Chapter 3 The mark

Morgan's POV

The scroll was in my grasp. The bottom black mark was still glowing. It resembled a claw. Not from any wolf I'd seen, though. Not from this planet. My heart was constricted. That was a name I recognized. Fenric. A wild pack in the far woods had been led by him once. A long time ago, prior to my birth. The Silverfang pack was commanded by Asher's father before. He was mean. Rules didn't appeal to him. He wants more. More strength. More territory. More anxiety. He was halted by the elders. He disappeared, they said. He was back now. Or perhaps he was never gone. I turned to face Asher. He had a rigid face. His hands remained by his sides as though he was suppressing his rage. I was familiar with the feeling. From the box, Kaya removed the ring. the one that is black. She exposed it to the illumination. It was dull. It drew in light as if it were starving. Thorne took a step forward. He gestured to one of the scroll's lines. "The bond must break for the new Alpha to rise," it stated. That meant something to me. Fenric wasn't alone in his work. He required a member of the pack. Someone around. Someone they could trust. Silas. He assisted in my framing. He assisted Fenric in severing Elira's connection. He desired for the pack to become heartless. to put its past behind it. to be simple to manage. I got to my feet quickly. For a moment, the room whirled. However, I maintained my equilibrium. I had to relocate. Now I had to confront Silas. I was followed by Asher. Thorne and Kaya remained to observe the scrolls. The huge hall was at the top of the tunnel. I opened the doors with a push. My face was illuminated. I froze after that. In the center of the pack square stood Silas. Wolves surrounded him. Too many. He was speaking loudly. From behind the stone wall, I heard. Asher was missing, he said. I came back with dark magic, he said. The pack was in danger, he remarked. He held up his hands. He promised to take the lead now. I went outside into the plaza. The wolves looked in my direction. A few people let out a gasp. A few took a step back. Asher arrived at my side. He gave Silas a look. Silas appeared unfrightened. He grinned. I have no right to be here, he said. He has no right to lie, I said. He chuckled. If I had proof, he asked. I held out my hand. The scroll. The map. The ring. The wolves whispered at the black ring. I was clear in my speech. I informed them of his actions. Fenric's desire. The ring's potential. The audience fell silent. But then-whoa. The heavens shook with a loud crack. Everybody looked up. The moon remained high. However, the clouds became red. The earth shuddered. The trees stooped. The wind howled. Like a wound, the sky opened. And a shape emerged. Dark and tall. Fire-like eyes. Not a wolf. Its back has bones. Too sharp teeth. It snarled. My ears were hurt by the sound. The group froze. Nobody made a move. Silas dropped to his knees. He lowered his head. The shadowy figure entered the light. and said. Its voice filled the air, albeit it was not loud. He uttered a single syllable. mine. The pack then started to move. Wolves changed, one by one. but not in their actual shapes. Into something different. Their eyes darkened. They became gray-furred. Their jaws became jagged. It was the start of the evil relationship. I took a step back. The wolves in my immediate vicinity were evolving. Their bodies moved, but not in the same way. Their eyes darkened. Their fur became lifeless. They appeared to be shadows. I turned to face Asher. He had a pallid face. He clenched his jaw. I moved before he could reach for me. I dashed into the square's middle. I positioned myself between the pack and the shadowy figure. My heart pounded rapidly. My palms were warm. I tried to call the relationship by reaching within myself. Nothing. Not a forest. No wind. No illumination. Just be quiet. The black wolf approached. It was large. I had never seen a wolf so tall. Its legs appeared to be made of bone. Its eyes were hateful and red. In front of me, it came to a stop. It leaned in. I remained motionless.

I wouldn't run. I wouldn't bow. I wouldn't shatter. I heard Silas whisper behind me. The group was now his, he declared. Fenric was back, he said. I pivoted. I met his gaze directly. One syllable came out of my mouth. No. He held up his hand. On his finger was a black ring. He gestured toward me. My chest ached. similar to fire. similar to ice. As if it were tearing. I went down on my knees. I let out a gasp. My back's runes flared crimson, then darkened. I was out of breath. The goddess had given me a bond, but it was dying. Asher yelled. At Silas, he ran. They rolled to the ground. Silas let the ring fly out of his grasp. It fell close to my foot. I grabbed it. But my hand was stepped on. A boot. heavy. I raised my head. Fenric. His eyes were like fire as he gazed at me. He remained silent. However, I was aware. He desired to sever all ties. He desired to be the leader. He desired to have me accompany him. I grabbed my blade. It was absent. In the ring, I had dropped it. Now the dark wolves were on the move. They went around us. They were bare-toothed. They both stared at Asher. on me. Everyone is still acting normally. However, then- There was a wail. Not gloomy. Not damaged. powerful. Unambiguous. I turned my gaze to the trees. A white wolf charged ahead. Quick. Strong. Shining. Into the square it leaped. It struck Fenric hard. Through the dirt, they rolled. The white wolf was on his feet. It had gold eyes. Its fur gleamed like the moon. It gave me a look. That face was familiar to me. Elira. The goddess had returned. not going away. Not depressed, fierce, complete. She gave Fenric a growl. Her paws illuminated the earth. The roots shifted. The wind cried out. The trees bent. She let forth a shout. And all the dark wolves fell. Still alive, frozen. Still. The black ring broke. It was reduced to dust. I got up. I sprinted over to Asher. He nodded, but he held his side. We looked at Elira. However, she wasn't observing us. Her gaze was fixed on the heavens. We followed her gaze. Something opened above the clouds. A fissure. Deep. Long. We could see eyeballs inside it. Lots of eyes. observing. Awaiting. Elira looked over at me. I could hear her voice. The bond is not secure. He was just the first. There will be more. One of them is here already. Between you.