Chapter 5

THE HUNT BEGINS

Elara's POV

"Sorry Mr Thorne.. But.. You're not making any sense."

I continued to stare at Professor Thorne like he'd just told me the moon was made of silver and howling blood.

"You were never supposed to survive the Awakening.. Elara," he said again, as if repeating it would make the words to make any sense.

"That's not a thing. That's not even a sentence that means anything.."

"It meant someone had protected you.. shielded you.. someone powerful, really powerful. And now it seems that protection has begun to unravel."

I blinked hard as I stared at him. "Okay, well, I'm not powerful.. I'm just trying to pass algebra class and not spiral into a panic attack before lunch."

Thorne didn't laugh. He didn't even blink. He looked at me like I was already a ghost.

"You think you're human don't you?," he said softly. "You've successfully convinced yourself to believe that. But your blood remembers."

"That's creepy. Could you stop being creepy."

His mouth curved, but it wasn't amusement. "It's going to get worse before it makes any sense."

"Oh, fantastic. My favorite kind of disaster."

Something shifted in his eyes. "You've been feeling him more lately, haven't you? Kael Draven I mean."

I didn't answer. I didn't have to.

"Of course you have," he murmured. "Your bond pulled you to him."

"No. Nope. Let's not go there.. We are not doing the mate-bond wolf-destiny soulmate thing. I didn't sign up for any danger in hot clothings when I registered here.."

"Elara!" His tone cut through me like a blade. "He's not your danger. He's your shield."

My retort died on my lips.

Then the door creaked open. My breath lodged in my throat.

Kael.

He stepped inside like he carried the shadows with him. His hoodie was streaked with dirt. His hand bled in thick, dark smears. His storm-gray eyes locked on mine, fierce and unshakable.

"Elara," he said, his voice rough and low, "we need to move. Now."

"Why?" My voice barely came out.

"They found you."

"Who?"

He didn't answer. His gaze slid to Thorne. "Did you tell her everything?"

"No," Thorne said. "Just enough to scare her."

Kael gave one sharp nod, like that was good enough. Then he turned back to me, closing the distance in slow, certain steps.

"Elara," he said, softer now, "I'm sorry. But if we stay here, you're going to die."

My legs refused to move. My pulse thundered.

Kael's face was inches from mine, eyes wild but burning steady. "We don't have time. You either trust me or you don't."

"I don't even know you."

"You do." His voice was absolute, as if it were a memory instead of a claim. "You just don't remember yet."

"Oh, well, that's not creepy at all."

Thorne moved between us, jaw set. "She needs more than riddles, Kael. She's not ready."

Kael's eyes snapped to him, jaw tightening. "She doesn't have a choice."

My hands shook. My brain burned. None of this made sense, and yet... deep inside, something hummed. Like a lock turning, a door groaning open.

"I'm not going anywhere until someone tells me what the hell is going on and why strange people after me."

Kael exhaled sharply, as though he'd been holding it in forever. "Because you're not what they thought you were. And now, you've become dangerous."

"I've never hurt anyone in my life so what do you mean by telling I'm dangerous!" My voice cracked.

"That doesn't matter. It's not about what you've done, Elara. It's what you could do."

I stared at him, throat tight. "What does that even mean?"

Before he could answer, the lights above us flickered. The glass panels of the greenhouse groaned like the wind had shifted wrong.

Thorne stiffened. "They're close."

"What is happening?" I shouted, heart pounding against my ribs.

Kael's hand clamped around my arm. "We need to move. Now."

He pulled me toward the exit. I didn't resist—not because I trusted him, but because some feral instinct screamed that if I stayed, I would not survive the night.

We cut through the garden, boots crunching gravel. The air was heavy with static, sharp on my tongue. Kael bled steadily from his knuckles, but he didn't falter. Behind us, Thorne muttered words under his breath—prayers, wards, maybe curses.

"Where are we going?" I panted.

"To the edge of the forest," Kael said. "There's a tunnel beneath the border. We'll be safe there."

"Safe from what?"

He didn't answer. Typical.

The treeline loomed. The wind stilled. The night went too quiet.

Then I heard it.

A howl.

Not one. Three.

Low. Echoing. Close.

The sound rattled my bones.

I turned to Thorne. "What do they want from me?"

His eyes flicked to Kael. Kael shook his head once, sharp, refusing.

They weren't telling me something. I could feel it like fire under my skin.

"Stop." My boots dug into the dirt. "I'm not going another step until someone gives me a real answer."

Kael's breath hissed between his teeth. Finally, he looked at me, raw and stripped of patience. "You were hidden in the human world because of a prophecy, Elara. A girl born of two bloodlines—one royal, one cursed. You're not just rare. You're impossible."

"That's not real."

"It's real enough to get you killed. It's why they're hunting you. It's why you survived something no one else has."

The forest shuddered. Branches cracked like bones.

Thorne shouted, "We need to go.. now!"

But I couldn't move. I was frozen.

"Who cursed me?" I forced out.

Kael hesitated. His eyes burned like he was holding something sacred, dangerous.

"You were marked by your mother's bloodline," he said quietly. "She was one of them."

"One of what?"

He didn't answer.

Typical

Another howl Now closer and sharper.

My vision blurred. I staggered.

Kael caught me, his grip hot and unyielding. "They can't touch you if you shift."

"I don't know how!"

"You will." His voice softened, almost breaking. "You have to."

For one terrible second, I wanted to believe him.

But before I could breathe, a cold yet familiar voice cut through the trees.

"Elara darling.."

My stomach twisted.

As she slowly stepped out.

A woman with hair exactly like mine, her eyes a replica of mine.

I whispered, "No.. no no it can't be."

Kael's grip tightened like steel.

"Elara," he said low in my ear, "you need to run. That's not who you think."

My throat closed. My blood froze.

It wasn't a ghost.

"Mother?" I slowly whispered..

But she was dead. She had been dead since I was six. At least... that's what I'd been told.

And then she smiled at me.

"Elara, sweetheart," she said, her voice soft as a blade slipping into flesh. "I believe your dear little friends forget to mention... I was the one who cursed you?"