WHISPERS IN THE DARK

Chapter Fifteen: Whispers in the Dark

Jemima Steele’s POV

The morning air hung around me, damp and heavy, making it hard to shake off the lingering tension. The house was quiet—not the comforting kind of quiet, but the kind that felt loaded with unspoken fears and unanswered questions. Adrian’s words from last night echoed in my mind: They’re testing us. I couldn’t stop wondering what he meant. Why did it feel like the whole forest was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen?

I headed to the kitchen, drawn by the faint smell of coffee. Garrett stood at the counter, his shoulders stiff as he poured himself a cup. He glanced over when he saw me, and for the first time, his usual playful smirk was gone. Instead, his face held a wary seriousness.

“Morning,” he said, his voice rough.

“Morning,” I replied, trying to sound calm. “Any news?”

He shook his head, his lips pressed tight. “The patrols didn’t find anything new. But those tracks from yesterday? They’re fresh. Whoever’s out there isn’t even trying to stay hidden anymore.”

A chill ran through me. The idea that someone—or something—was watching us, getting closer, made my stomach twist. I took a sip of coffee, hoping the warmth would ease the knot of unease sitting in my chest.

Adrian walked into the room, his presence steady and commanding as always. Even though his face was calm, I could see the weight of responsibility in his eyes. “Everyone’s accounted for?” he asked Garrett.

Garrett nodded. “Yeah, but the pack’s on edge. People are scared.”

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “They have every reason to be. But fear isn’t going to help us. We need to stay sharp.”

He turned his attention to me, his expression softening just a little. “Jemima, I need you to stick close today. No wandering off. If they’re testing us, they’ll look for weak spots.”

I nodded, even though the thought of being a target made my chest feel tighter. “I’ll stay close,” I said, hoping my voice sounded steadier than I felt.

The hours dragged by as the day wore on. The pack kept busy, patrolling the borders and checking for signs of intruders, but it felt like we were running in circles. No matter how hard we searched, we came up empty-handed. It was like the forest itself was hiding the answers we needed.

By late afternoon, the stillness was driving me crazy. I found Adrian in the study with Garrett, both of them hunched over a map, speaking in low, urgent tones. They paused when I walked in.

“I can’t just sit around anymore,” I said, frustration clear in my voice. “We’re not getting anywhere like this.”

Adrian straightened, his expression unreadable. “What do you suggest?”

“Let me go back to the clearing,” I said. “There’s something about those stones. I can feel it. Maybe they’ll tell us something.”

Garrett frowned, shaking his head. “That’s too dangerous. We don’t even know what’s out there.”

Adrian studied me for a long moment, then gave a small nod. “We’ll go together. But we’ll be careful.”

The clearing looked the same as before, but the air felt heavier, pressing down on us like a weight. The stones stood in their circle, faintly glowing, their light stronger than I remembered. The energy around them seemed to pulse, almost like they were alive.

“Stay close,” Adrian said, his voice low but firm.

I nodded, my eyes locked on the stones. The pull I’d felt the first time was stronger now, almost overwhelming. It was as if they were calling me closer, urging me to step into their circle.

“Do you feel that?” I whispered.

Adrian’s jaw tightened. “Yeah. It’s like they’re… aware.”

I took a slow step forward, my heart pounding in my chest. The moment I crossed the edge of the circle, a cold wind swept through the clearing, making the trees shudder. A low growl came from somewhere in the shadows, and Adrian moved instantly to my side, his body tense and ready to fight.

“Who’s there?” he demanded, his voice sharp and commanding.

Silence. Then, the voice came again, colder and sharper than before. “Leave. Or face the consequences.”

My pulse raced, but I forced myself to stand tall. “We’re not leaving,” I said firmly. “If you want us gone, show yourself.”

The air grew even colder, and the shadows seemed to shift, growing darker and more menacing. Kiona’s voice echoed in my mind. “Be ready. This isn’t just a warning.”

Adrian stepped slightly in front of me, his eyes scanning the trees. “Stay behind me,” he said, but I couldn’t move. Something about the stones kept me rooted in place, their energy pulling at me like an invisible thread.

I reached out, my fingers brushing the surface of one of the stones. The moment I touched it, a surge of energy shot through me, making me gasp. Images flooded my mind—a forest on fire, wolves fighting in the shadows, and a lone figure standing in the chaos. It was me. I was the one in the middle of it all.

“Jemima!” Adrian’s voice snapped me out of the vision, and I stumbled back, my knees buckling. He caught me before I hit the ground, his arms steadying me.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice urgent.

“I saw… something,” I said, my voice trembling. “The stones showed me a vision. It felt like a warning.”

Adrian’s expression darkened. “We need to get out of here.”

He helped me to my feet, and we hurried back to the pack house. As soon as we were inside, Adrian called for another meeting. The pack gathered quickly, their faces pale and tense.

“The stones aren’t just markers,” Adrian said, his voice grim. “They’re tied to whatever’s out there. And it’s not just testing us—it’s threatening us.”

The room fell silent as his words sank in. I looked around at the others, seeing my own fear reflected in their eyes. But beneath the fear, I saw determination too. We weren’t going to back down. Not now.

That night, sleep didn’t come easily. The vision from the stones replayed in my mind, every detail sharp and vivid. The fire, the fighting, the loneliness—it all felt too real, too inevitable.

Kiona’s voice broke through my thoughts. “You have a choice, Jemima. The future isn’t set in stone.”

“Then why does it feel like it is?” I whispered into the darkness.

“Because fear makes you think it is,” she said gently. “But you’re stronger than that. Stronger than you know.”

Her words gave me a sliver of hope, but the weight of what I’d seen still pressed on me. If the future wasn’t set, then I had to be ready to fight for a better one.

The sound of footsteps on the porch pulled me from my thoughts. Adrian appeared in the doorway, his expression softer than usual.

“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Too much on my mind.”

He sat down beside me, the silence between us easy. For a moment, it felt like the weight of everything wasn’t so crushing. Like we were just two people, sitting under the stars.

“We’ll figure this out,” he said quietly. “Whatever it takes.”

I nodded, though the fear still lingered. “I just hope we’re strong enough.”

Adrian’s gaze met mine, steady and sure. “We are. And we’ll face it together.”

As the night stretched on, I leaned into his quiet strength, letting it anchor me. Whatever was coming, I knew one thing for certain: I wouldn’t face it alone.