The forest felt alive and deadly. Every rustle, creak of wood, and whisper of wind echoed with the sense of something watching. Elara's pulse raced in her ears as she turned slowly, straining to see through the dark. The moon's silver light barely broke through the dense canopy above, casting long, eerie shadows on the forest floor.
Kael, the Fallen Alpha, stood protectively in front of her. His body was tense, muscles coiled like those of a predator ready to strike. His eyes glowed faintly in the moonlight, and his claws began to emerge, sharp and glistening. "Stay behind me," he growled softly. The sound resembled more of a beast than a man.
Elara didn't argue. The air around them felt heavy with magic and something darker, something ancient. She sensed it pressing down on her chest like a weight. Her pendant pulsed faster now, its light flickering as if it sensed danger.
From the darkness came the first pair of glowing eyes, then another, and another. A circle formed around them, silent and steady. The scent of damp earth and blood filled the air. Elara swallowed hard. "Kael," she whispered, her voice trembling, "what are they?"
His lips curled back slightly, revealing a hint of fangs. "The Shadow Pack," he said grimly. "Wolves that lost their souls to the curse. They shouldn't be this close to the village…" His voice trailed off as one of the creatures stepped forward.
It was massive, its fur black as ash, its eyes burning crimson. It glided, moving as though the ground bent beneath its will. Elara's stomach twisted. "Can you fight them?" she asked.
Kael gave a low, humorless laugh. "Fight them? I used to command them."
Before she could respond, the first Shadow Wolf lunged. Kael moved faster than her eyes could follow, colliding with the creature in midair. The sound of claws and teeth tearing through flesh echoed like thunder. Dark magic flared where they struck.
Elara backed away, clutching her pendant. She whispered an incantation under her breath, a protection charm her grandmother had taught her long ago. A faint shimmer surrounded her, but she knew it wouldn't last long against creatures like these.
Kael threw one wolf aside, but two more leapt from the shadows. His movements were wild, desperate; strong but not whole. Elara saw pain in his eyes, the struggle of his wolf trying to rise but failing. He was fighting not only the monsters around him but the curse within.
Then, from behind, a whisper brushed against her ear. "He can't save you, witch."
Elara spun around, her heart racing. A figure cloaked in black stood behind her, the same stranger from before. His eyes glowed faintly gold this time, and his smile was sharp as a blade. "Every time he fights," the man said softly, "he loses a little more of himself. And when he's gone, the beast takes over."
"Who are you?" Elara demanded, her voice shaking.
"I am the hand of the curse," he replied. "And tonight, under the blood moon, the balance will shift."
As if on cue, the clouds above parted, revealing a crimson moon. Its light flooded the forest, painting the world in shades of red and black. The Shadow Pack howled in unison, a bone-chilling chorus that made the trees tremble.
Kael froze mid-battle, snapping his head toward the sky. His body shuddered violently, and Elara saw his veins darken beneath his skin. "Kael!" she cried out, running to him.
He stumbled back, breathing ragged. "No—stay away," he growled, his voice thick with agony. "The moon—she's calling the beast."
Elara's hands glowed faintly with magic as she reached for him. "I can help you! Just let me—"
"Run," he snarled, eyes blazing with silver fire. "Before I lose control."
But she didn't move. The wind picked up, swirling around them, carrying whispers in a language she didn't recognize. The Shadow Wolves stopped their advance, watching and waiting. The stranger lifted a hand toward Kael. "It's time, Fallen Alpha. Accept what you are."
Elara shouted a spell, and light burst from her pendant, striking the stranger square in the chest. He staggered back, his cloak burning at the edges. For a moment, the magic around them faltered—and Kael fell to his knees, clutching his head.
"Don't you dare give in," she said through gritted teeth, dropping to his side. "You're not just a curse."
Kael's eyes flickered between human silver and wolfish black. His voice was strained and broken. "You don't understand… if I lose this fight… I won't come back."
"Then I'll make sure you do," Elara whispered.
For a moment, their eyes met, and something ancient stirred between them, something older than the curse itself. The forest seemed to hold its breath.
Then, with a sudden, deafening crack, the ground split beneath them, releasing a burst of red light. The Shadow Pack howled again, retreating into the darkness. The stranger vanished with the wind.
Kael collapsed forward, unconscious, his body trembling as if still fighting some unseen force. Elara caught him, struggling to keep him from falling completely. The red glow faded slowly, leaving behind silence and the faint echo of a heartbeat that wasn't hers.
She looked down at him, brushing the hair from his face. "You saved me," she whispered. "Now it's my turn."
But as she spoke, a mark began to appear on her wrist, the same crescent symbol glowing faintly red. It pulsed once, then dimmed.
Elara stared at it in horror. "What did you do to me?" she breathed.
Kael's eyes fluttered open, and he whispered one word before slipping into darkness—
"Bound."
The forest went completely still, as if even the night feared what came next.