chapter

The sun was barely up when I found myself standing in front of Elena’s cottage. I hadn’t slept again after that dream, if it was even a dream. My heart still raced every time I replayed my mother’s voice in my head.

Elena opened the door before I could knock. “You look pale, child. Come in.”

Her voice was calm, but her eyes ,sharp and wise, studied me like she already knew something was wrong. I stepped inside, the scent of herbs and burning sage filling the air.

“Did you see her?” she asked quietly as she poured tea into two small cups.

I froze. “How… how did you know?”

Elena handed me a cup, then sat opposite me. “When your kind — an Ancient Wolf starts to awaken fully, the veil between realms thins. Sometimes, dreams are not dreams at all but glimpses into truth.”

I swallowed hard. “Then it was real. My mom… she’s still alive. I saw her, Elena. She was chained, in an old cabin. She said they’re keeping her somewhere west of the mountains.”

Elena’s expression darkened,