Chapter 25

The deeper they went into the forest, the heavier the air became.

The trees stood tall and silent, their branches twisting together like skeletal fingers, blocking out the moonlight. The only sounds were their footsteps and the distant hum of unseen creatures watching from the shadows.

Riley knew this wasn't just any part of the woods.

This was where the forgotten things lived.

Kieran moved ahead of her, muscles coiled tight, his golden eyes scanning the darkness. Nova was close behind, chewing on the sleeve of her hoodie a nervous habit she didn't bother hiding anymore.

And Riley?

She kept walking.

Even though her entire body screamed at her to turn back.

Because somewhere ahead, waiting for them in this forgotten stretch of forest, was Elias Rowe.

The exiled werewolf.

The man who might finally tell her who she was.

Or what she was becoming.

They found Elias just past midnight.

His cabin sat at the edge of a clearing, half-swallowed by the earth, its wooden walls weathered by time and neglect. Vines curled up the sides, wrapping around the roof like nature had tried to pull it underground and failed.

Smoke curled lazily from the crooked chimney. He was awake.

Kieran let out a slow breath. "Stay close to me."

Riley frowned. "Why?"

Before he could answer, the front door swung open.

And Elias stepped into the moonlight.

He wasn't what Riley expected.

No gray-haired recluse. No madman foaming at the mouth.

He was young.

Maybe twenty or twenty-one, his frame lean and sharp, all wiry muscle and restless energy. His dark hair hung in uneven strands over his forehead, and his pale blue eyes were too bright, too focused like he saw things that weren't there.

He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, gaze flicking between them before settling on Riley.

Then he laughed.

"Well," he said, voice smooth, edged with something sharp. "I guess they weren't lying."

Riley's stomach tightened. "What?"

Elias's grin didn't fade. "You're real." His head tilted slightly, studying her. "I wasn't sure if you'd ever show up."

She felt Kieran tense beside her.

He took a single step forward. "You knew about her?"

Elias lifted an eyebrow. "You didn't?"

Kieran didn't respond.

Riley exhaled, forcing herself to ignore the way her skin prickled under Elias's stare. "You know who I am."

Elias's gaze flickered with something unreadable.

Then, softly too softly he  said,

"I know what you were."

The inside of the cabin smelled like smoke and rain and something bitter. Herbs hung from the rafters, dried and crumbling, and stacks of old books and maps were piled on every surface.

Elias dropped into a chair, kicking his feet up onto the nearest table.

"Go ahead, then," he said lazily. "Ask your questions."

Riley's nails dug into her palms. "What am I?"

Elias's smirk deepened. "Straight to the point. I like that."

Kieran growled, "Elias"

"Relax, pup." Elias waved him off, eyes never leaving Riley. "You're looking for the easy answer, but there isn't one. You weren't just some warrior, Riley."

Riley's pulse spiked.

"You were a goddamn legend."

Silence.

Nova made a choked sound. "Excuse me?"

Elias leaned forward, voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial. "The war didn't start because of the pack. It didn't start because of humans or hunters or some stupid territorial dispute."

He smiled.

It wasn't a kind smile.

"It started because of you."

Riley's lungs locked.

No.

No, that wasn't

"That's not possible," she whispered.

Elias's expression didn't change. "Doesn't matter if you believe it. It happened. And now?" His gaze darkened. "It's happening again."

The world tilted.

Riley backed up, shaking her head. "No. I"

"You woke up the ruins, didn't you?" Elias cut in. "You felt them respond to you. They only respond to you."

Her breath hitched.

Because he wasn't wrong.

Kieran took a step forward, his voice low, controlled. "If you know so much, tell us what's out there."

Elias didn't hesitate.

"The thing in the woods?" He exhaled. "That's the part of the story they erased."

Riley's stomach dropped.

"What do you mean?"

Elias glanced toward the fire, eyes distant. "There's something older than the pack. Older than Tobias, older than all of us."

He looked at her.

And for the first time since they'd arrived, his voice lost its amusement.

"You locked it away, Riley."

A chill crept up her spine.

"No," she whispered.

Elias nodded. "You did. And now it's free."

Riley's knees felt weak.

She stumbled back, but Kieran was already there, steadying her.

Elias watched them carefully. "You don't believe me?"

Riley shook her head. "I don't"

"Then tell me something." Elias leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "Why do you think it's following you?"

Riley's breath caught.

"I"

"Because it knows what you are," Elias murmured. "And it knows what you're becoming."

The fire crackled, sending shadows across the cabin walls.

And Riley realized something.

For the first time since this all started

She wasn't afraid of what was chasing her.

She was afraid of why it wanted her back.

Elias sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "Look, I don't know what's gonna happen next, but I do know one thing."

Riley forced herself to breathe. "What?"

Elias met her gaze.

"Trust no one."

A strange chill settled in her chest.

Elias's eyes flicked toward Kieran, then to Nova.

"Not even the ones you love."

Something about the way he said it made Riley's blood go cold.

Because it wasn't just a warning.

It was a prediction.

Someone was going to betray her.

And the worst part?

She didn't know who.

The thought clawed at her, sinking deep into her ribs, and pressing against her already frayed nerves.

Nova and Kieran stood beside her, familiar, constant.

But Elias's words had already poisoned something inside her.

"Not even the ones you love."

Her fingers twitched at her sides.

She didn't love anyone. Not really.

Did she?

She didn't have time to dwell on it.

Elias rose from his chair, stretching lazily. "That's all I've got for you, princess. Take it or leave it."

Riley's jaw clenched. "That's not enough."

Elias smirked. "That's all you're getting."

Something about his tone sent a shiver down her spine.

Because it wasn't just a dismissal.

It was final.

Like this was the last time they'd see him.

Like he already knew what was coming.

She should have pressed him. Should have demanded more.

But before she could

A howl split the night.

Low. Long. Close.

Riley's breath caught.

Kieran cursed.

The pack had found them.

Elias sighed, unconcerned. "Welp. That's my cue."

And just like that, he was gone.

Riley barely had time to process it before Kieran grabbed her wrist, his grip tight, urgent.

"Run."

And this time

She did.