Chapter 6 — The Blood Awakens
The word echoed in Elara's mind.
Lycan.
Her heart pounded as she stared at the boy in front of her.
"You're lying," she said, though her voice wasn't as confident as she wanted.
"I wish I was," he replied.
Another howl rose from the forest.
Closer this time.
Students around the courtyard began murmuring nervously.
"Is there really a wolf out there?"
"Someone should call animal control."
But Elara could feel it.
Something was watching.
Something dangerous.
The pendant against her chest suddenly flared with heat.
She gasped and grabbed it.
The boy's eyes widened.
"It's reacting," he muttered.
"Reacting to what?" she asked.
"To them."
He turned toward the forest again.
The trees swayed violently as if something large was moving through them.
Fast.
Too fast.
"Listen carefully," he said, lowering his voice. "They've been searching for you for years."
Elara shook her head. "That doesn't make any sense. I'm just a normal girl."
"You were meant to believe that."
Before she could argue, a sharp pain shot through her body.
Her knees buckled.
"What's happening to me?" she whispered.
The boy caught her before she fell.
"It's starting," he said.
Her hearing sharpened suddenly.
She could hear whispers from students across the field.
Footsteps.
Breathing.
Heartbeats.
It was overwhelming.
"Elara," he said firmly. "Focus on my voice."
Her vision blurred.
The world felt too bright, too loud, too alive.
"This is your blood waking up," he explained.
"My blood?"
"Yes."
He hesitated before finally saying it.
"You come from the oldest Lycan bloodline."
Elara stared at him in shock.
"That's impossible."
But deep inside…
Something ancient stirred.
A strange instinct.
A memory that didn't belong to this life.
Another howl erupted from the forest.
This time it was answered by a second one.
The boy's jaw tightened.
"They're getting closer."
Elara grabbed his arm.
"You keep talking like you know everything about this. Who are you?"
For the first time, he looked slightly hesitant.
Then he answered.
"My name is Lucien."
The wind picked up around them.
"And I was sent here to protect you."
Across the field, hidden within the trees, two glowing red eyes opened in the shadows.
Watching.
Waiting.