Kaelen walked deeper into the forest, his body moving fluidly in his wolf form. Every step was calculated, every breath deep. He knew he had to act quickly, find a way to distract the hunters before they got too close. The leaves rustled in the wind, the smell of damp soil filled the air. As he moved forward, movement caught his attention.Another wolf, obviously from a more peaceful pack, stood there, observing him without hostility. Kaelen stopped, raising his head slightly in respect. The wolf approached slowly and greeted him, his gaze calm and calm.“Are you hunting tonight?” he asked with almost familiar simplicity.Kaelen thought for a moment before nodding.— Yes. I need something to distract the humans.The wolf tilted his head slightly, intrigued but not trying to ask too many questions.—Then let's hunt together.Kaelen observed his interlocutor. He wasn't threatening; his energy was calm, almost soothing. Perhaps this impromptu alliance would be useful to him. He nodded.T
Kaelen sat down opposite Alma, his gaze dark, his body still tense with anger and the urgency of the situation. He knew she must understand the magnitude of what she had just unleashed."Listen to me," he murmured in a deep voice, each word carrying the weight of a warning. "If the alarm has been sounded, the Shadow Hunters will soon appear."Alma blinked, her throat suddenly dry.“The Shadow Hunters?” she repeated under her breath.Kaelen nodded slowly, her jaw clenched.—These aren't ordinary hunters, Alma. They aren't the frightened villagers with their torches and rusty rifles. They… They know what they're hunting. And they have no mercy.A terrible shudder ran through Alma's body. She felt a sudden heat rise within her, a cold fear that instantly knotted her stomach.“So… they’re going to hunt down all the wolves?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.Kaelen stared at her intensely, then nodded.—All the wolves who have ventured into the human midst. And they won't stop until
Ezra raised an eyebrow, surprised by her sudden hesitation.— Uh… Yeah, why not.But he seemed intrigued, attentive to her behavior. She absolutely had to prevent him from pushing the questions too far. Because if Ezra discovered the truth, she knew he would never look at Alma the same way again. And that… She wasn't ready to face it. Not now. Not until she found a solution.They had barely moved away from the cabin when something happened. Alma felt her breath catch. Ahead of her, a crowd was advancing slowly, weapons of all kinds in their hands. Guns, knives, torches… She heard a few murmurs, muffled bursts of voices, all carrying the same message."There's a wolf nearby," a man called out as he saw them walking. "You shouldn't hang around outside. We saw it and heard it. We're all in danger. Those wolves don't spare anyone when they're hungry."Alma felt a sudden surge of heat rise within her. Her heart hammered in her chest, her muscles tensed with the instinct screaming at her to
Her muscles trembled, her skin seemed to burn from the inside out, as if the mutation had left an invisible imprint on her. She brought a trembling hand to her chest, feeling her heart hammer with incredible violence, as if to remind her that she had just narrowly escaped catastrophe.She took a deep breath, then gently pounded her fist against her chest, trying to catch her breath, to calm the rising pain inside her. But it wasn't just breath she'd lost. It was control. And this time, she knew she could no longer deny what she was.Alma felt her heart leap when a knock sounded on the door. Her still uneven breath stopped for a moment. She immediately thought of Kaelen. Had he heard her scream? Had he come to check on her? Anxiety knotted her stomach as she reached a hesitant hand for the handle.But when she finally opened the door, it wasn't Kaelen. It was Ezra, standing in front of her, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.His face was soft, almost shy, but his eyes betrayed a certain
He hesitated for a moment before adding the rest.Ethan: He asked me about something that happened last night. But I don't understand... Why ask me that? I have no memory of him and me last night.He pressed send and stared at the screen as if a reply would appear right then and there.For her part, Alma, still behind the cabin, was enjoying the scenery, her momentary tranquility barely disturbed by the sound of the notification. She frowned slightly as she read the message.Kaelen? Looking for Ethan? She didn't see what he was getting at.— I don't understand anything you're saying. Why would he come to see you without telling me?Ethan reread that answer several times. Alma's incomprehension only amplified his own unease. Something eluded him. Something he didn't remember. And yet, the feeling persisted, clinging to him like a shadow. He knew this wasn't going to end there. And that, one way or another, he would eventually understand. Whether he wanted to… or not.Ethan laughed nerv
The morning breeze gently caressed Alma's face as she settled behind the cabin, where the landscape stretched majestically before her. A vast forest, tinged with deep shades, stretched as far as the eye could see. The trees danced in the wind, their leaves rustling like a soothing melody.In the distance, the rocky peaks loomed in a light mist, giving the horizon an almost unreal appearance, like a painting frozen in time. The birds, invisible among the branches, sang their harmonious songs, filling the air with a captivating serenity.Alma let herself be filled with tranquility. For a few moments, she forgot everything: the throne, Ezra, everything. Here, she felt free, detached from the weight of her destiny. Her heart beat slowly, as if in sync with the murmur of nature.But while she was enjoying this moment of calm, Kaelen had a completely different concern.In calculated silence, he slipped out of the cabin, leaving Alma in her illusion of peace. He had to know. He had to make s