The forest grew denser as Elena and Kael ventured deeper into the heart of Thornfang Hollow. Mist curled around ancient tree trunks like whispering ghosts, and the moonlight filtered through the canopy, casting eerie silver patterns on the forest floor.
Elena's senses were heightened. Every snap of a twig, every rustle of leaves seemed amplified in the stillness. Her breath came in shallow gasps, part from exertion, part from the raw excitement coursing through her veins.
Kael moved with the grace of a predator, his eyes sharp and alert in the darkness. Occasionally, he glanced at Elena, gauging her resolve.
"You're stronger than I expected," he murmured.
She managed a faint smile. "I'm not sure if that's good or bad."
He chuckled softly, the sound blending with the night. "It's both. This place changes people. It reveals what lies beneath."
They reached a clearing, where the ruins of an old stone chapel stood, half-swallowed by ivy and time. The air here was thicker, charged with a strange energy.
Kael knelt and traced symbols carved into the stones. "This chapel was once the heart of our community, a sanctuary for those who guarded the Hollow's secrets."
Elena crouched beside him, her fingers brushing the cold carvings. Suddenly, a sharp pain flickered through her palm, like a tiny spark.
She gasped and pulled back. "What was that?"
"Your blood is awakening," Kael explained. "The magic here responds to your presence."
A distant howl shattered the silence, a mournful and haunting cry that sent shivers down her spine.
Kael stood abruptly. "We don't have much time. There are those hunting you—and your mother."
"Who?" Elena demanded, her voice steady despite the fear rising in her chest.
Kael's eyes darkened. "Hunters. Humans who know the truth about the wolves—and see us as threats. They seek to control or destroy."
Elena's mind raced. The city she had left behind felt worlds away now. Here, the stakes were life and death.
"Why did my mother come here?" she asked quietly.
"To protect you," Kael said. "She tried to keep you safe by hiding the truth. But some secrets can't stay buried."
Elena looked around the clearing, feeling the weight of generations pressing on her.
"I want to understand," she said firmly. "I want to fight."
Kael nodded approvingly. "Good. The first lesson is to trust your instincts. The wolf inside you will guide you."
Suddenly, movement flickered at the edge of the clearing. A figure stepped forward, cloaked in shadow.
"Elena Morgan," the voice was smooth, cold. "You don't belong here."
Kael stepped between them. "Stay back."
The stranger laughed, a sound like broken glass. "This is only the beginning, girl. Thornfang Hollow has claimed many before you—and many will fall."
Elena's heart thundered, but she stood tall.
"I'm not afraid."
The moonlight broke through the trees, illuminating her face—a mix of fear, defiance, and determination.
The battle for Thornfang Hollow had begun.