Chapter 2: The Silverclaws

Eve followed Luca in silence, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t sure what she had agreed to, or why she had let him lead her away from the house, but something about him felt undeniable. There was an air of authority around him, something ancient and powerful that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. It was like walking through a fog, disoriented and unsure, but unable to turn back.

The path through Black Hollow was eerily quiet. The trees on either side of the narrow road stood tall and still, their branches creaking faintly in the wind. It was the kind of silence that made the air feel heavy, as if something was waiting to happen. The hairs on the back of Eve’s neck stood up, but she kept walking. What else could she do?

Luca led her down the road, his steps sure and confident. He didn’t look back, but she could feel his gaze on her, even without him turning around. It was unsettling. She didn’t know what to make of him. There was a part of her that wanted to run, to turn back to the house and lock the door behind her, but another part—an irrational, instinctive part—compelled her to follow.

When they reached the edge of the town, the buildings began to thin out. The dense woods on the outskirts of Black Hollow seemed to close in around them, the trees leaning closer as if watching their every move. Eve had never ventured this far from the town as a child, and even now, the idea of walking through the woods made her uneasy.

“Where are we going?” Eve asked, her voice shaking slightly as she struggled to keep up with Luca’s long strides. “What’s going on? I don’t understand any of this.”

Luca glanced at her, his expression unreadable. “You will. Soon enough. But for now, all you need to know is that we need to get you somewhere safe.”

Safe. The word hung in the air like a faint promise, but Eve wasn’t sure she believed it. What was she supposed to be safe from? What was so dangerous that it required a man like Luca to protect her?

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be,” Eve continued, her frustration growing. “You’re talking about prophecies, about wolves, about the Silverclaws... I have no idea what any of it means.”

“You will,” Luca repeated, his voice soft but firm. “It’s in your blood, Eve. Everything will make sense once you accept it.”

Her blood. The words lingered in her mind, like a puzzle she couldn’t solve. Eve had always felt different, but she had never known why. It was just one of those things she never questioned, like the strange dreams that had started in the last few weeks—dreams about wolves running beneath a glowing full moon, dreams where she felt... different. But she had pushed those thoughts aside. After all, what did dreams have to do with reality?

But now, with Luca walking beside her, his presence looming like a shadow, Eve felt as if her entire world was being turned upside down. She had come to Black Hollow to find answers, to lay her grandmother’s ghost to rest, not to unravel the mystery of her own existence.

They walked for what seemed like hours, the trees growing denser and the light fading as the sun dipped lower in the sky. The silence between them stretched out, and Eve could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on her chest.

Finally, they reached a clearing, a small, secluded spot in the woods where the trees parted to reveal a large, stone building. The architecture was old, almost medieval, and it stood like a fortress among the trees. Its stone walls were covered with ivy, and the windows were dark, as though the building had been abandoned for years. But there was something about it that made Eve’s pulse quicken. The air around it felt charged, alive with energy.

“This is it,” Luca said, stopping in front of the building. “The Silverclaws’ home.”

Eve looked at the structure, unsure of what to make of it. It was imposing, intimidating even, but there was also something strangely familiar about it. Like she had seen it before, or dreamed about it in one of her restless nights.

Luca turned to face her, his eyes sharp and focused. “Come inside. We’ll explain everything.”

Eve hesitated, the door to the building looming in front of her like a threshold to another world. She wanted to run. She wanted to scream and ask what the hell was going on. But she couldn’t. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this was where she was meant to be, that this was the answer she had been searching for.

Steeling herself, Eve followed Luca inside.

The interior of the building was just as imposing as the exterior. The walls were lined with old tapestries, the floors covered with thick rugs that muffled their footsteps. The air was thick with the scent of wood, leather, and something else—something wild. The furniture was dark and heavy, and the entire place had the feeling of a place that had been untouched for centuries.

Luca led her through a long hallway and into a large, open room at the back of the building. It was lit by the soft glow of candles, casting flickering shadows across the walls. A large stone fireplace crackled on one side of the room, the flames casting an orange glow that danced over the faces of the people seated in the room.

There were three others present. A tall woman with long, black hair that fell in waves around her shoulders, her eyes sharp and calculating. A man with short-cropped hair, his face set in a permanent scowl, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. And another man, older, with graying hair and a face that looked as though it had seen too much in too little time.

Eve’s stomach tightened as they all turned to look at her. It was as if she had just entered a different world, one that was both familiar and completely foreign.

Luca stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the group before he turned back to Eve. “This is the pack,” he said, his voice echoing in the large room. “The Silverclaws. We are the protectors of this land, and we’ve been waiting for you.”

Eve felt a rush of panic. “Waiting for me? Why? What do you want from me?”

The woman with the long black hair smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. “We don’t want anything from you, Eve. But we need you. You’re part of something much larger than any of us.”

“Who are you?” Eve asked, her voice trembling as she took a step back. She felt like she was drowning in the tension in the room, the weight of their gaze pressing down on her like a physical force.

“My name is Lila,” the woman said, her voice smooth and melodic. “I’m Luca’s second in command. And I’ve been tracking you for a long time.”

Eve’s head spun. “Tracking me? Why?”

Luca stepped forward, his expression softening just a little. “Because you’re the key to everything, Eve. You’re the one who will change the fate of the packs. The prophecy... it speaks of you. It’s why we’ve been watching.”

“The prophecy?” Eve repeated, feeling the blood drain from her face. “What prophecy?”

The older man with graying hair spoke up, his voice gravelly and deep. “The prophecy that says a child of the moon will unite the packs and bring balance to the world. That child is you, Eve.”

Eve shook her head, unable to comprehend what they were saying. “I’m not a child of the moon. I’m just a normal person. I don’t know anything about wolves or packs or prophecies.”

Luca’s eyes softened, his expression almost sympathetic. “You were born for this, Eve. You may not know it yet, but you’ve always been a part of this world. You’re a part of the Silverclaws, whether you accept it or not.”

A heavy silence hung in the air as Eve processed his words. She wanted to run. She wanted to scream and deny everything. But she couldn’t. There was something inside her, some primal instinct, that told her that Luca and the others weren’t lying. They were telling her the truth.

But the truth was terrifying.

“What happens now?” Eve asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Luca stepped forward, his eyes locking onto hers. “Now, Eve, you will choose. You will choose whether to embrace your destiny or run from it. But know this—the future of the packs, and the future of Black Hollow, depends on the choices you make.”

Eve took a deep breath, the weight of the decision settling over her like a heavy cloak. She didn’t know what to think, what to feel. But one thing was certain—nothing in her life would ever be the same again.

To be continued…