Chapter 9 The Wolf's Whisper

Silas's cold, piercing gaze loomed over me like a blade suspended above my heart. The failure at the training grounds and the near exposure of my scent left me in a state of constant unrest.

He had already picked up on something unusual, and it was clear he was suspicious of my scent.

I needed to uncover the truth behind Torrian's disappearance as soon as possible to escape the constraints of this false identity-or at the very least, understand what I was risking everything for.

Karen had told me that the eastern tower of the academy's library housed a vast collection of ancient historical records, including

the alliance treaties of various prominent families. However, a portion of these records was classified as restricted, requiring special

authorization to access.

That night, under the cover of darkness, I decided to act.

Karen had secured a temporary access card for me, though its validity was said to be short-lived.

Avoiding the patrolling Alphas, I infiltrated the eastern tower of the library.

The air was thick with the scent of dust and the dry, distinct aroma of ancient books, mingled with an indescribable, oppressive

historical weight.

Within me, the Wolf Spirit seemed stifled by this atmosphere, yet its determination to uncover the truth kept it alert.

The entrance to the restricted section was guarded by an energy barrier. As I held the access card to the barrier, it flickered briefly,

emitting a faint hum before dissipating.

I slipped through quickly, and the barrier rose back into place behind me.

Inside were rows upon rows of towering shelves filled with even older and seemingly forgotten texts.

The dim lighting cast long shadows everywhere. My unique power seemed to stir in this environment, the surrounding shadows

quivering subtly in response to my awareness.

I began searching for connections between Torrian's disappearance, the Vance Family's alliance, and Wolfden Academy.

Rifling through ancient indices, I sought records related to the Vance Family, the academy's history, and those powerful alliances.

Time was against me. Every second counted.

I arrived at a section dedicated to copies of alliance treaties signed between the major Alpha families and the academy.

These scrolls and books, aged and exuding an ancient aura, had clearly stood the test of time.

I opened a record marked with the Vance Family's insignia. The parchment was densely inscribed with ancient scripts.

Turning page after page, I tried to find details regarding the alliance Torrian had come to fulfill.

This alliance was significant enough that the family was willing to sacrifice me to impersonate Torrian. There had to be crucial information concealed within its contents.

As I reached the end of the scroll, something caught my attention.

Apart from the academy's leadership and representatives of the Vance Family, there was another party listed-a mark resembling the emblem of some organization or society.

The mark consisted of a twisted, shadow-like symbol, accompanied by an ancient name I had never encountered before.

My heart skipped a beat.

This symbol... where had I seen it before?

It felt eerily familiar, as if etched into my very mind.

It caused the shadowy force within me to ripple faintly.

Hastily, I flipped back to the beginning of the scroll and examined other families' alliance records.

Nothing. Other families' alliances only bore their family insignias and the academy's mark.

Only the Vance Family's alliance included this shadow symbol and ancient name.

This society or organization-what was their connection to the Vance Family's alliance?

Could this be the reason behind Torrian's disappearance?

Had they kidnapped or even killed Torrian to prevent the alliance from being fulfilled?

I attempted to commit the symbol and name to memory.

Suddenly, a new presence emerged at the other end of the corridor.

It wasn't the aura of a student. It carried a sense of age and authority.

Someone was coming!

I snapped my head up, quickly rolling up the scroll and returning it to the shelf.

I could feel that presence moving steadily in my direction.

My body tensed instantly, the Wolf Spirit within me letting out a low, cautionary growl.

Looking around, I noticed there weren't many hiding spots in the dimly lit restricted section-just the narrow aisles between shelves and the shadows pooling in the corners. My gaze fixed on a nearby bookshelf where the shadows seemed darker than elsewhere.

Acting on instinct, I darted toward the shelf, sidestepping into the shadows behind it.

At the same time, I attempted to summon the shadowy power I had just tapped into.

Focusing my consciousness on the surrounding shadows, I willed them to deepen, to conceal me more effectively.

Miraculously, it worked.

The shadows around me seemed to darken further, wrapping me in a soft, concealing veil that blocked both light and sight.

The sound of footsteps grew closer, the aura of age and authority becoming sharper.

Holding my breath, I felt the Wolf Spirit tremble with fear, yet the shadowy power within me remained steady under my control.

A tall figure appeared at the end of the corridor.

It was the Restricted Library's caretaker, a Beta with a rigid demeanor and an acute sense of smell.

Holding a lamp, he scanned the shelves and the ground with its light, moving slowly and meticulously, as if searching for something. His gaze passed over the shelf where I was hiding.

I could feel his gaze pause just a meter from where I crouched.

My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might burst from my chest. Sweat trickled down the side of my face.

I forced myself to remain still, controlling my breathing and making no sound.

His nose twitched slightly, as if sniffing the air.

Tension gripped me. I feared he would catch my unique scent or the traces of power I had used moments earlier.

Luckily, he seemed to detect nothing unusual.

Perhaps my shadow power had successfully masked my presence, or perhaps the ancient aura of the restricted section itself was too overwhelming.

After pausing for a few seconds in front of my hiding place, he continued moving forward. The light of his lamp gradually faded, and the authoritative presence receded.

Leaning against the shelf, I stayed still until I could no longer hear footsteps and could no longer feel his presence.

Only then did I emerge from the shadows, my legs trembling almost too much to support me.

I had succeeded. I had found a clue-and avoided detection.

Glancing down at the shadows where I had just hidden, I saw they had returned to normal.

But the unique power within me still resonated faintly.

It had saved me. It could conceal me in moments of greatest peril.

Quickly, I exited the restricted area, returning the access card and erasing any trace of my intrusion.

Stepping through the library's main doors, I took a deep breath, the cool night air filling my lungs.

In my mind, the twisted shadow symbol and ancient name lingered.

They were the key to Torrian's disappearance, as well as a doorway to unknown dangers.

The mastermind-a society or organization hidden within the shadows-was connected to the Vance Family's alliance.

I had to find them.