Before I got back to the pack, she had reported the incident and the entire pack had been gathered. As I entered the elders' hall, the heaviness of the air pressed against me. Wolf murmurs were heard in the room's corner, and as they noticed me, their eyes were cold and suspicious.Dahlia stood close to father, unbending and quiet. Despite the fact that it was impossible to read her expression, our tension was stronger than ever.My father turned to look at me. Daisy," he said with a sharp tone that lacked the usual warmth. Be there for the family.As I moved forward, I swallowed the feeling of eyes staring at my back as I clenched my fists. The elders sat in a half-circle, their faces imprinted with years of experience and judgment. Grandmother Selene, the leading elder, narrowed her eyes as she observed me.Her voice was gravelly but steady as she began, "I heard there was... an incident during the hunt." Did it attack from outside our borders?Trying to keep my voice from shaking,
The next day, I woke up with an odd sensation of something crawling beneath my skin. A dull ache pulsed behind my eyes, my fingertips almost felt like they were buzzing. The strange dreams I had last night, the flashes of eyes in the shadows, the warnings that seemed to get louder, the longer I ignored them, they were too much for me to shake off.However, I did not have time to consider that. The opportunity to demonstrate that I was not a threat to the pack was today, my so-called test. I was haunted by Grandmother Selene's last-night voice and her thoughts about "unseen forces." To get rid of the doubts that were trying to sneak in, I clenched my jaw. I will exhibit leadership to them if they desired one.When I got there, the forest was alive with activity. Warriors were preparing for the hunt, checking their weapons, and getting ready. As I moved forward, they all looked at me with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. I kept my head up and didn't let their stares bother me.Dahlia w
As if the forest itself was aware that something was wrong, the wind was thick with the heavy and damp scent of rain. As I led the group back toward the village, the weight of their stares pressing against my back made my skin itch. Even though I was surrounded, I felt exposed.I could still hear Grandmother Selene's warning from the clearing as direction or something "drastic." She had looked at me like I was both a mystery and a weapon that she couldn't leave unattended, and I couldn't shake that impression. After what had transpired, I could feel the suspicion like a knife at my throat, and the pack was already nervous.Lucas sped up to catch up to me with tense expression. Daisy, how are you doing? As if he could find an answer in my expression, his eyes scanned my face.I admitted, looking down at my hands, "I don't know." It still felt so fresh to recall what had happened and it's beyond my understanding.He brushed his hair with his hand while looking over his shoulder at the o
As I stared at the ground-glowing symbols, my heart beat raced in my ears. Like they were alive, the strange, twisted lines flashed a faint pulsating light. I was surrounded by the pack, some of them frozen in fear, some murmurings, Grandmother's words floated in the air.She had stated, "The ancient ones... they're coming."Who were they, though? And what do they have in mind for us?Grandmother Selene moved forward, her fingers hovering above the symbols as if she could sense their energy. Her lips were straight and pale on her face. The wind picked up, and whipped around us, it had a metallic tinge of terror and confusion."What... what does it mean?" I asked in a low voice.Because she was focused on the symbols, she did not respond immediately. She said to herself, "This is not what I thought," as she murmured.Lucas stood by my side with a clenched jaw. Now would be a good time to inform us if you know what this is.Grandmother gave a straining glance upward. This... is ancient
My entire world spun around. I was unable to breathe as the stranger's dark energy engulfed my body and soaked into my bones. Even though I had no idea what it was, I felt his power tugging at something deep within me that I knew was dangerous.“Daisy!” The distant sound of Lucas's voice sounded like he was shouting through the water. My body refused to respond when I attempted to reach for him. The stranger fixed his cold eyes on mine, as if he could see right through me."Don't fight it, Omega." It hurts more the more you resist, his voice echoed in my head.I thought I was going to pass out for a moment because my vision was blurry. But then I saw something with tiny and far-off eyes following from the forest. I had never seen anything like that before.The stranger also noticed. I could feel his panic rising as he tightened his grip on me. Tonight, he wasn't alone in the forest, and no one else here was friendly."What… what is that?" I was able to speak through the pressure in my
Every nerve in my body was tense as soon as I slipped back into the pack's territory. Every step I took to get closer to the den felt like it was carrying a new weight in the pitch-blackness of the night, the kind of darkness that eats at you. The stranger's gaze on me, as if he knew every dark nook and cranny of my mind, was something I couldn't shake.Dahlia, on the other hand, now bothered me the most.As soon as I got close to the pack grounds, she waited, as if she had been watching for hours. Her eyes gazed straight and sharp at me, as if she were trying to find out what happened.Where have you been? Daisy. She spoke in a manner that was too soft. That was a rare conversation between Dahlia and me.I stabilized myself by taking a breath. Out, just... Had to get some air.The silence thinned as she observed me, this night? On your own? I don't believe that.My jaw clenched. Dahlia was always able to see through me. What's the point?'"When did you last go out on your own?” She t
I pushed deeper into the forest, away from the prying eyes and constant questions, and the air was thick. Dahlia's suspicion had hovered over me like a shadow, serving as a constant reminder of what I was concealing. However, I was done hiding as of tonight. If I was ever to shake this sense of helplessness, I needed to know what I could do.From the edge of a clearing, I stopped and took in the night sky. Everything was illuminated by the moon's bright light. It seemed to be alive and watching me. I closed my eyes and tried to reach the strange new part of me that I had been trying to bury deeply. I wanted to be heard and let out whatever it was that changed in me."Daisy, you shouldn't be out here," I said.With my heart racing, I whipped around. Kai, one of the fiercest warriors in the pack, was the one. With the same recognizable frown he always wore, he stood a few feet away with his arms crossed. He looked at me with his dark eyes, curious but cautious.I swallowed the nervousne
I walked through the pitch-black forest, shadows extending in every direction. As if it was anticipating something, the air was thick and almost electric. That same inner fire was still burning, but it was now stronger, hotter, and nearly impossible to control. I was still processing Kai's words. He advised me and said that I was unprepared and lacked knowledge of the situation at hand. However, he was unaware of the feeling of powerlessness to be nothing at allMy heart was beating so hard that I stopped breathing. Silver was shining everywhere as the moon rose high above. It seemed to be calling to something deep within me, and I felt drawn to it. The others had talked about their first shifts and the moon's pull on them. But for me, it was more like a need that I couldn't ignore, a demand."What do I need to do?" I said something to the empty forest.I spun around as my senses sharpened when a nearby branch snapped. This time, it wasn't Kai. A wolf's eyes sparkled from the gloom, l
The earth was dark. I was drifting in emptiness, a burden resting on my chest. My arms couldn't shift. My legs felt numb. I wasn’t even certain I was inhaling. “It’s finished, sister.” Dahlia’s voice resonated in my thoughts like an eerie tune. She was all around, her voice, her influence, her strength. And I? I was caught. Once more. “Daisy!” Lucian's voice hit me like a punch, slicing through the fog. All at once, brightness pierced the obscurity. My lungs surged to life, and I gasped for a quick, stinging breath. I gasped as I opened my eyes. "At last!" Kai's face loomed above me, reddened and agitated. “You are living.” "I believed we had lost you." I sat up, moaning as the ache in my body overwhelmed me. My arms felt as heavy as metal. My head ached. All around, the camp was a frenzy, flames roaring, fighters yelling, the atmosphere heavy with the iron odor of blood. "What occurred?" My voice was raspy. Lucian showed up, his face marked with grime and lines of red. “Dahl
Like a storm, the shadows closed in. My vision was blurry. I was having trouble breathing. "Daisy!" The roar of Lucian's voice came from a distance. In an attempt to navigate the dense, whirling blackness, I turned to face him. However, it was useless. The shadows of Dahlia had a life of their own and wound themselves about my feet like snakes. Suffocatingly cold, they pulled at me. Her voice then broke through the commotion. Easy. managed. "Sister, why resist it? This is our power. To you. There was something old and shaky in me that her words tugged at. I gave a headshake. "You're not correct!" A glimmer of light broke through the darkness. When Lucian approached me, his voice was fierce and his claws tore at the darkness. "Daisy, stay with me!" The shadows hissed and backed away as I took hold of his hand, his warmth securing me. Dahlia, however, continued. "Oh, how lovely." The blackness swirled about her like a living entity as she took a step closer. "Lucian is a
I was unable to move. Dahlia’s voice resonated in my mind like a rhythmic thump, sending chills down my spine. “I’m coming for you, sister.” Lucian seized my shoulders, his tone pointed. "Hi Daisy!" What did you listen to?” I looked at him, struggling to push the words out. "She is near, Lucian." Dahlia has arrived. Kai, who had been anxiously walking behind us, came to a stop mid-step. “Hold on, this place?” "Is she like observing us from the trees, honing her wicked villain knife?" A deep growl emanated from Lucian's throat. "We have run out of time." "We have to alert the others." I tripped ahead as Lucian urged me to move, my legs acting on their own while my thoughts whirled. My sister, my twin, was arriving. And with her arrived something much more dreadful than any warning howl or council threat. Kai ran next to me, panting heavily. "Daisy, do you sense her, like an eerie twin telepathy thing?" "Yes," I murmured, my heart constricting. “It feels as though she’s tugging a
I struck the ground with such force that the breath was expelled from my lungs. The shadows ejected us as if we were just worthless refuse. I turned onto my back, struggling for breath, my body hurting everywhere. “Daisy?” Lucian’s voice pierced the haze in my mind. "Still alive," I rasped. Kai emitted a groan from somewhere on my left. "Can anyone clarify why plummeting into darkness must feel like being pushed off a mountain?" "Twice?" I compelled myself to sit upright. My hands shook while I dusted off my clothing. The air around us seemed cleaner and lighter, yet the tension in my chest wouldn't subside. We had left the Shadow Veil, yet I sensed this was merely the start. Lucian’s keen eyes surveyed the open area. "We have returned." "Back to where?" I whispered. "Pack area," he said, his jaw tense. "Close to the council premises." Kai's eyes grew large. "Ah, wonderful." “Since we certainly required a family gathering at this moment.” Lucian cast him a fierce look. "It is
The world returned in pieces, noises, followed by brightness, and then the chill. My body hurt as if I had been tossed in a tempest. My hands struck wet, irregular terrain while I gasped for air, shadows still winding around my wrists like serpentine chains. “Daisy!” Lucian’s voice was far away yet piercing enough to cut through the fog. I raised my head. The shadows encircling me twisted as though perceiving my motion. I trembled, attempting to rid myself of them. They remained unmoved. I listened as heavy footsteps rushed toward me, accompanied by a recognizable voice shouting, “Take her out of there!” Kai. Before I had a chance to respond, Lucian’s hand seized my shoulder. His face came into sharp focus, the marks of concern carved deeply. “Daisy, are you able to stand?” "I believe so," I whispered. I wobbled while attempting to rise. The shadows initially fought back but then… moved. It felt as though they supported my ability to stand. Kai came to a halt beside us, a combi
The darkness surrounding me seemed vibrant. They slithered up my legs, icy and relentless, as if they were driven by their own will. My heart raced as Dahlia moved nearer, her wolf following her, its amber eyes shining in the faint, heavy light of this dark realm. "Well, Daisy," she started, her tone silky and teasing. “Are you sensing it?” "That small spark of energy I’ve granted you?" I fought against the darkness, staring at her fiercely. "You didn't provide me with anything." "What have you done to me?" She inclined her head, pretending to be innocent. "Come on now." "Don't say you haven't seen how they react to you." She pointed to the twisting shadows beneath me. “They recognize their master.” "They don't belong to me!" I spit, wrenching my legs loose. I staggered back, yet the mark on my arm throbbed, and the shadows trailed, wrapping around me like a second layer. Dahlia chuckled, the noise reverberating oddly. "Refuse to acknowledge it as much as you like, but the eviden
The cave hummed with suspense as Dahlia's shape appeared from the darkness. The massive wolf towered behind her, ominous and threatening, its golden eyes glimmering with malicious intent. I tightened my fists, the lingering energy from the ordeal still pulsating in my veins. "Didn’t think you’d run into me this quickly?" Dahlia’s voice resonated, sleek and scornful. She approached nearer, her movements intentional. "You cleared your small exam." "I'm nearly impressed." “What brings you here?” I insisted, moving ahead. My voice remained calm, yet my heart raced loudly. Dahlia angled her head, grinning. "To help you remember your position." Do you believe that a spark of power alters your identity, Daisy? You remain the Omega. "Yet the less strong twin." Kai laughed dismissively, moving next to me. “Is this the moment when you bore us to death with a monologue?” “Since we have destinations to reach.” Dahlia's wolf growled, and the cave appeared to tremble with its snarl. Kai recoil
The Earth whirled as I fell into the abyss. Frosty wind rushed against my face, my hands reaching out for something to hold. My wolf instincts howled, yet all I felt was the sensation of freefall. A sudden jolt halted my fall. Agony surged through my shoulder as I hung from a stony ledge. Above, Dahlia's laughter resonated like a storm. "Wait a moment, Daisy!" Lucian’s voice echoed from a higher location. "I'm not leaving," I yelled in response, even though my hold was weakening. Kai's face emerged from the edge, his hand extended. "Grab it!" I extended, exerting all my strength. His fingers brushed against mine, but an abrupt roar trembled the cliffside. The stone split underneath me, and I fell deeper into the void. I struck the ground with a jolting thump. I was engulfed by darkness. My body ached, yet nothing seemed fractured. With a groan, I turned over and attempted to get my bearings. "Daisy?" Lucian’s voice sounded, weak and far away. "I'm still here!" I yelled in repl
We emerged from the cave into the soft light of dusk. The woods unfolded ahead, quiet and unsettling. Every noise caused my muscles to tighten. Each shadow appeared to be animated. Lucian kept his sword down, his gaze sweeping over the forest edge. "We're vulnerable here." We have to locate shelter. "Seriously," Kai remarked, tousling his wet hair with a hand. "Could we manage to have five minutes without being pursued, cursed, or lectured on prophecy?" I sighed in exasperation. "Unlikely." "Let's go." The ground under my boots seemed unsteady, as if the earth itself was unsure of what would happen next. The image from the glyph lingered in my thoughts, Dahlia atop a mound of debris, the eclipse engulfing the heavens. “Daisy,” Lucian’s voice brought me back. He was observing me attentively. "Is everything all right?" "Not exactly," I confessed. "However, there's no time for me to break down." Kai laughed without humor. "That's the mindset." "Suppress now, worry later." We vent