the figure before her-human, then shifting into something larger, more feral. She felt the ground beneath her feet tremble as the transformation took hold. Fur began to sprout acr

reveal sharp, gleaming teeth. Kiera's heart raced. She had heard the stories, of course, but never imagined they could

to stay back. "Stay close to me," he said,

th. Kiera tried to step forward, but Finn's arm

atures-of nightmares had stepped out of the shadows, and all she could do was stand

its body seemed to grow even larger, rippling with muscle. It was joined by another, its silver fur glinting in the moonlight, and then another, unti

muttered, his voice stea

era whispered, her

ck in front of them. "Stay close. I'l

pring into action. The wolf's lips pulled back further, revealing a savage grin, as if it were savoring the fear that radiated fr

her ears. She wanted to scream, to run, but the words cau

r thoughts. "Do not move. Do

istic in the way they circled, as if this moment had been set in motion long ago. Kiera's gaze fli

she might collapse from the pressure, the first wolf stopped moving. Its eyes narrowed as it s

s jaw tight. "This isn't your fight,"

considering Finn's words, but then the air between them seemed to shift. Kiera couldn't

ate, as if waiting for some kind of signal. A beat of silence passed before the leader growled, a deep, resonant sound that sent a c

ling the leaves. The tension in the air was palpable. Finn remained

ts voice low and gravelly, but unmist

a. She couldn't believe what she wa

k to Kiera. "She doesn't know

ned. "She doesn't

ied. "It's inevitable. Th

The other wolves followed, their retreat swift and silent, vanishing back into the shadows of the t

ling to process everything. What had ju

nd unreadable. "They're not gone. They'll

relieved or terrified. "What...

t there was a sharp edge to it. "They're trying to see

cracked. "You want me to

moment. "It's not a choice. It's your

"I don't understand. I'm just... me. I d

just 'you.' You're the last of your family's bloodline, the last of the guardians.

Kiera whispered. "I d

pity. "No one wants this, Kiera. But it's your destiny. Yo

oke seemed to pull her further into a world she didn't un

head, feeling a cold breeze stir the leaves. It wasn't the wind. Something else was coming. The feeling was palpable. The da

said abruptly. "It's n

orest, her eyes narrowing.

ook her arm and began pulling

, but this time, it

darker... Somet