The first-year classrooms at Beacon Hills High School seemed more chaotic than Elias expected. Between the shoving in the hallways, the shouts of the students, and the constant questions from teachers, Elias felt a bit overwhelmed. Scott and Stiles, with whom he had exchanged a few words since his arrival, seemed eager to include him in their little circle. However, there was something keeping him distant.
Every time he let his guard down and focused on the school routine, a shadow crossed his mind: a vivid memory of that dream, the Hale mansion burning, flames consuming every corner of his home. The fire and shadows haunted his thoughts, and that ominous omen warned him to be careful, that something in his life was about to change radically.
—Elias? —Cora appeared beside him as he closed his locker, a smile trying to ease the tension on her face—. You've been… distant lately.
He looked at her and nodded, as if the words were hard to express.
—Yeah, it's just that… I've been having strange dreams, and I can't get them out of my head.
Cora frowned, walking alongside him in the hallway.
—Do you want to talk about it? Does it have to do with the pack or…? —She left the question open, though she knew he was thinking about Talia and her powers.
Elias hesitated for a moment. He knew that Cora, unlike others, could understand the weight of his words. So he sighed and spoke in a low tone, making sure no one was listening.
—I've seen the mansion… in flames. It's like everything is crumbling, like what we have is being destroyed right before our eyes —he said bitterly—. I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like something is going to happen.
Cora looked at him in silence, absorbing every word. She knew he was more perceptive than he let on, and when he mentioned visions, he usually wasn't wrong.
—Maybe we should talk to mom about this —she suggested, placing a hand on his shoulder—. You don't have to deal with this alone.
Elias nodded, knowing she was right. However, inside, something held him back from speaking openly. A kind of intuition told him to stay alert, that he couldn't ignore the signs his own subconscious had shown him.
That afternoon, after school, he went straight to the mansion with Cora. He knew that seeing Talia would bring him clarity and peace, but even as they crossed the woods toward the house, the ominous feeling persisted. Upon arriving, Talia was sitting in the spacious living room, reading an old book from the family library.
—Mom —Cora called, interrupting the tranquility of the moment—, Elias wants to talk to you.
Talia looked up and gestured for them to come closer, a warm yet worried expression in her eyes.
—What's wrong, Elias? —she asked gently.
Elias took a breath before speaking, as if his words were about to unleash something inevitable.
—I've been having dreams, Talia. The mansion on fire… a destruction that feels inevitable —he said, weighing each word.
Talia nodded slowly, as if she understood the gravity of his words.
—Sometimes, our ancient lineages can sense what is to come, Elias. It's possible that your connection with Licaón is awakening to protect us. But remember, not all visions are predictions; some are warnings —she said, trying to help him understand the difference.
—So could I prevent it? —he asked, almost hopefully.
—We don't know, but what's important is that you keep your mind and senses alert —she replied—. This dream may be a sign that you're prepared to face whatever comes.
Elias looked at Talia, feeling more at ease. But the shadow of the dream was still there, lurking, as if it were not something so simple to avoid.
The days at school grew more monotonous. While Scott and Stiles tried to get closer, he kept his distance. He knew that to them, his indifference might seem cold or strange, but he didn't want to risk involving them in what he was experiencing. He realized that the more he focused on his instinct and visions, the more he needed the support of Talia and Cora.
During a history class, Stiles passed him a folded piece of paper with a question written in blue ink: *"Are you coming to train with Scott and me this afternoon?"* Elias looked at the paper for a moment but decided not to respond. The very idea of distracting himself with everyday activities felt impossible while the sense of danger continued to thrum in his mind.
At the end of the class, Stiles caught up with him in the hallway, a look of concern on his face.
—Hey, Elias, is something wrong? Scott and I have noticed you've been distant, and well, we thought we could help each other out. Besides, Scott thinks highly of you.
Elias felt a pang of guilt. It wasn't his intention to distance himself, but he also knew that friendship with Scott and Stiles could expose them to risks he didn't fully understand.
—I'm… fine, Stiles. I just need time to focus on some things —he replied, trying to sound convincing.
Stiles raised an eyebrow, clearly not satisfied with the answer.
—Okay, but if you need anything, you know we're here, right? —he insisted, giving him a pat on the shoulder before walking away.
Elias nodded, though inside he knew that, at least for now, he preferred to stay in the shadows. Despite Cora and Talia's support, the weight of his dream and his own visions kept him in a self-imposed isolation.
That night, Talia decided to prepare a special dinner. The table was lit with candles, and a warm atmosphere filled the living room, dispelling the darkness in Elias's mind, at least for a moment. As they ate, the conversation revolved around lighter topics, but Talia eventually shifted the subject toward the unease Elias had expressed.
—Elias, I know those dreams are still weighing on you. And I want you to know that we're always here to talk about it —she said in a soothing tone—. Sometimes, sharing burdens helps us face them.
Elias nodded, grateful for her presence and for Cora, who was watching him attentively.
—I know, Talia. I just… don't want to worry you more than necessary. I'm still not sure what they mean, but I feel like I'm close to figuring it out.
Cora, who had been silent, suddenly intervened.
—Well, we're in this together, right? We're a pack, and that means what affects you affects us all.
Elias looked at her, feeling warmth fill his chest. Cora's loyalty and affection were unbreakable, and that gave him strength. Still, the shadow of his dreams remained, reminding him that time was running out.
—Thank you, Cora —he murmured, almost as a whisper.
That same night, after dinner, Elias slipped out into the woods in silence, wanting to clear his mind. He walked under the moonlight, the shadows of the trees creating ghostly figures around him. His restless, tormented mind was trying to find answers to the ominous feeling that followed him.
He stopped in the clearing where he had experienced his first awakening, feeling the night air fill with energy. He closed his eyes and concentrated, seeking that connection with the lineage of Licaón.
—If there's something I need to know… show me —he whispered to the wind, his words almost lost in the breeze.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause. Then, a soft, distant voice resonated in his mind, like an echo from ancient times. It wasn't clear or recognizable, but it gave him a sense of urgency.
Protect your own. The fire and shadows are closer than you think.
Elias opened his eyes, shaken. The voice, the warning, were not figments of his imagination. It was a call to stay alert, to protect his family and pack from what was to come. He knew that although he still didn't understand everything, time was running out and he had to prepare.