Whispers in the Wild

"Get up!" A rough hand yanked Sera forward. Lady Vessa had disappeared. The guard who'd fallen was now standing, blinking in confusion. "What—" Sera started. "Silence!" the guard growled. "The witch was never here. Understand?" Sera's mind raced. Had she imagined Lady Vessa? Or was this part of some bigger plan? Before she could think further, two men dragged her from the cell. They weren't house guards. Their smell was different—wilder, sharper. They wore the red and black colors of Ironclaw. "Alpha Ronan is eager to meet you," one growled, his breath hot against her ear. Sera fought against her chains. "Where's Lady Vessa?" The guards traded confused looks. "The witch? She's banned from council lands." So she had been real. But why come, only to disappear? They pulled Sera through the palace cellars. Dawn light entered through high windows. Her first glimpse of sky in days made her eyes water. 

Outside, a covered wagon waited. Four massive dogs stood harnessed to it, their fur black as night. A tall person leaned against the wagon, his face hidden by a hood. "The prisoner," stated the guard, shoving Sera forward. The hooded man looked up. Though his face remained in shade, Sera felt his eyes on her like a physical weight. "This is the Silverblood?" His speech was deep, almost musical. Not what she expected from an Ironclaw fighter. "Yes, sir. Alpha Ronan's orders." The man circled Sera slowly. "She's injured." "She resisted questioning," the guard shrugged. "I see." 

The man's hand shot out, grabbing the guard by the throat. "And did Alpha Ronan order you to damage his property?" The guard choked. "No, sir! Palace orders—" "I don't care about palace orders." He released the guard, who stumbled back gasping. "Get out of my sight." The guards scattered. The man turned to Sera. "They hurt you badly," he said, voice softer now. "Why do you care?" Sera asked. He reached into his cloak and pulled out a small vial. "Drink this. It will help with the pain." Sera jerked away. "No." "It's not poison." To prove it, he took a small sip himself. "See? Now drink." Reluctantly, Sera accepted the vial. The liquid inside tasted bitter but warm. Almost instantly, the burning in her back faded. "Thank you," she whispered, surprised. "Don't thank me yet." He helped her into the wagon. "Where we're going, healing may be a cruelty, not a kindness." Inside, the wagon was lined with furs. 

A small lantern hung from the center pole. The man attached Sera's silver shackles to a metal ring in the floor. "Who are you?" she asked. He finally dropped his hood. Young. Much younger than she expected. Maybe twenty-five. His face was beautiful in a sharp way, with high cheekbones and eyes the color of forest moss. "Darrow," he said. "Captain of Alpha Ronan's personal guard." The wagon lurched forward. Through a small window, Sera watched the castle grow smaller. Strange—she'd spent her life wanting to escape those walls. Now she was going, but not to freedom. "Why does Ronan want me?" she asked. Darrow sat across from her. "Many reasons. You're a wonder. A Silverblood. And you killed your sister over a mate. 

He respects that kind of... passion." "I didn't kill Liora." "Of course you didn't." His tone made it clear he didn't believe her. They rode in silence. The house disappeared. Then the city. Soon they were going through thick forests. Sera had never been this far from home. Hours passed. The medicine made her sleepy. Sera fought to stay awake, afraid of what might happen if she slept. But finally, exhaustion won. She dreamed. Mist whirled around her. She was no longer in the wagon but standing in a clearing. Moonlight filtered through old trees. The air smelled of woods and something else—something magical. "Hello?" she called. A soft growl answered. From the shadows came a wolf. Not just any dog. This one stood as tall as a horse, its fur sparkling silver in the moonlight. Its eyes held worlds. "You," Sera whispered. "I've dreamed of you before." Not dreams. Memories. The wolf's voice echoed in her mind, feminine and old. "Who are you?" You know who I am. Just as you know who you are. The wolf circled her. Where its paws touched the ground, silver flowers bloomed. "I don't understand," Sera said. They've hidden your truth. Buried your power. 

But chains can't hold what runs in your blood. "My blood? You mean being a Silverblood?" The wolf sat before her. Look at your hands. Sera looked down. The metal chains were gone. Instead, silver light flashed beneath her skin, following the paths of her veins. This is your destiny. Not just wolf. Not just human. Something more. "I don't know how to use it," Sera revealed. You will learn. You must. The wolf's eyes grew fierce. The darkness comes. A shadow wearing a familiar face. Trust nothing you see. Trust only what you feel. "Liora?" Sera stepped closer. "You mean Liora is alive? How?" Not living. Not dead. Something between. Something twisted by illegal magic. "How do I fight her? How do I prove my innocence?" First survive. Then learn. Then fight. The cat stood. The one who comes for you is not your enemy. The one who holds you is not your friend. "What does that mean?" Sera reached for the wolf. "Please, I need more!" Remember who you are, Seraphina Vale. Last daughter of stars. Last chance against the dark. The wolf turned to leave. "Wait!" Sera cried. "Don't go!" I am always with you. The wolf looked back once more. I am you. With that, the wolf leaped forward, straight at Sera's chest. Instead of contact, there was warmth as the silver creature melted into her body. Power surged through Sera's blood. Her vision improved. Her senses increased. 

For one wonderful moment, she felt whole. Complete. Unstoppable. Then pain shot through her wrists. Sera gasped awake. The wagon had stopped. Outside, men yelled. The silver chains around her wrists burned hotter than before, fighting against the power that had awakened in her dream. Darrow burst through the wagon door, his face grim. "We have a problem," he said. "What?" "Rogues. A whole pack. They've surrounded us. " As if on cue, howls erupted from the bush. Hungry. Vicious. Close. "What do they want?" Sera asked, trying to hide her fear. "You." Darrow drew his sword—silver-tipped, she noticed. "Word has spread about the last Silverblood. Many would pay a lot for your blood. Others would simply kill you to avoid what's coming." "What's coming?" Before he could answer, something heavy landed on the wagon roof. Wood split. A clawed hand punched through, reaching for Sera. Darrow slashed at it with his sword. A howl of pain, then the hand removed. "Stay down!" he directed, moving to the wagon entrance. More growls circled them. The wagon rocked as people slammed against it. "The chains," Sera said desperately. "Unlock them. I can help fight!" Darrow paused. "There are too many!" she pushed. "You need me!" After a moment's thought, he tossed her a small key. "If you run—" "I won't," Sera promised, though freedom called to her like a siren song. 

She freed the shackles. Instantly, warmth flooded her limbs. Her wolf stirred, eager for fight. Just as Sera stood, the wagon wall shattered. A massive wild wolf crashed through, jaws snapping. Darrow stabbed it, but another followed. And another. Sera felt the change come over her. Not painful like before, but normal. Fluid. Her bones moved. Fur grew along her skin. Not brown like most wolves. Silver. Radiant. She leaped at the nearest rogue, tearing into its shoulder. It yelped, surprised by her power. Beside her, Darrow fought two more. Through the broken wagon, Sera saw dozens of bright eyes in the forest. Too many. They couldn't win this fight. Suddenly, the air crackled. A bolt of purple lightning hit the ground between the wagon and the rogues. Where it hit, blue flames spread in a perfect circle. A figure walked through the flames, unharmed. Lady Vessa, her white hair flowing as if underwater, her violet eyes glowing with power. "Enough," she said, her voice echoing strangely. The rogues paused. One brave wolf lunged at her. Vessa flicked her hand. The wolf froze mid-air, then dropped, whimpering. "The Silverblood is under my protection," she declared. "Leave now, or burn." Most of the rogues fled. One huge black wolf stood its ground, growling. "You have no power here, witch," it spoke, its jaw moving strangely with human words. Vessa smiled, a cold, terrible smile. "Are you certain?" She raised her hands. The earth shook. The black wolf backed away, then turned and fled with the others. Darrow stood beside Sera, sword still raised. "Lady Vessa," he said slowly. "You're far from Hollowmere." "I go where I'm needed." Vessa neared Sera, who was still in wolf form. "Beautiful. Just like your mother." Sera changed back to human, her clothes torn and dirty. "My mother? You knew her?" "Better than anyone." Vessa's eyes softened. "But that's a story for later. Right now, we need to move. The rogues will return with troops." "We're taking her to Alpha Ronan," Darrow stated firmly. "Yes, you are." Vessa nodded. "And I'm coming with you." Darrow frowned. "Alpha Ronan didn't mention—" "Alpha Ronan doesn't know everything." Vessa's tone left no room for debate. "Fix your car. We leave immediately." 

As Darrow unwillingly moved to repair the damage, Vessa knelt beside Sera. "The silver wolf came to you," she whispered. "Didn't she?" Sera's eyes widened. "How did you—" "Because she came to me too, once." Vessa touched Sera's cheek. "You have questions. I have answers. But not here. Not yet." "Why help me? What am I to you?" Vessa's eyes flickered to Darrow, then back to Sera. "Someone very precious," she whispered. "More than you know." Before Sera could reply, Vessa stood. "Chain her again," she told Darrow. "Make it look believable. But relax the silver—just enough that she keeps her strength." "For what?" Sera asked. Vessa's eyes darkened. "For what awaits at Ironclaw. Alpha Ronan doesn't want a prisoner, Seraphina." "What does he want?" "A mate." Vessa's words fell like stones. "Whether you consent or not."