20

KALEB'S POV

The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the forest as Octavyous and I moved through the dense undergrowth. The silence of the night was broken only by the crunch of leaves beneath our boots and the distant calls of nocturnal creatures. The weight of the mission hung heavy between us, and I could feel the tension in the air—thicker than usual, almost as if it were trying to suffocate me.

Octavyous led the way, his movements confident, almost too confident. Something about the way he carried himself tonight felt off, but I pushed the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. We were here to scout for the stray werewolves, to determine their numbers, and assess the threat they posed. The pack was counting on us, and I wasn't about to let them down.

We had been walking for over an hour when Octavyous suddenly stopped, his head tilting to the side as if he had heard something. I paused, my senses on high alert, scanning the dark woods around us. There was nothing—no movement, no sound—just an eerie stillness that set my nerves on edge.

"What is it?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Octavyous turned to look at me, his eyes narrowing, a strange expression crossing his face. "This is it," he said, his voice cold, almost detached.

Before I could react, I felt a sharp pain in my side—a flash of silver catching the moonlight as it pierced my skin. My breath caught in my throat, my vision blurring as I stumbled backward, my hand going to my side. I looked up at Octavyous, confusion and betrayal flooding my senses as I saw the cold determination in his eyes.

"Octavyous," I gasped, my voice barely a whisper. "What are you doing?"

He stepped closer, his lips curling into a sneer. "You should have seen this coming, Kaleb," he said, his voice dripping with disdain. "You've grown weak, too caught up in your emotions, in your bond with Xenia. The pack needs a real leader—someone who isn't distracted by love and sentimentality."

I tried to move, to fight back, but the pain was overwhelming, my strength leaving me as I fell to my knees. Octavyous stood over me, his eyes cold, his expression devoid of any remorse. "The strays are ready to take back what they believe is theirs," he said. "And you, Kaleb, are just in the way."

He turned, his gaze shifting to the shadows, and I saw them—dark figures emerging from the trees, their eyes glowing in the moonlight. The strays. They moved silently, their forms shifting as they approached, their eyes locked on me. I could feel their hatred, their hunger, and I knew that Octavyous had led me straight into their trap.

"Good luck, Alpha," Octavyous said, his voice filled with mockery as he stepped away, leaving me on the ground, surrounded by the strays. He didn't look back, disappearing into the darkness, leaving me for dead.

I struggled to my feet, my vision blurring, my heart pounding in my chest. The strays closed in, their growls low, menacing, and I knew that I was outnumbered, weakened, and alone. But I couldn't give up—not yet. Not when Xenia, Marrylen, and the rest of my pack were counting on me.

With every ounce of strength I had left, I pushed myself to my feet, my body screaming in protest. The strays lunged, their teeth bared, and I fought back, my claws extending as I slashed at the nearest one. Pain radiated through me, but I couldn't stop—not now, not ever. I had to survive. I had to make it back to my pack, to Xenia, to Marrylen.

The fight was brutal, their claws tearing into my flesh, their snarls echoing in my ears. I could feel my strength waning, the darkness creeping in at the edges of my vision. But I refused to give in, refused to let them take me down. I was the Alpha, and I would fight until my last breath.

A powerful blow sent me crashing to the ground, my head spinning as I struggled to stay conscious. The strays circled me, their growls growing louder, their eyes filled with bloodlust. I could feel my body giving out, my vision fading, and for a moment, I thought it was over.

But then, in the darkness, I saw her—Xenia's face, her eyes filled with love, with determination. I couldn't let her down. I couldn't let Marrylen down. I had to survive. I had to make it back to them.

With a final, desperate surge of strength, I pushed myself up, my vision blurring as I lunged at the nearest stray, my claws tearing into its side. The others hesitated, their eyes widening in surprise, and I used that moment to my advantage, breaking free from their circle, my body screaming in pain as I ran.

I didn't know how far I could get, or if I could even make it back to the pack. But I had to try. I had to survive, for them, for my family.

The night stretched out before me, dark and endless, and I ran, my heart pounding, my breath coming in ragged gasps. I could hear the strays behind me, their growls echoing through the forest, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop. I had to make it back.

Because this wasn't just about me. It was about the pack, about Xenia, about Marrylen. And I wasn't going to let Octavyous or the strays take that away from me. Not now, not ever.

KALEB'S POV

The forest was a blur around me, the trees swaying as I stumbled forward, my body barely holding on. Blood trickled down my side, each step sending a jolt of pain through my limbs. I could still hear the distant growls of the strays, but they were fading, the darkness of the forest swallowing me whole. My vision blurred, the world around me spinning, and I knew I couldn't keep going much longer.

My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the forest floor, the leaves rustling beneath me as I gasped for breath. The pain was overwhelming, my body heavy, my eyes fluttering shut as exhaustion took over. I tried to fight it, tried to keep my eyes open, but the darkness was too strong. It pulled me under, and soon I found myself drifting into unconsciousness.

The world around me faded away, replaced by darkness, an emptiness that seemed to stretch on forever. But then, in the midst of the void, a light appeared—a faint glow, growing brighter and brighter until it enveloped me completely. I felt weightless, the pain in my body fading as I was pulled deeper into the light, a sense of calm washing over me.

Suddenly, I was standing in a clearing, the forest around me bathed in an ethereal glow. The air was still, the only sound the gentle rustling of leaves. I turned, my gaze searching for something—anything—that would explain where I was. And then I saw her.

A figure stood at the edge of the clearing, her form bathed in the same glow that filled the forest. Her hair flowed like a river of light, her eyes piercing as they locked onto mine. My heart skipped a beat, my chest tightening as I realized who she was.

Marrylen.

But something was different. There was an energy around her, a presence that seemed almost otherworldly. She stepped closer, her eyes never leaving mine, and I could feel the bond between us—stronger, deeper, more powerful than I had ever imagined. And then, as she stood before me, her expression softening, the truth came to me.

She wasn't just bonded to Xenia. She wasn't just a part of the pack. She was something more. She was connected to me in a way that went beyond anything I could have imagined.

"Kaleb," she said, her voice soft, filled with a warmth that made my chest ache. "You have always known, deep down. You've always felt it."

I stared at her, my heart pounding, the realization slowly sinking in. I had felt it—the pull between us, the connection that seemed to defy explanation. And now, as I stood before her, it all made sense. She was my sister—my twin. The bond between us wasn't just the result of some spiritual connection. It was a blood bond, a connection forged long before either of us had known what we were.

"Marrylen," I whispered, my voice breaking, the emotions overwhelming me. "You're my sister."

She nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Yes, Kaleb. I am your twin. We were separated when we were young, taken from each other. But the spirits, they have brought us back together. They bonded us to Xenia because they knew that our paths were meant to cross once more."

My heart ached with the weight of her words, the truth settling over me like a heavy blanket. All those years, all the times I had felt like something was missing, like a part of me had been lost—I had never understood why. But now, standing here with Marrylen, I knew. I had been missing her. My sister. The other half of me.

Tears filled my eyes, my throat tight as I reached out, my hand trembling as I touched her arm. "I never knew," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "I never knew what I had lost."

She stepped closer, wrapping her arms around me, pulling me into a hug that felt like coming home. "We're together now, Kaleb," she whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "And nothing will ever separate us again."

I closed my eyes, my heart swelling with a mixture of love and sorrow. The truth had been revealed, and now I understood why the bond with Xenia had felt so different, why Marrylen had been drawn to us, why the spirits had brought her into our lives. She was my family, my twin, and I would protect her with everything I had.

The light began to fade, the clearing dissolving around us, and I felt myself being pulled back to the real world, the pain in my body returning as consciousness slowly crept in. But even as I opened my eyes, the vision still fresh in my mind, I knew that things would never be the same. I had found Marrylen, my sister, and now I would do whatever it took to protect her—to protect our family.

With a groan, I pushed myself up, my body trembling from the effort. The forest was dark once more, the light of the vision gone, but the truth remained. Marrylen was my sister, and I had to make it back to her—to tell her, to protect her, to make sure that nothing would ever separate us again.

I stumbled forward, my steps unsteady, my body aching, but my heart filled with a renewed determination. I had faced betrayal, faced death, but now I had something to fight for—someone to fight for. And I wouldn't stop until I was back with Marrylen, until we were together once more.

Because she was my sister. My family. And nothing would ever take her away from me again.

OCTAVYOUS' RETURN

The clearing was quiet, the pack gathered around the campfire, the tension palpable. The scouts had returned, reporting Kaleb's disappearance, and fear and uncertainty had begun to settle over the pack like a dark cloud. Nenyia stood at the center, her face lined with worry, her eyes scanning the trees, searching for any sign of Kaleb. She had always been a pillar of strength for the pack, but today, her expression held a deep unease.

Suddenly, there was a rustling at the edge of the clearing, and everyone turned, their eyes widening as Octavyous emerged from the shadows, his clothes dirty, his expression hard. A murmur rippled through the gathered wolves, their eyes filled with questions, with hope. Nenyia stepped forward, her gaze locking on Octavyous, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Octavyous!" she called out, her voice trembling. "Where is Kaleb? Where is the Alpha?"

Octavyous' eyes were cold as they met hers, his lips curling into a sneer. He walked toward the center of the clearing, his gaze sweeping over the gathered pack. "Kaleb is gone," he said, his voice flat, emotionless. "He won't be coming back."

The words hit the pack like a blow, gasps of shock and disbelief echoing through the clearing. Nenyia's eyes widened, her heart clenching in her chest. She took a step toward him, her voice filled with desperation. "What do you mean, gone? What happened to him?"

Octavyous' expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "He was weak," he said, his voice filled with disdain. "He couldn't handle the strays, and now he's gone. The pack needs a leader—someone who isn't afraid to do what needs to be done."

Nenyia shook her head, her eyes filling with tears. "No," she whispered, her voice breaking. "This isn't right. You need to tell us what happened to Kaleb."

Octavyous' face twisted in anger, and before anyone could react, he lashed out, his hand shoving Nenyia backward. She stumbled, her eyes widening in shock as she fell, her head striking a rock with a sickening thud. The clearing fell silent, the pack staring in horror as Nenyia lay motionless on the ground, her eyes staring blankly up at the sky.

A gasp of shock went through the pack, and Tochex stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "Octavyous! What have you done?!" she shouted, her voice trembling with rage. She looked down at Nenyia's still form, her heart breaking at the sight of the woman who had guided them, protected them, lying dead at her feet.

Octavyous turned to face her, his eyes cold, unfeeling. "I did what had to be done," he said, his voice steady. "The pack needs a leader—someone who won't hesitate, who won't be held back by the past. Kaleb is gone, and Nenyia was weak. I am the Alpha now. And anyone who challenges me will meet the same fate."

The pack stared at him, their eyes wide with fear and disbelief. Tochex clenched her fists, her body trembling with anger, but she knew that now was not the time to act. Octavyous had the advantage, and he was dangerous—more dangerous than she had ever imagined.

"This isn't over," Tochex whispered, her voice filled with determination. She looked around at the other members of the pack, their eyes filled with uncertainty, with fear. She knew they couldn't challenge Octavyous now—not when he held all the power. But she also knew that this wasn't the end. Kaleb was out there, somewhere, and she would find him. She would bring him back, and together, they would take back their pack.

Octavyous raised his chin, his eyes sweeping over the pack, his voice ringing out across the clearing. "I am the Alpha now," he declared. "And anyone who dares to defy me will be dealt with. We will no longer be weak, no longer be held back by sentimentality. We will be strong, and we will take what is ours."

The pack remained silent, their eyes filled with a mix of fear, anger, and confusion. Tochex clenched her jaw, her eyes narrowing as she looked at Octavyous. She knew that he was wrong—that strength didn't come from fear, from violence. True strength came from unity, from love, from protecting those you cared about.

And she knew that, no matter what, she would not let Octavyous' reign of terror last. She would fight for her pack, for Nenyia, for Kaleb, and for the future they all deserved. But for now, she would bide her time, waiting for the moment when she could strike back, when she could help her true Alpha reclaim his place.

The night was dark, the fire casting flickering shadows across the clearing, and as Octavyous stood there, his eyes cold, his declaration of war hanging in the air, the pack knew that the days ahead would be filled with uncertainty, with fear. But Tochex, her heart filled with determination, knew one thing for certain—she would not let Octavyous win. Not now, not ever.