POV: MiaWith my heart pounding, I stood at the edge of the woodland. Even though it was a calm night, there was anxiety in the air. I had to take action since I sensed our pack was in danger. However, what?I reviewed everything that had transpired. The secrets, the betrayals, the lies. I had participated in everything, and now I had to deal with the fallout."Mia?" yelled a voice. Ivory was approaching me when I turned to face her. She asked, appearing concerned, "What are you doing out here?" I inhaled deeply. "I'm thinking," I murmured. "About all that has transpired. Concerning what I must accomplish."Beside me, Ivory stood and gazed out at the pitch-black trees. She remarked, "We're in a rough spot." "Elder Rovin and Callum are growing stronger. We must move quickly."Sensing the weight of her words, I nodded. "I am aware," I replied. "And I think... I think I might be able to help." Ivory looked at me, her eyes brightening. "What do you mean?" I wavered. That was it. The real
POV: Darrell WilliamsI recall the gloom. The never-ending gloom that kept me imprisoned for ages. I came back to the pack, to Ivory and our kids, in this way. That was the gloomy area where it all began.When I opened my eyes, I was blinded. Everything is just black. The world of shadows. It seemed like I had been here forever."Hello?" I yelled. My voice was heard back. "Anyone there?"Not a response. I exhaled. How much time had I spent here? Days? Weeks? I was unable to tell. My thoughts turned to Darcy, Jeremy, and Ivory. Did they fare well? Was the pack secure? The toughest part was being in the dark.I heard something after that. A whisper, so faint I nearly heard it. "Who's there?" I turned around and yelled. "Show yourself!"The murmur returned, more insistently this time. "Darrel... Darrel Williams..."I became motionless. It was aware of my name."Who are you?" Trying to seem brave, I asked. "What do you want?"In the shadows, a figure materialized. It was a shadow person,
POV: KiraI hid in the darkness and listened to the pack leaders converse. There was a problem. It was palpable in my bones.It had seemed strange ever since Darrel returned from the shadow realm. The older people weren't acting right. Private gatherings. Whispers that ceased as more people approached.I have to be aware of the situation. Elder Fenris said something I heard. "We can't tell them." "It would cause panic." "But what about Darrel?" Elder Milan enquired. "He's not the same since he came back." With a beating heart, I leaned in closer. What topic did they discuss? "Darrel has been compromised," remarked Elder Thorn. "We need to be careful."Betrayed? What was meant by that? Our friend and commander was Darrel. What had transpired with him in the world of shadows? I wanted to jump in and start asking questions. However, I refrained. I required additional details.I ran into something as I turned to go. Someone. "Kira?" questioned a voice. "What are you doing here?" My heart
POV: JennaMy head whirling, I walked back and forth in my room. All of it was falling apart. The pack was in danger, and I felt useless.My door creaked and I was startled. I cried out, trying to sound cool, "Come in." Ivory was the sole one. She wore a concerned face. Jenna, we should chat. As I nodded yes, my gut knotted up. "What is going on?"Ivory shut the door and lowered her voice. It's Darrel. He presents a difficulty. I considered the last few days. Darrel had returned from the shadow world with unusual behavior. Remote cold. Apart from that, the shadows seemed to follow him."What did you mean?" Though I thought I knew, I inquired.Ivory sigh. Kira picked up the wind of something. The elders think Darrel has been misled. She also watched him meet last night. Something last night. In the jungle."My heart collapsed. It was therefore accurate. The man I once loved, my lost child's father, has changed. What are we going to do, I asked.Ivory stared at me with a terrible gaze. "
POV: HardinI watched the shadows draw in closer as I stood at the boundary of our domain. We had to prepare for Callum's forces, which were on their way. "Hardin," there was a call. I turned to see Kira sprinting in my direction."What's wrong?" Seeing the concern on her face, I inquired. "It's Darrel," she exhaled sharply and said. "He's awake, but... he's not the same." I scowled. We thought that after Jenna's sacrifice, Darrel would return to normal. However, nothing was ever that easy.I questioned, "What do you mean?"Kira gave a headshake. "He is feeble. Bewildered. He inquires about the shadows often." I turned to face the encroaching night. We looked to be doing this without our Alpha, which was something we needed. "Okay," I murmured, concluding. "Assemble your group. I'll spearhead the assault.Kira's gaze grew wide. "You? However..." "There's nothing we can do," I interrupted her. "Someone has to do it." She gave a sympathetic nod. "I'll gather the pack." I attempted to re
POV: Jeremy WilliamsI watched my family triumph over Callum while I stood in the shadows. I had a heavy heart. They had a joyful, united appearance. And here I was, concealed, holding back.Something said, "Jeremy," in a low voice behind me. Turning, I saw Elder Rovin. "It's about time," he declared. "We must act now, while they're distracted." Doubt gnawed at me as I nodded. Was this the proper course of action to take?I had spent months receiving covert training from Elder Rovin. I could help save the pack, he claimed, because I had extraordinary powers. But occasionally I felt afraid of his ways."Keep in mind that this is for the benefit of all wolves," Elder Rovin stated, his eyes shining. Your loved ones will come to understand eventually." My dad, Darrel, crossed my mind. After the fight, he looked very exhausted. And Jenna, my mother. She had sacrificed her wolf to come to his aid. Could I let them down?I muttered, "I... I'm not sure if I can pull this off."Elder Rovin's e
POV: DarcyI woke up in another mood. Inside of me, something had shifted. I sat in bed staring at my hands. Though I could sense an unusual energy coursing through them, they seemed ordinary."Darcy!" Breakfast!". Mom dropped a call from downstairs. Fast getting ready, I dashed to the kitchen. Jeremy was already seated at the table cramming his mouth as Mom was making pancakes.Mom grinned and replied, "Morning, sleepyhead."I took a seat next to Jeremy. "Did you feel anything odd last night?" I murmured to him. Confused, he turned to face me. "Weird how?" Dad entered just before I could respond. He seemed worn out, as though he had not slept much."Everything alright, Dad?" I asked. He smiled under duress. "Just good, darling. Eat up today you two have training. Jeremy sighed. "Once more? Every day we have been training! Dad's face turned. "We should pay great attention to We have to be ready after what occurred with Elder Rovin."I got a cold running down my back. Rovin Elder. The
POV: Ivory WellsHeart weary, I stood at the brink of the woodland. Though the pack grounds were calm, I sensed the anxiety in the atmosphere. Darcy was still healing after utilizing her powers; Jeremy was missing. And here I was, believing it was all my fault."Ivory?" I turned to listen to Darrel. He seemed exhausted and concerned. "Are you fine?" I gave my head a shake. "How can I be?" I am the reason our son is gone. Darrel squinted. "That's untrue. You cannot attribute Callum's behavior to yourself." I could, but. I certainly did. "none of this would have happened if we hadn't been so blinded by letting Callum back.""What do you mean?" Approaching closely, Darrel inquired. I let a long breath in. The time came to face my past. "I never mentioned something to you. On Callum. About the reason, he despises us so greatly.Darrel's gaze grew wide. " Ivory, what are you saying?""Years ago, Callum and I... were close even before we were together. Very near. You mean...?" humiliated, I
POV: Ivory WellsI emerged from our cabin and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my face. That tragic day in the cave had been three months ago. Even though so much had changed, other things stayed reassuringly similar."Good morning, drowsy head," Mia greeted me as she jogged up. "Ready for the big day?" I smiled. "Ready as I'll ever be, I think. Who gave pack picnics the go-ahead?""Oh wise leader, that would be you," she jokingly said.We strolled to the central area, where pack members were busy getting everything ready for the festivals. Near the food tables, I saw Darrel chatting with Hardin and Marcus. "There you are," Darrel said, drawing me in. "We were just discussing the new patrol schedules."Marcus gave a nod and said, "Joint patrols are operating efficiently. Now my wolves feel comfortable here." "And the training program?" I inquired with Hardin.He grinned. "Better than anticipated. Kira has a talent for instructing the younger ones." "Dad! Mom! Take a look!" Jeremy
POV: Darrell WilliamsWith the bright light gone, an unsettling silence followed. I attempted to clear the dots from my vision by blinking. When my vision returned, I saw Callum on the ground, lifeless, with Darcy and Jeremy kneeling next to him. "Callum?" Emotion-laden, Ivory's voice broke the stillness.Heart heavy, I took a step toward her. Callum had become the brother I'd always wished he could be in his last moments, something I never would have imagined myself feeling sorry for."Is he...?" I was unable to complete the question. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ivory nodded. "He's gone." The children gazed up at us, shock and anguish filled in their huge eyes. Shouting, "We didn't mean to," Jeremy said. "We didn't know it would..."I gathered them both into a close embrace. "It's not your fault," I firmly stated. "Callum made his choice. He saved us all." I began to notice the world outside our small group as we grieved. Rovin's army was nowhere to be seen, and the cave entr
POV: Callum WellsI heard the others converse, make plans, and feel hopeful. I felt ill from it. How were they so innocent? Calm amid the packs? Saving us all with the powers of the children? That story was a fable.But as the evening went on, I was plagued by a persistent discomfort in my stomach. What if they were correct? What if there was an alternate route? I shook my head, attempting to dispel any uncertainty. I'd gone too far to go back at this point.The cave became still as the morning drew near. Most had gone to sleep, worn out after the activities of the evening. But I was unable to sleep. As my thoughts raced, I relived each step that brought me to this point.Curled up beside Ivory and Darrel, I found myself staring at Jeremy and Darcy. They appeared so little and so innocent. Was I truly ready to give them up for power? "Can't sleep?"Ivory was observing me with cautious yet nonhostile eyes when I turned around."Just thinking," I said in a whisper. She inched forward, t
POV: Darrell WilliamsChaos ensued inside the cave. In a flurry of fur and fangs, wolves snapped and hissed, crashing into each other's bodies. Amidst the chaos, I lost sight of Ivory and the children, and my heart raced with concern for their well-being."Ivory!" I yelled, my voice hard to make out over the commotion. Something heavy crashed into me from behind. I turned around and met Callum's twisted smile."Hello, my old friend," Callum said with a sly smile. "Miss me?" I didn't use words to squander time. We collided, stumbling in a mass of limbs across the cave floor. I caught a glimpse of Marcus fending off two of Rovin's goons."Darrel!" A voice spoke above the din: Ivory. "The kids!" I glanced up and saw her cornered with Darcy and Jeremy. With a look of hunger in his eyes, Rovin was charging towards them. My veins heated with rage. I hurled Callum off of me and lunged in the direction of my family.But before I could get to them, an unforeseen event occurred. With a surprisi
POV: Ivory WellsI started to get shivers as the howling got closer. It felt quite exposed suddenly, this small clearing.With a tight voice, Darrel stated, "We have to move. Now." Marcus gave a nod. "It's not far to my den. There, we'll be secure."Unsure if we could trust him, I hesitated. But after seeing the exhausted looks on Darcy's and Jeremy's faces, I decided. We had to find shelter quickly. I kept having the impression that something was missing as we went through the woodland. Callum and Rovin had surrendered too quickly. What did we fail to notice?It turned out that Marcus' den was a cleverly concealed cave system. We assembled around a central fire pit once we were inside. With his eyes darting nervously to the cave entrance, Jeremy sat close by. I held his hand and whispered, "It's okay. We're safe here."He gave a nod, but it was clear he wasn't sold. Not one of us was. Marcus cleared his throat. "Now, I believe it's time for some answers."Darrel sat up straight. "You
POV: Ivory Wells“Jeremy!" I screamed as the fire surrounded my son. My heart halted, horror clutching me like a vise. Then, though, the flames disappeared as fast as they began. And something else lingered where Jeremy had stood.A wolf, but unlike any I had seen before. Its eyes shone like fire, and its fur shimmered with an ethereal brightness. Darrel muttered next to me, "Oh my god. Is that...?"Not sure what to say, I nodded. Our son had developed into something much beyond our wildest dreams. Marcus moved forward, amazement ablaze on his face. "The prophecy," he said quietly. "It's true."Jeremy's wolf turned its head and stared at every one of us individually. Its sight locked with mine, and I felt a flash of recognition. My small son was still in there."Jeremy?" I called gently. "Can you understand me?"The wolf nodded gradually. Darrel stepped forward, his hand out. "Son, can you shift back?" Though nothing changed, Jeremy's new shape shimmered. He whined, sounding frustrat
POV: Jeremy WilliamsEven as Mom guided me out of the cave, my heart continued to beat. The sounds of war had diminished, but the echoes of horror still echoed within me."Are you okay, sweetie?" Mom's voice quivered with concern as she grasped my shoulders, searching my eyes. I nodded, unable to find the words to convey what I had just experienced. How could I explain the unfathomable, events that happened in that dark, scary cave?We stumbled into a little clearing, surrounded by the calm of the forest. Mom held me close, her hug was a barrier against the residual fear. "Now that you're safe," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. "I won't let anyone hurt you."But I wasn't sure whether even she could protect me now. The meeting with Callum and the enigmatic Rovin had been traumatic enough, but what worried me most was the discovery about myself that surfaced in that unfathomable darkness."Mom," I began, my voice shaking, "something... something happened
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe sound of Alpha Marcus approaching filled the cave. His presence commanded both respect and horror in equal measure, and his silver fur shimmered in the unsettling blue light.I looked at Ivory and noticed that her eyes reflected my same bewilderment. Why was the Silver Claw Alpha in this situation?Marcus scanned the cavern, taking in the tight exchange of words. "Well, isn't this cozy?" he grumbled.Anger twisted Rovin's face. "Marcus! You're ahead of schedule." My thoughts were racing. Too early? Were they collaborating? Marcus laughed, his laugh resonating against the walls of stone. "Plans change, my dear friend. I decided to speed things up."I moved forward, putting myself in the way of my group and this new foe. "What's going on here?" I demanded.Marcus looked up at me, a gleam in his eyes. "Ah, Darrel, the young one. There's a lot to learn about politics in packs." "This isn't politics," Ivory fumed. "You're holding our son hostage!"Whimpering, Jere
POV: HardinAs we gathered in the pack grounds, the tension in the night air crackled. Nervous talk was interrupted by Darrel's voice.He declared, "We're under attack. We're not running, though. We're retaliating."Ivory stepped forward, and I saw her eyes light up. "We must split up now. While some remain to protect, others will go in search of Jeremy."There were murmurs among the people. I saw glimpses of resolve, fear, and rage."Hardin," Darrel yelled out. "You will lead one search team. Kira, you take another. Ivory and I will take Callum at his word."I nodded, mentally arranging routes already. "What about Darcy?" I enquired. Everybody looked at the little girl. She was tall, with a soft glow all about her."I'm going with you, Dad," she declared strongly.Ivory began to object, but Darrel raised a hand. "She is correct. Her abilities might give us the advantage we need."The pack split apart, and I went up to Kira. "Pay attention to her," I muttered. Kira's gaze grew gentler