Whispers of the night

e was tethered to this land, this life, even as she wished for something more. The blood moon hung low in the sky, casting a crimson glow over the forest, as if the heavens themselv

ended. "You go on ahead." Alaric's smile faltered for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning her face. "You've been off for days. What's going on?" Elara hesitated, glancing out at the pack. "I... It's nothing. I just-" She stopped, unsure of how to put the feeling into words. There was an itch beneath her skin, an anticipation that had been growing for days, intensifying as the blood moon neared. It wasn't the usual pull of the full moon or the excitement of the pack run. It was something darker, something... foreboding. Alaric's face softened, and he placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly. "You know you can talk to me, right? If something's bothering you, I'll listen." She wanted to tell him. But how could she explain the feeling gnawing at her without sounding paranoid? She didn't even understand it herself. "I know," she said, managing a smile. "I'll be fine. Go, have fun. I'll be right behind you." Alaric gave her one last searching look before he nodded, his grin returning. "Don't take too long, or I'll drag you out here myself." He turned and shifted in a fluid motion, his human form dissolving into that of a large, tawny wolf. With a shake of his head, he dashed off into the woods, disappearing among the trees. Elara exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding, the weight of the night settling back onto her shoulders. The whispers had started three nights ago. At first, she thought it was just the wind through the trees or the murmurs of her pack. But then they grew louder, more insistent, voices that seemed to come from deep within the earth, calling her name, pulling her