"What's happening?" she said, feeling energy simmering within her.
The void shone with an intense amount of light.
The air felt drained. Her chest tightened, and her toes tingled with each step.
Then she saw her.
A lady in white, radiant in appearance, with hair the same as hers—brunette. Her eyes were the shade of emerald, not too far from her own hazel gaze.
She came forward with outstretched arms, her gown flowing around her, a star-studded veil holding her hair high.
She smelled like incense.
"Are you the voice in my head?" she asked, filled with awe at the radiant aura surrounding her.
"No. I am your bloodline's Oracle."
Her voice sounded ethereal, yet carried an unshakable firmness.
"I was sent to reveal myself when your soul called out to me.
The stars whispered to me, child of the moon and fire.
Danger lies ahead.
Countless evils lurk around—so close, yet too far.
Trust is only but a weapon.
Forces are preparing to launch attacks.
The battle line has already been drawn.
Listen to the voice in your head—she is your magical guide.
The language in the book you hold has been translated. Keep it close.
Keep watch, for your time has come, Ariahna.
We shall meet again when you've discovered yourself."
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
Gasping for air, she shot up, scanning her surroundings through half-closed eyelids.
The air smelled like soil.
The forest…
How did I get here? she thought, wondering if the library encounter had been a dream.
"No... it wasn't," she whispered, clutching the book tighter.
The air felt thick, wrapped in darkness.
Something dangerous is near, she thought, slowly getting up.
"Ahh…" she winced, supporting her lower back.
Something felt off. The aura ahead of her darkened.
She had stayed here long enough to know the familiar scent of the pack's wolves—but this scent was hostile, almost sinister.
As if drawn by an invisible force, she took a step, then two, into the woods.
The trees bore claw marks carved deep into their bark.
At the trunk of the grass was a wolf skull sigil, with a dark silver-crimson moon. Deep crimson claw marks slashed across it. Vampire-like fangs dripped with blood beneath.
What is that? she thought, leaning in closer.
A black, chain-like circle enclosed the sigil.
Trees rustled at a distance. The wind carried a rotten stench.
Turning toward the smell, she saw flies hovering around a dead deer.
She flinched in horror, her stomach recoiling.
Just two steps beyond it, stones were neatly arranged in a crescent.
Feeling both fear and disgust, she stumbled, walking shakily toward the light.
Images flooded her head—
Memories that seemed too foreign to be her own.
The forest burned brightly, growling in tune with the flames as if speaking its own language.
A white wolf raced through the inferno, a pouch clutched in its mouth.
And just like that, the memories vanished.
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
He tossed restlessly, eyes shut tightly, as if warding off an unseen force. His brows knit together, beads of sweat lining his forehead.
Quickened footsteps echoed through his mind—unmistakable.
A lady in white ran along a forest path, her breathing shallow, steps unsteady.
Behind her, a pack of wolves charged—fangs bared, eyes gleaming with bloodlust.
As they raised their claws to strike, he let out a sharp growl and jolted upright.
"Another one of these nightmares," he muttered, gasping for air as he threw the soaked sheets aside.
It had been more than two months since he'd last seen her. He'd watched her, noticed the signs—but never thought it would manifest so soon.
"I miss her," he exhaled, dragging his feet to the mirror.
"I look like a mess," he added, raking a hand through his disheveled hair.
Memories flooded back: the moment they met, how out of place she seemed, how he'd been told to watch her.
What began as duty had turned into something deeper—something real.
Then he'd been called back, just days before everything fell apart.
His jaw clenched.
Now she was gone. Unreachable. Under the protection of the Crimson Moon Alpha.
With a long sigh, he sat on the edge of his bed.
Living with his identity had been hard enough—hiding it from her had been harder.
Since he was little, he'd figured there was something different about him, but he couldn't quite place it.
The adults around him behaved in a strange way but still human enough.
The house itself had felt so ancient, and each corridor seemed to whisper histories with them.
The strange markings on the walls pointed to something otherworldly, but try as he could, he still couldn't grasp any of it.
Not to forget the dreams he started having at nine—
Dreams that seemed like revelations... forests, the howl of wolves, with the moon above sending its own whispers.
He began seeing wolves in his dreams when he turned thirteen, started understanding a few things... the drawings in the books found in the library, the hidden paths behind the portraits.
They all made so much sense now, and he began to know—more than suspect—that he was a wolf at that point.
He had heard of supernatural beings... wolves, vampires, and other night creatures—but always shoved them off as myths.
Not until he started experiencing changes—and by fourteen, he wolfed out.
I don't remember exactly what triggered that, he thought, racking his head, but it was in this room.
Was it anger or pain? He couldn't place it.
He already knew Aria at that point, and they shared a lot of things together.
"At least almost everything," he said, sighing.
He couldn't tell her he was a wolf—and that she was one too—and that he was here to watch and protect her if anything happened.
But he wasn't there at the last moment.
"Enough," he muttered, lying back and picking up his phone.
The last message he sent still hadn't delivered.
"At least she's safe," he murmured.
A knock came at the door, followed by the creak of it opening.
"Did you get Aunt's message Theo?" someone asked.
"Yes Sam," he said wearily.
"Just checking. See you around," she replied, already halfway out the door.
"Alright," he muttered, slumping back into the pillows.
"When is all this going to be over…"
— ✦ — ✦ — ✦ —
As if blending with her fear, the trees around Ariahna snapped unnaturally, revealing a low growl.
Sensing a vicious presence, she ducked behind a tree to survey the area, heart pounding wildly.
Then she saw it—
A carving on the tree:
The black fang returns
Glowing eyes watchedfrom a distance,
With an aura laced with darkness.
It didn't move. It simply stared.
Then—vanished.
Racing toward the light, she clutched the book tighter, the Oracle's words echoing in her mind.
Danger lies ahead.
Forces are preparing to launch attacks.
Reaching the border, she stood, heaving. Then, with a low murmur—
"They're already here."