The Triumvirate Prophecy: The Three Mates

Chapter 1: Blood & Pain PT 2

Sasha's POV:

As I step toward the front of the library, I tell LeAnn to check the adult-youth section. Sometimes, books end up there by mistake, misplaced among the wrong categories. I quickly scan the computer to see who checked out the two missing books. Alexis King—of course, I should’ve guessed. She’s got them, and they're only a few days overdue. I decide to give her a couple more days to return them before I reach out.

Just as I finish, my watch vibrates, reminding me that we have only 15 minutes before closing. With a sigh, I walk around, notifying the remaining patrons that the library is closing soon. I urge them to wrap up their selections. At 5 p.m., LeAnn and I finish our final rounds and lock up the building together.

“Have a good night, LeAnn,” I call out, sliding into the driver's seat of my car. I barely hear her soft reply, “You too,” as I pull the door shut. I wave at her through the window as I back out of the parking space, heading toward the conservation center for my evening jog.

I arrive at the center and park, the cool evening air feeling refreshing against my skin. Without hesitation, I strip off my sweater, revealing the black sports bra I always wear when I run. It’s comfortable and light, far more practical than any regular bra. I grab the water bottle I filled earlier in the day before work, the plastic cool against my palm. I start down my usual path—the same three-mile route I’ve been running for years. It’s peaceful, familiar, and easy.

I open Spotify and cue up my ‘90s Alternative Rock playlist, sliding my Beats headphones over my ears. The music fills my senses as I settle into a comfortable pace. The sun has just dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow on the trees, their silhouettes stark against the darkening sky.

About halfway through my run, the air grows still, and an uneasy sensation prickles the back of my neck. My instincts flare—someone’s watching me. I slow my pace, scanning the quiet woods, but there’s no one in sight. I shake it off, turning my attention back to the path, but the sensation lingers. The hairs on my arms stand on end.

Then I hear it—a low, guttural growl, deep and menacing, coming from the trees on my left.

I freeze, my heart racing. 'That wasn’t an animal I’ve ever heard before.' Without another thought, my legs launch me forward into a sprint. My breath comes in ragged gasps as my heart pounds in my chest, the sound of the growl echoing in my ears. Panic surges as I yank out one of my earbuds, dropping it on the ground. The pounding of my feet on the dirt path fills my ears now, but all I can think of is getting away. I push harder, my muscles aching as I run faster than I ever have in my life.

Suddenly, a searing pain erupts in my side—a stitch, sharp and unforgiving. I raise my arms, trying to alleviate the pressure, but it doesn’t help. Then, bam! My foot catches on something, and I crash to the ground, my face slamming into a rock. Pain explodes in my skull, and for a moment, everything goes black.

When I wake up, my vision is blurry, and my head is pounding. The red eyes are still there, staring from the darkness of the tree line, gleaming with an unnatural intensity. I’m not sure how long I’ve been out, but I can feel the sticky warmth of blood trickling down my forehead. I must’ve hit my head harder than I thought. My head swims, and dizziness clouds my thoughts.

I blink, trying to clear the fog. My watch vibrates again—Aiden. I should’ve been home by now, and he’s probably worried. He won’t stop calling until he hears from me. It’s 6 p.m.—I’m definitely late. But my phone is out of reach, tangled in my pants, and I can’t seem to focus enough to grab it. I start to push myself up, only to hear that same growl again. This time, it’s closer. Too close.

I snap my head toward the sound. There, in the shadows, is a massive wolf. No, not just any wolf—this one is enormous, easily two or three times the size of an average wolf. Its fur is thick and dark, its eyes glowing a fierce red, locked onto me with predatory intent. It takes a slow step forward, its lips curling into a silent snarl.

Oh God, I’m going to die.

Panic floods my system. My legs move before I can even think—spinning around, I bolt in the opposite direction, my legs pumping, my breath ragged. But I barely get a few steps when a second wolf appears from the darkness, cutting me off. It snarls, its teeth gleaming, its muscles rippling under its fur.

I’m trapped.

A surge of adrenaline spikes through me. I can’t die here. Not like this.

Without thinking, I sprint toward the undisturbed forest bed, hoping the uneven ground will slow them down. My feet fly over fallen logs and broken branches as I push myself to the limit, every nerve screaming for me to keep running. My legs ache, but I don’t dare stop. I can’t afford to look behind me, but I do anyway. The wolves are gone.

I stop, gasping for air, confusion clouding my mind. Where did they go? Did they lose interest?

Then, I turn around—and freeze.

Standing before me, blocking my path, is a wolf that is even larger than the others. Its fur is jet black, its muzzle dripping with saliva, its eyes glowing with an intensity that makes my stomach drop. It’s almost too big, towering over me, its muscles rippling beneath the coat. My pulse spikes, and every instinct screams at me to run, but my legs feel like lead.

Before I can make a move, the wolf lunges at me. My leg is caught in its jaws, and I scream as pain erupts through me. My calf burns—it’s not just a bite, it’s like my leg is on fire. I fall, the air knocked from my lungs, and I scramble to free myself. But the pain in my leg is unbearable.

Then I hear the sound of another wolf—rushing in from the side, a blur of movement. The new wolf collides with the one that bit me, knocking it aside. The two wolves fight, and I take the opportunity to stumble to my feet, my leg still on fire. I can barely put weight on it, but I run—limping, desperate to escape.

The blood flows freely now, and I fear I’m losing too much. I can feel it pooling around me, cold and unnatural against my skin. My body is shaking, and I know I’m in trouble. I need to stop the bleeding.

I stop by a tall tree, pressing my back against it for support, my breath ragged. But the blood doesn’t feel right—it’s cold. Blood is never cold, I think, panic rising in my chest. I shouldn’t be feeling this way.

And then, I hear it—a twig snapping in the distance.

No. Not again.

I turn, dreading what I’ll see. The wolf from before steps out from the shadows, but this one is different. It’s huge—even bigger than the others. Its fur is as black as midnight, and blood is matted into its coat. This wolf doesn’t growl or snarl. It moves toward me slowly, cautiously. It’s almost like... it’s studying me.

And then, it does something that makes my heart skip—it bows. Not in a submissive way, but like it’s acknowledging me, its amber eyes locking onto mine. There’s something in those eyes—questions. A depth of thought that doesn’t belong to a wolf.

I’m not sure what to think. But for some reason, I feel... safe. It’s an odd sensation, knowing that this creature could tear me apart in an instant, yet all I feel is a strange sense of security. I can’t explain it.

My vision blurs, and I stumble. The wolf’s eyes don’t leave me. Then, with an eerie, beautiful howl, it lifts its head to the sky. The sound echoes through the woods, and just before my vision fades completely, I swear I see the wolf’s form shift. It morphs—its body elongating, its features changing. It’s no longer a wolf. It’s something more... human?

My eyes close. And in the last moment of consciousness, I’m left with more questions than I ever thought possible.