The Shadow wears white

Chapter Two : The Search for the Truth

Aden, still confused, slowly walked downstairs. He tried to prepare himself for the meetings with the elders. The dream he had lingered in his mind, bringing various thoughts and images. The more he focused on the day's tasks, the more the images of the two mysterious women kept running through his head.

The castle of Crescent Shadow Pack stood proudly as the tallest building in the kingdom. Built with large grey stones, it had withstood the test of time for hundreds of years. Its walls were crafted from precious marble. The outer walls, carved from black obsidian, shimmered in the moonlight. It was a grand and beautiful place. The Crescent Shadow Realm featured decorations of gold, diamonds, and other precious minerals, reflecting the wealth of the pack. The crystal walls bounced the moonlight, causing the palace to glow at night. The marble floors were so clean that the sunlight made them shine even brighter. Beautiful chandeliers and expensive paintings of past Alphas adorned the walls. Large flower pots filled with fresh white lilies and blue roses lined the hallways, filling the air with a pleasant fragrance.

At every gate, guards stood proudly, holding their weapons as they kept watch over the palace. In the courtyard, young warriors trained, their swords clashing while instructors shouted commands. Servants hurried through their duties, ensuring everything was ready for the day's activities. Birds circled above the castle towers. The sound of a waterfall echoed softly in the valley.

As Aden walked through the long hallway, each servant respectfully bowed their heads, greeting him with "Good morning, Alpha Aden."

Aden nodded in response, but his thoughts were elsewhere. The dream continued to trouble him. He did not understand its message or why it kept returning. With determination, he was ready to find answers. After dressing in his royal attire, he ordered a servant to summon the high chiefs, elders, royal seers, and the wisest men from the Crescent Shadow Pack to the council chambers. He could no longer ignore the dream. If it held a message, he needed to learn it before it was too late.

The morning sun shone over Crescent Shadow Pack as palace servants hurried through the long stone hallways, spreading the Alpha's command to every council member. "The Alpha requests your presence in the council chamber immediately," each servant announced with a respectful bow. "It is a matter of great importance." The message quickly spread throughout the palace. It was rare for Alpha Aden to call a council meeting so early. The elders exchanged curious glances as they received the message. Whatever had happened, it was serious enough to interrupt the morning peace. One by one, they made their way to the council chamber.

The council chamber was one of the oldest and most respected places in the palace. It had seen the decisions of generations of Alphas and had stood strong for centuries. Massive stone pillars lined both sides of the hall, each carved with wolves howling beneath a full moon. Silver engravings decorated the walls, showcasing the memories of past rulers and the victories that had shaped Crescent Shadow Pack into one of the strongest packs in the werewolf world. Long banners bearing the pack's crest hung proudly from the high walls, gently swaying whenever a cool breeze entered through the tall windows. At the center of the chamber stood a large round table carved from ancient oak, polished until its surface shone. Twelve finely crafted chairs surrounded it, kept sacred for the Council of Elders. The Alpha's chair, larger than the others, was decorated with silver wolves and a crescent moon carved into its back.

Aden had arrived before everyone else. He sat quietly in his chair, lost in thought. The dream lingered in his mind, every image as clear as if he had just left that strange forest. He rested one hand against the arm of his chair while the fingers of his other hand tapped lightly on the table, a habit he had whenever something weighed on his mind.

Moments later, the large wooden doors opened slowly. The elders entered one by one, dressed in their ceremonial robes. Some had long white beards that reached their chests, while others leaned gently on beautifully carved wooden staffs. Age had touched their faces, but wisdom shone in their eyes. These were the men who had advised Alphas for decades, protecting the ancient traditions of the pack.

As they approached, they paused a few steps before Aden and bowed respectfully. "Long live the Alpha." "May the Moon Goddess guide your reign." "May peace remain upon Crescent Shadow Pack." Aden stood from his seat and returned a respectful nod. "Welcome, honored elders. Thank you for coming on such short notice. Please, be seated." The elders thanked him quietly before taking their places around the round table.

For a few moments, the chamber was silent. Everyone sensed that something troubled their Alpha. Finally, the oldest among them, High Elder Rowan, cleared his throat. "Alpha," he began calmly, "in all my years serving this kingdom, you have never summoned the Council before sunrise unless the matter concerned the safety of the pack."

Another elder leaned forward. "Has another pack threatened our borders?" A third elder added, "Or has danger found its way into the palace?" Aden slowly shook his head. "No." The room fell silent again. An elder frowned slightly. "Then what troubles you enough to call this meeting so early?"

Aden took a deep breath before speaking. "I called you here because of a dream." Several elders exchanged surprised looks. "A dream?" one of them repeated. Aden nodded. "Not just any dream. The same dream." His voice became quieter. "I keep seeing it over and over again. At first, I thought it would pass. I believed it was simply due to exhaustion from my duties as Alpha. But it returns every night."

He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Instead of fading away, it becomes clearer. Every sound, every feeling, every face hidden in the darkness feels more real." The elders listened carefully without interrupting. Aden continued. "In the dream, I find myself standing alone in a dark forest. The sky is covered with heavy clouds, and the moon has vanished. The wind blows fiercely, filling the air with dust and dry leaves. The trees shake violently, and their branches strike against one another, making strange noises. It is the kind of night no one would dare remain outside."

"I look around, wondering how I got there, but I cannot remember anything."

"Then I hear footsteps."

"Slow…"

"Soft…"

"A woman walks out of the darkness."

"She is dressed in a long white gown, and a veil hides her face."

"She extends her hand toward me and tells me to come."

"I begin walking toward her without thinking."

"But suddenly…"

"My wolf growls."

"Not in anger…"

"In fear."

The elders exchanged glances. Aden continued. "Then I hear a whisper."

"‘Not everything dressed in white is pure.’"

"I stop immediately."

"The woman remains perfectly still."

"Then another woman appears."

"Unlike the first, her clothes are torn, mud covering her feet, and the wind blows her hair across her face. She looks frightened."

"She reaches out as though begging for help."

"My wolf becomes restless."

"It wants to run to her."

"It wants to protect her."

"But my heart is drawn toward the woman dressed in white."

"The woman in white says only one word."

"‘Choose.’"

Aden lowered his eyes. "My heart tells me one thing. My wolf tells me another."

"Just as the woman in white reaches for her veil…"

"I wake up."

He looked around at each elder seated before him. "My heart races. My body is covered in sweat. Every time I wake…"

"I ask myself the same question." "Why does this dream keep coming back?"

He took another slow breath. "I no longer believe it is an ordinary dream. I believe it means something. I believe it is warning me… or preparing me."

He looked directly at the High Elder. "That is why I have called all of you here today. You are the wisest men in Crescent Shadow Pack. You have spent your lives studying our history, our traditions, and the signs left by the Moon Goddess."

His voice softened. "So tell me…" "What is this dream trying to tell me?"