The Wolf's Pulse
Eliot walked the forest's margins while a silent uneasiness tore at his stomach. The vivid visions of the dreams had been troubling him even throughout the day for days. The holes in his memory only appeared to widen as he struggled to recall how long it had been since the accident that had caused him to wake up. Beyond the bizarre glimpses of a life he did not know and the bizarre pictures of wolves, something was not right.
There was no mistaking the draw. The dreams were not the only thing. Something more profound, something primordial. Others in the town had whispered to Eliot about how things had changed since Caden's passing. The Alpha was gone, and the pack was broken. Nevertheless, something was changing once more in spite of everything. Unbeknownst to him, a force was pressing him to find out the truth.
He was startled by a rustle behind him, but he chose not to turn. Before he ever smelled it, he knew who it was—the distinct aroma of Leah, lemon and lavender. He had no idea why his heart rate had increased. Since their first encounter, she had always been there, but this time was different. She was more than simply his history or his sole link to the world he had left behind. She was evolving into something more.
"Eliot." She seemed to know precisely what he was about to ask because of the faint whisper in her voice, which was laced with a silent warning. She was not mistaken. "Avoid taking this route. You are not prepared for it.
He tensed. "Which route? I am attempting to understand what is going on with me. I no longer even recognize myself.
Her brow furrowed, she shook her head. "The memories you have lost are not all that you are. However, you are not prepared for what is ahead.
A growl cut through the air before he could reply, and then there was the distinct rumble of power—a challenge. Eliot felt a chill run down the back of his neck. The energy spreading around them was palpable to him. Something or someone too near for comfort might pose a hardship.
Eliot turned as his instincts kicked in, but Leah's hand suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist as a warning. Her words fell heavily between them, and her voice was cutting. "They are present."
It was as though the woodland had come to life. Heavy footfall pounded after the roar reverberated across the trees. Eliot's heart pounded. The pull was too strong to ignore, but he was not sure if it was his dread or something more profound—a calling he could not deny.
Eliot sensed her uncertainty as Leah's hand tightened around his wrist. Although she had forewarned him, it was now evident that danger was real. It was present.
Eliot instinctively stepped into the underbrush and drew away from her without thinking. The smell of wolves, wild and unknown, swirling around them like predators, filled the air.
Leah said, "Stay behind me," in a voice that was almost audible as she moved forward and transformed into a wolf in front of him. His heart skipped a beat because of her grace, speed, and fluidity. However, he knew deep down that something was shifting inside of him even at that precise moment.
The yearning to shift made his bones hurt. He sensed the change tugging at his flesh, pulling him from the inside out. He stumbled backward, clutching the earth with his hands as he felt pain. His senses became more acute, and he could hear and smell everything around him. The changes inside him intensified, and he gasped for air. He had no idea how to halt it, but it was happening more quickly than he had expected.
Leah gave him another quick glance before turning back to face the advancing pack, her eyes fluttering with worry. Her eyes were intense and unblinking.
After then, the pack leader gave a deep, guttural command. "Go now, or else there will be repercussions."
The commander, a big, commanding figure, entered the area. As the dominance rolled off him in waves, his eyes were blazing with challenge. "Caden, you have been marked. And nobody is going to stop us this time."
When his former name was mentioned, everything began to get hazy. Caden. It was a strange name, like it belonged to someone else. However, it also served as an anchor. Something within of him was awakening, something that had been hidden for years.
Eliot's pulse accelerated as his gaze shifted between Leah and the pack leader. Instinctively his hand went to his chest, where a strange feeling seared beneath his skin—a mark that was beginning to show again. It seemed as if the name Caden had revealed something he was unaware of.
Leah gave a sideways sneer. Eliot, do not listen to him. He is attempting to control you.
However, Eliot was no longer certain. There was no denying the pack's powerful attraction. He had never felt the connection or the sensation of belonging before, but now it was pulling him in the direction of the stranger like an unseen thread.
"Caden, do you believe she has your best interests in mind?" The leader stepped forward with a sneer. "She once left you. She will do it once more.
Eliot flinched at the charge. Leah's stance remained tight and she remained mute despite the warning flash in her eyes.
All of a sudden, the world seemed too little and confined. Eliot's body responded before he could stop his thoughts from spiraling out of control. The change had begun.
In ways he could not control, he could feel his senses growing more acute, his muscles growing longer, and his bones altering. It felt thrilling, but the agony was like fire. His wolf form emerged, and a raw, primordial strength swept through him.
The pack leader bared his teeth, prepared to attack, while Eliot—Caden—stood there, a wolf in human skin. However, a familiar figure sprang out of the shadows before either could move. Someone who has no business being here.
Eliot, who was now Caden, was so engrossed in the moment that he hardly noticed anything else. He was prepared to fight since his wolf instincts had taken control. However, he was pulled back by a voice that cut through the confusion.
"Enough."
It was an identifiable, forceful, deep voice. When the stranger entered the clearing, Eliot's head jerked up and his eyesight briefly cleared. A towering, commanding woman with piercing, dark eyes that shone with a keen intelligence. She exuded strength, and it took Caden a moment to realize who she was.
His heart ceased beating.
"Mom?" He spoke in a gritty, incredulous tone. Before he could stop himself, he blurted out the word, but she did not respond. Her eyes were unfathomable as she just stared at him.
Clearly taken aback by this woman's looks, Leah moved back, her jaw clenching as her eyes widened. She is not your mom. Caden, do not trust her.
The woman looked directly at Caden, ignoring Leah. "You have made great progress. However, you are not prepared for this.
The woman moved in closer, her palm extending toward Caden's face and grazing the area that had started to flare up once more. "You must realize that you were never intended to survive before you can learn everything else."
The tension in the air changed around Caden. He struggled to resist the overwhelming impulse to move more, and his heart raced. Something in the woman's touch, something in her eyes, was preventing his wolf from letting go.
Now she was talking to him, her tone deliberate and steady. "You have been reborn, Caden, but not in the manner you believe. You will never comprehend certain aspects of your past—your death—unless you accompany me. There are far older forces at work than you may think.
Leah adopted a defensive posture. "Do not pay attention to her. She is taking advantage of you.
Caden could feel the decision's weight bearing down on him. The woman said she knew the truth; should he follow her? Or was Leah correct? Was someone manipulating him?
He had never felt the tug of the mark on his chest before, and it burned hotter. Caden was stuck in the center of a changing world, not knowing who to believe or where to go.
The woman's subsequent remarks were sharp as a dagger. "The pack is not your true foe. It is your history and the evil that will come after you.
As the truth came to light, the ground underneath them appeared to quiver.