"Come here, Elara," he whispe

ainst his chest as

different from Marcus. He was bitten by a vampire. And you wer

iet, listen

d look into my eyes, "even if something like that did h

d his

the people you love just because you become powerful." He smiled softly a

ank you, Frank." I hugged him tightly,

ound of a whistle echoed across the ga

or training,

with a grin. "Ar

hand, and together, we ran out of th

this training. Nine years of bruises, pai

thing... O

opponent was expected to give everything they had. There was no special treatment, no

pponent win, there are conseque

ing, I was pushed harder. Even when I wasn't ready, I was expecte

d, I was still physically human. A cold-blooded human being surrounded

ewolves, One

ho could outrun me, overpower me, and heal from injuries

nd Frank, who couldn't see me in suc

uldn't defend myself against my kind, how wa

ack had to go through t

learn ho

e. How to pro

y, how to protect t

m for weakness.

And when that day came, nobody was going to ask

➖➖➖➖➖

my birthday f

the mirror, dressed

I stared at

verything

walking out of the room to s

he saw me

't say

suddenly feeling shy u

y, he

ld," he said softly. And he

osed my eyes and r

filled with emotion. Then he slowly pulled away and

alm for a moment be

ently placed the moon

I promised myself you would hav

feeling its cool su

his. From now on, I will always be by your side in every battle you fa

, a voice came from t

urn

ood there, s

ister, Elena. Yes,

t both of them. "That's right

ing with love. I stepped forward and

u all." For years you have protected me and sacrificed everything to keep me alive aft

very wolf warrior stood in formation, their faces

heavy with a

n't an ordi

e full moon

iny of the Chosen One

n stepped

hoed across

your twenty-first birthday, Elara, you will i

ell complet

his words sink in. "YouYou will become the bringer of freedom...not only to the werew

head and spoke with courage and authority. "On behalf of my late parents,

. Then c

not fa

s watched m

eedom of every werewolf.

has been forced to live under the Su

liberation of

I finished

roar erupted

rriors raised their fists and weapons into the a

r the Chosen One!"

hoed through

This was the moment I had waited nine years f