Chapter Forty-eight

CATHERINE POV

In that moment of stillness, I felt a rush of power surge through me, like a lightning bolt striking from the heavens. And then, I heard a voice, deep and resonant, that spoke to me as if from the very core of the earth. "The time has come for you to choose," it said. "The path before you is laid out, but only you can decide which way to go. Will you take up the mantle of power, or will you turn your back on it?"

I was stunned, unable to move or speak.

Suddenly, I felt something brush against my arm, and I turned to see a white wolf standing at my side. Its eyes were the color of gold, and it looked at me with such intelligence and wisdom that I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Then, it spoke, its voice clear and strong. "You are not alone," it said. "We are with you, and we will guide you on your journey. You have a great destiny, and you must be ready to face it."

And with that, the wolf faded away, leaving me alone once more. But I knew that I was not truly alone.

S