THE ANCIENT HOWL

Silverwood Pack

The wind refused to stop howling, and the heavens refused to release light. The day remained trapped in a strange half-darkness, neither night nor morning. Worry and confusion hung heavy in the walls and every open space of the Silverwood Pack, clinging to fur, skin, and stone alike.

Wolves paced restlessly. Even those in human form could feel it—the unease crawling beneath their skin, their beasts growling low inside their chests. The pack bond hummed with tension.

“Get all the seers and the pack elders and gather them in the meeting hall,” Alpha Aldrin ordered sharply when the seer before him remained silent for too long. “We need to understand what is happening.”

The seer bowed his head, his shoulders stiff. “Yes, Alpha.” He excused himself quickly and walked away to carry out the task.

Just then, several guards from the border rushed into the compound. Their boots splashed against wet stone, armor clinking. One of them dropped to a knee before the Alpha, breathing hard.

“Greetings, Alpha,” the guard said, struggling to steady his breath.

Alpha Aldrin’s jaw tightened. His wolf stirred, sensing trouble even before the words were spoken. “Speak,” he ordered impatiently.

“Something strange is happening in the mountains, Alpha. There is danger,” the guard said, lifting his head slightly but carefully avoiding direct eye contact.

Alpha Aldrin frowned. “We have done nothing to stir war with the rogues. If anything, they should be pleased that we added a member to strengthen their weak forces. Why would they act up now?”

The rogues were known to look for trouble even when there was none. War between packs and rogues was common, but even chaos usually had a reason. A root.

The guard swallowed and lifted his head fully this time. His face was pale, his scent sharp with fear. He shook his head slowly. “We doubt it is them, Alpha.”

That made Alpha Aldrin pause. His fingers curled slightly at his sides. “Go on.”

“The chaos started suddenly, Alpha,” the guard continued. “It came from all corners of the forest at the same time, just after our soldiers left the border stone area. And there is that one specific howl…” He hesitated. “One terrifying howl. It sounds ancient. Deadly. Stronger than a thousand wolves combined.”

Silence rang loudly.

Every wolf in the area stiffened. Ears pricked, with breaths slowed. Even the wind outside seemed to pause for a moment.

“Did you see anything?” Alpha Aldrin asked, his voice low.

“No, Alpha,” the guard replied quickly. “But I swear those are not normal rogues. He is not a normal rogue. That howl alone is a disaster by itself. It shook the ground beneath our feet, and we could hear even the trees and mountains reacting to it.”

Murmurs spread, and faces turned pale. Even the visiting Alphas from other packs looked unsettled. They exchanged uneasy glances, their wolves stirring with warning.

At that moment, Alpha Aldrin’s beta returned after settling Spenza in her chambers.

Everyone is seated in the hall, Cleophaton reported through the mind link.

See to it that the guests leave safely, Alpha Aldrin replied. Let everyone else remain in their chambers.

Cleophaton nodded and moved toward the guests, speaking calmly and guiding them out.

Before leaving the area, Alpha Aldrin turned to the guards. “Return to your posts and wait for my order and stay alert. Watch the borders closely and report anything unusual immediately.”

“Yes, Alpha,” they responded in unison, bowing before retreating to prepare weapons and call reinforcements.

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Inside the meeting hall, Alpha Aldrin entered with commanding steps. His presence alone forced silence. The elders, seers, and council members rose instantly and bowed low.

He took his seat slowly, his eyes sweeping across them, his wolf pressing outward through the bond. “There are rumors of a prophecy behind the bleeding moon,” he began. “I want the seers to tell us what this prophecy is, if it exists at all.”

All eyes turned to the four seers.

Seer Selasio cleared his throat. “My Alpha… we apologize. We may not be in a position to give full details yet. We need to consult the senior seer.”

Alpha Aldrin leaned forward. “Why can’t you tell us what you know now? The chaos is growing by the second. Strange things are happening that have never been experienced in centuries. We cannot sit in fear while you whisper among yourselves. There is a reason you are called our wise men.”

His voice rose slightly, sharp and commanding. His dominance rolled through the hall, making even the elders stiffen.

The seer who had officiated the wedding spoke next, his voice careful. “Forgive us, Alpha, but we cannot connect events to half a prophecy. We must interpret everything together and with clarity to avoid raising false alarms.”

“I want answers today itself,” Alpha Aldrin snapped. “You have until the end of this day to bring me everything you know about this prophecy and whether it is connected to today’s events. Leave.”

The seers bowed quickly and exited the hall.

“What do we do in the meantime, Alpha?” one elder asked.

Alpha Aldrin turned to the window. Outside, the world was still dark. The wind roared like a restless beast. Even the distant sound of crashing waves could be heard.

“I will go to the mountains,” he said calmly. “I will see this threat myself.”

“What?” Cleophaton protested. “You cannot go, Alpha. We don’t know how dangerous this beast they are talking about is.” Then his voice dropped to a dangerous low for the last statement. “And neither do we know how serious this is.”

“That is exactly why I must go,” Alpha Aldrin replied firmly. “I need to know who this ancient beast is—and where he comes from.  And what he wants.”

“Going to the mountains means entering rogue territory,” the beta argued. “That will evoke a war.”

“We have always been at war with rebels,” Alpha Aldrin said. Then his voice lowered. “And I need to know what happened to their newest member. Did they kill her… or did they claim her?”

Silence followed.

No one spoke. The air felt heavy, thick with unspoken thoughts.

“Alpha,” an elder said carefully, “our laws state that you must not shed blood for seven days after coronation.”

“The seven days represent the seven sacred rounds around the silver ring,” Alpha Aldrin replied coldly. “My feet have not gone close to that silver ring. That means I am not yet bound.”

No one could argue that.

“But still…:

The Alpha raised a hand, stopping the elder from speaking. “I am Alpha Aldrin of the Silverwood Pack,” he continued. “Protecting this pack is my duty that has been fleshly renewed. If this is the goddess testing me, then so be it.”

No one spoke again.

“Then I am coming with you,” Cleophaton said.

“No,” Alpha Aldrin replied. “I need you here.”

“I will do whatever you command, Alpha.”

“Find out how far this chaos has spread. Whether it is happening only in our pack or beyond.” Alpha Aldrin said quietly. “And keep an eye on the seers. I have a feeling there is something they are not telling us.”

Cleophaton nodded. “Consider it done.”Alpha Aldrin did not spare the council a glance as he stormed outside. But his beta stopped him outside through the link again. “Could you just let me do what needs to be done and stop nagging me?”

“I will.” His beta said calmly. “I just wanted to remind you that you need to be careful. You just got married, remember?”

“I have never lost a battle. What makes you think this would be the first thing that would make me not return to my wife?” The Alpha scolded.

Cleophaton smirked slightly. “That was a by the way. But be extremely careful. If this is about that prophecy, it might be beyond us.”

The Alpha paused, then spoke as he took off. “Until something meaningful is brought to my knowledge about this said prophecy, it still remains some made-up fuck. Get your ass down to what I assigned you to do.”

Without another word, he cut his beta off and shifted.  He was a beautiful, massive silver-black wolf that exuded dominance. His eyes glowed green, his body powerful.

He discharged one deep and commanding howl, then took off into the forest towards the mountains.