The forest stretched endlessly before them, ancient and quiet. Every tree seemed older than time itself. Their twisted branches tangled like the fingers of sleeping giants. Mist coiled low around the roots, curling over fallen leaves as if it were alive. Elara followed Kael, her steps careful, the damp earth soft beneath her boots.
The morning air felt heavy, carrying a strange sweetness that made her uneasy. Birds no longer sang here. The silence was thick, as if the forest were holding its breath. Kael moved ahead with purpose, though his shoulders were tense and his every motion was sharp and alert.
"How far until we're out of this part of the woods?" Elara asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Kael didn't slow down. "There's no easy path out of the Cursed Forest," he replied. "It shifts, it listens, it remembers."
She frowned. "Remembers?"
He glanced back at her, his eyes dark. "Every death that's happened here. Every soul that's been trapped. The trees feed on memory."
A chill crept down her spine. She touched the crescent mark on her wrist. It pulsed faintly, in rhythm with her heartbeat. "And what about us? Will it remember us too?"
Kael looked forward again. "Only if we die here."
His words hung heavily between them. The mist thickened, swallowing their path. Elara could barely see a few feet ahead. Her pendant began to glow, casting a faint golden light. "This forest feels alive," she murmured.
"It is," Kael replied quietly. "This is where the first witches sealed the curse generations ago. Every tree holds a piece of their magic and their madness."
They walked in silence for a while, the air growing colder with each step. Elara couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching them. At first, it was only whispers, so faint she thought they were just the wind. But soon, the voices grew louder.
"Elara…"
She froze. The sound was soft, almost tender—a woman's voice.
"Elara, my child…"
Her breath caught in her throat. "Did you hear that?"
Kael turned sharply, scanning the trees. "Hear what?"
"My name," she whispered. "Someone's calling me."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "Don't answer. The forest uses voices to lure you off the path."
But it was too late. The voice came again, closer now. "You can't run from your blood, little witch…"
Elara spun, trying to find the source. The mist shifted, and for a moment, she saw a figure—a woman with long white hair and eyes like burning gold. Her breath hitched. "Grandmother?"
Kael cursed under his breath. "It's not her!" he growled, grabbing Elara's arm. The moment he touched her, a shock of magic surged through both of them. The forest erupted in whispers, a thousand voices speaking at once. The ground trembled beneath their feet.
Elara's vision blurred as the world around her warped. She saw flashes—a village burning, a wolf crying beneath a crimson moon, and a young witch standing at the edge of the forest with tears in her eyes. Her grandmother.
"Elara," the vision said, her voice shaking. "Forgive me. The curse was never meant for him—it was meant for us."
The image shattered like glass. Elara gasped and stumbled back into Kael's arms, shaking. "She said the curse wasn't meant for you," she whispered. "It was for the witches."
Kael's grip tightened around her, and his expression darkened. "That can't be right. My pack—"
"Your pack was cursed because of what my bloodline did," she interrupted, her voice breaking. "My grandmother tried to seal away dark magic, but something went wrong. The spell bound itself to the Alpha blood instead."
For a long moment, Kael said nothing. His gaze burned into hers—a mix of anger, disbelief, and something deeper. "So you're saying your family created my curse?"
Tears stung her eyes. "I didn't know—"
Before she could finish, a low growl rumbled through the trees. The mist parted, revealing three wolves—Shadow Wolves—larger and darker than any they had faced before. Their eyes glowed red, and the ground beneath them cracked with dark energy.
Kael stepped in front of her, his claws glinting. "We don't have time for guilt," he said. "We fight."
Elara nodded, wiping her tears. "Together."
The wolves lunged. Kael moved first, his strength returning with every strike. Elara chanted under her breath, her magic weaving around him like a shield. One of the wolves tried to circle around, but she extended her hand, releasing a burst of golden fire that sent it crashing into a tree.
Kael's claws tore through another, his movements fierce and precise. The final wolf pounced from above, knocking him to the ground. Elara screamed, summoning all the magic she could. The pendant on her chest shattered, unleashing a blinding light.
When the light faded, the wolves were gone—nothing left but ashes. Kael lay on the ground, his chest rising and falling. Elara dropped to her knees beside him. "Kael!"
He groaned, opening his eyes slowly. "You did it," he whispered. "You actually burned them."
But before Elara could reply, the crescent marks on their skin flared brightly. Pain shot through both of them, forcing them to clutch their arms. The ground cracked open again, revealing glowing runes.
Elara gasped. "It's the same as before—the curse reacting to the blood moon!"
Kael's voice was low and strained. "No—not the moon." He turned toward the glowing symbols. "Someone is controlling it."
The runes pulsed, and a shadow rose from the ground—a familiar figure cloaked in darkness. His golden eyes gleamed.
"Did you really think you could outrun me?" the stranger said softly. "Every secret you uncover, every truth you learn… it only brings you closer to me."
Elara's heart raced. "What do you want from us?"
He smiled. "Not you, witch. Him."
The air around them shattered like glass, and Kael vanished—swallowed by the dark.
"Kael!" she screamed, reaching into the swirling magic, but her hand passed through empty air.
The forest fell silent again, leaving Elara on her knees, trembling and alone.
But then, faintly—through the quiet—his voice echoed back to her, distant but clear.
"Elara… don't follow me."
She clenched her fists, tears spilling down her face. "I'm coming for you," she whispered. "Even if it means walking straight into the curse itself."
The forest whispered in response—a thousand voices, all saying the same word Bound.