The howl echoed in Seren's ears long after it faded into the night. It wasn't just a sound; it was a summons. A call that resonated deep in her bones, pulling at something primal and ancient within her.
Ferris stood by the forge door, his expression dark and unreadable. The firelight cast flickering shadows across his face, making him look older, more weathered.
"They've found you," he said, his voice heavy with certainty.
Seren's chest tightened. "What do you mean? Found me how?"
Ferris didn't answer immediately. Instead, he grabbed a heavy iron poker from the forge and tested its weight in his hands. His movements were calm but purposeful, like a soldier preparing for battle.
"You're marked," he said finally, his gaze fixed on the glowing coals. "That scar on your arm—it's like a beacon. They can sense you now, wherever you are."
Seren clenched her fists, her claws threatening to extend again. "I didn't ask for this. I didn't want any of it."
"Doesn't matter what you want," Ferris said bluntly. "What matters is how you deal with it. They'll come for you, and when they do, you'll have to decide—fight or join them."
"Why is everyone so obsessed with me choosing?" she snapped. "Why can't I just be left alone?"
"Because that's not how this works," Ferris said, his voice sharp. "You're not human anymore, Seren. You're one of them, whether you like it or not. And they won't rest until you've taken your place."
Seren's breathing grew shallow, panic rising in her chest. She didn't want to believe him, but deep down, she knew he was right. The pull in her chest was undeniable, an invisible thread binding her to the pack.
"What do I do?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Ferris hesitated, his expression softening. "You fight. You fight with everything you've got. And if you're lucky, you might just survive."
---
The night air was cold and still as Seren stepped outside, her heart pounding in her chest. The forest loomed ahead, dark and forbidding, the shadows between the trees seeming to shift and writhe.
Ferris followed close behind, the iron poker gripped tightly in his hands.
"They'll come from the west," he said quietly, his eyes scanning the treeline. "That's where the pack always starts. They'll test your strength, see if you're worth keeping alive."
"And if I'm not?"
"They'll kill you," Ferris said bluntly.
The words sent a shiver down Seren's spine. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked.
Ferris glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Because you're not the first," he said. "And you won't be the last. If you make it through this, you'll understand why it matters."
Before she could ask what he meant, a low growl rumbled from the shadows.
Seren froze, her senses sharpening instinctively. She could hear the rustle of leaves, the soft crunch of paws on the forest floor. The pack was close—too close.
"Stay behind me," Ferris said, stepping in front of her.
"No," Seren said, her voice firm. "I can handle this."
Ferris turned to look at her, surprise flickering across his face. "Are you sure?"
"No," she admitted. "But I have to try."
He nodded, stepping aside.
The growls grew louder, and then the wolves emerged from the shadows.
There were four of them, their eyes glowing in the darkness. The leader was a massive black wolf, its fur glistening in the moonlight. It stared at Seren with an intensity that made her heart race.
The black wolf growled, a low, guttural sound that sent a chill down her spine.
"Stand your ground," Ferris whispered.
Seren clenched her fists, her claws fully extended now. The pull in her chest was almost overwhelming, but she fought against it, refusing to give in.
The black wolf lunged without warning, its massive body hurtling toward her with incredible speed.
Seren reacted instinctively, sidestepping the attack and slashing out with her claws. Her strike connected, and the wolf yelped, its momentum carrying it past her.
The other wolves growled, their hackles rising.
"They're testing you," Ferris said. "Don't hold back."
Seren didn't need to be told twice.
The next wolf attacked, its jaws snapping inches from her face. She dodged and countered, her movements faster and more precise than she thought possible. Her claws raked across the wolf's side, and it stumbled, whimpering.
The black wolf growled again, and the remaining wolves hesitated, their eyes flicking between Seren and their leader.
For a moment, the clearing was silent, the tension thick in the air.
Then the black wolf stepped forward, its gaze locked on Seren.
"This is it," Ferris said. "The final test. Show them what you're made of."
Seren's heart pounded as the wolf lunged again, faster and more ferocious than before. She met its attack head-on, their bodies colliding with a force that knocked the air from her lungs.
They grappled, claws and teeth flashing in the moonlight. Seren fought with everything she had, her instincts taking over. She could feel the power surging through her, the wolf inside her roaring to life.
With a final, desperate strike, she slashed across the black wolf's face, her claws cutting deep.
The wolf yelped and staggered back, blood dripping from its wound.
Seren stood her ground, her chest heaving, her claws still bared.
The black wolf stared at her for a long moment, its eyes unreadable. Then, slowly, it lowered its head in a gesture of submission.
The other wolves followed suit, bowing their heads to Seren.
She stared at them, her mind racing. What did this mean?
"They've accepted you," Ferris said quietly.
Before she could respond, a new howl echoed through the forest—low and menacing, filled with an unnatural malice.
Ferris's face paled. "That's not them."
Seren turned toward the sound, her heart sinking.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Ferris gripped the iron pok
er tighter. "Trouble."
And then the shadows between the trees began to move, darker and more sinister than before.