The summons

Kaelis POV 

Snow covered the rooftops in uneven layers while cold fog curled through the narrow streets like wandering ghosts as we leave for Moonspire this morning. Wolves moved quietly between cabins carrying supplies, weapons and travel packs, their expressions tense beneath and you could see it.

No one wanted to go to Moon spire but the Bloodmoon Gathering was an honor for powerful packs and all of us needs to be there.

For weaker ones like Black Hollow, it felt more like walking willingly into a den full of predators. I tightened the leather straps around my cloak and adjusted the dagger hidden against my thigh.

Nyra watched me from across the stable yard with narrowed eyes “You’re glaring at your bag like it personally offended you” She snorts. 

“It existence is offensive enough” I muttered.

She snorted softly again before tossing another rolled blanket into the back of the wagon “You do realize running away into the mountains isn’t an option anymore, right?” She asked.

“I haven’t ruled it out…yet” I replied.

“You hate people too much to survive alone” She teased.

“I survived you” I almost let out a laugh.

“That was barely survival” She added.

A small laugh escaped me before I could stop it. Nyra smirked triumphantly like she’d just won a battle.

Moments like this almost made the fear sitting heavily in my chest disappear and beneath the freezing morning air, I could still feel the strange pull. Like invisible claws dragging me toward something I couldn’t escape.

Nyxara had been restless since the meeting last night. She paced constantly beneath my skin now. The whisper slid through my mind suddenly.

I froze “What?” I muttered internally.

But my wolf offered no explanation as usual. Lately she spoke in fragments instead of instincts, and it unsettled me more than I cared to admit.

“Kaelis”. 

I looked up sharply.

Alpha Ronan stood several feet away near the center of the yard, speaking quietly with several pack warriors. The older Alpha motioned for me to approach.

Nyra immediately looked concerned “Oh.. Oh.. That can’t be good”.

“When is it ever good!” I said.

I crossed the snowy yard slowly, ignoring the subtle stares following me. The wolves of Black Hollow tried not to fear me openly anymore but fear always had a scent and  I could smell it every time I walked into a room.

Ronan dismissed the others once I reached him. For a moment, he simply looked at me carefully “You trained again last night” he said finally.

I kept my expression blank “I couldn’t sleep”.

His gaze lingered briefly on my hands before returning to my face “I heard about the training post”.

Nothing stayed secret in Black Hollow for long “I’ll replace it, but Alpha Ronan”.

“That isn’t the problem” He mentioned.

Silence stretched between us. He Cold wind swept through the yard while distant wolves loaded horses nearby.

Ronan sighed quietly “You’ve always been different, Kaelis” He finally said.

Every muscle in my body tightened instantly. Such a simple word and yet it sounded dangerous.

“I don’t know what your mother was hiding” he continued carefully “but whatever it is… people are beginning to notice” He said.

I got chills crawling down my spine but I forced myself not to react.

“My mother is dead” I answered flatly.

Ronan’s expression softened slightly “And she spent her entire life afraid”.

That surprised me enough to look at him properly. Afraid? My mother had never seemed afraid. She might have been secretive, protective and even paranoid sometimes but not afraid.

Ronan lowered his voice “She came to Black Hollow carrying a child and enough terror in her eyes to make even hardened wolves soften”.

My pulse slowed dangerously. He had never told me this before “Why are you saying this now?” I questioned.

“Because Moonspire changes things and I can see that change in you already” He chuckled.

The words settled heavily between us. Again that strange pressure tightened beneath my ribs.

Nyxara stirred violently. I swallowed hard and tried putting on a fake smile.

Ronan watched me closely “If anything unusual happens there…”

He hesitated.

Something unreadable crossed his face briefly before he finished quietly “…do not let them isolate you”.

Confusion flickered through me “Them?”

But before Ronan could answer, a loud horn echoed across the village, It was he departure signal.

Wolves immediately began moving faster around us.

Ronan straightened “We leave now” He ordered.

Then he walked away before I could ask another question. I stared after him uneasily because nothing about this felt right.

Nyra approached moments later “You look disturbed, what's wrong?” she asked.

“I’m always disturbed” I whispered. 

“Fair point” She agreed.

She nudged my shoulder lightly “What did the Alpha want?”

I hesitated briefly “Apparently my dead mother terrified people too”.

Nyra blinked “Well… that’s comforting. Thought you were in real trouble”.

“Not at all. You worry too much” I said, smiling.

The caravan finally began moving shortly afterward.

Black Hollow’s warriors took the front while supply wagons and younger wolves remained protected near the center. Snow crunched beneath boots and wagon wheels as we passed the wooden borders marking our territory.

The moment we crossed them, unease settled heavily inside me. It felt wrong leaving Black Hollow, I definitely do not love the territory but because for the first time in years, I suddenly felt exposed.

Like something beyond the mountains had finally found my scent. The northern forests stretched endlessly around us as the journey continued.

The farther north we traveled, the colder the air became. By nightfall, we stopped near the edge of Frostfang Ridge. Several warriors immediately began setting camp while others unloaded supplies.

I wandered away from the fires the moment no one was paying attention. I needed some air and silence. The pressure inside my chest stopped tightening for a few minutes.

Snow crunched softly beneath my boots as I moved deeper into the trees. I stopped beside a frozen stream and crouched near the ice.

For a moment, everything remained quiet. Then silver light flickered beneath my skin, I looked down sharply: the markings had returned.

Thin glowing lines curled along my wrist like living moonlight beneath flesh.

‘Damn it’ I screamed in my mind. They were getting stronger. I pressed my hand against the ice, breathing carefully.

“Control it” I whispered but Nyxara pushed harder beneath my skin.

“What is wrong with you lately?” I hissed softly.

The answer came unexpectedly ‘He’s close’.

My entire body went still “What is close?”

The wolf’s presence surged violently inside me as it said ‘Mine’.

Fear curled coldly through my stomach. I had never even met Alpha Draeven Thorn. So why did my wolf sound like she already knew him?

A sudden sound snapped through the trees behind me. I spun instantly, knife already in my hand. A massive black wolf stood several feet away between the shadows.

My pulse jumped, it was large and powerful and I knew the moment I saw it that it was one of Blackholllow’s. His golden eyes locked onto mine with terrifying intelligence.

Every instinct inside me screamed danger.

The wolf stared at me silently for several long seconds before lowering its head slightly, like he was bowing to me. Then it disappeared back into the darkness.

My breathing turned uneven “What the hell was that?” I almost screamed.

Nyra’s voice suddenly echoed through the trees “Kaelis!”

I quickly shoved my knife away and stepped back from the frozen stream just as she appeared.

“There you are” she said breathlessly “I’ve been looking everywhere for you”.

I forced my expression calm Glad you found me”.

Her eyes narrowed immediately “What happened?”

Nothing I could explain but It felt like the darkness itself had been watching me. Then, suddenly I head a voice whisper “Kaelis”. 

I turned to Nyra and asked her “” Did you hear that?”

“Hear what? I didn't hear anything” She got confused.

“Someone just called my name” I said. 

Then we heard a tweak from a tree. We didn't hesitate to know what it was but ran out of there without looking back.