fatigue, my mind would not stop. Though I knew they wouldn't be silent for long, the shadows inside of me were now simme

s full of danger and promise, shimmering like a caught hurricane. Without the continual fear of assaul

atural wall between me and the outside world. Here, the moonlight barely made contact with the earth. My chest was getting more and m

t could be heard in the darkness as the pendant pulsated against my throat. It was the one thing that kept me connecte

the darkness came a silent, shrouded figure. Their demeanor was one of unsettling calm

ed my pendant. A chilly, electric thrill went through me the instant their fingers

m radiated a strange yet comforting warmth, like a salve to a new woun

I would accept this as the haven I was looking for. We made our way quickly into the woodland, dodging between the trees and the darkness. Our surroundings appeared to ch

. Thick moss covered the ground, and old stones stood like silent guardians around the area.

de me contorting with caution and curiosity. I noticed my thoughts as I stared into the lake, but

shattered the surface. The dark wave that broke the stillness was the surge of the

the figure said. According to them, the sanctuary was old and had a thin curtain

as unable to speak. I was cautioned not to tal

ess my need for dominance. With its steady pulse, the pendant served as a continual reminder of my life's grim destiny and my connection to the stranger. Under a starry sky one night, the figure deli

merely a misfortune. My bloodline was older than the forest itself, older than the pack. A family

ontributed to this heritage. To permanently shift the balance between light

When that happened, I would have to decide whether to be a

shadows stirring, the horror gnawed at my heart, and

first rays of daybreak struck the trees. There was a low,

half-shadow, something not quite of this world, emerged from its depths.

ness within me let out a cry of recognition. It wa