wolves that came before

the dark decree

As the night draped its dark cloak over Elias's sanctuary, a sense of unease settled upon us like a heavy fog. Elias stood up as if he sensed something and walked gently out the door, and I followed, my heart pounding with trepidation. The silence was shattered by the ominous arrival of a message, delivered in a most peculiar manner.

A lone raven swooped down from the ink-black sky, its wings cutting through the air with an eerie grace. In its beak, it carried a scroll, sealed with the mark of the alphas – a stark reminder of the power they wielded over the supernatural world.

With a caw that echoed through the stillness of the night, the raven dropped the scroll at Elias's feet before disappearing into the shadows from whence it came. The sight was a stark warning of the consequences that awaited Elias and I dare to defy the will of the alphas.

The message, written in blood-red ink on aged parchment, conveyed a dire ultimatum that sent shivers down my spine:

"Red wolf, heed our decree, for the blood of your kin shall stain the earth unless you submit to our will. Your defiance is a death sentence for those you hold dear. They shall suffer for your insolence, their screams echoing through the night as a testament to your folly.

Know this, red wolf, and tremble: your loved ones are but pawns in our game, mere collateral in our pursuit of power. Should you refuse to comply, their lives will be forfeit, their fates sealed by your stubbornness.

And to the one who shelters you, who dares to defy us: know that your fate is intertwined with hers. Should she refuse to bend to our will, you shall suffer the consequences alongside her.

We are the harbingers of your destruction, the shadows that lurk at the edge of your consciousness. Bow before us, or watch as those you cherish are consumed by the darkness that surrounds you.

The Alphas"

As the chilling words of the message sank in, a wave of fear washed over me, threatening to consume me in its icy grip. My heart pounded in my chest, a relentless drumbeat of dread echoing in the depths of my soul.

"Elias, we have to do something," I whispered, my voice trembling with fear. "We can't just ignore this."

But Elias remained stoic, his expression grave as he regarded me with concern. "Emily, you know it's too dangerous," he said softly, his voice tinged with sorrow. "We can't risk putting you in harm's way."

I shook my head, desperation clawing at me with each passing moment. "But my mother," I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes. "I have to know if she's safe."

Elias reached out to take my hand in his, his touch a comforting anchor in the storm of my emotions. "I understand," he said gently, his voice filled with empathy. "But we need to be smart about this. We can't afford to take any unnecessary risks."

But despite his words, I couldn't shake the gnawing fear that gripped me, urging me to act before it was too late. With a heavy heart, I knew that I couldn't ignore the pull of my instincts, no matter how dire the consequences might be.

"I have to go," I said finally, my voice filled with determination. "I have to see if my mother is okay."

Elias's expression softened, a mixture of resignation and concern flashing in his eyes. "Emily, please," he pleaded, his voice tinged with worry. "Don't do this. I can't bear to lose you."

But I was already slipping away, the pull of my mother's safety too strong to resist. With a silent vow to return as soon as I could, I left Elias behind, my heart heavy with the weight of the unknown.

As I made my way through the darkened streets, fear gripped me like a vice, each step a battle against the rising tide of panic that threatened to overwhelm me. But I pressed on, driven by the desperate need to know if my mother was safe.

When I finally reached my childhood home, a sense of dread washed over me, the silence of the night broken only by the sound of my own ragged breaths. With trembling hands, I pushed open the door, my heart hammering in my chest as I stepped inside.

But as I crossed the threshold, a sense of unease washed over me, the familiar surroundings now filled with an eerie stillness that sent shivers down my spine. "Mom?" I called out, my voice echoing through the empty house.

But there was no response, only the echo of my own words ringing in my ears. With each passing moment, the sense of dread that gripped me grew stronger, until finally, I could bear it no longer.

With a sinking heart, I realized the truth: my mother was gone. Taken, just like the message had warned.

Tears welled up in my eyes as the full weight of the situation crashed down on me, a sense of helplessness washing over me like a tidal wave. In that moment, I knew that I was truly alone, the only thing standing between me and the forces that sought to destroy everything I held dear.

But even as despair threatened to consume me, a flicker of determination ignited within me, driving me forward in the face of overwhelming odds. With a renewed sense of purpose, I vowed to find my mother, no matter what it took.

And as I set out into the night, the darkness swirling around me like a cloak of shadows, I knew that the journey ahead would be long and treacherous. But I would not falter, not when the ones I loved were counting on me to save them from the darkness that threatened to consume us all.

As I stood in the empty house, the weight of the situation crashing down on me, a surge of anger boiled within me, fierce and unrelenting. It felt like a storm raging inside my chest, threatening to consume me from within.

With a primal scream of frustration, I felt something shift deep within me, a raw power awakening from its slumber. My muscles tensed, my senses heightened, as a wave of energy coursed through my veins like fire.

Before I knew it, I was no longer human. I had transformed into something else entirely—a creature of the night, a wolf with eyes blazing with fury.

In that moment, I embraced the wildness within me, letting the rage consume me like a wildfire. With a fierce growl, I bounded out into the night, my senses honed to a razor-sharp edge as I pursued the trail of my mother's captors.

With each step, I felt the primal instincts of the wolf guiding me forward, leading me ever closer to the truth. And as I raced through the darkness, the wind whipping through my fur, I knew that nothing would stand in my way—not fear, not doubt, not even death itself.

For I was a red wolf, a force to be reckoned with, and I would stop at nothing to save the ones I loved from the clutches of darkness.