Chapter 10 – The Mark of the Fallen
POV: Seren Thorne
The moment I woke, I knew something had changed. It was as if the entire world had shifted just out of reach, as though I was standing on the edge of a precipice, waiting to fall.
I could feel it in my veins — the power, raw and uncontained. It pulsed beneath my skin, thrumming like a second heartbeat. My wolf was restless, pacing inside me, but the other… the darker force, the one I couldn't name, was louder today. Stronger.
It wasn't just my wolf anymore. It was something ancient. Something deadly.
I couldn't stay in the safety of the cabin any longer. I needed to move. To do something. Anything.
Kael was already up when I stepped into the clearing. He looked tired, his gaze shadowed, but when he saw me, he straightened. "You're awake early."
"I couldn't sleep," I replied. My voice felt strained, even to my own ears.
"I thought we agreed to take it slow," Kael said, his brow furrowing with concern. "We need a plan before we move forward. We can't just rush into danger without knowing what we're facing."
"I'm not running from this, Kael." I took a step toward him, my breath sharp. "I can feel it. The power inside me is growing stronger every day, and I can't ignore it. I need to face it."
Kael's eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue with me. But then, he sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You're right. We can't keep waiting."
"Then let's go," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me.
Kael gave me a long, searching look, as though trying to decide whether to stop me. But then he nodded, his expression hardening with resolve. "Fine. But we do this my way. We get the information we need, and then we strike."
I nodded, but I knew something that Kael didn't. The longer we waited, the more dangerous it would become. The power inside me wasn't something we could control by mere force of will. It was too old. Too wild.
And I had a feeling it would awaken in ways we hadn't even begun to understand.
POV: Kael Draven
We set out early, our steps light but purposeful as we moved through the dense forest. The Nightfangs' territory was vast, and the forest here was thick with shadows, but I didn't mind. It felt like home.
But the air was different now. Every step we took felt charged, like the world was waiting for something to happen.
I kept a careful eye on Seren as we moved. She was quieter than usual, her movements more controlled, but there was an edge to her now. The power inside her had started to manifest in strange ways. Sometimes, I would catch her eyes glowing faintly, a telltale sign that the bond between us — and whatever was awakening in her — was stronger than before.
We reached the ancient ruins by mid-afternoon, a place I knew well. It was said to be a site of power, where the Ancients had once gathered. I wasn't sure how much truth there was to the stories, but it was a good place to start. And with every passing moment, I felt the pull of the dark energy, almost like a warning.
"We're here," I said, my voice tense. "Stay close."
Seren nodded, but I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. Whatever was going on inside her, I knew she was struggling to keep control.
But we couldn't afford to lose control now.
Not when the enemy was already closing in.