The cave fell silent, except for the rustling of the leaves outside. The weight of the truth and Isolde's departure hung heavily in the air, leaving an unsettling silence in the room. It was as if the darkness of secrets they had uncovered had seeped into the walls.

Serena sat up on the bed, her eyes remained fixed on the pulsating glowing lines that were on her palm. She tried to make sense of it all but it felt like a puzzle she couldn't solve. A recarnate of the first Onyx wolf? The thought was overwhelming. Her life recently had been a series of strange and frightening occurrences. Those strange experiences were just the surface of a much deeper, darker truth.

After a long silence, Serena spoke her voice trembling. " So, I'm supposed to ....what? How am I supposed to control something that I don't even know how to begin to understand. Lucian pushed himself off the wall and walked towards her slowly. " Serena, understanding is not necessary right now. This is raw power, all you need to know is how to control it."

Serena's head snapped in his direction. " Control? You think I'm supposed to control all this?"

" Not just you, you're not alone." Lucian replied, his tone hard. " We would control it, together. We hold the power to punish those who wronged us."

Serena flinched, her chest tightening. " What if I don't want this power?"

Lucian took his seat beside her, his eyes getting darker. " You don't get to choose, Serena. Its already within you. It's awaking already."

Serena's heart pounded in her chest. She wanted to scream but something in his voice reasonated with the dark truth. Lucian met her gaze, his eyes hard like polished stone. " Do you know what happens when the Onyx wolf is fully unlocked? It doesn't just heal the past, it can destroy everything"

Serena stood up, the golden lines on her palm glowing once again. "I don't want to destroy anything."

The words hung between them, thick with tension. “Freedom, Serena, comes at a price. And this is the price." Lucian’s said his lips curling into a faint, knowing smile.

Before Serena could respond, a distant howling travelled from the forest and echoing throughout the pack. It was a chilling, mournful sound that sent shivers down her spine. It was followed by another, and then another, each more desperate than the last.

The door burst open and Dorian entered trying to catch his breath.

" Alpha.... The huntress." Lucian’s eyes darkened, his smirk vanishing.

“Who?” Serena demanded, stepping back in alarm.

“The huntress.” Lucian said, already turning toward the door. “ She has sensed the awakening. She wants you, Serena."

Serena’s pulse quickened. “But I—”

“ There's no time for questions,” Lucian interrupted. " Don't leave this room no matter what, you must remain here."

" Ok" Serena nodded, visible shaken. Lucian locked the door of the room as he stepped out.

" Alpha, probably it's best if we—" Dorian said to Lucian as they made their way to the entrance of the pack.

" No Dorian, I'm not giving up the power I've just gotten after how many years." Lucian cut him off. "We are not going to give up Serena, not without a fight." Lucian said with a tone of finality.

" Your wish is my command Alpha."

From the entrance they could see a figure emerging through the midst. Soon the figure started to become clearer, a tall imposing figure strode towards them. Her hair was long and as black as coal, her red eyes were gleaming with an unnatural hungry.

" Lucian." The huntress purred. "Last time I saw you, you were a young teenager. You look good." She said with a sinister smile.

" What are you here for?" Lucian asked.

" You know why I'm here Lucian, don't waste my time."

" I have no idea why you're here." She stared at him gradually getting annoyed by him pretending.

" You know I can destroy your pack with just a snap of my fingers. I've come for the Onyx wolf. Hand her over and I might spare your pack."

Lucian's smile was cold and calculating. " You'll have to take her from me and I'm not letting her go, not without a fight." Lucian's heart was racing as he uttered those lines of words.

The huntress laughed, it echoed throughout the forest and the pack.The sound sent shivers down the spine of the pack members. "What does the council have to say about that cursed wolf?"

" That's clearly not any of your business."

" You're clearly obsessed with this wolf and it is messing with your sense of reasoning. So I'm going to give you one last chance, hand her over now!"

Lucian held the sword in his side firmly, patiently waiting and anticipating what was to come. "That is not happening, huntress." Lucian said between gritted teeth.

Without warning, the huntress launched at Lucian and Dorian. Her movement were lightening paced. Lucian drew his sword countering her attacks with ease, his power unleashing with a burst of fury.

Dorian watched from a distance in awe as the two clashed. No one has ever challenged the huntress. Thier powers locked in a struggle that seemed to shake the whole earth. Lucian clutched unto his chest, he felt a pang of pain in his chest. Something was wrong with Serena or she was in danger. Lucian lost concentration and the huntress seized that moment landing him a blow that sent him crashing to the ground.

" Dorian go and find her." He said with the mind link connection. Lucian could literally feel the pain she was going through.

" I can't leave you, Alpha" Dorian replied still with the mind link.

" It's an order, go!" Dorian disappeared back into the pack.

" How dare you Lucian go against me!" The huntress yelled furiously as she walked towards him, Lucian staggered trying to pull himself together. The huntress raised her fist in the air, ready to deliver the final blow.

" Enough!" The voice came in the foggy forest making her to halt.