Fated By The Blood Moon

Chapter 4: The Alpha's Warning

Rita was already awake when the morning sun came through her cabin's blinds. She had been unable to sleep because of the burden of unsolved questions.

The clawed pendant she had discovered on her porch was resting on the table before her.

She had never seen anything like its elaborate design, and the way it glinted in the light gave it an almost lifelike appearance.

Tracing the grooves with her fingertips, Rita flipped it over in her palms. Although the metal felt cool to the touch, its core seemed to exude a strange warmth.

She couldn't get rid of the impression that it was a message rather than merely a trinket.

However, from whom? She decided to find out where it came from after having a quick breakfast.

On her way into town, she had passed the Silver Hollow library and thought it would be a nice place to start.

She climbed the sides of the old brick structure that housed the library. Entering, she was welcomed by the smell of polished wood and old paper.

As she approached the front desk, the librarian, an old woman with a pleasant smile and keen eyes, looked up at her.

With her glasses pushed up the bridge of her nose, the librarian said politely, "How may I help you dear? Are you looking for anything in particular?"

Uncertain of how much to divulge, Rita paused. "Any information about the town's past, including history and folklore."

Knowingly, the librarian nodded. “Though some of it are lost in rumors and old wives' stories, Silver Hollow has a rich past. Come with me.”

She guided Rita to a peaceful nook adorned with dusty book shelves. She took out several books and placed them on a nearby table, saying, "Start with these. Just call if you need more."

Rita sank into a chair and whispered, "Thank you."

She lost herself in stories of the town's origins, peculiar customs, and its enduring ties to the forest as she read through the books for hours.

She was drawn to one recurrent theme: the conflict between the Greys and Frosts, two ancient families. The writings claim that the rivalry between the two families over control of Silver Hollow's vast wilderness had been characterized by treachery and violence.

However, there were rumors of a "curse of the moon" that tied the families to the forest in ways that no one could fully comprehend, so it wasn't merely a territorial battle.

She was particularly shivered by one passage: "The truth comes to light when the moon is high. The wolf's call might portend both salvation and destruction, so heed it with caution.”

With her thoughts racing, Rita reclined in her chair. As if they were written specifically for her, the lines had a forebodingly prophetic quality. The pendant in her pocket suddenly felt heavier as she placed her hand over it.

By the time Rita got back to her cabin, the sun was already starting to set. The pendant, which served as a continual reminder of the questions circling in her head, was placed on the table.

She was making dinner when she was startled by a knock at the door.

Oliver Grey was standing on her doorstep, his wide shoulders crowding the doorway, as she opened it.

She felt the air around her become thicker for a second as his black eyes met hers.

His voice was low and authoritative as he stated, "We need to talk."

Rita moved to the side and gestured for him to come in. Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe.

His tone was stern as he started, "You shouldn't have gone into the forest. It is risky."

Rita crossed her arms. "There were no 'No Trespassing' signs that I could see. Why is a group of trees so dangerous?”

Oliver’s jaw stiffened. “There are some routes that are better left unexplored, particularly by external parties.”

"External parties?" Rita snapped back, letting her annoyance show. "I had no idea that I had become public enemy number one by coming here."

Despite the anger in his eyes, Oliver stated, "This isn't about you. You have no idea what you've gotten yourself into."

She stepped closer and urged, "Then tell me about it. Because all I've seen so far are people staring at me as if I don't belong and vague warnings."

Oliver appeared to pause for a moment. He shook his head after his eyes slightly softened. “Stay out of the forest. You only need to know that.”

She stood in the doorway, her heart racing, as he turned and vanished into the darkness before she could reply.

Rita's mind was racing later that evening as she sat by the fire. Her interest was only piqued by Oliver's warning.

That guy is hiding something? But what? And why?

Most importantly, what was the reason behind her sense of being at the center of something far greater than herself?

Glistening in the firelight, the pendant rested on the table. She picked it up and began turning it over in her palms.

The margins of the grooves were crisp and purposeful, almost like claw marks.

She heard a faint rustling outside. Her pulse quickened as she froze. Grabbing a flashlight nearby, she went out the front porch, looking around apprehensively.

At first, nothing seemed to be in sight. Her beam, however, fell upon a sheet of paper that was affixed to the porch railing. As she unfolded it, her heart pounded.

On the paper is a map, hand-drawn, with smudged but readable writing. An X denoted the clearing she had been to earlier, and underneath it, in red ink, were the following words: "Discover the truth."

There is also a journal of some sort right beside the paper.

Rita's determination hardened as she gripped both the map and the journal. She was determined to find out what was going on in Silver Hollow, even if it meant putting herself in direct danger.

A faint howl resounded in the distance as she turned to return inside. It was low and sorrowful, sending a shudder down her spine.

With her palm resting on the doorframe, she stopped and turned to face the trees.

Her heart skips a beat as she sees a wolf or is it a werewolf? Or is she just seeing things? Is it even possible?

Shaking her head as if to make the image disappeared, she looked again but whatever it was had disappeared.

However, she had a strange feeling that something was still there and it was observing her somehow.