Shadows at the Border

Three days after the strange run in the moonlight, Liam couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. The words in his head, the way the rogue wolf had backed down from him instead of Elijah - none of it made sense. And Elijah had been dodging him since that night.

"You're doing it again," Aria said, poking him in the side as they walked toward the pack house.

"Doing what?" Liam asked, pushing a piece of silver-white hair from his face.

"Thinking too hard. Your forehead gets all scrunchy." She smiled, but her eyes showed worry. "Have you told Elijah about the voices?"

Liam shook his head. "How can I? Everyone already thinks I'm weird. If I tell them I hear voices in wolf form..."

A loud noise cut through their talk. Wolves ran from all ways toward the main clearing. Liam and Aria shared a look before joining the rush.

Elijah stood tall at the center, his face hard as stone. His black hair was pulled back, showing the sharp angles of his face. When his steel gray eyes landed on Liam, something flickered there - worry, confusion, maybe even fear.

"The Shadow Pack has asked for a meeting," Elijah stated, his deep voice carrying across the clearing. "Their Alpha, Thorne Ravencrest, will be here in one hour."

Whispers broke out among the pack. Liam caught bits of scared talk - "Shadow Pack," "dangerous," "power-hungry."

"Who are they?" Liam asked a nearby dog.

"Our rivals," the wolf whispered back. "They control the land north of ours. Thorne is..." He shivered. "He's not like our Alpha. He's cruel."

Elijah's eyes swept the crowd, falling again on Liam. "Everyone be ready. And Liam, I need to speak with you. Alone."

Liam's heart jumped. It was the first time Elijah had spoken directly to him since the night run. He followed Elijah to his office, trying to ignore the stares from other wolves.

The Alpha's office smelled of woods and old books. Elijah closed the door and turned to face Liam.

"You need to stay away during this meeting," he said, his voice tight.

"Why?" Liam asked, crossing his arms.

"Thorne is dangerous. He can smell power, and whatever you did the other night..." Elijah ran a hand through his hair. "I can't risk him finding out about you."

"Finding out what? I don't even know what happened myself!"

"That's exactly it!" Elijah moved closer, and Liam could feel the heat coming off his body. "You're different, Liam. Your eyes, your wolf, the way you handled that rogue - it's not normal."

"So I'm a freak," Liam said simply.

Something softened in Elijah's face. "No, you're..." He stopped, seeming to catch himself. "You're valuable to the pack. And I won't let Thorne know about you."

Their eyes locked, and for a moment, Liam felt that same strange pull he'd felt since first meeting Elijah. A weird electricity seemed to jump between them.

Elijah broke the look first. "Promise me you'll stay in your cabin."

"Fine," Liam said, though inside he was burning with questions. "I'll stay out of sight."

The Shadow Pack arrived like a storm cloud rolling over mountains. Six large dogs, led by a man who could only be Alpha Thorne. He walked with the ease of someone who feared nothing, his chestnut hair streaked with gray, his golden eyes scanning everything.

Liam watched from his cabin window, breaking his promise to stay totally away. He couldn't help it - something about this meeting felt important.

Elijah met Thorne in the main clearing, the two Alphas sizing each other up like boxers before a fight.

"Blackwood," Thorne's words carried across the clearing. "Your territory looks... comfortable."

"What brings you to our borders, Ravencrest?" Elijah asked, skipping the small talk.

Thorne smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Can't neighbors just visit? We have so much to discuss."

The stress in the air felt thick enough to cut. Liam slipped out his back door, moving closer to hear better. He hid behind a big tree at the edge of the clearing.

"If this is about the northern hunting grounds—" Elijah began.

"It's about much more than land," Thorne cut in. His eyes swept the gathering wolves. "It's about power. There are... rumors."

"What rumors?" Elijah's voice stayed steady, but Liam could see his hands clench.

"They say the Moonlight Pack has welcomed someone special. Someone with unusual gifts." Thorne took a step closer. "Someone with violet eyes."

Liam's blood turned cold. How did Thorne know about him?

"We have many new pack members," Elijah said easily. "None of your concern."

Thorne laughed, the sound sharp like breaking glass. "When an Omega with ancient power enters these woods, it concerns us all."

Liam tensed. Ancient power? What was Thorne talking about?

"Your information is wrong," Elijah said. "Now state your real business or leave."

Thorne's smile disappeared. "Very well. I came to warn you. The old prophecies are stirring, Blackwood. The balance is shifting." He looked around at the gathering wolves. "And not everyone will survive the change."

"Is that a threat?" Elijah growled, his Alpha power filling the clearing.

"A fact." Thorne's eyes narrowed. "Show me the silver wolf, and perhaps we can work together. Hide him, and..." He shrugged. "Well, history hasn't been kind to those who ignore warnings."

A strange smell caught Liam's attention - something like wildflowers and lightning. He turned to see a woman standing behind him, coming from nowhere. Her black hair was streaked with what looked like stars, and her eyes... they kept changing color.

"Hello, little wolf," she whispered, her voice like music. "The game begins."

Liam opened his mouth to call for help, but the woman touched his face. Suddenly, power exploded through him. His eyes burned, his skin felt on fire, and a howl ripped from his throat before he could stop it.

Every head in the clearing whipped toward the sound. Thorne's face split into a victorious grin.

"Ah," he said. "There he is."

The strange woman disappeared as quickly as she'd appeared, leaving Liam exposed and glowing with silver light. The power rushing through him was unlike anything he'd felt before. He looked down to see old symbols appearing on his skin, glowing with the same silver light.

Elijah's face showed horror and betrayal. But before anyone could move, Thorne snapped his fingers. Two of his wolves lunged forward, racing straight for Liam.

"Take him," Thorne ordered. "The prophecy will not be fulfilled."

As the wolves reached him, Liam felt something snap inside him. Power flowed from his hands, throwing the wolves backward. The symbols on his skin burned brighter.

Elijah changed in an instant, his massive black wolf charging toward Liam. But was he running to protect him or stop him?

The last thing Liam saw before his vision went white was Thorne's pleased smile and the strange woman watching from the trees, her eyes now glowing the same violet as his own.