The silence following Kael's disappearance was deafening, the forest holding its breath as though unwilling to disturb the aftermath of his shadowy retreat. Emilia's heart thundered in her chest as she turned to Liam and Darius, their battered forms a stark reminder of the confrontation they had barely survived.
"What just happened?" she asked, her voice trembling as she clutched the rune-inscribed dagger. Its weight in her hand felt heavier now, as though it carried secrets she wasn't yet ready to uncover.
Liam was the first to rise, his body stiff as he shifted back into his human form. His face was pale, streaked with blood and dirt, but his eyes burned with an anger that sent a shiver down her spine.
"We need to leave," he said, ignoring her question entirely.
Darius, already standing and brushing debris from his shoulders, crossed his arms. "Running won't solve anything, pup. Kael isn't the type to let his prey slip away. He'll be back—and stronger."
"And you think we should just wait here for him?" Liam snapped, rounding on Darius with a ferocity that made Emilia take a step back.
"I think we need answers," Darius replied coolly, his gaze shifting to Emilia. "And she's the only one who can give them to us."
Emilia bristled. "Me? I don't know anything! He said things—things that didn't make sense. What did he mean about my bloodline? About a prophecy?"
Liam flinched, his gaze darting to the ground, and Darius's smirk returned, colder this time.
"There it is," Darius said softly, his words like a knife slicing through the tension. "The silence that speaks louder than words. Tell her, Liam. Tell her what you've been hiding."
"Enough!" Liam's shout echoed through the clearing, but his anger quickly dissolved into something more fragile. He turned to Emilia, his expression pained. "I wanted to protect you, Emilia. I thought—"
"You thought lying was better?" she interrupted, her voice breaking. "You've known something this whole time, and you didn't tell me?"
"It's not that simple," he said, stepping closer, but she backed away, shaking her head.
"Then make it simple," she demanded, her grip tightening on the dagger.
Liam's shoulders sagged, and he exchanged a wary glance with Darius, who raised an eyebrow as if to say, Your mess, your responsibility.
"There's a prophecy," Liam began, his voice heavy with reluctance. "It's ancient—older than any of us. It speaks of a hybrid born under the Blood Moon, one who carries the power to either unite or destroy the supernatural realms."
Emilia's mind reeled. "And you think… that's me?"
Liam nodded slowly. "Your mother was a witch, Emilia. A powerful one. And your father…" He trailed off, his jaw tightening.
"Was a wolf," Darius finished for him, his tone blunt. "One with a lineage that ties directly to Kael. That's why he wants you, little wolf. You're not just any hybrid. You're the key to his plan to tip the scales of power in his favor."
The air felt heavy, suffocating. Emilia took a step back, her thoughts spiraling. "This doesn't make sense. My parents were just… people. Normal. They—" She choked on the words, memories of her childhood flashing before her eyes. Were they all lies?
"Think about it," Darius pressed. "Have you ever felt… different? Stronger? Faster? Did strange things happen around you that you couldn't explain?"
Images flooded her mind: the time she had fallen from a tree and walked away without a scratch, the way animals seemed to respond to her emotions, the peculiar dreams that always felt more like warnings.
"Yes," she whispered, the admission tasting bitter on her tongue.
"That's your heritage," Liam said gently. "And it's why you're in danger. Kael isn't the only one who will come for you. If others find out who you are…"
"They'll want to use me," Emilia finished, her voice hollow.
"Or destroy you," Darius added grimly.
The weight of their words crushed her, but before she could respond, a rustling in the trees sent all three of them into high alert.
"Someone's coming," Liam said, his voice low as he shifted back into his wolf form.
Darius followed suit, his silver-furred wolf prowling closer to the edge of the clearing.
Emilia's pulse quickened as she gripped the dagger, her eyes scanning the shadows. The rustling grew louder, accompanied by whispers that seemed to come from all directions at once.
And then, they appeared.
Dozens of figures emerged from the trees, their forms half-hidden by cloaks and hoods. Their eyes glowed faintly in the darkness, each a different shade—red, green, blue—casting an eerie light across the clearing.
"Witches," Darius growled, his fur bristling.
The leader stepped forward, pulling back her hood to reveal a striking woman with hair the color of spun gold and eyes that shimmered like emeralds. She smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes.
"We mean no harm," she said, her voice smooth and melodic. "We've come for the girl."
"Over my dead body," Liam snarled, stepping in front of Emilia.
"That can be arranged," the witch replied, her smile widening as she raised a hand.
The ground beneath them erupted in vines, thick and thorny, snaking toward Liam and Darius with alarming speed. They fought back, their claws and teeth tearing through the magical onslaught, but the witches were relentless.
Emilia's heart raced as she watched the chaos unfold. She couldn't stand by and let them fight alone—not when she had the dagger.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she raised the blade and charged at the nearest witch. The woman's eyes widened in surprise, but she was too slow to react. The dagger sliced through the air, its runes glowing brighter as it made contact.
The witch screamed, a sound that echoed through the clearing as she disintegrated into a cloud of ash.
The other witches faltered, their confidence shaken.
"Retreat!" the leader commanded, her voice sharp with fury.
As quickly as they had appeared, the witches melted back into the shadows, their presence leaving behind an unnatural chill.
Emilia's chest heaved as she lowered the dagger, her hands trembling. Liam and Darius shifted back into their human forms, both staring at her with a mixture of awe and wariness.
"You just killed a high witch," Darius said, his tone unreadable.
"I… I didn't mean to," Emilia stammered, her stomach churning at the memory of the woman's scream.
"She'll be back," Liam said, his voice grim. "And she won't come alone."
"We need to move," Darius added. "Now."
But before they could take a step, a familiar voice echoed through the clearing, freezing them in place.
"Well done, little wolf," Kael said, his tone laced with mock admiration. "You've proven yourself worthy of the throne. But are you ready to claim it?"
Emilia turned to see him standing at the edge of the clearing, his golden eyes gleaming with amusement—and something far darker.
The night seemed to close in around them as Kael took a step forward, his presence suffocating.
"Because if you're not," he continued, his smile widening, "I'll have to take it by force."
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