Chapter 7 A Howl in the Darkness

The clearing exploded into chaos as the wolves lunged from the shadows, their snarls echoed through the forest. I barely had time to react before Rowan was in motion, his blade flashing as it hit the first wolf.

"Stay close to me!" Rowan shouted.

I nodded and clutched the locket in one hand while reaching for the small silver dagger Rowan had given me with the other hand. The blade felt foreign in my grip, but I held it steady as my heart pounded with determination.

The wolves circled us, their glowing eyes were filled with animosity. They moved with an unnatural grace, their forms rippling with dark energy that seemed to twist the very air around them. I could feel the pull of their power, like a dark tide threatening to sweep me away.

Rowan drove his blade into the side of a leaping wolf, striking first. The wolf howled in pain, its body collapsing before vanishing into the shadows. But for every wolf he struck down, another took its place.

My breath came in sharp bursts as I turned to face one of the wolves. It snarled; its massive form crouched low as it prepared to pounce. I tightened my grip on the dagger, ignoring my instincts as it screamed at me to run.

When the wolf lunged at me with a fierce growl, I stepped to the side and slashed upward as the blade cut through the wolf's side. The wolf cried out and fell back, giving me a precious moment to regain my footing.

"Not bad," Rowan spared me a quick glance as he dispatched another wolf.

"I've got more fight in me than you think," I shot back.

Rowan grinned despite the chaos, but his expression quickly darkened as the air around them grew colder. The wolves had stopped their assault, retreating to form a wide circle around the clearing.

My stomach churned as the shadows deepened, joining into a massive figure at the edge of the circle. The Warden had arrived.

The Warden stood tall, his presence commanding. His silver hair shimmered under the faint moonlight, and his piercing eyes burned with an unnatural intensity. His voice, when he spoke, was as smooth and cold as ice.

"Rowan," his tone was laced with disdain. "Still playing the hero, I see."

Rowan tensed and stepped in front of me. "Stay back," he growled.

The Warden's gaze shifted to me and his lips curled into a sinister smile. "And you must be the one they've been whispering about. The girl who carries the locket."

My grip on the locket tightened, its warmth grounding me as the Warden spoke. "Who are you?" I demanded with a firm voice, despite the fear knotting my stomach.

The Warden's smile widened. "I am the one who keeps the balance," he said. "And you, my dear, are a threat to everything we've built."

Rowan stepped forward with his blade raised. "You won't touch her."

The Warden raised a hand, and Rowan froze mid-step. A wave of energy rippled through the clearing, sending me to her knees. The locket burned hotter against my chest, its glow intensifying until it was almost blinding.

The Warden's eyes narrowed. "That locket doesn't belong to you."

"It's mine," I said, forcing myself to stand as I held the locket so tight. I finally met his gaze with a lifted chin. "And I'm not giving it up."

The Warden chuckled, but the sound lacked humor. "You don't even know what you're holding, do you? That locket is a key to power, to truth, to destruction. And it doesn't belong in the hands of a mortal."

"I'm more than you think," I snapped.

Rowan broke free of the Warden's hold with a roar, launching himself at the Warden. Their blades clashed and the sound echoed through the clearing. The wolves howled as Rowan and the Warden fought, their circle tightened as they waited for the moment to strike.

My eyes darted between Rowan and the Warden, my mind racing. The locket's glow pulsed faster, almost as though it was alive. I could feel its energy coursing through me, pulling me towards the truth I so desperately sought.

And then, I saw it. A vision, right there in the corner of my mind. A woman with hair like mine, standing beneath a blood-red moon. Her eyes were filled with sorrow, her hand outstretched as though they were reaching for me.

"Mom," I whispered as my heart ached.

The vision was gone as quickly as it had come, but it left a burning certainty behind. My mother was alive, and the locket was the key to finding her.

"Rowan!" I shouted. "I know what I have to do!"

Rowan turned, his expression was mixed with confusion and alarm. "Evelyn, wait-"

But it was too late. I clutched the locket and stepped towards the Warden, my determination overpowering my fear.

"You want this?" I said, holding the locket high. "Then come and take it."

The Warden's eyes gleamed with triumph as he raced towards me, but I wasn't done. I whispered a word I knew nothing of, it seemed to come from the depths of my soul.

The locket erupted in a blinding silver light as I spoke those words, the force of it knocked everyone to the ground. The wolves howled in agony as their forms disappeared into the shadows.

When the light faded, I was alone in the clearing. The Warden and his wolves were gone, but so was Rowan.

My heart dropped as I searched the darkness, and my voice trembled as I called his name. "Rowan?"

Silence.

Then, I heard a low growl that seemed to come from the darkness,

I turned, and my breath was caught as a pair of glowing eyes appeared in the trees. This time, they weren't hostile. They looked familiar.

"Rowan?" I whispered.

The figure stepped forward, and my heart broke at what I saw. Rowan stood there, but his form was different; half-man, half-wolf, his amber eyes filled with pain and confusion.

"Evelyn," he said with a distorted voice.

"What... have I done?" I asked, as the locket grew faint in my hand.