Chapter 2 : The Boy Without a Past
473 Words
Sending a flock of ravens into the sky.
James clutched the infant tightly and scanned the darkness. Every instinct told him to run.
He wrapped the baby inside his hunting cloak and hurried away from the river. Behind him, a pair of glowing crimson eyes watched from the shadows before vanishing without a sound.
By sunrise, James had reached his small cabin hidden deep within Blackwood Forest.
His wife, Mirian, gasped as he stepped inside with the child.
"Whose baby is this?"
"I don't know," James replied, laying the infant gently on the table. "I found him drifting alone in the river."
As Mirian unwrapped the blanket, she froze.
Embroidered on its edge was the silver crest of the Moonfang Pack—a symbol believed to have disappeared nearly two decades earlier.
Before either of them could speak, the crescent-shaped mark on the baby's chest faded until it was almost invisible.
"What does this mean?" Mirian whispered.
James shook his head.
"It means someone wanted this child hidden."
Years passed.
The mysterious infant grew into a strong, fearless young man named Michael.
Although he lived as a hunter, he was unlike anyone else in the village.
He could outrun wild horses.
He could hear distant sounds no one else noticed.
His wounds healed overnight.
Yet, whenever he asked about his parents,
James would simply say, "The forest brought you to us."
Micheal accepted the answer—but never stopped wondering.
Every night, the same dream haunted him.
A silver wolf stood atop a mountain beneath a blood-red moon.
The wolf would stare into his eyes and say only four words:
"Come and claim me."
Then Michael would wake, his heart pounding.
One afternoon, while hunting in the deepest part of Blackwood, Michael tracked a massive white stag.
As he drew his bow, the stag suddenly bolted.
Moments later, a terrified scream echoed through the trees.
Michael raced toward the sound.
He burst into a clearing and saw a young woman surrounded by three monstrous shadow wolves.
Her cloak was torn, but even in danger she stood defiantly, sword in hand.
One wolf lunged.
Without thinking, Michael leaped between them.
His punch sent the beast crashing into a boulder.
The other two wolves snarled and attacked together.
As Michael fought them, a strange power surged through his body.
For an instant, his eyes glowed bright gold.
The shadow wolves hesitated.
One whimpered.
The other lowered its head in fear—as if recognizing their true Alpha.
Before Michael could understand what was happening, the creatures fled into the forest.
Breathing heavily, he turned toward the young woman.
She slowly lowered her sword.
"Who... are you?" she asked.
Micheal smiled faintly.
"I'm Michael."
The young woman hesitated before answering.
"My name is... Mara."
behind the trees, a hooded figure watched them with cold, calculating eyes.
- Writer
