Whispers of the Past

Locked in Lucian's quarters, Serena paced like a caged animal. Night had fallen, and no one had come for her since Lyra's threat. Even Mira had stayed away.

The carved wolf figurine grew warmer in her palm with each passing hour. Its tiny eyes now glowed with an eerie blue light that matched the flecks in her Onyx fur.

Exhaustion finally won. Serena collapsed onto the fur-covered bed, the stone wolf clutched to her chest. As her eyes closed, a strange hum filled her ears—like distant voices calling her name.

Sleep claimed her instantly.

 

She ran through an ancient forest unlike any she'd ever seen. Trees towered hundreds of feet above, their trunks wider than houses. Moonlight filtered through leaves the size of boats, casting silver-blue shadows across the forest floor.

Serena wasn't alone. Dark shapes moved alongside her—other wolves with midnight fur that seemed to swallow light. Onyx wolves, just like her. Dozens of them, running as one.

Joy surged through Serena's body. This was right. This was pack. This was home.

They came to a clearing where a massive stone altar stood. Symbols carved into its surface glowed purple in the moonlight—the same symbols she'd seen in the cave where Lucian found her.

A wolf larger than the others approached the altar. As it stepped into the clearing, it shifted—not into a human but something between. Still wolf-like, but standing on hind legs, its front paws more like hands with deadly claws.

"Daughters of the Night," the creature spoke directly into Serena's mind. Its voice was female, ancient, and powerful. "The time of awakening nears."

The other Onyx wolves lowered their heads in submission. Serena found herself doing the same, though she didn't understand why.

"You," the voice addressed her directly. "Last of our bloodline. The seal weakens with each passing moon."

The creature approached, towering over Serena's wolf form. Its eyes glowed purple—the exact shade of Serena's wolf eyes.

"What they call a curse is your birthright," the creature continued. "What they fear is your strength. What they hate is their salvation."

Cold claws touched Serena's head, sending shock waves of energy through her body.

"Remember who you are," the voice commanded. "Remember what sleeps within. Remember your destiny."

Images flooded Serena's mind. War between wolf clans. Blood soaking the earth. A sacrifice on the stone altar. Power beyond imagining.

"The crimson eclipse comes," the creature whispered. "When moon bleeds red, the choice must be made. Two Alphas. Two paths. One fate."

The claws dug deeper, not into Serena's flesh but into her soul.

"Find me," the voice urged. "Find the mother of all Onyx wolves."

The clearing began to spin. The other wolves melted into shadow. Only the altar remained, its symbols burning brighter, searing themselves into Serena's memory.

Just before the dream faded, a final whisper: "Beware those who claim to protect you. Betrayal wears many faces."

 

Serena woke with a gasp, her body drenched in sweat. The room spun around her as the dream's power lingered. Her skin tingled, as though electricity coursed just beneath the surface.

"Just a dream," she whispered, trying to calm her racing heart. "Just a dream."

But the carved wolf in her hand now burned hot enough to sting her palm. She dropped it onto the bed, watching in shock as it continued to glow.

Something felt different about her body. Lighter. Stronger. Like her bones had hardened overnight.

Serena moved to the metal mirror on the wall. What she saw made her stumble backward.

Marks covered her skin—delicate lines swirling up her arms like vines. As she watched, they pulsed with purple light—the same color as her wolf's eyes—before fading to what looked like silver tattoos etched into her flesh.

"What's happening to me?" she whispered, tracing the marks with trembling fingers.

A soft knock at the door startled her. She quickly pulled on a long-sleeved tunic to hide the marks.

"Come in," she called, keeping her voice steady.

Mira slipped inside, her young face pale with worry. "Alpha wants to see you. Now. The council messenger is still here."

"What council?" Serena asked, grabbing a leather vest Mira offered.

"The High Council of Packs," Mira explained, her voice dropping to a whisper. "They govern all wolf clans. No one defies them. Not even Lucian."

Fear crept up Serena's spine. "And they know about me?"

Mira nodded grimly. "Everyone knows about you now. The Onyx wolf has returned. Some say it's an omen of destruction."

As Serena followed Mira through the tunnels, pack members stopped to stare. Some backed away. Others made signs with their hands—warding gestures against evil.

They entered the main cave where a tense gathering had formed. Lucian stood at the center, facing a tall woman dressed in flowing gray robes. Her hair was silver-white despite her youthful face, and a medallion hung from her neck—a wolf head wrought in gold.

"Ah," the woman said as Serena approached. "The anomaly arrives."

Lucian's face remained expressionless, but Serena sensed his tension. "This is Council Emissary Selene Blackthorn," he said formally. "She's here to... assess you."

"Assess?" Serena repeated, not liking the sound of that word.

Selene's eyes—a peculiar shade of amber, almost identical to Lucian's—studied Serena with clinical interest. "The council has concerns about your existence. Onyx wolves were believed extinct for good reason."

"And what reason is that?" Serena challenged, feeling unexpected boldness rise within her.

A cold smile touched Selene's lips. "Because they were hunted to extinction. By us. For the safety of all."

Lucian stepped between them. "The council's laws are clear. She falls under my protection as Alpha of Nightfang."

"Your protection?" Selene laughed lightly. "Or your possession, Lucian? We both know why you want her."

Something passed between them—an old tension that made Serena wonder about their history.

"The council demands she be brought for evaluation," Selene continued. "To determine if she poses a threat."

"She stays here," Lucian growled.

"That is not your decision to make." Selene's voice hardened. "Unless you wish to declare Nightfang in rebellion against the council?"

The air thickened with tension. Pack members shifted nervously, looking to their Alpha.

"Three days," Lucian finally said. "I need three days to prepare her."

Selene studied him, then nodded slowly. "Three days. Then I return with an escort to bring her before the council." Her eyes shifted to Serena. "Willing or not."

As Selene turned to leave, her gaze dropped to Serena's arm, where one of the marks had crept past her sleeve. Her eyes widened slightly before she composed herself.

"Interesting," she murmured. "The awakening has begun."

After Selene departed with her guards, chaos erupted among the pack. Voices shouted over each other—some demanding Serena be turned over immediately, others swearing to protect her against any threat.

"ENOUGH!" Lucian's roar silenced everyone. "Return to your duties. Now."

When only his inner circle remained—Dorian, Lyra, and a few others—Lucian turned to Serena. "Show me."

"Show you what?" she asked, though she knew.

His eyes flashed. "Don't play games, little wolf. The marks. Selene saw them."

Slowly, Serena pushed up her sleeve, revealing the silver patterns that wrapped around her arm. The entire group gasped.

"Moon Goddess," Lyra whispered, her hatred momentarily replaced by fear. "It's happening just like the legends said."

"What legends?" Serena demanded, looking from face to face. "What's happening to me?"

Instead of answering, Lucian grabbed her arm, examining the marks closely. "These weren't here yesterday."

"I had a dream," Serena admitted. "About other Onyx wolves. About a creature that called itself the mother of all Onyx wolves."

Dorian cursed softly. "The First One."

"We need to speed up her training," Lucian decided. "If these marks are appearing, her power is growing faster than we anticipated."

"Or someone is helping it grow," Lyra said pointedly, eyeing the carved wolf figurine that Serena had unconsciously brought with her.

Before anyone could respond, a commotion erupted at the cave entrance. Ronan burst in, blood streaming from a cut on his forehead.

"Alpha!" he gasped. "Silver Ridge wolves! They've crossed our borders!"

Lucian's face hardened. "How many?"

"Just one," Ronan replied, his eyes finding Serena's. "Their Alpha. He's asking for her."

Serena's heart stuttered. Elias. Here. For her.

The marks on her skin pulsed bright purple in response to her emotions. The pain was sudden and intense, dropping her to her knees with a cry.

As darkness clouded her vision, a voice—the same from her dream—whispered through her mind: "Choose wisely, daughter of night. The path you walk now cannot be retraced."

The last thing Serena saw before consciousness fled was Lucian's face, transformed by something that looked startlingly like fear.