Chapter 9 The Call of the Wild

The moon hung high over the mountains, casting a pale light that flickered through the trees like a ghostly specter. Elias stood at the edge of the forest, his senses heightened, the hairs on the back of his neck standing at attention. He could feel the presence of the pack drawing near. Their call was not just physical but spiritual-woven deep into his bloodline, the pulse of the wolf still reverberated through his bones. The pull of the pack, of his nature, was undeniable. Yet, for the first time, Elias didn't feel fully consumed by it. He had Mara now.

His heart, once a prisoner to the curse, was free. But was he?

As he moved deeper into the forest, the wind shifting around him, Elias could feel the familiar tug of his wolf side, but it was different this time. There was no overwhelming rush, no ravenous need to submit to the beast within. The balance between man and wolf was shifting, but how? He could no longer simply rely on his curse to guide him. He would have to choose.

He stopped by a small clearing, the moonlight breaking through the canopy above. His thoughts drifted back to Mara-the way her touch soothed him, the quiet strength in her eyes. She was everything he had ever wanted, everything he had fought for. But the pack... The pack would never let him go. They would never allow him to leave, not without a fight.

A sudden rustle in the underbrush broke his thoughts. He immediately shifted into a defensive stance, his muscles tense and his instincts sharpening. From the darkness of the forest emerged figures-tall, imposing, and impossibly quiet. Elias's breath hitched as he recognized them immediately: the pack.

Standing before him was their leader, a towering figure with sharp features, his eyes glowing faintly under the moonlight. His name was Kaelen, and he was Elias's older brother-a man he had once considered a friend, but now, after all the years of separation and silence, Kaelen was nothing more than a reminder of the past Elias had tried to escape.

"You've been running long enough, Elias." Kaelen's voice was low, commanding. "The pack needs you. You belong with us. The curse is broken, yes, but you are still bound by blood."

Elias felt a surge of frustration and pain. He had fought so hard to break free from the curse, to be something more than just a wolf, but here, standing before him, was the undeniable truth: the pack would always be part of him.

"I don't belong to the pack anymore," Elias said, his voice sharp. "I'm free. I don't need the curse to define me."

Kaelen laughed, a harsh, bitter sound. "You can't outrun who you are, Elias. The blood runs too deep. We've waited for you to return. We've protected this town in your absence, but the balance is fragile. You cannot sew the ties that bind you to us. Come back, and we'll fight together, like we always have."

Elias's gaze hardened. "I've spent my entire life fighting for the pack, for a curse I didn't ask for. I'm done. I made a choice. I'm not going back."

The silence between them stretched, thick with tension. The rest of the pack stood in the shadows, their eyes glowing faintly, watching, waiting. Kaelen took a step closer, his expression unreadable, but there was a glimmer of something else-something dangerous-behind his gaze.

"You think you can simply walk away, Elias?"Kaelen's voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "You think you can have the life you want with her? The pack doesn't let go so easily. Not of you. Not of anyone."

Elias's heart thudded painfully in his chest. The threat was clear, but his resolve was stronger than ever. "If you threaten her, Kaelen, I will destroy you."

The air crackled with the tension of the challenge, but Kaelen just smirked. "You're not strong enough to fight the pack alone, little brother. And I don't think Mara is going to be too happy when she sees what happens if you cross us."

With that, Kaelen and the pack retreated into the shadows, vanishing like phantoms into the darkness of the forest. Elias stood alone in the clearing, his heart pounding. He had been warned. The pack was coming, and they weren't going to stop until they brought him back.

Meanwhile, back at the house, Mara couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. The wind had picked up, howling through the trees, and she knew Elias had gone into the forest to face the pack. She wasn't sure what had happened between him and them, but she could feel the tension rising. Elias's words echoed in her mind: We'll face this together.

She had never been one to sit idly by, waiting for something to happen. She had lived her entire life taking action, making decisions, and shaping her destiny. She would not sit by while Elias fought the pack alone. He had given up so much for her. Now it was her turn to do the same.

Mara gathered her things-her backpack, a flashlight, and a few supplies. She couldn't wait for Elias to return and explain what had happened. She had to be with him. She knew what was at stake. Elias's freedom wasn't just about breaking the curse-it was about his humanity. The pack wanted him back, but Mara wasn't going to let them have him. Not without a fight.

As she stepped outside, the full moon bathed the world in eerie light. The howl of the wind and the distant growl of wolves echoed in the silence of the night. She didn't know where Elias was, but she knew one thing for sure: she wasn't going to lose him. Not again.

Elias moved quickly through the trees, the urgency in his steps matching the pounding of his heart. He had to find a way to stop the pack from coming after him-he couldn't let them drag him back into their world. His eyes scanned the shadows, every sense on high alert. He knew they were still following him, lurking just out of sight.

He couldn't let this go on any longer. He had to make a stand. He had to protect Mara. The choice was clear. The pack had no place in his life anymore.

He reached the edge of the forest and paused, looking up at the sky. The full moon hung like a sentinel above him, casting an otherworldly glow on the world below. For a moment, he was tempted to let go-to give in to the pull of the wolf and let it take over. But he resisted. He had fought too hard for this moment. For the chance to be with Mara.

"Elias..."

The voice broke through his thoughts like a dagger. He turned quickly, heart pounding. There, standing in the clearing was Mara. Her presence, like a beacon in the night, grounded him. She was here. She had come for him.

Mara's eyes locked onto his. She didn't have to say anything. The look in her eyes said it all: she wasn't going to let him face this alone. Not now. Not ever.

Elias's heart swelled with gratitude but also fear. "Mara, you shouldn't be here. It's dangerous."

"I'm here because I'm not going to let you go through this alone," she said, her voice steady and full of determination. "We face this together, Elias. Always."

Elias's chest tightened, the weight of his emotions almost overwhelming. He had never felt so torn. The pack was coming, and he knew they would stop at nothing to bring him back. But Mara was here. And with her by his side, maybe-just maybe-they could fight back.

"Together," he whispered, his voice raw. The moonlight reflected in his eyes, a reminder of the struggle ahead. But in Mara's gaze, he saw the strength to face whatever came their way.

The pack was on the hunt. But they were not the only hunters in the night. Elias and Mara were ready to face the wild, side by side.