Chapter 14: The Search Begins
1612 Words
Darkness swallowed everything.
Then came the voices.
Distant.
Muffled.
Panicked.
"Tiana!"
The sound felt far away.
As though someone were calling to her from the other side of a mountain.
"Tiana!"
This time she recognized the voice.
Timothy.
Her eyelids felt heavy.
Every part of her body ached.
Slowly, she opened her eyes.
Bright sunlight greeted her.
For several seconds she simply stared upward.
Trying to remember where she was.
Trying to remember what had happened.
Then it all came rushing back.
The necklace.
The vision.
Her mother.
The journal.
Pain squeezed her chest.
Not physical pain.
Something deeper.
Because for a few precious moments she had seen her mother.
Heard her voice.
And now she was gone again.
"Tiana."
A familiar hand gently touched her shoulder.
She turned her head.
Timothy knelt beside her.
Concern filled his silver eyes.
Real concern.
Not Alpha concern.
Not responsibility.
Something personal.
Something that made her heart beat faster.
"You scared us."
She blinked.
Then looked around.
The training grounds had disappeared.
She was lying in a room.
A bedroom.
Several faces surrounded her.
Sarah.
Marcus.
Rachel.
Even Lyra.
Everyone looked worried.
"How long was I out?"
Sarah answered.
"Almost four hours."
Tiana immediately sat up.
"What?"
The movement made her dizzy.
Timothy quickly steadied her.
The warmth of his hand sent a familiar pulse through the bond.
Her stomach fluttered.
Annoyingly.
The Alpha seemed affected too.
Because he removed his hand a second later.
A little too quickly.
Sarah noticed.
So did Rachel.
The knowing smiles they exchanged made Tiana want to disappear.
Again.
"Four hours?" she repeated.
Marcus nodded.
"You collapsed immediately after touching the necklace."
Tiana looked down.
The silver necklace rested against her chest.
Somehow it had remained there.
The crescent moon gleamed softly beneath the sunlight.
The sight instantly brought back memories of her mother.
Her smile.
Her voice.
Her warning.
Adrian Blackwood.
Tiana's expression changed.
Timothy noticed immediately.
"What is it?"
She hesitated.
Part of her wanted to keep the vision private.
The other part knew she couldn't.
Not if her mother had left information behind.
"There was a message."
The room became silent.
Every person leaned forward.
Listening.
Waiting.
Tiana took a deep breath.
Then explained everything.
The forest.
The conversation.
The journal.
The hidden answers.
The warning.
Nobody interrupted.
Nobody moved.
By the time she finished, the room had become deathly quiet.
Sarah looked thoughtful.
Marcus looked troubled.
Lyra looked confused.
Timothy looked furious.
The reaction caught her attention immediately.
"What?"
The Alpha folded his arms.
"Your mother warned you about Adrian."
Tiana nodded.
"Yes."
Timothy's jaw tightened.
"Why?"
The question lingered.
Nobody had an answer.
Because Tiana didn't know either.
The warning had been vague.
Frustratingly vague.
Exactly like most prophecies.
Sarah suddenly stood.
"The journal."
Everyone looked at her.
The elder's eyes shone with determination.
"If the necklace can guide us, then we begin searching immediately."
Marcus nodded.
"I agree."
Tiana looked down at the silver pendant.
The necklace seemed ordinary.
Small.
Simple.
Certainly not magical.
Yet she had seen her mother because of it.
Maybe it really could lead them somewhere.
Maybe it could lead them to answers.
For the first time in days, hope stirred inside her.
A genuine hope.
Not blind optimism.
Real hope.
Timothy stood.
"We leave within the hour."
The announcement surprised everyone.
Including Marcus.
The older wolf frowned.
"Leave?"
The Alpha nodded.
"The journal won't come to us."
Sarah smiled.
A rare smile.
"I was hoping you'd say that."
Tiana blinked.
"Wait."
Several heads turned toward her.
"We?"
Timothy looked confused.
"Yes."
She pointed at herself.
"I'm going too?"
The Alpha stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound immediately annoyed her.
"You are the reason we're searching."
Tiana frowned.
"That doesn't answer the question."
"It literally does."
Marcus laughed.
Rachel laughed.
Even Lyra looked amused.
Traitors.
Every single one of them.
Timothy eventually stopped laughing.
Though not entirely.
"We leave together."
The statement settled over the room.
The search was happening.
The journey was happening.
The first real step toward finding the journal.
And hopefully finding the truth.
Tiana looked down at the necklace once more.
The silver crescent moon glowed softly against her skin.
Almost warm.
Almost alive.
For a brief moment, she thought she felt it pull.
A tiny sensation.
Barely noticeable.
Yet definitely there.
A tug.
Like a compass pointing north.
The feeling vanished as quickly as it appeared.
But it was enough.
Enough to convince her.
The necklace knew something.
And somewhere beyond the mountains...
it was waiting to lead them there.
Within an hour, the pack house had transformed into organized chaos.
Wolves moved through the halls carrying supplies.
Backpacks.
Maps.
Weapons.
Medical kits.
Everyone seemed busy.
Everyone except Tiana.
She sat on the edge of her bed staring at the necklace.
The silver crescent moon rested in her palm.
Quiet.
Innocent.
Ordinary.
At least it looked ordinary.
Yet somehow it had connected her to her mother.
Somehow it held secrets.
The thought made her fingers tighten around it.
A knock sounded at the door.
Before she could answer, Rachel entered.
The older woman smiled warmly.
"You look nervous."
Tiana snorted.
"I'm about to leave with a group of werewolves to hunt down a magical journal hidden by my dead mother."
Rachel blinked.
Then laughed.
"When you say it like that, it does sound strange."
Tiana pointed dramatically.
"Thank you."
Rachel sat beside her.
The amusement faded from her face.
In its place came something softer.
Something almost maternal.
"You'll be alright."
Tiana looked down.
"I'm not worried about the journal."
Rachel tilted her head.
"What are you worried about?"
The answer came immediately.
"My mother."
The words surprised even her.
Rachel remained silent.
Allowing her to continue.
"I saw her."
Emotion tightened her throat.
"For the first time."
Rachel gently squeezed her hand.
Tiana swallowed.
"And now she's gone again."
The older woman pulled her into a hug.
No words.
No advice.
Just comfort.
For some reason, that helped more than anything else.
Several minutes later another knock interrupted them.
This time it was Marcus.
"The team is ready."
Rachel stood.
So did Tiana.
Suddenly everything felt real.
The journey.
The search.
The danger.
Marcus waited patiently while she grabbed her jacket.
Then the three of them headed downstairs.
The front courtyard buzzed with activity.
Several wolves stood beside large vehicles.
Timothy was already there.
Discussing routes with Lyra.
The Alpha looked up immediately when Tiana appeared.
The bond reacted.
Warmth flowed between them.
Instantly.
Naturally.
Almost effortlessly.
Neither commented on it.
They never did.
Not anymore.
Timothy walked toward her.
"Ready?"
"No."
The answer earned a faint smile.
"Good."
Tiana groaned.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Marcus laughed.
"Because honesty is refreshing."
She rolled her eyes.
Apparently nobody was taking her suffering seriously today.
Sarah emerged from the pack house carrying several old maps.
The elderly woman looked determined.
"Listen carefully."
The courtyard became quiet.
Every wolf focused on her.
"The necklace appears to be guiding Tiana."
Several heads nodded.
Sarah continued.
"We follow wherever it leads."
A younger wolf frowned.
"What if it leads outside our territory?"
Sarah didn't hesitate.
"Then we follow."
The answer surprised everyone.
Including Tiana.
The elder's certainty was absolute.
Whatever answers the journal contained, Sarah clearly believed they were important.
Very important.
The group eventually loaded into two vehicles.
Tiana found herself sitting beside Timothy.
Again.
Not that she minded.
Much.
The engine started.
The gates opened.
And moments later they were moving.
Leaving the pack house behind.
The mountains stretched endlessly before them.
Massive.
Beautiful.
Dangerous.
Tiana watched the landscape pass through the window.
Forests.
Hills.
Open fields.
Everything looked peaceful.
Normal.
It was hard to believe an ancient prophecy was unfolding somewhere beyond those mountains.
Hard to believe enemies were gathering.
Hard to believe her life had changed so completely in such a short time.
The necklace suddenly grew warm.
Tiana immediately straightened.
The sensation was unmistakable.
Timothy noticed.
"What is it?"
She held up the pendant.
"It's warm."
The Alpha exchanged a glance with Marcus in the vehicle ahead.
Through the radio, Marcus responded immediately.
"Which direction?"
Tiana closed her eyes.
The warmth pulsed softly.
Almost like a heartbeat.
Then she pointed.
"East."
The convoy adjusted course.
Following her direction.
Following the necklace.
Hours passed.
The roads became rougher.
The forests grew thicker.
Civilization slowly disappeared behind them.
Eventually the vehicles stopped.
The forest ahead was too dense.
Too wild.
Traveling farther by vehicle wasn't possible.
Everyone climbed out.
The air felt different here.
Older.
Untouched.
Ancient.
Tiana couldn't explain why.
She simply felt it.
The necklace pulsed again.
Stronger this time.
Definitely stronger.
"It's this way."
The group followed her.
Deep into the forest.
Branches brushed against their clothes.
Leaves crunched beneath their feet.
Birdsong echoed through the trees.
Yet beneath it all lingered an uncomfortable silence.
A feeling.
As though something was watching them.
The sensation made Tiana uneasy.
Apparently she wasn't alone.
Lyra scanned the trees continuously.
Marcus remained alert.
Several wolves moved closer together.
Even Timothy looked cautious.
The deeper they traveled, the stronger the feeling became.
Then the necklace suddenly flared with heat.
Tiana gasped.
The silver crescent moon glowed brightly.
Everyone stopped.
A clearing appeared ahead.
Small.
Hidden.
Surrounded by ancient trees.
At its center stood a single stone pillar.
Covered in strange markings.
The moment Tiana saw it, her breath caught.
Because she recognized it.
Not from memory.
Not from experience.
From the vision.
She had seen this place before.
Her mother had stood here.
And somehow, deep inside her heart, Tiana knew one thing with absolute certainty.
They had just found the first clue.
- Writer
