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Echoes of the Past

Eliot awoke abruptly, gasping for air in short, uneven bursts. Even though he had barely moved an inch, his chest heaved like he would just run a marathon. His room's typical blackness felt oppressive, as if the walls were closing in on him and pulling him down into a darker place. The edges of the dream were fading but not completely dissolving; it remained too vivid. A female. Her eyes were sharp, green, and cruel, and her dark hair fell in a cascade across her face. Her voice sounded like a forgotten melody in his head.

"Remember me, Caden."

In an attempt to return to reality, he grasped the sides of his bed. He had no idea who she was or why she had given him the name Caden, but it felt familiar. No. It was unable to. His name was Eliot.

Eliot shook his head, attempting to shake the dream away, but it clung on to him. When he closed his eyes, the woman's face appeared before him. Her haunting stare and ardent request.

His thoughts were interrupted by a gentle knock at his door. He wiped the sweat off his brow and turned quickly.

"Come in," he murmured in a hoarse voice.

His older brother Marcus was present.

"Are you okay?" Marcus, leaning against the doorframe and giving him that shrewd look, inquired. The person who said that Eliot's "everything is fine" facade had not duped him.

"I am all right. Eliot attempted to appear casual as he whispered, "Just... a bad dream."

Marcus nodded after scrutinizing him for a bit. "Those have been happening to you a lot recently."

Though his stomach churned, Eliot stayed silent. Can he? He did not know what was going on with him.

Marcus' eyes became softer. "You should talk to someone if things are getting worse. Dad would —

"No." Eliot interrupted him abruptly and harshly. I do not need to see a shrink. I simply need to figure things out on my own.

Marcus sneered without resistance. He stepped closer and caressed Eliot's shoulder. "Just be cautious. A few weeks ago, you were a completely different person. Something is evolving.

The door snapped shut behind Eliot, leaving him alone with his rushing thoughts. His heart was plagued by an innate, profound pull that appeared to grow stronger with each passing day—the pull of the wolf. He wondered whether he was seeing someone else when he looked in the mirror.

Eliot's reflection swayed before he could control himself. It was not his face that looked back at him. It was an older, dark variant, possibly Caden. However, the brightness in his green eyes was unusually intense.

Standing outside the small coffee shop, Leah looked down at the cup she was holding. Something about the text message compelled her to agree to meet up with her old friend, even though she was unsure why. I require answers.

She stared across the street, her fingers clenching around the cup. The well-known individual stood near the entryway, his broad shoulders hunched beneath the dark leather jacket, his dark hair untidy.

Eliot.

Her heart beat furiously against her chest after skipping. Their memories of the past were too intense and real. Every touch and glance between them had formerly had a deeper significance. However, that was before everything collapsed. Before his disappearance.

She would buried the past and moved on. And yet, here he was, using his very presence to pull at her heartstrings.

She took deep breaths in an attempt to calm her inner turmoil. The meeting was meant to be informal. Not much more.

Eliot's gaze softened and stayed on her when he saw her, and she was powerless to halt the flood of memories that filled her mind. His tone. His hand. He had made her feel both vulnerable and unbeatable.

As he approached, he said, "Leah," in a hushed, almost hesitant tone. "It is been a while."

Her stomach twisted as she strained to grin. "Is it? It appears to last forever.

Eliot inspected her, his eyes darting across her features as if looking for a misplaced item. Leah's breath caught as his gaze rested on her lips for a brief moment. She resented how easily he continued to influence her.

Regaining control of the situation, she asked, "Why did you contact me?"

Eliot's mouth opened and closed with hesitation. "Leah, I have something to tell you."

A distant shriek that seemed to freeze the air around them reverberated down the street before he could utter anything else.

Leah's breath caught, and she went toward Eliot out of instinct, gazing into the darkness. No. This is not possible. However, the wolves reappeared.

Standing next to Eliot, the tension between them was strong enough to strangle Leah, and the howl echoed in the back of her mind. The howl was not the only thing. Something else was there, something... off about Eliot.

She could sense air crackling around him. There was no more doubt that the transformation was taking place.

"Does anyone else know?" Her voice was calm, yet quiet, as she wanted. Her heart rate increased as she waited for his response.

Eliot appeared worried as his fingers tapped restlessly against his leg. Just Marcus. No, he is not an expert in everything. Dreams have been coming to me. Unusual ones. In addition to the shifts

Leah's throat tightened as her body braced for an unexplained event. He is changing. It was worse because he was talking about it.

She recognized that the uncontrollable metamorphosis was exactly what he intended. When the wolf was in charge, he could not stop it. However, there was more to it, a darker side that she had yet to reconcile.

She angrily said, "You need to get a handle on this." You can not simply overlook this. It is dangerous.

Eliot's eyes glinted with defiance as his face hardened. "I am aware of that. However, I am confused who to believe. No more.

Leah stepped back, her heart hammering. His words were overly personal.

The breeze shifted, bringing the distinct smell of wolves with it. These were the enemy pack, thus they were not your typical wolves. The Silverfangs.

In the distance, a shadow moved too fast to be human. Eliot tensed, his attention drawn to the tree line, where the perfume was most intense.

His voice was barely audible as he muttered, "They are here."

As soon as he finished speaking, Leah's instincts took over. Without hesitation, she grabbed Eliot's arm and pushed him down the alleyway, where the intense sense of danger propelled them.

Just as the first person emerged from the trees, she snarled, "Move!" and yanked him out of sight. The figure was towering and possessed the characteristic attitude of a wolf in human form.

Eliot's body coiled like a spring about to break, and his breath was coming in quick succession. He wanted to fight, and she got it. However, they were unable to pay for it. Not quite yet.

She crouched close to him, murmuring, "They know we are here."

Eliot muttered under his breath, "I do not care." "I will not be taken again."

Leah's heart pounded. The wolf in him awoke, and she detected a change in the air. He needed to be stopped by her. Right now.

Eliot lunged forward before she could stop him, and his body changed in an instant. His expression turned into a scowl as fur sprouted from his flesh. Leah knew what was going to happen next, and her gut tightened.

Eliot, now completely transformed into a wolf, dashed at the approaching figures before Leah could answer. With bared teeth and a growl that rocked the ground beneath them, his massive figure smashed through the trees.

"NO, Eliot!" Leah screamed and rushed to embrace him.

Unfortunately, it was too late. The opposing pack had arrived, with no intention of fleeing.

Leah felt a sting in her side as Eliot jumped on the nearest wolf. She was startled to find her waist encircled by a puddle of blood. The blade had escaped her attention.

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