MARKED BY FATE

Shadows in the Night

Vivian's POV

The wail wraps about me like a veil of dread in the silent night. My hands whitening, I grab the porch railing and look at Lucian, already headed toward the edge of the clearing. His physique shows clear strain, and I cannot get rid of the impression that whatever is out there is not simply a basic wolf.

Trying to keep my voice steady, I say, "Lucian, kindly let me accompany you." I get chills thinking of him confronting some threat outside of himself.

"No," he says, his tone not allowing for debate. Stay right here. I have to evaluate the matter without thinking about you.

But—"But—" I start to object, but he has already disappeared into the woodland darkness.

A second later I hear rustling, then a succession of loud, guttural growls cause my heart to rush. Tucked between terror and the strong need to follow him, I back off. Now the lodge is motionless and quiet; every creak of the wood echoes in the night and I find myself isolated. I detest not feeling in charge.

After what seems like a lifetime, I realize I cannot simply watch. I grab a flashlight from within the lodge and start toward the direction Lucian vanishes. The beam of light cuts over the night, lighting the woods ahead, but the shadows appear to reach farther and could swallow me whole.

" lucian?" My voice quivering, I call gently.

No reply.

My heartbeat thumping in my ears, the growls becoming louder as I approach. I see a flutter of motion—forms flying between the trees. I shove it down even if panic starts in me. I'm not about to let anxiety rule me. I have to know what is happening.

Then, just as I might be turning back, I see Lucian standing erect and alert facing a bunch of black figures. I stop trying to make sense of the scene; my breath gets locked in my throat. Though something is unusual about them—wild, uncontrolled, and full of a ferocious energy that shivers down my spine—they are wolves.

"Get back, Vivian!" Lucian yells, but it is too late.

One of the wolves lunges at me from the pack. She breaks from it. I swing the lamp automatically toward it, lighting its ravenous eyes and glittering teeth. The beast stops, briefly blinded, and I use the opportunity to run back.

"Vivian!" As Lucian goes to intercept the wolf, his body blocks mine and his voice is full of urgency.

Growling fiercely against the approaching danger, he says, "Get behind me!"

The renegade wolf sizes us out of snarls. "You think you can protect her?" it asks, its voice low and terrible. "This is only a taste of what Lucian is going to produce. Now the pack will feel it; you have churned the waters.

"Who delivered it?" Lucian has deep growls in his voice.

The wolf simply laughs, a nasty sound that makes me shiver. You really do believe you are safe? You are engaged in a game well above your comprehension. We are simply messengers of a far more powerful force.

I get angry and terrified at once. "What do you want with us?” My voice is shaking but solid, I ask.

The wolf looks at me, and for a split second I see something more than simply hunger—a flutter of identification maybe? Little daughter, you are a pawn in this game. Still, your influence is not to be disregarded. You will soon enough have to decide sides.

Enough! Lucian snarls, then charges at the wolf without warning, tackling it to the ground. I stand still as the two roll in a tangle of fur and jaws, panic seizing my chest.

Then the other wolves gather in with a sudden surge of vitality. My heart rushes as I try to find a means of support for Lucian in his battle. As growls and snarls permeate the scene, everything descends into anarchy.

"Vivian!" Lucian yells once again, and his eagerness breaks me out of my trance. I have to take action. From the ground, I take a fallen branch and hold it like an improvised weapon.

"Get back!" With a great swing of the branch, I yell at the approaching wolves. It makes one of the wolves yelp and withdraw, but I know it won't hold them off for very long.

Vivian, run! Lucian speaks with a harsh, desperate quality. He battles to keep the others away, one wolf tied down.

"I'm not bidding farewell to you!" I cry back, my voice over the growls increasing.

" Do it, Vivian! You really have to. He drives the wolf away and turns to face me with a sharp, protective look. "We both die here if you don't!"

The earnestness of his remarks breaks through the anarchy in that instant. Our circumstances seem to be falling on me with weight. The group is strong; we cannot win this battle by ourselves. I cannot, however, forsake him.

Driven now, I step back and point my flashlight toward the wolves; the beam flickers as I do so. Stay back! You are not frightening us!

The wolves pause, blinded just momentarily. Using the diversion, Lucian pushes ahead to drive the renegade wolf away from him. The other wolves gather, staring at us with an uncomfortable mix of fascination and wrath.

Lucian calls, his gaze fixed on mine, "together." " On three."

I nod, adrenaline coursed through me. "One, two, three!"

We charge together; me swinging the branch as Lucian struggles with the closest wolf. I strike another wolf solidly, yelping it into the darkness. The tide turns slightly, and we advance, but the surviving wolves remain a powerful weapon.

With that, the renegade wolf snarls, breaks away and vanishes into the dark woodland.

Breathing heavily, I look at Lucian, who also seems equally startled and relieved. "We have to gather once more. They will be back, he continues, his voice steadying.

"Are you Alright?" I probe him for injuries, worried flooding my voice.

Brushing off my concern, he says, "I'm fine, just a scratch." Still, we cannot undervalue them. They will use our shortcomings since they are aware of them now.

"Who do you suppose is driving all this??" Still getting my breath, I inquire. "What did that wolf mean concerning sides?"

Lucian turned away, his face deepening. I have some doubts. Within the werewolf society, there are groups seeking leadership. They consider me as a threat, hence they know if they could undermine me, they could grab control.

"Then we have to get ready," I responded, resolving once more to fill me. "We cannot let them split us. I'm willing to assist.

He looks at me and flashes surprise across his face. Indeed, you really mean that.

"I have past experience with danger. Now I won't back down. Not when so much is at stake, I say, my heart steadying with will.

He gives a slow nod, a trace of respect in his gaze. OK. Still, it's not simple. We will have to rally supporters and fortify our defenses.

"Let's start now," I murmur, my pulse sharpening with expectation. "I'm all set."

The following several days blur of activity. We labor nonstop, organizing the pack and disseminating the word of the renegade menace. When Lucian organizes meetings and exhorts everyone to stand together, his leadership really shows. As I help, sharing ideas and techniques gives me strength.

One of the pack members, Elena, notes during a planning session, "Vivian, you have a knack for this." "Your observations are really priceless.

"Thanks," I say, heart bursting with pride. Though I never anticipated to fit in this society, here I am, scheming for our survival and shoulder to shoulder with fighters.

Lucian is observing me from across the room while we are planning, his eyes mixed with pride and worry. He weighs leadership heavily, and I can see how this aged him.

I speak quietly, "Hey," catching him by himself following the conference. "You good?

He sighed and ran a hand over his hair. "Just worried." We will be at great risk, hence I have to make sure everyone is safe.

Stepping closer, I assure him, "You're not alone in this." These days, we are a team: You have coached me in fighting; now let me lead.

A little smile finds its way through his concern. Vivian, you've changed. You're stronger than I could have imagined.

I have to be, I say, my voice softening. For our youngsters and for us.

I can sense our connection deepening as we stand there, a link created by fire and terror. Underneath that relationship, though, is an unspoken tension—and knowledge of the gloom encircling us.

The evening veers unexpectedly as I start to experience a sense of stability. After a demanding day of organizing, we are gathered at the lodge getting ready for sleep. As soon as someone knocks on the door, the air is charged with expectation.