The Pack of Lies

The Creature’s Demand

The forest was silent save for the gigantic beast standing before them, which breathed heavily. Its brilliant crimson eyes shone through the darkness, and its words hung in the air like a terrible threat.

"Come with me, or your pack will burn."

Esme’s heart raced. She felt Alina tense beside her, and Kade stepped in front of them protectively, his posture rigid.

“No,” Alina growled, her voice trembling with both fear and anger. “She’s not going anywhere with you.”

The creature tilted its massive head, its dark fur bristling. “This is not a request.”

Esme’s wolf stirred inside her, urging her to fight, but the weight of the creature’s threat was too much. If she refused, the pack could be in danger. If she went, who knew what fate awaited her?

"Why me?" Esme asked, her voice barely audible. "What do you want from me?"

The creature twisted it's lips with a cruel smile, showing rows of rugged fangs.

"You are the key," it said, its deep voice echoing through the air.

"The prophecy cannot be fulfilled without you. "With you, I gain the ability to destroy those who oppose me." "What prophecy?”

Alina snapped and stepped forward. "Stop talking in riddles and tell us the truth!" The creature giggled, sending shivers down Esme's spine. “The truth?” It glanced at Selene, who stood frozen, her face pale. “Ask her. She knows.”

All eyes turned to Selene, who avoided their gazes.

“Selene,” Kade said sharply. “What is he talking about?”

Selene took a shaky breath, her hands trembling. “It’s true,” she said finally. “Esme is at the heart of the prophecy. She has a power unlike any other. But if this creature takes her, he will use her to destroy everything we’ve ever known.”

Alina’s eyes widened. “What power? What are you talking about?”

Selene gazed at Esme, her eyes filled with sorrow and urgency. "Have you felt it? The weird pull, the nightmares, the unexplainable flashes of power."

Esme nodded slowly. She felt it, but tried to ignore it. The way the moon appeared to call to her, and how her emotions caused things around her to shake or c***k.

“But I don’t know how to control it,” Esme said.

“You don’t need to,” the creature interrupted. “I will teach you how. Together, we will help you reach your full potential.”

Alina screamed at the top of her voice,

“She’s not going with you!”, her golden eyes blazing as her wolf pushed to the surface.

The creature roared,causing the ground under them to shake. “Do not test me, little wolf. I have waited too long for this moment.”

Kade stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. “If you touch her, you’ll have to go through me.”

The creature snarled, but before it could move, Selene raised her hands again, summoning another burst of light. The creature roared in anger, shielding its eyes.

“Run!” Selene shouted. “Go now!”

Esme hesitated, torn between the urge to fight and the fear of leaving Selene behind.

“Esme, go!” Kade yelled, grabbing her arm.

Alina held Esme by the other arm and pulled her into the forest. They could hear the echoes of the creature's voice behind them as they ran as fast as they could into the forest.

“Where are we going?” Esme asked, her chest burning as she struggled to keep up.

“Somewhere safe,” Kade said, his voice clipped.

"Somewhere safe," Kade said, his voice taut. The forest appeared unending, with the trees merging together as they rushed into the darkness. Esme's legs ached, but she would not stop.

Finally, they arrived to a secluded cave, its entrance shrouded by dense vines.

Kade pushed them inside, his eyes scanning the forest for any sign of the creature.

“We should be safe here for now,” he said, his voice low.

Alina paced the cave, her hands clenched into fists. “This is insane. First the man in the shadows, and now this... thing? What the hell is going on?”

Esme sank to the ground, her mind racing. “Selene said I’m the key. But the key to what?”

Kade leaned against the wall, his face bleak. "The prophecy describes a wolf born with the ability to unite or destroy. That wolf is you, Esme.”

Esme stared at him, her chest tightening. “But I don’t want this. I did not ask for any of this”

Alina placed a hand on her shoulder, kneeling beside her. “You’re not alone, Esme. We’ll figure this out together.”

Kade sighed. “You don’t understand. The prophecy isn’t just about her. It’s about all of us. If the wrong forces get to her first, the entire pack—and possibly all wolfkind—will suffer.”

“Then we have to stop them,” Alina said firmly.

“It’s not that simple,” Kade replied. “The creature isn’t the only one after her. There are others. Powerful wolves and enemies who will do whatever it takes to claim her power.”

Esme placed her face in her palms, feeling like a pawn in a game she had no understanding of, whatsoever, this was terrifying to her.

“We need to talk to Father,” Alina said after a long pause.

“No,” Esme said sharply, looking up. “He’s been lying to us. How can we trust him now?”

“Because he’s still our father,” Alina argued. “And he’s the Alpha. If anyone can protect you, it’s him.”

Before Esme could respond, a low growl echoed from the cave entrance.

Kade stiffened, his eyes narrowing. “We’re not alone.”

Alina shifted instantly, her wolf form ready to fight.

Esme's heart hammered as shadows flickered on the cave's edge.

Slowly, they saw a figure appear, it was th same man from the jungle, he kept on twinkling his eyes with delight. "Miss me?" he asked, his voice full of tease.

Alina growled, stepping forward.

“Careful, little wolf,” he said, his smile widening. “You wouldn’t want to make me angry.”

“What do you want?” Kade demanded, his voice cold.

The man’s gaze shifted to Esme. “You already know the answer to that.”

“You’re not taking her,” Alina snapped.

The man laughed, the sound echoing through the cave. “Oh, I don’t plan to. Not yet, anyway. But I couldn’t let the fun end so soon.”

He raised his hand, and dark energy crackled in the air. The cave walls trembled, and rocks began to fall around them.

“Run!” Kade shouted, grabbing Esme’s arm.

But the ground under them collapsed before they could move, and Esme felt herself fall into an abyss.

She screamed as she was falling, Alina's words faded into silence as blackness to over her. She hit the ground, then the air in her lungs was expelled.

She grumbled and opened her eyes to find herself in a dark and weird cavern.

“Esme!” Alina’s voice echoed from somewhere above.

"I'm okay!" Esme yelled back, but her voice was shaky.

She got herself up, with her heart racing as she looked around.

The cavern was wide, with walls covered with a faint, otherworldly light. "Where am I?" she mumbled.

A deep, booming voice answered from the darkness. "Welcome, child of prophecy. "We have been waiting for you.”

Esme's breath hitched when a figure emerged from the darkness.

The figure was neither human nor wolf, just something in-between, it had a glowing golden eyes and a commanding presence that made her wolf cower.

"Who are you?" she inquired, her voice wavering.

The creature smiled. “I am the keeper of the truth. And you, Esme, are about to learn who you really are.”