Chapter 8 - Whispers of the Past

Inside the third-floor conference room, the Order members gathered with Damien, Althea and Leo, the air charged with the weight of Mara’s chilling revelation: ‘The Nightshade calls for the chosen… it showed me your face, Aurora’. Aurora Wildheart sat at the scarred oak table, her silver-blue eyes fixed on a sketch of the pack house’s runes, their intricate patterns a puzzle that might hold the key to Nightshade’s dark rituals. The creature’s targeted malice, the prophecy’s claim on her as one of the “chosen,” and the unsettling intensity of Mikhail’s gaze during the emergency meeting swirled in her mind, intertwining with Vincent’s cryptic message: ‘The shadows are restless.’ Her forbidden bond with the vampire liaison was a quiet anchor, yet the mystery of her lost past, before The Emerald Forest Pack took her in at seven, gnawed at her, amplified by Mara’s words and the eerie sense that Damien and Althea knew more than they let on.

Alpha Mikhail Silverclaw stood at the head of the table, his amber eyes sweeping the team; Marcus, Lucas, Maya, Kira, Liam, and Rylan with a calm authority that felt oddly measured, as if he were holding something back. “Nightshade’s rituals are escalating,” he said, his voice resolute yet tinged with an edge Aurora couldn’t place. “Mara’s escape and her message confirm they’re targeting specific women, possibly tied to this prophecy of the ‘chosen.’ We need to decode the runes and prepare to scout their convergence point.”

Maya Swiftwind’s stormy grey eyes were glued to her laptop, her fingers dancing across the keyboard. “I’m close to cracking the encryption on Nightshade’s network,” she said, her voice taut with focus. “The ‘rite of binding’ mentions a stone circle in their western territory, active under the next full moon in 21 days. It’s a summoning ritual, and it’s targeting women of power—like us.”

Kira Frostfang leaned forward, her turquoise eyes blazing. “Mara said the creature showed Aurora's face. If Nightshade’s letting survivors escape to deliver messages, they’re baiting us. But why Aurora specifically?”

Aurora’s heart pounded, the prophecy’s weight pressing harder. “I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice steady despite the fear coiling in her chest. “But I felt the runes’ power when we entered the pack house. They’re tied to the land’s spirits—and maybe to me. I can’t explain it, but it’s like they recognize me.”

Marcus, seated beside her, nudged her shoulder, his emerald eyes glinting with encouragement. “You’ve always had a knack for sensing things the rest of us miss,” he said, his tone light but sincere. “Remember the Fog Marshes? You felt that wraith before any of us. If the runes are talking to you, we’ll figure out what they’re saying and why.” His words, rooted in their shared history, bolstered her, reminding her of their bond forged through years of missions—saving each other from collapsing crypts, rogue shifters, and their own demons.

Mikhail’s gaze lingered on Aurora, his amber eyes unreadable, a flicker of scrutiny that sent a chill down her spine. “Your instincts are valuable, Aurora,” he said, his voice calm but pointed. “Keep us informed of any… sensations you experience with the runes.” The emphasis on “sensations” felt too deliberate, as if he were probing for something specific, something tied to her enhanced abilities he’d always guided with a mentor’s care—yet now seemed to watch too closely.

Althea, standing beside Damien, cleared her throat, her purple eyes sparkling with a mix of professionalism and warmth. “The runes are a language of our pack’s founding,” she said. “They’re woven with the first Alpha’s blood, binding pure spirits to protect us. Kiyiya and I can work with you to decode them, but it’ll take time.”

Marcus leaned forward, his grin roguish. “Time with you, Althea? I’m sold. Those runes might just teach me a thing or two about charm.” His playful tone drew a soft laugh from Althea, her cheeks flushing slightly.

Rylan snickered, “There he goes again, mooning over the Beta. Marcus, you planning to carve a heart into those runes next?”

Liam’s silver-streaked hair caught the lantern light as he grinned. “Better watch out, Marcus. Althea’s too smart for your tricks.”

Marcus shot them a mock glare, his emerald eyes twinkling. “Jealousy’s a bad look, boys. Keep up, or I’ll have Althea teaching me rune spells while you’re stuck on recon.”

Aurora stifled a laugh, catching Kira’s amused glance. “Don’t encourage him, Althea,” she teased. “He’s incorrigible, but we need him focused.”

Althea’s smile widened, her voice teasing. “But he’s not wrong, the runes are a story, and we need to read it.”

Damien remained grave. “My mother, Elder Elara, knows the runes’ deepest secrets. She’s been affected by the whispers, but she’s lucid enough to help. I’ll arrange for you to meet her.”

Before they could proceed, a low hum vibrated through the room, the runes on the walls flaring with a sudden, blinding light. The team froze, their senses snapping to alert. Aurora’s skin prickled, the sinister energy from the forest probing the pack house’s wards, stronger than before. A sharp crack echoed outside, followed by a guttural snarl that sent her wolf stirring beneath her skin.

“Perimeter breach!” Leo shouted, leaping to his feet. Damien and Mikhail were already moving, the team following to the foyer. Through the rune-etched windows, shadows writhed in the clearing—not creatures, but a single, cloaked figure, its form shrouded in a smoky aura, its eyes glowing an unnatural red. The runes pulsed fiercely, holding it at bay, but the air thrummed with malice.

“It’s not a creature,” Maya whispered, her voice tense. “It’s… something else. Humanoid, but wrong.”

Damien’s voice was a growl. “The runes are holding, but they’re straining. We need to reinforce them.”

Althea began chanting, her voice weaving ancient words, while Damien sliced his palm, letting blood drip onto the central rune in the foyer. The wards surged, forcing the figure to retreat, its snarl fading into the forest. But as it vanished, Aurora caught a glimpse of its face—familiar yet impossible, a twisted echo of someone she couldn’t place, stirring a buried memory from her lost past.

Back in the conference room, the team regrouped, tension lingering. “That wasn’t random,” Aurora said, her voice low. “It was watching me, like the creature did. And it felt… personal.”

Mikhail’s gaze locked onto her, his expression unreadable. “We’ll investigate this figure,” he said, his tone too calm. “Aurora, report any further impressions immediately.” His scrutiny felt like a weight, as if he knew more about her connection to the figure than he let on.

Marcus mindlinked her, his voice a quiet comfort. “You okay? Mikhail’s acting like he’s got a secret, and that figure… it spooked you.”

She nodded, masking her unease. “I’m fine. Just… let’s keep an eye on him.”

As the team dispersed, Marcus lingered, his grin softening. “Whatever’s coming, Aurora, we’ve faced worse. You’re my best friend, prophecy or not. We’ll get through this.”

Aurora’s heart warmed, their bond a lifeline.

“Thanks, Marcus. Let’s just hope Althea doesn’t steal you away before we solve this.”

He laughed, his emerald eyes sparkling. “She’s got my attention, but you’ve got my loyalty.” As the runes hummed, shielding them from the darkness, Aurora felt the Nightshade threat—and the mystery of her past—tightening around her, but with her friend and her team by her side, she was ready to face the shadows.

As night fell, the pack house’s runes glowed brighter, their hum a steady comfort. Aurora’s phone buzzed with another message from Vincent: ‘Trust your instincts.’

That message.. While it should have brought her peace, its timing made her unexplainably uneasy.

She’d been so busy that she hadn’t been able to update him. How’d he know?

“You good?” Marcus inquired as they ate dinner as they researched their adversary.

“No. I’m not. I’m not okay at all.” Aurora replied as

Marcus froze, waiting for her to elaborate.