A Wolf Among Ghosts
1020 Words
Chapter Seven -
Aria woke to the distant howl of wolves echoing through the valley. It was a haunting sound, a reminder that despite the strange peace of this place, danger still lurked in the shadows.
She sat up, stretching her sore muscles. The training from the day before had left its mark—bruises blossomed across her arms and ribs, but she welcomed the ache. It was proof that she had survived.
Her small cabin was still and quiet, the early morning light seeping through the gaps in the wooden walls. There was no luxury here, no warm furs like the ones she had once curled into in Midnight Howl’s pack house. But this place, rough and simple as it was, belonged to her.
And that was more than she could say about anything in her old life.
With a deep breath, she stood and dressed swiftly, slipping into the simple tunic and leggings provided to her. A leather belt secured a small dagger to her waist—a necessity here, where trust was scarce and survival meant always being prepared.
As she stepped outside, the crisp morning air filled her lungs, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. Wolves were already moving through the settlement, some heading toward the training grounds, others gathering near the communal fire pits.
She spotted Kieran leaning against a large oak tree, arms crossed, watching her with his usual unreadable expression.
"You’re up early," he remarked.
Aria rolled her shoulders. "Hard to sleep when every muscle in your body feels like it’s been trampled by a stampede."
Kieran smirked. "That means the training worked."
She shot him a glare but didn’t argue.
Evelyn had made it clear that proving herself wouldn’t be easy, and she had no intention of backing down.
Kieran pushed off the tree, motioning for her to follow. "Come on. There’s something you need to see."
Aria hesitated before falling into step beside him.
They walked in silence, weaving through the settlement and up a narrow trail that led toward the outskirts. The farther they went, the quieter the air became, as if the land itself held its breath.
Finally, they reached a clearing. And there, scattered across the earth, were graves.
Rows of them, some marked by simple stones, others by wooden carvings etched with names.
Aria’s breath caught in her throat.
"This…" she whispered. "These are—"
"Wolves who didn’t make it," Kieran said, his voice quieter than usual. "Some were rogues. Others were cast out like you. Some fought for a place here and lost."
Aria swallowed hard. She had seen death before, had tended to the wounded and the dying in her time as a healer. But this… this was different.
"This isn’t just a refuge," she murmured. "It’s a battlefield."
Kieran nodded. "Evelyn built this place for wolves with nowhere else to go. But that doesn’t mean the world lets us exist in peace. There are those who see us as threats. Those who would rather see us erased."
Aria turned to face him. "Who?"
His jaw tightened. "Other packs. Alphas who fear what we represent. The idea that wolves can live outside their control threatens them."
A bitter laugh escaped her lips. "So, no matter where I go, I’ll always be hunted."
Kieran studied her for a moment. "Maybe. But here, at least, you’ll have the chance to fight back."
Something inside her shifted at his words.
For so long, she had been at the mercy of others. Cast aside, rejected, forced to run.
Now, for the first time, she had a choice.
She could fade into the background, just another ghost among the forsaken.
Or she could rise.
She met Kieran’s gaze, steel hardening in her eyes.
"Then teach me how."
To be continued…
Chapter Seven – A Wolf Among Ghosts (Continued)
Kieran’s lips curled into something that wasn’t quite a smile, but there was approval in his gaze.
“You want to learn how to fight?” he asked, voice steady.
Aria squared her shoulders. “I already know how to fight. But I want to be stronger.”
She had fought before—against the rogues in the forest, against the weight of rejection that had nearly crushed her. But here, strength wasn’t just a weapon; it was a necessity.
Kieran nodded once. “Then follow me.”
He led her down a narrow trail that wove between the trees, moving with the effortless grace of someone who had spent years blending into the wilderness. Aria kept up, her boots crunching softly against the damp earth.
They emerged into a second clearing, this one more alive than the last. The training ground.
Wolves in both human and shifted form moved across the open space, sparring in pairs. Some fought with nothing but their fists and claws, while others wielded weapons—daggers flashing in the morning light, staffs cracking against each other with sharp precision.
Aria exhaled, watching the scene unfold. The Midnight Howl warriors had trained with discipline, their movements polished and predictable. But these wolves? They fought like survivors—unorthodox, ruthless, efficient.
She had a lot to learn.
Kieran strode toward the center of the clearing, where a circle of warriors had gathered. A few turned to acknowledge him, their expressions shifting as their eyes landed on Aria. Some were curious. Others were skeptical.
“Everyone,” Kieran called out, his voice carrying over the noise of combat. “Meet our newest recruit.”
Aria stiffened as the weight of their gazes fell upon her.
A tall, broad-shouldered man with a jagged scar running down his cheek scoffed. “Another stray?”
Aria met his gaze without flinching. “Another fighter.”
Murmurs rippled through the group.
Kieran smirked. “Then prove it.”
Before she could ask what he meant, he nodded toward the scarred man.
“Lukas,” Kieran said, “you’re up.”
Lukas grinned, cracking his knuckles. “Hope you can keep up, little wolf.”
Aria inhaled deeply, steadying herself.
This was her chance.
She wasn’t going to waste it.
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- Writer
