and Damien met it head-on, his body shifting mid-air. In a flash, he transformed into a massive silver wolf, his fur shimmering in the moonlight. The clash of teeth and claws was deafening, and Elena could only watch in terror as the battle unfolded.
The second wolf darted toward her, but Damien intercepted it with a ferocious snarl. The third wolf circled, its red eyes locked on Elena.
Her hands trembled as she searched for anything to defend herself. She grabbed a thick branch from the ground, holding it like a weapon as the wolf crept closer.
"Stay back," she said, her voice shaking.
The wolf laughed again. "You're brave, little one. But bravery won't save you."
Before it could strike, Damien leapt between them, his powerful jaws clamping down on the wolf's neck. The creature howled in pain before collapsing, its body going still.
The remaining wolves retreated, their snarls echoing through the trees as they disappeared into the shadows.
Damien shifted back into his human form, his chest heaving and his body streaked with cuts.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Elena nodded, though her legs felt like they might give out at any moment. "What… what was that?"
"That," Damien said, his eyes still glowing faintly, "was just the beginning."
To be continued…