Chapter 5

The journey back to the East Pack was long and silent. The shadow wolf’s attack still lingered in the air like a dark omen. Ava couldn’t shake the feeling that it had only been the beginning of something much larger. As the path wound through the forest, her mind raced with thoughts of the ley lines—the ancient magical veins that connected the earth itself. They had always been stable, predictable… until now.

She had spent years learning their intricacies, the subtle ways in which they could be manipulated. But this? This was something different—something far darker than anything she had ever encountered.

By the time they reached the East Pack’s fortress again, the first traces of nightfall were beginning to creep across the sky. Ava’s body was weary, but her mind was wide awake, consumed by questions that had no easy answers.

Inside the war hall, the maps of their territory had been spread across the long wooden table, flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the walls. Kaelin stood at the head of the table, scanning the documents. Rhian, the East Pack’s Alpha, sat back in his chair, arms crossed and eyes narrowed. Ashton was at the far side, leaning against the wall, his arms folded, his gaze locked on Ava as if he were waiting for something. For an answer, perhaps.

Ava took a steadying breath and placed her hands on the table, her fingers brushing the edge of the map. Her magic buzzed under her skin, drawn to the faintest lines of energy that snaked across the parchment like veins in a body. The ley lines had always been invisible to all but a few—but she could see them. And something had disrupted them. Something—someone—was poisoning the very magic that held this land together.

“You’re sure it wasn’t just a rogue wolf?” Kaelin’s voice interrupted her thoughts, sharp and skeptical.

Ava’s gaze flicked up to meet hers, her eyes unwavering. “This is not just the work of a rogue. It’s something more. Something… ancient.”

Rhian leaned forward, his gaze flicking between Ava and the map. “What exactly are you saying?”

Ava ran a hand over her brow, trying to make sense of the swirling thoughts in her head. “There’s a disturbance in the ley lines. It’s like a wound—a tear in the fabric of magic itself. And whoever—or whatever—is causing this, they’re feeding off of it. Drawing strength from the imbalance.”

Ashton pushed off from the wall, moving closer to the table, his presence commanding. “And what exactly is this thing? A creature? A rogue warlock?”

Ava shook her head slowly, feeling the weight of their eyes on her. “Not a warlock. It’s something older. More dangerous. Something that shouldn’t even exist in this world.”

“Great,” Kaelin muttered, her tone dry. “That’s just what we needed.”

“Do you think this is connected to the attacks?” Rhian asked.

Ava didn’t hesitate. “Yes. The shadow wolves, the corruption—everything is tied to the ley lines. If we don’t find the source and stop it soon, this entire region will start to fall apart.”

Rhian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “And you think you can stop it?”

Ava met his gaze. “I don’t know. But I’ll try.”

A long silence stretched across the room, heavy with the weight of the revelation.

“We’ll need more information,” Ashton said, his voice low. “We need to find out where the corruption started. If it’s coming from the ley lines, there must be a central point.”

“Exactly,” Ava replied, her voice firm. “We need to track it to the source. And for that, we need to follow the ley lines.”

Kaelin stepped forward, her eyes narrowing. “You think this is going to be a simple trip? You’re asking us to trek into the wilderness to follow invisible energy lines, and you’re sure this won’t just get us all killed?”

“I’m not asking for a simple trip,” Ava snapped, the frustration of the last few hours bubbling to the surface. “I’m asking for your help. If we don’t find the heart of this curse, we will all suffer.”

Ashton placed a hand on the map, sliding his finger along the lines Ava had traced. “Then let’s find it. But we’ll need a plan.”

Ava nodded, the tension between them palpable. “We’ll have to work fast. The longer the ley lines remain corrupted, the more dangerous it will become.”

Rhian’s voice was firm as he gave his order. “I’ll send my best trackers with you. You won’t be going alone.”

Kaelin raised an eyebrow. “You’re trusting the witch with this? What if she can’t control the magic?”

Ava’s eyes flashed. “You’d better pray I can.”

The two women stood locked in a silent challenge, but before the tension could escalate further, Ashton stepped in between them, his voice sharp. “Enough. This isn’t the time to bicker.”

Kaelin gave him a sly smile. “Fine. But when this all goes to hell, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Ava fought to control her rising frustration, but she kept her composure. She could sense Ashton’s frustration too. The unresolved tension between them seemed to pulse, thickening with every passing moment. She could feel his eyes on her, like a weight on her shoulders. The bond between them—a connection that she could never ignore—pulled at her in ways that made her feel exposed, vulnerable. But she couldn’t let it distract her.

Ashton’s voice was softer now, quieter. “You’ve done well so far. I trust you.”

Ava’s heart skipped a beat at his words. He trusted her? After everything? She didn’t know how to process that, but she simply nodded, giving him a small, almost imperceptible smile.

The moment passed quickly.

“We leave at first light,” Ashton said, his voice commanding. “Get some rest. We’ll need all of you at your best tomorrow.”

⸻

The rest of the night passed in uneasy silence, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Ava lay in the small room assigned to her, staring at the ceiling as the weight of the situation pressed down on her.

She couldn’t ignore the growing pull of her connection to Ashton—each time they spoke, each time he touched her, the bond seemed to tighten, wrapping around her heart. It was an anchor she didn’t know how to break free from.

But right now, the ley lines were her priority. The power that flowed through the earth could tear this place apart, and she needed to stop it before it was too late.

As she drifted off to sleep, the whispers of the ley lines followed her, faint but insistent. There was a truth buried deep within them—a truth that could change everything.