CHAPTER 3

Lerder took a deep breath, choosing his words with care. He explained to her about the prophecy, the legends that spoke of one human able to save or destroy werewolf and human worlds. He spoke of Malak's interpretation, how he thought Elara was the one. He used rich sensory detailed words to bring his words to life. Speaking hesitantly, he did not wish to overstep, ensuring she'd understand how serious things were.

“So I'm supposed to save the world then?” 

“Or destroy it.” Elara asked Lerder with a harsh voice.

“It's not that simple,” Lerder expressed his parched throat. "This is about making choices and decisions, which direction do you take."

Elara extended her hand, her fingers running over a scarlet leaf. Delicate golden sparks swirled upon her fingers, as though leaves themselves contained energy of a kind she couldn't understand.

"What was that?" Lerder asked in a low tone.

His shudder of excitement beneath his words. Suddenly, he was assaulted by a gust of atmosphere with the air charged with perceivable power.

“I… I don't know,” Elara breathed softly, her gaze wide with terror and wonder.

“Speak to me of your grandmother's tales,” Lerder said softly.

His words provide a soothing counterbalance to rising tension. His concern for her was a clear, stark contrast to his usual acrid demeanor. He found himself attracted to her, an urge to protect her to be responsible. Elara told me of her grandmother's stories of an ancient power in her bloodline – one intertwined with a prophecy of unimaginable destruction with possible salvation. She told me of a hidden past, of a centuries-old bloodline when humans and werewolves created an alternate pathway.

She spoke of an eternal truth passed down through the centuries of a dangerous secret she had just begun to grasp. She spoke in terror and determination, her words trembling occasionally but her courage was unquestionable. 

“And do you… you had something similar to that in combat?” Lerder inquired, his gaze sharp. He was attracted to her vulnerability and courage.

He couldn't help but experience a rush of protectiveness over her which surprised him as much as it fascinated him.

“Yes,” Elara painted.

“It was a rush of power and energy. It was frightening and exciting."

"I believe you," Lerder whispered hoarsely, his lips brushing her skin.

He leaned in his fingers touching hers. The shock of electricity zapped through them a spark of comprehension that belied their differences. The space between them crackled with unspoken tension. They edged backward from the battlefield, their conversation concise and thick with desperation and mutual need.

Lerder steadied Elara on her feet, his massive hand wrapped about her waist, their bodies locked. The heat sensed by him was not from the golden radiance, it was deeper. There his fingers steering Elara with an intensity he wondered at, the forest was his familiar hunting ground, now an unfamiliar place. Each rustle of the leaves and snap of twig had an intensity that pushed tension to higher levels.

“Look at that," Elara said, her finger pointing to an unfamiliar flower, petals softly glowing.

“Never in my life have I come across something similar.”

“This wood is full of secrets,” Lerder said.

He stared still fixed upon her face, something soft in his eyes now.  The gruffness had disappeared from him, to be replaced by something tender.  He'd never reacted so intensely to a human before, but now this unfamiliar gentleness came to him as completely normal and ordinary.

And they walked, their discussion moving from mere survival in the present to the prophecy, her family and increasing power in her. They discussed old legends, how werewolves existed among humans, and how duty now befell Elara.

“I'm walking along a tightrope,” Elara admitted.

“One more step and it will all come crashing down.” her words shaking with fear.

“I'll catch you if you fall,” Lerder said to her, full of silent watchfulness.

"I sense that too," Elara breathed, her face fixed upon his.

There was a click of shared comprehension, a sense of evolving connection with nothing to do with survival. A mutual attraction, something more, something tangible was beginning to take hold. One that chilled to the bone, tore through the trees, breaking the fragile calm.

“What did that mean?” Elara breathed,

“I… I don't know,” Lerder said, every sense heightened.

“But something much more dangerous than Malak. And something that's coming in our direction.”

Freezing, their echo resonating off through the trees, an icy dread.

Malak's pack had become more ferocious, but another, greater menace now threatened. And in their fear lay a still strength, a deeper dependence upon one another. Their fear increased with an awareness of intimate connection, of a tie forged by the heat of mutual peril and discovery of unanticipated feelings.

The prophecy loomed over them, death's spectre of hope and they faced it together. The howl of terror howled through the woods, a howl which spoke of dark malice, raw horror, and ungoverned power.

Lerder felt primal fear, a chill, blood-curdling premonition that left ice in his veins, but he maintained Elara's eye, his face determined rather than fearful.

“What was that?” Elara breathed, not daring to raise her head above her own thumping heart.

But her hold on Lerder's hand tightening. She felt the power burning inside her boil over, churning energy struggling to counteract flooding fear.

“I don't know," Lerder growled, sensing being high, his senses maxed, his voice barely more than a whisper.

“But it makes me realize something. Malak is not our biggest problem anymore.” Lerder said.

Lerder surveyed the forest, his eyes moving from shadow to shadow, sensing something old and malevolent lurking. This wasn't tracking; this was warfare with something old, something far more deadly than anything they'd ever faced. As if in response to Lerder's words, the bushes shook, and an enormous shape loomed at the cave entrance—a monster larger even than a wolf, its eyes glowed with an unnatural awareness, and an evil older even than Elara's skin creased beneath her skin.

Elara's inner thoughts: ‘This is even more than I dreamed. We were running from Malak, but this. This is something else, much greater and Ancient. I am not afraid at least Lerder is with me and this power it is growing inside me. I will fight this menace and I will fight it with him.’

The creature released a thunderous roar, its voice booming inside the cave, shaking their chests. The air resonated with raw power, with malevolent energy. The ground shook, cavern walls seemed to tremble. Lerder and Elara faced one another, clasped hands, locked gazes for an instant in mutual honour and determination. Their destiny teetered in the balance. They knew that they would fight, they would fight for life, love, and destiny of two worlds.