Chapter 5 – Bloodlines and Awakening
Elvis's heart thundered in her chest. The echo of the ghost's words still danced in her mind, but it was Alexander's revelation that threatened to unravel her sanity.
"You awakened."
The words hung in the air like a spell, wrapping around her throat. Her body felt heavier than it ever had, as though the weight of fate had suddenly become too much to bear. She had known there was something unusual about her—her ability to shift was different, her senses sharper, her instincts wild—but never had she imagined this.
Before she could say anything, a sudden chill swept through the hallway. The ancient stone walls groaned, as if the house itself were alive, reacting to the shift in the air. Elvis couldn't shake the feeling that the walls were closing in on her. Every breath felt like it might be her last, the air thick with tension and unanswered questions.
"White flame," Alexander's voice was softer now, a low murmur as if he was speaking to himself more than to her. His eyes flicked to the place where the ghost had vanished, his expression unreadable.
"What do you mean… white flame?" Elvis whispered, her voice shaky.
Alexander turned his gaze back to her. His silver eyes seemed to glisten with an unnatural intensity. There was a sadness there, something that made Elvis feel both deeply unsettled and strangely compelled to listen.
"The white flame bloodline was thought to be a myth," Alexander said slowly, each word measured. "A power born when the first of our kind touched the darkness. It's said that the one who carries the white flame has the ability to burn through lies, through illusions, even through the dead."
The silence between them stretched, heavy with the weight of his words. Elvis could feel her pulse racing, her mind spinning to make sense of what he was saying. A bloodline—her bloodline—that could burn through illusions? That could burn through the dead?
"You're telling me… I have that power?" Elvis breathed, disbelief thick in her voice.
"Yes," Alexander answered without hesitation. "That's why the ghost—that creature—attacked you. It wasn't just because you're a wolf. You're something more."
Elvis stepped back, her mind a whirlwind. She had always known she was different, that her wolf wasn't like the others, but this? This was something entirely beyond her understanding.
"I didn't ask for this," she said, her voice breaking.
Alexander's gaze softened, and for a brief moment, she saw something more than the cold, calculating Alpha she had come to know. She saw a man who carried the burden of something far greater than either of them could fathom.
"You didn't have a choice," he said quietly. "None of us do."
Her eyes narrowed. "What does that mean?"
"It means…" Alexander hesitated, his gaze drifting to the ancient painting on the wall, the one of his grandfather. "It means that this is bigger than us. Bigger than the pack, bigger than the ghosts that haunt these halls."
Elvis frowned, her instincts kicking in. Something wasn't right. She could feel the shift in the air, the dark pull of destiny drawing them both in. She had never been one to believe in fate, but everything that had happened since she crossed paths with Alexander told her otherwise.
"Who are we running from, Alexander?" Elvis asked, her voice low and steady, her gaze never leaving his.
The question seemed to hit him harder than she expected. His expression darkened, his jaw tightening as he glanced down at his hands, like he was fighting a battle inside himself.
"I told you before," Alexander said, his voice low. "We're running from the past. From those who would see you dead before you can even learn to control your power."
Elvis swallowed hard, trying to steady her breathing. "Why? What's so special about me?"
"You're the last of your kind," he replied, his voice grim. "And if you awaken fully, you'll be more dangerous than anyone can imagine."
Elvis's heart skipped a beat. She had always known she was different, but she hadn't known she was the last of something so ancient.
"I don't want this power," she muttered. "I didn't ask for it."
"I didn't ask for it either," Alexander said, his tone unexpectedly gentle. He stepped closer, his eyes searching hers as though looking for something he couldn't find. "But it chose us. And now we have to face the consequences."
The weight of his words sank in like a stone. Elvis was more than just a wolf. She was something ancient, something powerful, and the world wasn't ready for her to emerge. Neither was she.
"Who's coming for me?" Elvis asked, her voice small, barely above a whisper.
"The ones who swore to kill the white flame before it could rise again," Alexander answered, his gaze sharp as he turned toward the door. "And they've already begun to gather."
Before Elvis could respond, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed in the distance. A low growl rumbled in Alexander's chest, and he immediately reached for her arm, pulling her toward the shadows.
"Come with me," he said urgently. "We need to leave. Now."
Elvis hesitated for a split second before following him. Her heart was racing, her thoughts a jumble of fear, confusion, and an odd sense of anticipation. Whatever was coming, she wasn't ready for it. She didn't even know what it was.
They moved through the hallways of the mansion, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows on the walls. Elvis's mind raced as she tried to keep up with Alexander, her thoughts spinning in circles.
The mansion seemed to close in on them, the air thick with secrets that had been buried for far too long. Elvis had known the Blackthorn Pack was steeped in mystery, but she hadn't known it was this deep. She hadn't known that she, too, was a part of it.
The growl of wolves echoed through the halls, growing closer with every passing second. Elvis could feel the tension in Alexander's body, his muscles taut and ready to fight. She didn't know what was worse—the idea of facing whatever hunted them or the fact that she was beginning to understand just how dangerous she truly was.
"We're not safe here," Alexander muttered. "We need to leave now, before it's too late."
Elvis's breath caught in her throat as they reached the door leading outside. She could hear the sound of wolves howling in the distance, the pack rallying, preparing for something.
The door creaked open, revealing the moonlit forest beyond. Alexander motioned for her to follow him, but before she could take a step, a voice rang out from the shadows.
"Leaving so soon, Alpha?"
Both Elvis and Alexander froze. Standing at the edge of the forest, cloaked in the shadows, was a figure—tall, broad-shouldered, and deadly. The stranger's eyes glowed with an unnatural light, his posture radiating power.
Alexander's lip curled into a snarl. "What do you want, Varion?"
The figure stepped forward, revealing a familiar face—Elder Varion, one of the most powerful members of the Blackthorn Pack. But there was something off about him tonight. His usual calm demeanor was gone, replaced with a sense of malevolent intent.
"We have unfinished business," Varion said, his voice like a low rumble. "And you, Alexander, have made a grave mistake."