Chapter 13: The Spirit’s Warning. Anna's POV

"Who's there?" My voice cracked, but I couldn't keep the words from coming out.

The forest was of me, a black abyss that appeared alive. A soft but chilling whisper slithered through the silence, the same one I'd heard before.

"Anna…"

The sound caused my heart to stutter. My chest rose and fell in uneven bursts as I clutched the doorframe for stability. The whisper had come from the woods, far away but impossibly close, and now the glow, the faint, unearthly light, danced like a will-o'-the-wisp, drawing me into the darkness.

I should have stayed indoors. I should have barred the door and ignored it, but my legs failed me. I took one step after another until the cold grass crunched beneath my bare feet.

"Anna…" The voice called again, softer this time, like a lover's murmur.

I paused, looking back at the house. Its warm glow was dim, and the thought of Maia sleeping inside made me uneasy. Should I wake her? Should I drag her into the craziness?

The light glowed again, catching my attention.

"No," I muttered while shaking my head. "I'm just seeing things."

But the wind shifted. It wasn't your typical breeze, it carried a faint hum, a vibration that seemed to settle in my bones. The air felt thicker, heavier, and I knew I wasn't hallucinating.

I walked into the woods, every nerve in my body screaming in defiance.

The air became more suffocating as I walked. Shadows wrapped around me, their shapes unnatural. The glow pulsed like a heartbeat ahead of me, drawing me deeper into the tree labyrinth. The forest floor was damp, and the sharp scent of earth filled my nostrils.

The whisper appeared again. "Anna…"

"Show yourself!" My voice cut through the night, harsher than I had intended.

Something moved. Not in the distance, but right next to me. I spun, my heart pounding against my throat. A branch creaked, and a dark shadow slid between the trees.

"I don't have time for games!" I yelled, my hands tightening into fists.

The shadow shifted, becoming more solid. It wasn't a figure at all, but rather smoke and darkness manifested as a twisted thing with no face. It came to a stop a few paces away, its presence so strong that my knees threatened to collapse.

"Who are you?" I requested, swallowing the big lump of fear that was settling in my throat.

The thing tilted its head, moving unnervingly slowly. "You already know," it said, its voice a resonant echo that seemed to bypass my ears and land directly in my head.

"I don't," I replied, taking a step back. My shoulder brushed against the rough bark of a tree, which grounded me. "You are just a delusion. A bad dream."

The spirit, or whatever it was, seemed to tingle with amusement. "You are not dreaming, child. But your enlightenment has just begun."

"My enlightenment?" My voice wavered. "What does that even mean?"

"You carry the blood of wolves far greater than those who would see you as prey."

The words sent shivers down my spine. My thoughts drifted back to Leo's final words and the strange marking on the tree near my house. "What do you know about me?"

"Everything," it answered simply. "More than you know yourself."

"Then explain it to me," I snapped, frustration rising beneath my fear. "Please explain why my life is falling apart! Why do they hate me? Why did Leo have to die? Why is any of this happening?"

The spirit came closer, its form flickering like a dying flame. "Anna, your pain is part of your journey. It can't be avoided. You are destined for something far greater than this pack, greater than the alpha who seeks to crush you.

My stomach turned. "Oliver?"

The spirit's form rippled. "He suspects the truth. But he is not yet aware of your full potential. That is why you need to act. You need to find your lineage before it is too late."

"My lineage?" I repeated, my voice hollow.

"Yes," it replied, and the word seemed to repeat indefinitely. "You are the last in a long line of powerful and purposeful beings. A legacy lies dormant within you, a power capable of either saving or destroying the world."

My heart pounded in my ears, and I struggled to find my voice. "What power? What is the legacy? I don't understand!"

"You will," it stated. "But only if you live long enough to awaken it. There are those who would silence you, twisting your gift to their own ends. They're already moving."

"Who?" My breath caught. "Oliver?"

"He is but one piece," the spirit said. "The greater threat exists beyond him, in the shadows he unknowingly serves. Anna, the truth is written in your blood. Look for the signs. They will guide you."

"What signs?" I pressed, desperation creeping into my voice.

The spirit didn't respond. Instead, it raised an arm or what appeared to be one and pointed to a tree behind me.

I turned, my heart pounding. The tree's surface glowed faintly, and the bark split as if carved by an unseen hand. A strange symbol emerged.

My breath got caught in my throat. I recognized that mark. It was the same one from Leo's house, which I had seen burn into the ground as a child.

"What does it mean?" I inquired, turning back to the spirit.

But it was gone. Its presence had vanished, leaving only the rustling trees and a faint hum from the glowing symbol.

I approached the tree cautiously, my legs trembling. The symbol pulsed faintly, and light washed over my hands as I reached out to touch it. The air around it was warm and alive, and it buzzed softly beneath my fingers.

The whispers had gone, but their echoes lingered in my mind. Your bloodline carries power and destiny.

My breath came in short bursts as I stumbled back toward the path. My thoughts were a blur of confusion and fear, and the forest felt darker, heavier, as if it were closing in on me.

By the time I reached the edge of the woods, the house appeared, its warm glow shining through the darkness. Maia's silhouette moved in, pacing back and forth.

I didn't enter right away. Instead, I leaned against the outer wall and looked up at the sky. The stars appeared dimmer than usual, as if they were weighed down by the events of the night.

The spirit's warning played over and over in my mind. I didn't fully understand it, but one thing was certain: nothing in my life would ever be the same.

The night air was cold against my skin, but I barely noticed it. My gaze shifted to the treetops, and a single thought formed in my mind, sharp and unwavering.

I was prepared to face whatever came my way. I had to. For Leo. For myself. For the truth.