The helicopter ride to the Council’s meeting hall stretched long and tense, the silence between us heavy with unspoken fears. By the time we arrived, my nerves were taut, but I masked it as best I could. The Council chamber loomed ahead, as imposing as ever, with its high ceilings and cold stone walls radiating authority.
The member of the Council sat in a row at the far end of the room, their faces carved with years of wisdom and judgment. Their expressions were unreadable as we approached. I didn’t think I would have two Council meetings so close.
“Alpha Anthony,” one of them greeted me, his tone polite but distant. “We’ve been expecting you.”
I didn’t waste time on pleasantries. “We were attacked last night. Witches. They came straight for the pack house.”
A ripple of murmurs spread through the room, but Simon raised a hand, silencing them. “Witches have not been seen in these lands for centuries. Are you certain?”
“They didn’t leave much room for doubt,” I replied, my voice cold and steady.
“What did they want?” another Council member asked, leaning forward.
My gaze flicked to Caroline beside me, her face calm but her eyes sharp. I hesitated. “I think they were looking for the wolves mentioned in the prophecy.”
The half-truth tasted bitter, but I couldn’t risk sharing everything—not yet. The Council members exchanged uneasy glances, their murmurs growing louder again.
Simon leaned forward, his expression grim. “This attack confirms our fears. The witches’ return is no coincidence. They must believe the prophecy holds power—power they wish to control or destroy. Do you know why they targeted your pack over all others?”
I fought to keep my face neutral, though the fear gnawed at the edges of my composure. “No idea,” I said, feigning indifference. “Maybe they think starting with the youngest alpha would be the easiest move.”
The answer wasn’t convincing, but it was enough for now. Another elder nodded thoughtfully. “It makes sense,” he murmured.
An older member cleared his throat, his voice carrying the weight of centuries. “There is a pack far to the east, beyond the borders of any territory we govern. A place few wolves speak of anymore.”
He paused, letting the words settle in the room like a gathering storm. “It is called Wolfheart.”
The name felt heavy, unfamiliar but powerful, as though speaking it out loud stirred something ancient.
“They are an ancient pack,” Simon continued, “older than most of us can comprehend. Their lands are hidden in their ways unlike ours. But they are not like the witches who seek to destroy. Their bond with magic runs as deeply as their bond with their wolves.”
Kevin frowned, his skepticism evident. “What does that mean?”
The eldest Council member, Magnus, spoke for the first time, his voice gravelly and commanding. “The magic that flows through their wolves also flows through their wizards. It is symbiotic—a shared power that strengthens both. Wolves and wizards in Wolfheart have been bound for generations.”
Caroline leaned forward slightly, her expression sharp. “Then why don’t we know more about them?”
Magnus regarded her with a measured look. “Because they’ve chosen isolation. They do not involve themselves in our politics, our wars, or our alliances. To them, the magic they protect is sacred, and their solitude is a shield against interference. Like us, they have councils and laws—but their ways are different. Far removed.”
I frowned, my thoughts spinning. “And you think they’ll help us now?”
Magnus’s gaze turned to me, steady and unyielding. “Wolfheart’s history is intertwined with the same forces the witches seek to control. If anyone can help you understand the prophecy and how to fight what’s coming, it’s them.”
I nodded slowly, though a tightness gripped my chest. Hope flickered faintly, fragile in the face of all we’d endured. Wolfheart sounded like exactly what we needed: ancient knowledge, untapped power, and allies who understood the dangers we faced.
But I wasn’t naive. The distance between hope and reality was vast.
“They don’t know us,” I said carefully, my voice low. “And we don’t know them. What’s to stop them from seeing us as outsiders—intruders?”
“They might,” Magnus admitted, his tone grave. “But Wolfheart knows as well as we do that if the witches succeed, the balance between magic and wolves will shatter. Their survival depends on that balance.”
I glanced at Caroline and Kevin. Their faces mirrored my unease, the weight of this journey pressing down on all of us. But I knew we didn’t have a choice. This was the only way forward.
“I’ll go,” I said finally, the words heavy with resolve. The decision settled on my shoulders like armor. “We’ll leave as soon as we can.”
The meeting ended, but the unease followed me like a shadow as we stepped into the crisp night air. Kevin was the first to break the silence.
“Wolfheart,” he muttered, shaking his head. “Sounds like something out of a bedtime story.”
“Legends are born from truth,” I said, though even I wasn’t sure if I believed that.
Caroline glanced at me, her sharp gaze dissecting every word. “Do you think they’ll help us?”
I wanted to offer her certainty, something firm to ease the weight we all carried. But all I could say was, “We won’t know until we get there.”
The walk back to the pack house was heavy with unspoken worries. My mind drifted to Aurora and John, their faces vivid in my thoughts. I wanted to believe Wolfheart was the answer we so desperately needed—that they’d hold the key to understanding the prophecy and stopping the witches.
But as we learned more about this mysterious pack, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were stepping into something far beyond our understanding.
The fire crackled in the hearth, its soft glow filling the room, but it did little to ease the tension that hung in the air like a storm waiting to break.
My father sat in his favorite chair, his elbows on his knees, staring into the flames. My mother was close, one hand resting on his shoulder, her gaze darting between me and the others.
Kevin leaned against the wall, his arms crossed in an attempt at casualness that didn’t fool anyone. Caroline sat perched on the edge of the couch, her red hair catching the firelight like a warning signal. I stood by the mantle, my hands braced against it, staring into the flames as if they held answers.
I’d just finished explaining the Council’s suggestion—the witches, the prophecy, and the distant, enigmatic Wolfheart Pack. It sounded absurd even as I spoke, but the urgency in the elders’ words left little room for doubt.
“This isn’t just about us anymore,” I said, breaking the heavy silence. “If the witches want what Caroline and I have—what’s tied to this prophecy—they won’t stop. Wolfheart might be our only chance to understand what we’re dealing with and how to fight back.”
My father exhaled through his nose, his fingers steepled as he considered my words.
“I don’t like it. You’ll be walking into unknown territory, dealing with people we’ve never allied with. We don’t even know if they’ll see you as a friend—or as a threat.”
“I know the risks,” I said, meeting his gaze. “But we can’t ignore this. If there’s even a sliver of hope that they can help us, I have to take it.”
Scarlett’s lips thinned as she exchanged a glance with Christopher.
“Your father is right to be cautious. You’re not just putting yourself at risk, Anthony. If things go wrong, the pack will feel it. But…if you truly believe this is the right path—”
“I do,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “I’ve thought it through. Caroline and Kevin will come with me. You and Dad can hold things together while we’re gone. I know you’ll protect the pack.”
Christopher nodded slowly, his gaze softening just a fraction.
“You’ve always been decisive, son. I just hope you’re prepared for what you might find.”
I turned to look at Caroline and Kevin, who were watching me with the same mix of determination and doubt.
Then I shifted my gaze back to my parents.
“There’s one more thing,” I said, the words tasting bitter even as they formed.
Scarlett tilted her head, her expression cautious.
“What is it?”
“Aurora and John will stay here.” The finality in my voice was clear, though it felt like a betrayal to say it aloud. “She’s my luna, but she can’t come.”
The firelight flickered, throwing shadows across Christopher’s face.
“You’re certain?”
I nodded, though my heart twisted at the thought.
“John needs her here. And I need to know they’re safe. The farther away they are from this fight, the better, I will need to leave my luna.”
The room fell silent, heavy with the weight of my decision.
And then, the atmosphere shifted—a tension I hadn’t noticed until it tightened like a noose.
Her voice sliced through the quiet, sharp, and unyielding.
I turned, my stomach dropping as Aurora stepped into the room. Her green eyes burned with a mix of hurt and defiance, her arms crossed over her chest.
“Aurora…,” I began, but she didn’t let me finish.
She stepped forward, her gaze locked onto mine.
“Is that really your plan? To leave your luna behind while you march off to face witches and prophecies?”
The challenge in her voice was a knife to my resolve. How could I make her understand? How could I explain that leaving her and John behind wasn’t just for their safety—it was the only way I could bear to protect them?
“I…” The words faltered on my tongue as I searched for something that would make this easier, for both of us. But nothing I could say would change the fire burning in her eyes.
I opened my mouth, but the words caught in my throat.
How could I explain it? How could I make her understand?
Aurora was not a woman who accepted being left behind.
And I knew, deep down, this wasn’t a battle I could win.
