and confusion. His words hung heavy in the air,

" I asked, my voice trembling de

and urgency. "You're not like other humans, Elena. There's something in your bl

at doesn't make any sense. I'm just... m

u ever felt different? A connection to the wildern

bly drawn to the forest, when I'd predicted a storm before the skies had even darkened, or wh

ven if I have, that doesn't mean anything

hard to believe, but there's more to you than you realize. The rival pack sensed it, and t

nting howls that had chased me through the woods. I wanted to argue, to deny eve

ce quieter. "Am I supposed to j

But you need to be careful

d saved my life, but he was also a stranger who claimed to be something out of a myt

aid finally. "

ation he'd worn since the moment we met. "First, we need to figure out why you're differen

words felt fore

Elena. About yourself, about the world around

t. I didn't have a choice, though. If what he said was true, then the rival pack wouldn't sto

block away, explaining that it was better not to draw attention to my home. The drive was silent at first, the tension between us thick

the silence. "Whe

swers," Adrian replied without

is this

is Lila. She's... an elder, someone who's been aroun

e of you? A s

tly. She's something else entirely. But she's trust

, but I decided not to press him. There were already too many questio

lder with each passing mile, the trees crowding closer to the road as if trying to swallow it whole. Finally, Adrian turned ont

ancient, its wooden walls warped by time and covered in a thin layer of moss. Warm light

drian said, kil

nocked twice, the sound echoing through the stillness of the forest.

louds. Despite her age, she carried herself with a regal grace, her posture straight and her movements

said, her voice low and

of dried herbs, and trinkets that looked like they'd been collected over centu

r of the room. "You must be Elena," she said, her sharp e

him, surprise

"She needed to know wha

mpse of the truth, haven't you? The wo

ian said you might know w

. "Yes. But before I can help

ed, my voice bare

ied. "It will tell me

aging nod. Taking a deep breath, I turned

touch was warm, almost electric, and I felt a strange tingling sensation spre

open, and she drew back, a look

Adrian asked,

expression unreadable. "She... she

y heart racing. "Wh

e of awe and fear. "It means, Elena, that you