The Legendary Wolf

Ancestry

The darkness was thick and suffocating.

In it, echoes of ancient voices whispered around me, as if millennia of memories were pouring into my mind.

“Awaken, descendant… awaken and claim your inheritance.”

I tried to open my eyes, but it felt as if my body was trapped between two realities.

Hazy images formed before me: warriors with silver eyes, skin marked by scars, and an almost primal presence in their gaze.

Wolves.

“You are not alone. You never were.”

I could feel the warmth of the full moon surrounding me, even though I couldn’t see it. A raw and untamed energy pulsed inside my chest, forging itself into my flesh and soul. My wounds burned, but not with pain—more like something inside me was shifting, reconstructing itself. An ancient gift was awakening within me.

“Remember your blood. Remember what was taken from you. You belong to the Pack of Healers. You carry the Ancestral Magic of Wolf Medicine.”

My own scream jolted me awake.

My ancestors. My lineage. But how?

Gasping for air, I sat up abruptly, my heart pounding as if I had just escaped a nightmare. The scent of blood still lingered in the air, but… I felt no pain.

I ran a hand over my face. Where there had once been a gash, my skin was now smooth. No discomfort. My muscles felt renewed, as if they had never been struck. There were no bruises, no lingering aches.

The vine bracelet on my wrist faintly glowed under the dim bathroom light. There was no sign of the two traitors. The shower had been turned off.

Images flashed in my mind. Remedies. Magical healing methods. Talismans. Energies. An ancient tribe of werewolves, nearly extinct but still hidden in the farthest corners of the world…

Before I could fully process what was happening, the sharp ring of my phone made me jump. With trembling fingers, I picked it up and answered.

“Dave, where the hell are you?!” The deep voice of Victor boomed from the other end. “I need you at the hospital now!”

“I… what?” My voice was hoarse. “What’s going on?”

“You’re being accused of plagiarism. Lucian claimed you stole his treatment plan for patient 307. The board wants answers.”

My head spun at the sudden turn of events. First the betrayal, the beating… and now this? I barely had time to react before Victor continued, his tone lower, almost cautious:

“Get here now. But stay calm. Understand?”

Something about the way he said that sent a chill down my spine. As if… he knew this accusation wasn’t fair. As if he was trying to warn me.

I took a deep breath. I wanted to scream, to break something, to rip Lucian out of his self-made throne. But I couldn’t. I had to play this game carefully.

“I’m on my way.”

Hanging up, I stood, still feeling the energy buzzing beneath my skin. Something inside me had changed. Something ancient, powerful, and ready to fully awaken.

But first, I had to deal with this injustice.

And when the time was right, I would make Lucian regret every single one of his actions.

. . .

I drove as carefully as I could manage, though my hands still trembled from the adrenaline. The voices still echoed in my mind. That had been the strangest nightmare of my life.

But was it really a nightmare?

The voices, the images, the energy burning beneath my skin… it all felt too real. A calling. A revelation. And now, I could no longer deny that something within me had awakened.

Arriving at the hospital, I immediately felt the weight of eyes on me. Some nurses whispered among themselves, while others quickly looked away. The cold walls seemed even more suffocating that night.

I knew how these things worked. All it took was a rumor, and your reputation would be dragged through the mud before you even had a chance to defend yourself.

Steeling myself, I made my way to the meeting room. Upon entering, I found Victor standing with his arms crossed, jaw clenched.

“Get in and close the door.”

His voice was cold, leaving no room for disobedience. I did as he said.

Seating himself at the table, he got straight to the point:

“You’re facing a serious accusation. The patient recovery program patented by Dr. Lucian Vaughn is strikingly similar to your own, Dave.”

I clenched my fists against the table.

“This is ridiculous. I didn’t plagiarize anything! My plan was built on regenerative medicine principles I’ve been studying for years. I would never need to copy Lucian!”

My mentor sighed, rubbing a hand down his face.

“The problem is that the board doesn’t see it that way. The data your colleague presented shows too many similarities to ignore.”

“Because he forged them!” I snapped, my blood boiling. “This is a dirty move, and you know it!”

The door suddenly swung open. Of course, it was Lucian himself.

His small, smug smile said it all—he had been eavesdropping.

“Dirty move? You’re being a shameless, pathetic little rat. I always thought you had some talent, but now it seems like you’re just desperate.”

My muscles tensed. I could hear the blood pounding in my ears, rage roaring inside me. But I forced myself to breathe. Now was not the time to lose control.

I saw Lucian’s gaze flicker for a fraction of a second as he noticed my completely healed state. But he wasn’t stupid enough to comment on it in front of Victor.

“Enough,” my mentor interjected. “The board has already made a decision. Given the circumstances, you are being demoted from physician to caretaker.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

“What? You can’t be serious!”

Victor remained impassive.

“This is the only alternative to prevent your license from being completely revoked. A caretaker is still a medical position, but you’ll be removed from research and complex cases.”

My world crumbled in seconds.

Everything I had fought for, everything I had built, reduced to nothing by a blatant lie.

But what stung the most was Victor’s expression. There was something there, something beyond the cold facade. It was as if he was… protecting me.

I swallowed hard, searching for any sign that this could be reversed.

“Victor, you know this isn’t fair. I can prove that—”

He averted his gaze for a brief moment, jaw tight.

“My decision is final. Accept it and move on.”

Lucian adjusted his coat, preparing to leave.

“Well, it seems justice has been served. Welcome to the caretakers’ ward, Dave. Hope you enjoy your new role.”

The urge to lunge at him was nearly uncontrollable. But something inside me told me to wait. To watch. To strike back at the right moment.

As soon as the smug bastard closed the door behind him, I took a deep breath and rose from my seat, not breaking eye contact with Victor.

“If this is what you want, I’ll accept it. But know this: I won’t let it slide.”

He didn’t respond, only gave a small nod.

I walked out of that room, feeling the weight of humiliation with every step.

But one thing was certain: I wasn’t giving up.

If Victor was trying to protect me, then something bigger was at play.

And I wouldn’t rest until I tore Lucian’s life apart just as he had torn mine.