Chapter 2 Shadows Unveiled

"Father," Tessa spoke, breaking the silence with a calmness that hid the storm within. "I've already made my position clear. We cannot charge the Nightfang Pack without hard evidence."

John Jr., her older brother, leaned back in his chair with a smug smile, his posture exuding superiority. "Tessa, you're still blinded by your past. You're too soft. Too sentimental." He shifted his gaze, locking eyes with their father. The challenge was clear.

Tessa's jaw tightened. "What are you proposing, John?"

John Jr. sat up, crossing his arms. "Damon Volkner is hiding something. He's always been a problem. And now, with these disturbances, it's obvious the Nightfang Pack is involved."

Tessa's fists clenched, her memories of past conflicts swirling in her mind. But her duty was clear. Shadow Vale came first. "I won't charge them without proof," she declared, her voice steady despite the tension creeping up her spine.

Before she could say more, her father's voice boomed across the room, decisive and final. "Enough." His cold, commanding eyes locked onto hers. "You will work with Damon. Personal feelings have no place in this matter. We need answers. You are in charge of finding them."

Tessa stood still, her stomach churning as her father's words sunk in. Was Damon truly the enemy? Or was there something more insidious at play?

Just as she was about to lose herself in her thoughts, a voice broke through the silence.

"Tessa."

She turned to see her mother, Silvia, standing in the doorway, her face pale and drawn. Something was wrong.

"You need to be careful," Silvia whispered urgently, her eyes wide with fear. She grabbed Tessa's arm, her grip tight. "Not just of Damon, but of what lies beneath all this. There are secrets here in Shadow Vale things buried that could destroy everything."

Tessa's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother's eyes darted around the courtyard, as if expecting someone to appear from the shadows. She leaned in closer. "The curse we've been running from... it's not a myth. It's real. And it's tied to more than just the Nightfang Pack. It's tied to the bloodline of Shadow Vale itself."

Tessa's breath caught. "What are you saying?"

Her mother's grip tightened on her shoulders. "There are dark powers older than any of us at work. Watch the people you trust. Some are meant to defend the Vale... others are meant to destroy it."

Before Tessa could respond, her mother slipped back into the shadows, leaving her with more questions than answers. The weight of her words lingered, chilling her to the bone.

"I overheard something," Jordan said, her eyes flicking around nervously as she stepped inside. "It's about the curse. About Damon."

Tessa's stomach dropped. "What are you talking about?"

Jordan closed the door behind her, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Earlier in the council chambers, I heard my father, Alex Jones, speaking with someone... someone from the Coalition of Witches. They were talking about the ancient curse... and its connection to Damon's bloodline."

Tessa's mind reeled. "What? That's insane!"

Jordan nodded, her face pale. "I thought the same. But they mentioned something about releasing the curse... using Damon's blood."

Tessa's heart raced. "That's... that's impossible."

Jordan's gaze was intense. "It's real, Tessa. And Damon... he's at the center of it all. If we don't figure this out, everything we know everything we've worked for could be destroyed."

Tessa's breath caught in her throat. Is Damon the enemy? Or is there something darker at play?