POV: HardinWith a sorrowful heart, I stood on the border of Silver Claw territory. It hadn't gone well, the meeting with Alpha Marcus. Not in the slightest.To me, I whispered, "This is bad." "Bad," I remembered arriving at the Silver Claw pack lands earlier that day.The chilly voice of Alpha Marcus had declared, "Welcome, Hardin of the Purple Moon pack." "What brings you to our territory?" I had lowered my head in deference. I'm grateful that you saw me, Alpha Marcus. I am here to seek a partner."An eyebrow had been raised by Marcus. "A coalition? Why would we desire it, too?I had inhaled deeply. That was it. "A serious threat is approaching. For all werewolves, not just our group. We must unite as a group."Marcus had laughed, but it was a cold laugh. "A serious risk? You have the voice of a puppy telling spooky tales." "It's not a narrative," I had emphasized. "Callum and Elder Rovin""Enough!" Marcus had growled. "I am aware of the issues that your pack is facing. You have the
POV: DarcyI screamed as I woke up. The vision was frighteningly genuine. The chilly shadows were still palpable on my skin."Darcy! What's wrong this time?" Mom came running into my room, her worried eyes wide. I opened my mouth, but my shaking was too much. The things I witnessed were appalling.Mom gave me a strong hug as she sat on my bed. "It's alright, my love. It was only a nightmare." It was more than a dream, though. I was aware of that. It was a dream. A truly awful one.I finally said, "Mom," in a trembling voice. "Something terrible is going to happen." Mom stepped back and gave me a serious look. "What do you mean, Darcy?"I inhaled deeply. "It was Jeremy that I saw. However, he was no longer Jeremy. He was in the company of the villain who intended to harm us." Mum's expression paled. "Callum? Have you spotted Jeremy with Callum?"I gave a nod. "And shadows were present everywhere. Shadows that live. Mom, they were devouring people. Our folks." Mom got to her feet fast.
POV: Jeremy WilliamsIn the pitch black cave, my heart was pounding. In front of me, gleaming in the low light, stood Elder Rovin."Are you ready, Jeremy?" With a low, ominous voice, he asked. I tried to look brave as I nodded. Indeed, Sir. I'm prepared. Inside though, I wasn't sure. Everything had transpired so quickly. Learning that my real father was Callum. Discovering my abilities. And now, Elder Rovin is training us."Excellent," replied Elder Rovin. "Let's begin." Shadows began to whirl around the hand he extended. Watching it was both cool and disturbing."Jeremy, you have a wonderful gift," he remarked. "The ability to manipulate shadows. to compel people to do as you like." I examined my own hands. However, how? This is something I have never done before."Elder Rovin grinned, but not in a pleasant way. "The reason for that is that your abilities were hidden. Concealed. But now is the moment to release them."He gave me tips on how to concentrate and sense the shadows around
POV: Callum WellsI observed the Purple Moon pack getting ready for a fight from the forest's edge. Stupid people. They were clueless about what was ahead.I found myself thinking back while I awaited the signal to assault. Rewinding to the day when everything changed..."Callum! Ivory, my younger sister, cried out, "Wait up!" as her voice resounded over the trees.I turned and smiled. "Get moving, slowpoke! We're getting close!"We were sprinting towards our hidden location, a tiny opening tucked away in the forest. Away from the pack's wary gaze, it was our special sanctuary.I stopped short as soon as I saw something as we rushed into the clearing. There was an odd wolf in the center of our hidden location."Who are you?" With a roar, I pushed Ivory aside.The wolf turned, a strange light shining in his eyes. "Ah, the young ones. The person I was anticipating."Ivory appeared from behind me briefly. "Awaiting our arrival? Why not?"The odd wolf grinned, but it wasn't a pleasant smi
POV: Ivory WellsWith my heart pounding, I stood in the center of our pack's big clearing. The wolves were gathering all around me. Their eyes were on me, and not in a flattering manner. I sensed their uncertainty and anxiety."Ivory," somebody said. It was one of our Elder wolves, Mira. "We need to talk."I inhaled deeply. I anticipated this. The pack was terrified because of all that had happened, including Jeremy's treachery, Jenna's capture, and the impending onslaught. And wolves in fear do foolish things.I said, attempting to sound cool, "Okay, Mira." "Let's talk." Mira moved forward, her gray fur standing on end. "Ivory, this is getting too extreme. Not prepared for this conflict, we are. Before it's too late, we must depart right away." Acknowledgment murmurs spread around the assembly. Anger flashed through me, but I suppressed it. It wouldn't help to get angry."Leave?" I enquired. "And where do you go? We live here."Another wolf yelled, "A home that's about to become a ba
POV: Elder Rovin'sI stood there in the black cave, feeling the cool stone underfoot. There was an old magic and secret smell in the air. I examined the objects I had collected candles, strange symbols on the floor, and a large bowl filled with a viscous, dark liquid. My heart raced. That was it. The time I had been waiting for."Finally, I'll have the power I've always desired," I told myself.I took up a worn-out, dusty book. The pages were delicate to hold. I opened to the appropriate page and began to read. The words were foreign and archaic, but I was familiar with them.The candles flickered as I talked. The air began to feel heavy. There was a happening. My voice grew more powerful and loud. I could sense my own might gaining strength.Then something sounded. There was a visitor! I stopped and pivoted."Who's there?" I yelled. "Come out now!"Something moved in the dark. Squinting, I tried to figure out who it was. I then became at ease. Just one of Callum's guys, Kavrin. "Elde
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: 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