THE YOUNG HAUNTED ALPHA

E OF SIL

ng low in the ni

the dense forest

eped in legend,

n ancient curse

this forest, a hid

rouded in shado

ck of werewolves

and fierce lead

l was not just a

, power, and a

ck to the first w

e weight of a ce

ed to speak of

vastating: any al

ed by the spirit

r their rule. It w

awn to the stre

nce for their

cended to the

s father, the pr

mysterious acci

ince then, the p

nce. He led them

canning the fores

king just bey

r night, the air

and Alaric coul

bones. He stood

staring into th

ted again-the fai

e soft rustling o

the voices of th

could nev

filtered through

from the shadows

the only one w

orment. She was

deep understand

Her auburn ha

her green eyes

nc

again, didn't

pping close

at her, his g

kne

he moon is fu

etting louder, m

much longer I

ut, placing a c

s

one, Alaric. T

. We can find a

toge

ned to her, his ex

and dete

urse h

or generations.

hat makes you

you're

a said

Y

people. You've

If anyone can end

o

ished speaking,

e forest. It was

herworldly, fill

tiffened, his sen

y're

whisp

dropped suddenly

ng the ground lik

ostly figures beg

orms with holl

ed some of them

mbers who had

cumstances whe

ph

ed closer, thei

nto a haun

c Silv

pe us. The sins

you. The bloo

rward, her hands

sive

m alone!

ve this. He's no

pa

an with long, dar

sorrow, dri

cence

The curse is bo

d down from fath

rved, the cur

ounded in his ch

re, but never ha

poreal. He reali

s different. The

g him-they wan

t from me?" Alar

ing throug

rit stared at h

pierce his

ust ri

father. His g

o the innocent.

se is to aton

ve of despair wa

with an iron fist

hose who oppose

rent, to lead wit

ather were not ea

?" he asked, hi

is

the sacred st

it s

p within the

n the caverns be

ring a sacrifice

rse be

eyes w

e of Luna

myth. How can w

is

an to fade, the

ft

. Bring it to t

ere you will find

he forest will te

e stone

e spirits vanishe

l silent once more

face pale

e to d

e s

e's even

curse, I h

, her expres

en

. You're not fa

the forest, the

their path. T

h hidden roots a

lead nowhere. H

went, the more t

h m

ached the ancien

into the sky. At

the dark caverns

a look, then ent

wallowing

d the stone of Lu

silver light. Alar

ht of his father

closed his eye

his own life in

of hi

filled the caver

e stone lay dark

as if a great burd

's

a said

did

r slip down his c

fear. For the firs

ilent. The curse

y been

from the cave, t

ugh the trees,

orest. Alaric to

h air fill his l

s pack could fin

ned by

AL OF T

g mist still clu

ventured deeper

ir, heavy with th

every rustling lea

old a secret, as

as watch

aced, replaying

one. Bring it to th

you will find

have the power t

ad been clear-The

who seek the

lena, who walke

but her eyes sha

d crossed into t

e few dared to t

e to the caverns

could feel the

ry step. The tre

twisted branches

tal h

don't you?" Elena

mur

is senses height

ted by spirits-it

ic that could tu

rse had bound

ow, the fores

o test Alari

lence for a while

eir footsteps on

al call of an ow

bend in the path

filled the space

ted in Alaric's

vely going to the

. Stay b

whisp

ld respond, the

the trees. The

a figure emer

s eyes glowing a

er than any wolf

tted and dark, a

e of the fo

led, showing its

wer radiating fro

is was a guardian

the ancient ma

ver

tales of t

na sa

ed t

d to protect

thy, they'll t

ounded as he fac

est had summoned

to see if he was

e. He had no choi

ad

d its fangs a

r. Alaric react

r and slashing at

d almost impossi

rowls, feel the

s it cir

ck!" Alaric sho

for anot

ready moving. Wi

ll vial from her

c. She threw it t

t green light er

een Alaric

itated for a mom

gain, the barrier

stepped forward

s wasn't just a ba

his will. He ha

o face t

e wolf lunged o

nation, met the b

forward. Time s

nto the wolf's s

its eyes flashin

ting, it pressed

ke and dissipati

ting, his heart

. The forest had

ai

nlike anything

El

voice full of

e dagger, his mus

he forest wanted

to face i

ed their journe

oppressive. T

ore unnatural t

impossible shapes

almost tangibl

t of reach, an

stretch

learing, the anc

gnarled roots wer

eeping creature.

he earth, and Alar

o do with the

s is

her voice ba

p breath, the wei

is shoulders. H

raught with more

his pack, and him

hea

stepped into the

erature dropped

ris-hidden be

pulsed with an o

g to b

RT OF T

ck with an unset

descended deepe

ent oak. The wal

oisture, their su

that barely fil

tone. Each step

, the sound reve

space. Alaric's

t's trials still fr

n a test, what a

he cavern coul

rward, Elena's f

l that?" sh

, his senses

ifted. The air fe

oppressive ener

ath their feet w

rough the stone,

at seemed to

d

eplied, hi

the ma

.. or somet

their journey t

w passage that e

mber. The ceili

gged stalactites

onstrous beast.

thereal glow,

destal in the ce

pedestal, was the

mering silver l

t held a heartb

ric felt a strang

that seemed to

amed at him to

back of his min

s is

ed, her voice

ut his gaze neve

what we

ser, the ground b

amber began to

grew louder, tu

. The walls seem

of the cavern st

he very space was

pres

nd ancient, ech

berating off t

la

u seek to end th

ce the sins o

he voice was no

s of the dead eit

something far m

and Alaric felt

g down

, a figure began

d in mist. It wa

n dark robes tha

s themselves. T

ath a hood, but

ural light-stared

rough him l

last of the S

e fi

to

e that has br

ng to this land.

of your ancest

ou are

uickened, his ha

dagger at his sid

the Stone of Luna

g like this. The

ent power-an aut

be d

ot my

aid throug

was strong, but

uly capable of br

e had to face t

er's

's voice g

re the

blood in your vei

pe that. To cla

thing of equal

atone for the si

ant from me?"

ward, his ga

d a hand, and th

ai

Stone of Lun

t which you h

ipped a beat. The

What could he p

sked everything t

faced with a c

oss

must

igure c

T

undone without

our pack? Your li

ho stands b

caught in his

na, who stood a

sion was a mixt

she was resolu

avity of the situ

choice he had

d determine the

eld

ot sacrif

said fi

with dete

me he

and I will. But I

I love

es burned with

ed to co

u will f

be lifted wit

his hands trembli

turned to Elena

expression no

rsta

hat you'r

said,

but s

not let yo

en a

a hand as if to

pped forward,

ysterious ent

e me choose bet

s

voice carrying

ian

silent, and for

hold its breath

flickered, as if

appen next. Fina

oke the

ry

, its ton

u h

h. But know thi

ut a

form began to

grew lighter, a

he glow of the s

lver light across

tiously, his hear

es

ut and placed a

you r

ic n

s the o

ance at the ston

it. A surge of

and for a moment

into the very hea

e stone envelop

pirits-those wh

long-echoed

heir cries were

they were

ed, Alaric colla

ree. The curse

with it, the weig

i