جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 10

Elena Morgan had always felt like an outsider in her small town. It wasn't that she was more reserved than most of her peers and liked reading books or taking solace in nature; there was something more at the core, which she couldn't explain. Of late, the sensation had grown in its intensity. It began subtly, with her feeling that her senses were sharpening to capture smells and sounds others seemed unaware of. Leaves crinkling over vast distances, the very slightest scent of pine in the breeze, the almost inaudible murmur of conversation—everything was amplified, just like the world had finally turned up the volume in her life.It was the dreams that troubled her most of all. All this past week she had been in this same dense, moonlit forest every night. She would float gracefully and fast, as never stridden in waking life. But the weirdest thing was that each night there were wolves—a whole pack of them—sitting with what seemed an almost human intelligence in their faces upon hers.

Elena spent the rest of her day in a trance—the threatening notes and weird messages playing over in her mind. Chores and homework couldn't pull her away from thoughts straying to the forest and the man she met in the clearing. Who was he? And who would want her off his tail?That evening, Elena got a text from Jenna asking whether she wanted to go out with some of the gang. Ordinarily, Elena would turn her down, excusing herself and heading home for a night of quietude, but now she did need a distraction. She agreed readily and got dressed, hoping to find something that would draw her away.Jenna picked her up, and they drove to their local hangout spot—a homey café open pretty late and that made the best hot chocolate in town. As they walked in the door, Elena spotted a group of their friends gathered around a table near the back. Among them were Marcus, who always seemed to know everything about everybody, and Lydia, who had a talent for being attuned to people's emotions."Hey, El

Elena's mind was racing with the threats and the secrets surrounding Lucas. That call had her pretty jittery, and things were getting way too crystal clear. She wanted answers, and she wanted them fast. The girl kept returning to thoughts of Marcus's information and that mysterious pack of werewolves she had heard about in town rumours as she drove home.That night, she could not concentrate on anything else. She still had Lucas and his forest in her mind. If the pack he affiliated with was behind the threats she received, then what if Lucas were part of something big and secretive? Maybe the werewolf pack was connected too.She ended up doing some investigation of her own. Flipping through old newspapers and bits of local gossip, she discovered a long history of werewolf legends in this town. Stories often blurry, yet all indicative of some great and powerful pack that had kept their existence hidden from public view.Further needling, Elena called on a local historian—a hairy old ge

Elena and Marcus stepped out into the coolness of the evening air, coolness hitting them like a splash of cold water. That tension from sometime earlier still lay between them, as did the unsettling warning from the woman, upon their minds. They walked a few paces before Elena turned to Marcus, trying to shake off the feeling of dread.Who was she?" Elena asked in a whisper. "Do you think she was telling the truth?""I don't know," Marcus said running his hand through his hair. "But we can't just let it go. We need to find out what's going on with Lucas."At that moment, they heard an interrupting voice. "Excuse me, are you two looking for Lucas?They turned and saw standing behind them a young woman with brown hair tied up in a ponytail and a pair of glasses balancing on her nose. Her faded hoodie and jeans gave off an impression of casualness tinged with seriousness."Who is asking?" asked Marcus instinctively, already assuming the protective role."I am Mia," she replied, having ta

The beat in Elena's heart drummed as she and Marcus wove their way through the thick trees of the forest. The air had a crisp chill to it, while the earth beneath their feet gave the cooling touch of evening dew. Above, the low moon cast an eerie silver light on everything that surrounded them. It was the place Lucas had chosen for their meeting, but he made Elena nervous. Yet somehow she knew this place meant something more than being a quiet retreat-it is almost as if the very forest had secrets of its own, even from her."You sure about this?" Marcus asked in an almost inaudible tone.Elena turned to him, the flicker of hesitation dancing in her stare. "We have no choice, for if we do nothing now, we will never know the truth.She could feel Marcus's doubt, but deep down she just could not let go of the connection she felt with Lucas; there was something about him-something more than danger and mystery shrouding him. She needed to face him, herself, and find out who he was.As they