Hidden Power

chapter4;The firststep

Selene sat in her tiny house, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Knowing the truth about her identity and the probability of the sorcerers' involvement in Lucas's disappearance made her nervous.

She thought of going to Alpha Damien and telling him she was the reason for Lucas's disappearance, but a sense of fear held her back. The thought of Damien not believing or dismissing her without giving her a chance was terrifying. Yet, she knew she couldn't just sit there without doing something to help Lucas.

After a long time of thinking, she decided that before reaching out to Damien and letting her know what she was thinking, she had to be sure of one thing: if the witches had taken Lucas and if her new identity had played a role. There was no room for making any mistakes, thus the need for her to be fully prepared for what was ahead of her.

With a deep breath, Selene made her decision. She would start by visiting the last place she had seen Lucas—near the forest where they had spoken. She wanted to find out if they left a sign showing where they had taken him. Also, she tried to find out if the sorcerers were the ones who took him and if she was the reason they targeted Lucas.

Bravely, Selene left her cottage and walked quickly towards the border. The sun was already high, shining brightly. The villages were busy focusing on their daily activities, but Selene paid no attention to the people around her. Her focus was solely on finding Lucas.

She felt uncomfortable, realizing she was walking to the forest's edge. She still remembered the day the rogue attacked her. She felt an intense sensation that someone was around watching her. But she had to carry on to any length to get any leads that might point in Lucas's direction.

The place where they had stood the day before, having the conversation, was slightly visible from there. Selene's breath hitched in her throat as she got close. She started searching the floor for any indication of a fight. Initially, there were no clumsy limbs or imprints left behind, indicating that someone had been abducted.

But then, something caught her eye. A small, crumpled piece of cloth lay partially hidden beneath a bush. Selene’s breath caught in her throat as she picked it up, recognizing it instantly. It was a piece of the shirt Lucas had been wearing.

Her heart sank as she realized what this meant. Lucas hadn’t left the village on his own. He had been taken, just as she had feared. If the sorcerers were involved, they knew about her and were willing to use Lucas to get to her.

Instantly, Selene sank into agonizing confusion, trying to find a possible explanation for what had happened. The sorcerers must have been watching her, all helpless, waiting for the perfect opportunity to pounce on her.

They had likely taken Lucas to lure her out, knowing that she would come looking for him. But why? What did they want from her? And how could she stop them?

The answer appeared elusive, but Selene realized she could not afford to fold anymore. She had to be as fast as possible before the chances of getting the children were all lost. But first, she needed to seek out Damien. If there was anyone who could help her track down the sorcerers and rescue Lucas, it was him.

With a renewed sense of urgency, Selene turned and began returning to the village. The walk was very lengthy; at every step, the sensation of anxiety and fear was present. She constantly had to pinch herself to remind herself that she was not alone with Damien by her side and that the pack members were well aware of the events and would stand by her.

Two guards stood outside the entrance, their expressions neutral as they watched her approach. They knew her, of course—everyone in the pack knew Selene, the quiet healer who kept to herself. But today, they seemed to sense that something was different.

One of the guards stepped forward, blocking her path. "Selene," he said, his tone respectful. "The Alpha is in a meeting. Is it urgent?"

Selene nodded, trying to keep her voice steady. "Yes, it’s urgent. I need to speak with him right away."

The guard thought for a moment, then looked at her, nodded, and let her into the room, entering the den. Selene sat down, waiting for Damien, her heart beating so fast. She was confident that Damien would accept her, but she didn't know how to handle the following events.

After an hour that felt like years, the guard finally came back for her and signaled her to follow him. Selene breathed in deeply and walked inside, her hands shaking. The den's interior was heartily illuminated by the smell of the earth and pine lingering in the air. At the end of the rear of the room, Damien was standing with his back towards her; he was engrossed looking at a large wooden table with a map on it.

"Alpha Damien," Selene said quietly, trying to steady her voice.

Damien turned to face her, his expression unreadable. "Selene," he acknowledged, his voice deep and calm. "What brings you here?"

Selene rubbed her head briefly and digressed, thinking about how she would start. She recalled that she could not afford to be this unduly scared of anything. “It’s Lucas,” she said after a few seconds, her voice barely audible as it shook.

" I think the sorcerers took him—to get to me."

Damien’s eyes flickered, the heaviness of his brows descending slightly, his eyes becoming more challenging." The sorcerers? Why would they target you?"

Selene felt her stomach tense up and took a deep breath, realizing that this conversation could not be reversed anymore. Realizing that there was no way she could escape the situation in one piece, she bowed her head and said softly, “Because of what I am. "I’m not just a healer, Damien. I’m a wolf shaman—the last of my kind."

There was even a brief pause when she said these words, and Damien listened. His face became stern, and he moved closer to her threateningly. "A wolf shaman?" he repeated, his tone serious. "That’s a powerful claim, Selene. Are you sure?"

Selene nodded, pulling out the crumpled cloth she had found in the forest. "I found this near the edge of the forest, where Lucas and I spoke yesterday. He didn’t leave on his own. Someone took him."

Damien studied the cloth for a moment, his expression grim. "If the sorcerers have him, they won’t keep him alive for long," he said, his voice tense. "They’ll use him to get to you, and once they have what they want—"

"I can’t let that happen," Selene interrupted, her voice filled with determination. "I need your help, Damien. I need to find Lucas and stop the sorcerers before it’s too late."

Damien’s gaze softened slightly, and he touched her shoulder. "We’ll find him," he assured her, his voice firm. "But you need to be ready for whatever comes next, Selene. This won’t be easy."

“I will be,” Selene said, scared and determined. ‘Whatever comes with this, I will take it.’

Damien nodded, his expression resolute. "Then we’ll leave as soon as possible. I’ll gather a team, and we’ll track down the sorcerers. But you need to be prepared, Selene. If you truly are the last wolf shaman, there will be many more dangers ahead—dangers that few can survive."

Selene met his gaze, her resolve unwavering. "I understand," she said quietly. "‘But I can’t turn back now. I need to take care of my loved ones.`´

Then, turning to bellow at the guards, Damien had his back to Selene as she couldn’t help but think about the future. The path ahead was uncertain, but she knew one thing: She was not as helpless and vulnerable as she was as a healer as she used to be. She was a werewolf shaman, and the young woman would search for the truth about herself and her abilities, no matter how hard it would be.