The clearing was eerily quiet, the tension heavy in the air. Selene sat on a fallen log, her fingers tracing the worn handle of her knife. Every breath felt too loud, every rustle of the wind too sharp. Damon stood a few feet away, pacing, his jaw tight and his shoulders tense. Alaric leaned casually against a tree, his calculating eyes never leaving her.
Selene couldn't shake the image of the wolf—the way it had saved them twice now, the way its glowing eyes had locked onto hers as if it knew her.
"What is it?" she finally asked, breaking the silence. "The wolf. Why does it keep appearing?"
Damon stopped pacing, glancing at her before looking away. His silence was answer enough—he didn't know.
"It's not a coincidence," Alaric said, his voice calm but pointed. "Creatures like that don't act without purpose. It's connected to you somehow."
Selene frowned. "How could it be connected to me? I don't even understand what I am."
Alaric smirked faintly. "That's the problem, isn't it? You don't know. But Cyrus does."
★★★
The mention of Cyrus sent a chill down Selene's spine. She looked at Damon, searching his face for answers. "If Cyrus knows so much about me, why hasn't he done whatever it is he's planning? Why is he waiting?"
Damon hesitated, his gaze flicking to Alaric before returning to her. "Because he needs something—someone—to unlock it. He needs you alive, but only until he gets what he wants. After that…"
Selene's stomach turned as his words trailed off. She didn't need him to finish the sentence to know what he meant.
"We can't keep running forever," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "If Cyrus is hunting me, then I need to know why. I need to know what this inheritance is and why it matters so much."
Alaric straightened, his expression sharpening. "There's someone who can help you with that. Someone who knew your father—who knows the truth about your bloodline."
Damon's head snapped toward him. "No. It's too dangerous. If Cyrus finds out we're going there—"
"Do you have a better plan?" Alaric interrupted, his voice cool and dismissive.
★★★
Selene stood, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "Enough. I'm tired of being left in the dark. If there's someone who knows the truth, I need to see them. Damon, you don't get to decide this for me."
Damon's jaw clenched, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But we'll need to move carefully. If Cyrus gets wind of this…"
"He won't," Alaric said confidently. "I know how to cover our tracks."
Selene wasn't sure if she trusted Alaric, but right now, he was her only lead.
★★★
The journey to the contact's location was grueling. The terrain grew steeper, the forest thicker, and Selene's body protested every step. Damon led the way, his movements precise and deliberate, while Alaric brought up the rear, his presence both reassuring and unnerving.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, the air grew colder. Selene shivered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders.
"How much farther?" she asked, her voice strained with fatigue.
"Not far," Damon replied, glancing back at her. "Just keep moving."
Alaric chuckled softly. "The pup's holding up better than I thought."
Selene shot him a glare. "I'm not a pup."
"You're barely more than that," he replied, his tone teasing but laced with an edge. "But maybe there's more fight in you than I gave you credit for."
★★★
They reached a secluded clearing just as twilight set in. At the center stood a small stone cottage, its chimney releasing a thin curl of smoke into the darkening sky. The sight of it filled Selene with a strange mix of hope and dread.
"Who lives here?" she asked.
"A friend," Alaric said vaguely. "Or as close to a friend as someone like me can have."
Damon didn't look convinced, but he stepped forward and knocked on the door.
It creaked open, revealing an older woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes. Her gray hair was pulled back into a braid, and she held a staff that looked more like a weapon than a walking aid.
"Alaric Vale," she said, her voice cool but curious. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Alaric gestured to Selene. "We need your help, Lyanna. This is Selene Thorne."
Lyanna's eyes flicked to Selene, narrowing slightly. For a moment, she said nothing, then stepped aside to let them in.
★★★
Inside, the cottage was warm and cluttered, its shelves filled with jars of herbs and strange artifacts. A fire crackled in the hearth, casting flickering shadows on the walls.
"Why is she here?" Lyanna asked, her tone sharp as she closed the door behind them.
"She doesn't know what she is," Alaric replied. "And Cyrus is hunting her. If we don't figure this out soon, it won't matter who she is—she won't survive."
Lyanna studied Selene, her gaze probing. "Do you know what your father did to protect you?"
Selene blinked, startled. "No. He never told me anything about—"
"Of course he didn't," Lyanna interrupted, her voice hard. "He was trying to keep you safe. But keeping you ignorant was a mistake."
Selene's hands balled into fists. "Then tell me. Tell me what he was protecting me from."
Lyanna's expression softened, but only slightly. "It's not just what he was protecting you from. It's what he was protecting you for."
Selene stared at Lyanna, the older woman's words hanging in the air like a storm cloud. What he was protecting you for. The idea sent a shiver down her spine.
"What does that mean?" Selene asked, her voice trembling. "What was my father protecting me for?"
Lyanna didn't answer immediately. Instead, she moved to a shelf, pulling down an ancient book bound in cracked leather. She placed it on the table, opening it to a page filled with symbols and writing Selene couldn't read.
"This is the legacy of your bloodline," Lyanna said, her voice low but steady. "Your family wasn't just any Alpha line—they were guardians. Keepers of something ancient and powerful."
Damon stepped closer, his brow furrowed. "Guardians of what?"
Lyanna's sharp eyes flicked to him. "The Aegis."
★★★
Selene frowned. "The Aegis? What is that?"
"It's not a 'what,'" Lyanna replied. "It's a force. A source of balance and power that binds our kind to the natural order. Your bloodline has protected it for generations, keeping it hidden from those who would misuse it."
Alaric folded his arms, his expression skeptical. "And let me guess—Cyrus wants it for himself."
Lyanna nodded. "He's spent years piecing together the truth. But he can't access the Aegis without the key. And that key, Selene, is you."
★★★
Selene's heart sank. "Me? How? I don't even know what I'm doing."
Lyanna leaned forward, her gaze intense. "It's not about what you know. It's about what you are. Your blood is the lock, and your will is the key. If Cyrus gets his hands on you, he'll force you to unlock the Aegis, and he'll twist its power to suit his desires. He'll destroy everything."
Damon's jaw tightened. "Then we can't let him get anywhere near her."
Lyanna's lips pressed into a thin line. "It's not that simple. The Aegis is tied to Selene's emotions, her strength. If she doesn't learn to control it, it will destroy her as surely as Cyrus would."
★★★
The weight of Lyanna's words settled heavily on Selene. The thought of being a key to something so powerful—and so dangerous—made her stomach churn. She wanted to run, to pretend none of this was real. But she couldn't.
"What do I have to do?" she asked quietly.
Lyanna studied her for a long moment before speaking. "You have to face what you fear most. The Aegis will only respond to someone who has accepted their true self—strengths, weaknesses, everything. Until you do that, you're vulnerable."
Selene nodded slowly, though doubt gnawed at her. "And what happens if I fail?"
"Then Cyrus wins," Lyanna said simply. "And so does your fear."
★★★
Before Selene could respond, a sudden crash outside the cottage made them all freeze. Damon was the first to move, his blade drawn in an instant. Alaric followed, his expression grim as he positioned himself near the door.
"Tracks," Alaric muttered, glancing through a crack in the shutters. "Two, maybe three. They've found us."
Lyanna cursed under her breath. "They must have followed your scent. We don't have time to waste."
Damon turned to Selene, his eyes fierce. "Stay here. We'll handle this."
"No," Selene said firmly, gripping her knife. "I'm not hiding anymore."
Damon hesitated, but the resolve in her voice left no room for argument. "Fine. But stay behind me."
★★★
The door burst open, and three trackers stormed in. The first lunged at Damon, his blade cutting through the air. Damon met him head-on, their clash echoing in the small space.
The second tracker rushed toward Selene, his eyes gleaming with malice. She dodged his strike, her knife slashing out and catching his arm. He growled in pain, but his attack didn't slow.
"You're not taking her," Damon growled, his blade slicing through the first tracker's defenses.
Alaric moved with precision, his blade finding its mark in the third tracker's chest. "These aren't Cyrus's best," he muttered. "He's testing us."
Selene's heart pounded as she fought to keep the second tracker at bay. He was stronger, faster, but she was determined not to fall. She ducked another swing, her knife cutting a deep line across his ribs.
The tracker snarled, grabbing her wrist and forcing her to the ground. She gasped as pain shot through her arm, her knife slipping from her grasp.
"Got you now," he hissed, his hand tightening around her throat.
★★★
Before Selene could panic, a flash of black fur streaked through the room. The massive wolf slammed into the tracker, its jaws closing around his neck with a sickening crunch.
The room fell silent as the wolf turned to face Selene, its glowing eyes locking onto hers once again.
Damon stepped forward cautiously, his blade still in hand. "Selene, stay back."
But Selene didn't move. She couldn't. The wolf wasn't attacking—it was waiting. Watching.
"What do you want?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
The wolf tilted its head slightly, then stepped back, its gaze shifting to the door. It let out a low growl, as if urging them to follow.
★★★
Lyanna broke the silence. "It knows where you need to go."
Selene looked at her, confusion and fear warring in her chest. "How can you be so sure?"
"Because the Aegis is calling it, just as it's calling you," Lyanna said. "You need to follow it, Selene. It will lead you to the truth."
Damon frowned. "And what happens when Cyrus catches up?"
Lyanna's gaze hardened. "Then you'll fight. Because if she doesn't reach the Aegis before he does, it's over."
Selene's gaze remained locked on the wolf, its glowing eyes steady and unreadable. The silence in the room felt deafening, broken only by the crackling of the fire.
"You want me to follow you?" she asked softly, the question feeling absurd even as the words left her mouth.
The wolf didn't move, but the intensity in its gaze deepened, as though it was waiting for her to decide.
"You can't trust it," Damon said, his voice sharp and wary. "We don't even know what it is or what it wants."
Alaric crossed his arms, his tone calm but biting. "And yet, it's saved her twice. That's more than I can say for anyone else here."
Damon shot him a glare, but before he could respond, Lyanna stepped forward, her staff tapping against the floor.
"The wolf isn't here by chance," she said, her voice firm. "It's tied to the Aegis—and to Selene. If it's leading her somewhere, it's because she needs to go."
---
Selene's chest tightened. She didn't want to trust the wolf, not entirely, but there was a pull in her heart that she couldn't ignore. It felt like a thread connecting her to something far bigger than herself.
"What if this is a trap?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lyanna's expression softened. "Every path forward carries risk, Selene. But staying here guarantees failure. The wolf is your guide. Follow it."
---
The wolf let out a low growl and turned, its massive form disappearing through the doorway and into the night. Selene hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward.
"Wait," Damon said, grabbing her arm. "You don't have to do this now. We can find another way—"
"There is no other way," Selene said, cutting him off. "You heard Lyanna. If I don't go, Cyrus wins."
Damon's hand dropped to his side, but the frustration in his eyes was clear. "Then I'm going with you."
Alaric smirked faintly. "Of course you are. Someone has to keep the hero complex alive."
Selene ignored them both, her focus already shifting to the wolf's fading silhouette outside.
---
The night was cold, the air sharp as Selene stepped into the clearing. The wolf moved ahead of her, its movements silent and deliberate. Damon and Alaric followed close behind, their footsteps crunching softly against the frosted ground.
"Where do you think it's taking us?" she asked quietly, her voice carrying in the stillness.
"Somewhere dangerous," Damon muttered, his grip on his blade tightening.
"Everywhere is dangerous," Alaric added, his tone laced with dry humor. "Might as well enjoy the mystery while it lasts."
Selene shot him a look but didn't respond. Her focus remained on the wolf, its black fur blending almost seamlessly with the shadows of the trees.
---
Hours passed, the forest growing darker and more oppressive with each step. Selene's legs ached, but she pushed forward, the wolf's unwavering pace keeping her moving.
Suddenly, it stopped, its ears perking up as it let out a low growl.
"What is it?" Damon asked, his voice hushed.
Before anyone could answer, the sound of snapping branches echoed through the trees. Selene's heart leapt into her throat as shapes emerged from the darkness—trackers.
"Of course," Alaric muttered, drawing his blade.
Damon moved in front of Selene, his stance protective. "Stay behind me."
Selene gripped her knife, her pulse racing. "I'm not hiding."
The first tracker lunged, and the fight erupted.
---
Damon met the charge head-on, his blade clashing with the tracker's in a burst of sparks. Alaric moved like a shadow, his strikes precise and deadly.
Selene's instincts screamed at her to flee, but she forced herself to stand her ground. Another tracker rushed at her, his eyes glinting with malice.
"Not this time," she whispered, her voice steady despite the fear thrumming through her veins.
She ducked his swing, slashing out with her knife and catching his arm. He growled in pain but didn't slow, his movements relentless.
"Selene, move!" Damon shouted, his voice sharp.
She spun just in time to see another tracker closing in. Her knife found its mark, the blade sinking into his side. He howled, stumbling back, but her victory was short-lived.
A third tracker tackled her to the ground, his weight crushing the air from her lungs.
---
Selene struggled, her hands scrabbling for her knife, but the tracker's grip was unyielding.
"Got you now," he snarled, his teeth bared in a cruel grin.
Before he could strike, the wolf surged forward, its massive form slamming into the tracker and knocking him off her. The tracker screamed as the wolf's jaws closed around his throat, silencing him in an instant.
Selene scrambled to her feet, her chest heaving. The wolf turned to her, its glowing eyes piercing through the darkness.
"Are you all right?" Damon called, his voice strained as he fended off another attacker.
"Yes," Selene said, though her voice trembled.
---
The fight ended as abruptly as it had begun. The last of the trackers fell under Alaric's blade, and the forest grew silent once more. Selene leaned against a tree, her body trembling with exhaustion and adrenaline.
The wolf stood nearby, its black fur streaked with blood, though it didn't appear wounded. It watched her closely, its expression unreadable.
"What is it waiting for?" Damon asked, his tone wary.
Lyanna's voice echoed in Selene's memory: It will lead you to the truth.
"It's waiting for me," Selene said, stepping forward.
The wolf let out a low growl, then turned and began walking again, its movements slower this time. Selene followed, her steps cautious but resolute.
---
They emerged into a clearing bathed in moonlight, the trees forming a natural circle around a small stone altar. The sight of it made Selene's breath catch. She didn't know why, but something about the place felt… familiar.
"This is it," Alaric said, his voice unusually solemn. "The beginning of your answers."
Selene's heart pounded as she approached the altar, the wolf standing beside her like a silent sentinel. Her hand hovered over the worn surface of the stone, a strange energy humming beneath her fingertips.
"What happens now?" she whispered.
Damon stepped closer, his voice quiet but firm. "You find out who you really are."