CHAPTER FOUR — FRAGMENTS OF THE PAST
628 Words
Damian’s POV
The forest had grown unnaturally silent. No crickets. No rustling leaves. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Damian slowed his pace, eyes narrowing as he scanned the dense line of ancient trees ahead.
This part of the territory had been forbidden for decades — the Shadowgrove. It was said to be cursed, a remnant of old wolf magic and blood pacts that even the Elders avoided.
And now, the faint magical residue that had been guiding him led straight into it.
Marcus shifted beside him, unease etched across his face. “Alpha, we shouldn’t—”
Damian cut him off with a glare. “She’s in there. I can feel her.”
He stepped forward, ignoring the prickle of energy in the air. His wolf prowled just beneath his skin, restless and ready to strike. The ground was damp and soft, and with each step, the bond between him and Aria throbbed more intensely — like a string being pulled tighter and tighter.
Then he saw it.
A piece of silk, torn and caught on a low-hanging branch. The fabric was dark, delicate… the same material as her bridal gown. Damian snatched it and lifted it to his nose. Her scent flooded him — wildflowers and night air — faint but real.
His heart pounded. She was here.
“Marcus,” he said sharply. “Call the trackers. We’ve found her trail.”
The Beta let out a short whistle, summoning the wolves hidden in the shadows. Within seconds, a group of trackers shifted into wolf form and spread out, sniffing the ground. Damian clenched the silk tightly. Whoever had dared to hide her here had just made their biggest mistake.
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Aria’s POV
The silence in the underground chamber was broken only by her uneven breathing. The warning from the strange woman echoed in her mind on a loop:
> “You must remember who you are before the next full moon. If you don’t… the Alpha will die trying to save you.”
She didn’t understand it. Remember who I am? She was Aria Mooncrest — or at least, that’s who she thought she was. But as she sat in the darkness, she pressed her hand over the glowing bond mark on her neck. A dull ache spread through her chest, and with it came something unexpected.
Images.
Flickering like broken film.
A forest bathed in blood-red light. A circle of hooded figures chanting. A woman’s voice whispering her name — “Ariana…” — not Aria.
Then, the face of a man she didn’t recognize… with the same ink-black eyes as the cloaked figure who had taken her.
She gasped and clutched her head, the memories slipping away as quickly as they came. But one thing stayed clear — the name Ariana.
Was that… her real name?
Before she could process it, the chains on her wrists began to glow faintly, reacting to the surge of energy inside her. Her wolf stirred for the first time, stronger than before, scratching at the walls of whatever barrier had been placed on her.
Something inside her was waking up.
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Damian’s POV
The trackers returned with a discovery — faint paw prints leading toward an old, vine-covered stone arch deep within Shadowgrove. The arch pulsed with a faint bluish light, humming like a heartbeat.
Marcus frowned. “What is this place?”
Damian’s eyes hardened. “A portal. Someone used ancient magic to take her underground.”
He stepped closer, the bond mark burning on his neck. There was no doubt now. She was somewhere beyond this portal — and he was going to find her, no matter what it cost.
“Prepare the pack,” he ordered. “We’re going in.”
- Writer
