Bloodline of shadows

The wolf

I didn’t mean to fall asleep.

I had been sweeping the floor after spending the whole day washing clothes, carrying water, and trying to keep my aunt’s temper calm. My body was too tired, too weak, too hungry. I sat for a moment to rest my back, and the next thing I knew, everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes again, the house was silent. My aunt had gone to the market hours ago. The sun was already setting.

Panic prickled through me when I realized I had fallen asleep right there on the floor, in the middle of the dirty bowls I hadn’t washed.

Before I could stand, the door burst open.

My aunt stormed inside, baskets in her hands, her face twisted with anger the moment she saw me.

“YOU USELESS GIRL!” she screamed. My cheek burned from her slap before I even had time to react.

“You slept while the house looks like this?!”

Another slap.

“And the dishes?!”

Another.

I stumbled, tears welling up. “I didn’t mean…” I whispered.

“I don’t care what you meant!” she spat, grabbing my arm and dragging me to the door.

“Get out of my house! Lazy, good-for-nothing orphan!”

She shoved me, and I fell onto the dusty ground outside. The door slammed shut behind her.

I sat there trembling. The village was quiet. Everyone had gone inside. Doors were locked. Lamps were out. No one looked my way. No one asked if I was okay. No one cared.

The sky darkened. The cold night breeze brushed my skin. I hugged my knees to my chest and waited… hoping she would open the door. She didn’t.

Hours passed. My stomach growled painfully. My arms ached from carrying water all day. My cheek stung. My eyes were heavy, but I was too afraid to sleep on the floor outside.

I stood slowly. I had no home. No friends. No family. Nothing.

So I walked. One step… then another… moving away from the house, away from the village. The farther I went, the heavier the air became.

Something tugged at my chest—soft, strange, like a whisper calling my name. My feet moved on their own.

Soon, I reached the edge of the forest. The trees stood tall and dark, like they were watching me. I swallowed, wanting to turn back, but the pull in my chest grew stronger. I stepped inside.

The forest was close to silent, except for the sound of branches rustling. I hugged myself.

“H…hello?” I whispered, my voice shaking. “Is…is someone there?”

A low growl answered.

My blood froze. My breath caught in my throat.

Two wolves—no, not wolves. They didn’t look like wolves at all. Their fur was patchy and scratched, their bodies skinny but dangerous. Their mouths twisted with hunger. Their eyes glowed yellow in the dark.

Rogues.

I had never seen wolves in real life, but I knew one thing: monsters. Real, terrible monsters.

My legs shook as I stepped back. “Please… stay away…” I whispered.

The rogues growled deeper, circling me. One lunged.

I screamed, stumbling and falling as dirt scattered around me. Its mouth opened wide, sharp teeth aiming for my neck. I shut my eyes tightly.

“Please… please… someone…” I begged.

Then a sound cut through the forest. A roar. Powerful. Furious. Unstoppable.

The ground seemed to tremble beneath me. Leaves shook. Even my bones felt it.

I opened my eyes.

Another wolf stood between me and the rogues. But this one… this one was nothing like them. He was huge. Broad shoulders. Thick dark fur that shimmered in the moonlight. His eyes… silver.

The same silver from my dreams.

I whispered, unable to believe it. “It’s you…”

He moved like a shadow, full of rage. With one strike, he sent the first rogue flying into a tree. The second tried to escape, but the wolf pounced, ending the fight in seconds.

Silence returned.

My whole body shook as the massive wolf slowly turned toward me. He didn’t look wild like the rogues. He looked… aware. Alive. Almost human in the way his eyes softened when they met mine.

Silver eyes.

The ones that watched me every night. The ones that bowed to me in my dreams.

He stepped closer. I wanted to run, but my legs refused to move. My heart pounded so loudly I thought he could hear it.

He lowered his head, almost like he recognized me.

Then something changed.

A sharp, painful shift ran through his body. His breath hitched. His claws dug into the ground. He shook as if something inside him snapped loose. His silver eyes glowed brighter… brighter… brighter…

And then, before I understood what was happening, his teeth sank into my shoulder.

Not deep, but enough to break skin.

I gasped. Pain shot through me. My knees buckled. My vision blurred.

The wolf jerked back immediately. He whimpered. Actually whimpered. Lowered his head like a guilty child. As if he was ashamed. As if he was saying, I didn’t mean to… I’m sorry.

I tried to breathe, but everything grew heavy. Warm. Dark.

The last thing I saw was the silver-eyed wolf bowing his head toward me… just like in my dreams.

Then my eyes closed.

And the world disappeared.