Chapter 2 2

Aurelia didn't sleep that night. Every creak of the old house, every whisper of wind against the windowpane kept her on edge. Her thoughts were consumed by the wolf, its piercing green eyes, and the unshakable feeling that it had been watching her for longer than just tonight.

By morning, the storm had passed, leaving the forest drenched and shimmering under a pale sun. She stepped onto the porch, clutching a steaming mug of coffee, and took in the surrounding landscape. The woods felt alive, their shadows shifting like they were hiding secrets of their own.

The sound of tires crunching against gravel broke the stillness. A battered black truck pulled up in front of the house. A man climbed out, his presence commanding. His tall frame was clad in dark jeans and a worn leather jacket. Strands of his jet-black hair fell across his face, partially obscuring sharp, striking features.

"Morning," he called out, his voice deep and steady.

Aurelia set her mug on the railing. "Can I help you?"

The man approached, his movements fluid and deliberate. "You must be Margaret's granddaughter."

She nodded cautiously. "And you are?"

"Liam West," he said, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. "I live in the area."

Her stomach tightened. "Did you know my grandmother?"

"We crossed paths," he replied, his tone giving little away. His eyes flicked toward the house behind her. "Strange to see this place occupied again. Most people don't stay long in Ravencross."

Aurelia folded her arms. "Why is that?"

"Some say the forest has a way of keeping its own." His expression darkened, a shadow passing over his face. "Others know better than to linger."

The cryptic answer sent a chill through her. "I'm not planning to leave. I'm here to learn about my family and why my grandmother never told me about this place."

Liam studied her for a moment, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Then you should be careful. Ravencross has its share of dangers."

Before she could respond, he turned abruptly and walked back to his truck. The engine roared to life, and within moments, he was gone, leaving only the faint scent of pine and leather in his wake.

Aurelia's heart pounded in the silence that followed. Something about Liam's presence unsettled her, yet there was a strange pull she couldn't explain.

Determined to distract herself, she spent the next few hours cleaning the house. Dusting furniture and airing out rooms gave her a sense of normalcy, though the claw marks in the upstairs bedroom remained a haunting reminder of the previous night.

By midday, she ventured into the forest. The path was overgrown, branches twisting overhead like skeletal arms. The air grew cooler the deeper she went, the sunlight barely piercing the dense canopy.

She reached a clearing where a stream cut through the land, its waters glittering. The tranquility soothed her nerves, and for the first time since arriving, she felt a flicker of peace.

Movement in her peripheral vision shattered that illusion.

Aurelia spun around, her breath catching. A man stood at the edge of the clearing, watching her. His golden-brown hair caught the light, and his features were sharp and angular, like they'd been carved from stone.

"Lost?" he asked, his voice smooth but edged with something predatory.

"I was just exploring," she replied, taking a cautious step back.

The man's lips curved into a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "This isn't a safe place for wandering."

Another figure emerged from the trees, a woman with auburn hair tied into a braid. She carried herself with a grace that felt unnatural, her sharp eyes locking onto Aurelia like a hawk sighting prey.

"Is this her?" the woman asked, her voice low and melodic.

The man nodded, his smile widening. "Seems we've found the granddaughter."

Aurelia's pulse quickened. "Who are you?"

"Friends," the man said, though his tone suggested anything but. "We've been waiting for someone like you to show up."

The woman took a step closer, her gaze narrowing. "You should leave Ravencross before you get hurt."

The threat was unmistakable. Aurelia's instincts screamed at her to run, but her legs felt frozen in place.

A low growl rumbled through the clearing. The golden-haired man stiffened, his eyes darting toward the trees.

The silver wolf stepped into view, its massive form radiating power. Its green eyes locked onto the strangers, and its growl deepened, reverberating through the air.

The woman cursed under her breath. "We should go."

The man hesitated, his gaze shifting between Aurelia and the wolf. Finally, he nodded. "This isn't over," he said, his words laced with menace.

They vanished into the forest, their movements eerily silent.

Aurelia's legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the grass. Her heart raced as the wolf approached, its gaze softening as it studied her.

It stopped a few feet away, lowering itself onto its haunches. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, an unspoken understanding passing between them.

"You saved me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

The wolf tilted its head, as if acknowledging her words. Then it rose and disappeared into the trees, leaving her alone once more.

By the time she made it back to the house, the sun was sinking behind the hills, casting long shadows across the land. She locked the doors and drew the curtains, the memory of the strangers' words replaying in her mind.

A knock at the door shattered the silence.

Her pulse jumped. She grabbed the candlestick from the desk and crept toward the door. Peering through the peephole, she saw Liam standing on the porch, his expression grim.

She opened the door just enough to speak. "What do you want?"

"We need to talk," he said, his voice low. "It's about what happened in the forest."

Aurelia hesitated before letting him in. He stepped inside, his presence filling the room.

"You shouldn't have gone into the woods alone," he said, his tone scolding but concerned.

"I didn't know it was off-limits," she shot back.

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. "Those people you met-don't trust them. They belong to a rival pack. They'll do whatever it takes to keep you from learning the truth."

Her blood ran cold. "What truth?"

Liam hesitated, his jaw tightening. "About your grandmother. About who you are."

"Then tell me," she demanded, her voice rising. "I'm tired of being left in the dark."

He met her gaze, his eyes shadowed with something unreadable. "You're more connected to this place than you realize, Aurelia. And the wolves-" He stopped himself, shaking his head. "There are forces at work here you're not ready to face."

"Try me," she said, stepping closer.

The tension between them crackled like electricity. Liam's gaze softened for a moment before hardening again.

"You need to stay out of the woods," he said firmly. "Stay here, stay safe. I'll handle the rest."

Before she could argue, he turned and left, disappearing into the night.

Aurelia stood in the silence, her thoughts swirling. There was no denying it now-something far bigger than her had drawn her to Ravencross. And whatever it was, it wasn't going to let her leave easily.