chapter Four

The woodland beat with a frightening vitality, its shadows lively as in case the trees themselves whispered insider facts to the wind. Elara shook from fear indeed in spite of the fact that there's the presence of the thick fur-lined coat Chris had hung over her shoulders some time recently his sad conclusion. The memory of his wide eyes, solidified in passing, shook and rolled around truly quick in her chest like a storm. He had driven her here, to the heart of strongly autonomous arrive range claimed Alpha--Eryth Solan.

Eryth stood tall, his silver eyes sparkling within the firelight, his expression garbled. His nearness was commanding, however exasperating, like he were an creature who chases and slaughters others testing his (chased creature). Around him, his subordinate individuals stood in tense quiet, their looks moving rapidly between Elara and their Alpha, their mindfulness and apprehension genuine.

"You've made it," Eryth said, his profound voice cutting through the quiet. 

Elara's hands squeezed tightly into fists. "I didn't come here willingly. Chris your man--dragged me into this mess. And now he's dead because of you." Her voice cracked on the last word, her sadness about death still raw.

Eryth's expression didn't shift. "Chris was loyal to our cause. He knew the risks, and his death will not be without success or without purpose.

Elara stepped closer, her eyes burning/creating with anger. "What cause? What twisted desire to reach a goal did you send him to die for?"

Eryth tilted his head, his silver look piercing. "Patience, Elara. You'll understand soon enough." He pointed toward the fire at the center of the clearing. "Sit. Eat. You'll need your strength for what's ahead."

Elara's jaw tightened. "I didn't leave Kaelen's large, very secure place to be ordered around by another Alpha."

A ripple of discomfort permeated the rogues in response to her defiance, yet Eryth's lips formed a subtle, menacing smile. "I am not Kaelen. You will discover that I value honesty more than pretense. However, you will take a seat because, whether you are willing or not, your survival hinges on listening to me."

With reluctance, Elara settled onto the log closest to the fire, its warmth offering little relief from the cold that seemed to penetrate her very being. Eryth positioned himself opposite her, his imposing figure casting a lengthy shadow.

"Are you aware of why Kaelen is so intent on keeping you confined?" Eryth inquired, shattering the oppressive silence.

Elara's lips pressed together. "Because he is a domineering tyrant."

Eryth's smirk widened. "That is accurate, but there is more to the situation. He leaned in closer, his features illuminated by the dancing flames. "Your scar, Elara. It represents more than just a symbol of rejection. It is a mark—a warning and a promise associated with a prophecy that predates us all."

Her breath caught. The seer's enigmatic words reverberated in her mind

“Your scar isn’t a curse. It’s power, and Kaelen would rather keep you hidden than risk what you could become.”

Before Elara could respond, a sharp howl echoed through the trees. The rogues immediately sprang to their feet, weapons drawn, their movements swift and purposeful.

Eryth stood, his calm demeanor replaced with one of steely focus. “They’ve found us.”

“Who?” Elara asked, her pulse quickening.

“Kaelen’s warriors,” Eryth said grimly. “He won’t let you go without a fight.”

Elara’s heart pounded. “Then why bring me here? You’ve just made me a target!”

“You’ve always been a target,” Eryth said, his silver eyes locking onto hers. “But now, you’re with people who will fight for you.”

The camp erupted into chaos as the rogues prepared for battle. Elara was swept along in the tide of movement, her mind racing as the sound of pursuit grew louder.

“Stay close,” Eryth ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They moved swiftly through the forest, the shadows swallowing them whole. But the howls of Kaelen’s wolves grew nearer, their cries slicing through the night like a hunting horn.

The first attack came without warning. A warrior leapt from the darkness, his claws aimed at Eryth’s throat. But the Rogue Alpha was faster. He shifted mid-air, his massive black wolf colliding with the attacker in a flurry of fur and teeth.

Elara stumbled back, her eyes wide as the forest erupted into battle. Rogues and warriors clashed around her, their snarls and cries filling the air. She froze, panic gripping her limbs.

“Move!” a voice shouted, snapping her out of her trance.

She turned to see a young rogue woman with auburn hair fending off two warriors at once. Her movements were swift and calculated, but the odds were against her.

Elara’s gaze darted to a dagger lying on the ground nearby. Without thinking, she grabbed it and lunged at one of the warriors, slashing at his side. He howled in pain, turning his attention to her.

Fear surged through Elara, but she didn’t back down. If this was her fate, she would fight for her survival.

The battle seemed to last an eternity, but eventually, the sounds of combat began to fade. Elara stood amidst the aftermath, her hands trembling as she clutched the bloodied dagger.

Eryth drawn closer her, moving back into his human shape. His silver eyes held a flash of endorsement.

“You battled well,” he said.

Elara shook her head. “I'm not a warrior. I fair didn't need to die.”

“You're more than a fighter,” Eryth said. “You're a survivor. And that's precisely what we need.”

As the rebels regrouped, Eryth driven Elara to a separated portion of the woodland. He squatted some time recently her, his look consistent.

“There's no turning back now,” he said. “Kaelen won't halt chasing you, and the Shadow Alpha's powers are as of now mixing. In case you need to outlive, you wish to grasp what you are.”

Elara's voice trembled. “And what am I?”

“You're the as it were one who can halt what's coming,” Eryth said. “But to begin with, you would like to reveal the truth approximately your bloodline—and the control your scar holds.”

Elara's intellect hustled as the weight of his words sank in. Her life was not her possess, and in case she needed to recover it, she would ought to battle for it.

“I'll do it,” she said, her voice consistent in spite of the fear biting at her. “But in the event that you're lying to me—”

“I do not lie,” Eryth hindered, his grin returning. “You'll see that before long enough.”

As the primary beams of first light broke through the trees, Elara felt the cold weight of the vial covered up in her outfit. Chris's passing on message resounded in her intellect:

The rebels aren't your enemies—they're your answers.

But may she believe them?

Some place within the separate, a wolf howled—a frequenting sound that sent a shudder down her spine. The road ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear:

her travel was as it were starting.