The forest felt different in wolf form.
Everything was intensified. Elara moved slowly between the trees, her paws silent against the ground. The scent of damp earth filled her nose, mixed with something else… something unfamiliar. Strong and different.
Not from Shadowfen.
Her ears twitched. She was not alone.
The others who had come with her had already spread out, searching for the silver-marked talisman the Alpha had mentioned. It was supposed to be somewhere near the border, half-buried, hidden among stones. A pointless task, if you asked her. More like punishment than duty.
She lowered her head, sniffing the ground, trying to focus. But that scent kept distracting her.
It was close now.
Too close.
A branch snapped behind her.
She spun around instantly, her body tense, a low growl rising from her chest. Her golden eyes locked onto a large wolf stepping out from the shadows.
Dark fur. Sleek. Controlled.
Powerful.
She knew immediately.
Lunaris.
Her heart skipped. This was bad. Very bad.
She took a step back, ready to run or fight, she did not know which yet.
The wolf did not attack.
Instead, he watched her.
Calm. Steady. Like he already knew the outcome of whatever this was.
Then his voice came again, clear in her mind.
"You crossed the border."
Elara froze.
It was him.
The man from before.
Her wolf shifted uneasily. She should not be standing here. She should not even be looking at him. "Everything about this situation was wrong", she thought loudly.
"I did not mean to," she replied, her thoughts shaky but clear.There was a pause.Then, slowly, he stepped closer.
Elara's body reacted before her mind could catch up. Her heart began to race. Not from fear this time. Something else. Something strange and uncomfortable.
She took another step back."Stay where you are," he said. Not harsh, just firm.
An Alpha command.
Her body stiffened.
For a second, the force pressed against her mind, telling her to stop, to obey, to submit,
But it did not hold.
She blinked, confused.
Her paws still moved.
She took another step back.
Silence.
The wolf in front of her stopped walking.
Now he was the one watching carefully.
"You felt that," he said slowly.
Elara did not answer.
Her chest rose and fell quickly. It did not seem right. That should have worked. Alpha commands always worked.
Always.
"Why did it not work on you?" he asked.
She shook her head slightly. "I do not know."
That was the truth.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
The forest was quiet, except for the distant howls of her pack. She could feel them somewhere far behind her, but it felt like she was standing in a completely different world.
Alone.
With him.
"You are from Shadowfen," he said.
It was not a question.
"Yes."
Another pause.
His gaze softened, just slightly, and barely noticeable. But she saw it.
"You should not be here," he repeated.
"I know."
"Then why are you still standing?"
Elara hesitated.
Because she could not leave.
Because something was holding her there.
Because for the first time in her life, she did not feel… small.
"I was sent," she said quietly.
His ears flicked. "Punishment?"
She looked away.
That was enough of an answer.
Something in his expression changed again, but it was gone before she could understand it. Then suddenly; Pain. Sharp. Sudden. Deep.
Elara gasped, stumbling slightly as a strange force hit her chest. It felt like something had snapped into place… and at the same time, like something was pulling at her from the inside.
She looked up at him.
He had felt it too.
She could see it in the way his body had gone rigid.
"What… was that?" she whispered.
He did not answer immediately.
His eyes were fixed on her now, analyzing her.
Then he took a step back.
"That should not be happening," he said under his breath.
Elara's heart pounded harder.
"What does that mean?"
Another silence.
Then finally, he spoke.
"It means," he said slowly, "you need to leave. Now."
Her chest tightened.
"Why?"
"Because if anyone finds you here," his voice turned colder now, more distant, "they will not ask questions first."
She knew what he meant.
Rival packs.
No mercy.
She nodded slowly.
But her legs did not move.
That feeling again.
Pulling her back.
Keeping her there.
He noticed.
"Go," he said, firmer this time.
She turned reluctantly, forcing her paws to move.
Step.
Step.
Step,
Then she stopped.
She did not know why.
She just… did.
And when she turned back, he was still there.
Watching her.
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then she asked, quietly,
"What is your name?"
Another pause.
Then--
"Kael."
The name settled in her mind like it belonged there.
"I am Elara," she said.
Something in his expression shifted again.
Just for a moment.
Then it was gone.
"Go back to your pack, Elara," he said.
This time, she did.
But even as she ran, weaving through the trees, heart racing, she knew one thing for sure;
Nothing about tonight was normal.
Not the command.
Not the pain.
And definitely not him.
And somehow…
She knew this was only the beginning.