The quiet in the clearing felt almost as frightening as the chase had been. Luna's chest hurt from running, and her heart raced fast against her ribs.
The shadows stopped at the edge of the clearing as if something invisible was holding them back. They twisted just beyond the trees, moving strangely like they were alive.
But they wouldn't come closer.
Why not?
Luna looked at Cade, but his face was hard to read.
"That wasn't your pack's doing," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Cade shook his head. "No." His silver eyes glanced at the shadows, analyzing, "That was something old. Something worse."
Luna felt a chill. Worse than the Shadow Pack?
Even though she was still scared, another thought hit her: If these things were out here, why had she never heard about them
Her hands tightened into fists. "What are they?"
Cade sighed, finally facing her ultimately. "Legends call them the Forsaken. They were wolves cursed to lose their bodies and become nothing but hungry. They feed on fear. And once they mark you…" His expression darkened. "They will never stop hunting."
A cold feeling spread through her.
Marked.
The word stuck to her like a shadow.
She took a slow, shaky breath. "So, you're saying they will keep coming for me?"
A muscle twitches in Cade's jaw. "Yes."
Luna felt her blood rush from her face. "Great," she said quietly. "That's just perfect."
Cade didn't respond. His face was unreadable, but something about his stance changed; he seemed tenser and more alert.
He was hiding something.
Luna narrowed her eyes. "You knew they were here, didn't you?"
Cade met her gaze, not backing down. "Yes."
She clenched her fists tighter. "And you brought me through the forest anyway?"
His expression grew serious. "You don't understand. The Forsaken don't just appear. Something woke them up."
Luna's breath caught in her throat. "Woke them up?"
Cade nodded. "They were resting for years, held back by magic as old as this land. But something changed. They were waiting for you."
A sharp fear cut through her. "No way. I've never even heard of them before tonight."
"It doesn't matter," Cade said darkly. "They've heard of you."
A cold wind blew through the trees, bringing a terrible smell.
Luna's stomach twisted.
Then she felt it.
A burning sensation spread sharp and hot across the side of her neck. She gasped, pressing her palm against the skin.
Cade was in front of her instantly. "Luna," he said in a rough voice. "Let me see."
She hesitated.
His fingers brushed against her wrist, softer than she expected. "Please."
Something in his voice made her lower her hand.
Cade lifted her chin, looking at the side of her neck. His expression darkened. "Damn it."
Luna's heart raced. "What? What is it?"
Cade breathed out sharply. "You really don't know what you are, do you?"
Luna felt confused. "What are you talking about?"
He paused for half a second, then stepped back, his voice quiet but firm. "You're the reason they woke up, Luna. You're the key to something bigger."
Her breath caught in her throat.
Before she could say anything, the shadows of the trees moved forward.
A sound like a thousand voices screaming at once filled the air. The invisible barrier keeping them back broke apart.
The Forsaken charged.
Luna barely had time to think before Cade grabbed her wrist, pulling her toward the trees.
Luna sprinted through the forest, her heart racing. Behind her, the Forsaken surged a dark tide, relentless and unnatural. She could feel their presence but dared not look back. Cade dragged her along, his grip firm, branches whipping against her face.
The whispers grew louder, a chorus of hunger. They wanted her. A root snagged her foot. She fell, breathless and stunned. Cade spun around, yanking her up. "Keep moving!" he shouted.
Then, something shifted in the air. A cold, electric pulse. The shadows faltered, recoiling as if repelled. Silence enveloped them. Luna gasped, trying to process what just happened. "They… stopped?"
Cade's silver eyes scanned the darkness. He didn't respond immediately. "No," he finally said, tension etched on his face. "They're waiting."
Cold dread washed over her. Cade stepped back, his expression serious. "Show me your neck." Luna hesitated, fear creeping in. "Luna," he urged, softer but urgent. "I need to see it." Reluctantly, she moved her hair aside. Cade's face darkened. "Damn it."
"What?" she shot back. "What's there?"
He sighed. "A mark."
Her heart raced. "What kind of mark?"
His gaze met hers, shadowed with worry. "The kind that doesn't fade."
She touched her skin where the Forsaken had made contact. It burned, but no blood or wound marred her flesh, only a strange, lingering heat. Cade ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "This isn't good."
Luna scoffed. "Oh, really? I hadn't noticed."
He glared at her. "That mark means they claimed you. The Forsaken don't just kill; they consume and corrupt. And now, they've chosen you for something worse."
Her stomach churned. "Chosen me for what?"
Cade hesitated. "I don't know."
Anger ignited within her. "You brought me out here knowing something was wrong. You knew they were watching me. Now I have this cursed mark, and you don't even know what it means?"
Cade's eyes blazed. "I know it means you don't have much time."
Luna froze. "What?"
He took a deep breath. "If the Forsaken marked you, they won't stop. Ever. Unless we find a way to break it."
"Then how do we do that?" For the first time, uncertainty flashed across Cade's face. "There's only one way I know, but it's not easy."
Luna lifted her chin, determination simmering. "Tell me."
After a pause, Cade spoke. "We have to find the White Wolf."
The name struck her like lightning. The White Wolf is legendary, elusive, a creature said to bend fate. "No one's seen the White Wolf in years," Luna said. Cade met her gaze firmly. "Then we better start looking."
The wind howled through the trees, a haunting sound. Deep in the shadows, the Forsaken whispered her name.
The wind cut through the trees, cold and merciless. Luna pulled her cloak tighter around herself, but the chill that crawled up her spine had nothing to do with the night air.
The Forsaken had marked her.
And now, she had a ticking clock in her life.
Cade was already moving, his strides long and sure as he led her deeper into the forest. His silver eyes darted to the shadows, scanning for threats. Luna tried to match his pace, but the dull burn on her neck made her feel off-balance like something inside her was shifting.
"You need to tell me everything," she said, her breath visible in the cold night air.
Cade didn't stop walking. "I already did."
"No, you told me what the mark means. But you didn't tell me why they chose me. Why now?"
At that, Cade finally halted. He turned to face her, his gaze unreadable. "Because you're not just some wolf, Luna. Whether you realize it or not, you're different. The Forsaken don't mark random prey. They mark what they want to claim. And they don't stop until they get it."
Luna swallowed hard, her heart slamming against her ribs. "Claim me for what?"
Cade exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. "There are rumors and whispers about a prophecy. That a wolf would rise, one who could challenge the Forsaken and break their curse. That's why the Shadow Pack has been hunting you."
Luna felt the weight of his words settles over her like a shroud. A prophecy? It sounded impossible.
"I'm just a rogue," she muttered. "I don't have a pack. I don't have a bloodline that means anything. How could I be some kind of chosen wolf?"
Cade's jaw tightened. "That's what we have to find out."
Luna shook her head. "No. No, this doesn't make sense. I've been running for years, hiding. I've never been important to anyone. Why would they suddenly decide I matter now?"
Cade studied her for a long moment before he said, "Maybe you were never meant to be found until now."
The words sent a shiver down her spine.
Before she could reply, a distant howl echoed through the forest. A low, guttural sound, filled with something more than just instinct.
Hunger.
Cade's body went rigid. "They're close."
Luna's pulse pounded in her ears. She scanned the darkness, her heightened senses tingling with unease.
"How do we find the White Wolf?" she asked, forcing herself to focus. "Where do we start?"
Cade hesitated, then reached into the pocket of his leather jacket, pulling out a small, folded piece of parchment.
Luna frowned. "What is that?"
"A map," Cade said. "A very old one. And the only clue we have."
Luna took it, unfolding it carefully. The paper was yellowed with age, and the ink faded but was still legible. It depicted the territory in rough lines, but her eyes were drawn to the symbol at the center an ancient rune, one she didn't recognize.
"This leads to the White Wolf?"
"If we're lucky." Cade's expression was grim. "And we don't have much time."
A rustling sound snapped their attention to the trees.
Luna's breath hitched. "They're here."
Cade tucked the map back into his jacket. "Run."
They sprinted.
Luna's heart pounded as she wove through the trees, her legs burning with exertion. Behind them, the shadows slithered and moved faster than they should have been able to.
Cade was right beside her, his body tense with raw energy. "If we can get to the river, we might lose them!"
Luna didn't question him. She just ran.
The whispers behind them turned to hissing.
A figure lunged out of the shadows.
Luna barely had time to react before it slammed into her, knocking the wind from her lungs. She hit the ground hard, pain exploding through her ribs.
The creature was on her before she could move. Half-wolf, half-shadow, its eyes glowed with eerie hunger.
It grabbed her wrists, forcing them to the ground.
Luna thrashed, panic seizing her.
"Get off me!" she snarled, trying to shift—but her body wouldn't obey.
The mark on her neck burned.
The creature leaned closer, a guttural growl vibrating from its chest. Its mouth opened revealing fangs black as night.
"Luna!" Cade's voice was distant.
No.
She would not be taken.
Something inside her snapped.
A surge of energy exploded through her body, white-hot and electric. The creature jerked, recoiling. Its grip loosened.
Luna didn't hesitate. She wrenched free, shoving both hands against its chest—and suddenly, a light flashed from her fingertips.
The creature howled in agony, its body disintegrating into mist.
Luna scrambled back, breathing hard.
Cade reached her a second later, grabbing her by the shoulders. "Are you hurt?"
Luna shook her head, dazed. "What just happened?"
Cade stared at the space where the creature had been.
"You used magic," he said.
Luna's blood ran cold.
"No," she whispered. "I don't have magic."
Cade's grip on her tightened. "You do now."
The realization hit her like a thunderbolt. The mark.
Had the Forsaken's touch awakened something inside her?
The shadows in the trees shifted, restless. The night was watching.
Cade exhaled. "We need to go. Now."Luna didn't argue. Because deep in her bones, she knew the truth. She was changing. And whatever was happening to her It was only the beginning.