Chapter 40: The Hidden Artifact

"This is it," Rowan said, his voice barely above a whisper as we stared at the old, worn-down chest.

It was buried deep within the stone walls of an ancient chamber, hidden away in the heart of Silverwood’s territory.

The room was cold, damp, and lit only by the flickering flames of our torches, casting eerie shadows across the walls. It felt as though the very air was holding its breath.

"Are you sure?" I asked, not taking my eyes off the chest. Something about it felt... wrong. As if we were disturbing something that should have been left alone.

"Positive," Rowan replied, though there was a note of uncertainty in his voice. "This is where the old maps led us. This has to be the artifact."

My heart pounded in my chest. We had been searching for this artifact for what felt like an eternity.

According to legend, it was supposed to be the key to controlling the werewolves, a weapon that could turn the tide of war in our favor—or destroy us all if it fell into the wrong hands.

But now