Chapter Thirty-Six: Echoes of Blood
The fire crackled low as Elder Maeven settled beside Rina and Kael.
"There's a story you need to hear," she said, her voice heavy with years.
Rina's eyes flickered with curiosity, Kael's gaze sharpened.
"Long before Thorne, before the flame was born," Maeven began, "there was a bond between wolves and fire — a sacred pact."
She traced ancient symbols in the dirt.
"The first Alpha wielded the flame not as a weapon, but as a beacon — a guide to lead the pack through darkness."
"But something shattered that bond," Maeven continued, "and the flame became a curse as much as a gift."
Rina's heart pounded. "What happened?"
Maeven looked to Kael. "That is a story for another night. But know this — your power is part of a legacy greater than you realize."
Kael's hand found Rina's, a silent promise.
The past whispered secrets, and with it came a new understanding.
The fight for Blackridge was not just for the present — but for the future of all who would come after.