Elara's visions of the shadowy weave intensified, and with them, the growing clarity of the central node. It was an individual, undeniably powerful, but also surprisingly old, perhaps an ancient rogue or a disgraced elder from a distant pack. The common thread in all their manipulations became clearer: a deep-seated hatred for the Moon Goddess and the established shifter hierarchy, a desire to reset the world to a more primal, chaotic state where only the strongest survived.
During a particularly intense mental projection, Elara's new abilities allowed her to glimpse a face, a name, a fragment of history. It was Kael, a former powerful Alpha from a forgotten lineage, believed to have died centuries ago. His presence, still potent and malevolent, explained the ancient, cold energy Elara had sensed. Kael had been outcast for his dark practices, his thirst for absolute power, and his blasphemous disdain for the Moon Goddess's balance. He had feigned death, retreating into the deepest shadows, learning to manipulate the minds of others and orchestrate conflicts from afar.
The revelation was chilling. Kael wasn't just a manipulator; he was a relic of a dark past, a master of psychological warfare who had been pulling strings for generations, ultimately aiming to shatter the shifter world and remake it in his own image. The unseen hand now had a name, a face, and a terrifyingly long history of malice.