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Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Neville

T he moon hung low in the sky, a swollen orb of silver that cast an eerie glow over the dense forests of Silver Ridge. Neville stood at the edge of the pack's compound; his gaze fixed on the horizon as the first stirrings of the full moon's power began to ripple through him. The air was thick with the scent of pine and damp earth, familiar and grounding, but tonight, it did little to calm the restlessness that gnawed at him from within.

His wolf was closer to the surface than ever before, a constant presence that he could feel in the tension of his muscles and the sharpness of his senses. The beast was eager, straining against the bonds Neville had carefully maintained for so long. Each full moon brought its own challenges, but this time, something was different. The curse, a dark legacy that had been hinted at by others and had become realized when he himself had been cursed, seemed to be growing stronger, its grip tightening with every passing day.

Neville clenched his fists, fighting for control. He couldn't afford to lose it, not now. Not when the safety of his pack—and the entire town—depended on him holding it together. But the fear was there, gnawing at the edges of his resolve. He had felt it in the woods earlier, the pull of the moon more potent than ever before. It was as if the curse was feeding on something, growing stronger with each passing night.

He needed to talk to Garrett.

With a deep breath, Neville turned and made his way back to the compound. The pack's headquarters was an enormous house, a sprawling structure that had served as the heart of their community for more than a century. It was both a fortress and a home, a place where they could gather in safety during the full moon and plan for whatever threats might arise. Tonight, it felt more like a prison.

He found Garrett in the common room, pacing restlessly in front of the fireplace. The flames cast flickering shadows across his face, highlighting the lines of worry etched into his features. Garrett had been Neville's right-hand man since the day he had taken over as alpha, and there was no one he trusted more. But even Garrett, usually so calm and composed, looked uneasy tonight.

"Garrett," Neville greeted him with a nod as he entered the room.

Garrett stopped pacing and looked up, his expression grim. "Neville. You're feeling it too, aren't you?"

Neville sighed, running a hand through his hair. "More than ever. The curse… it's getting stronger. I can feel it. It's like it's trying to break free."

Garrett nodded, his gaze flicking to the window where the moon's light streamed in. "I've noticed it too. The others are restless. More fights breaking out, more aggression. And you… you're usually the one holding us all together, but even you seem on edge."

Neville grimaced. He hated admitting weakness, especially to Garrett, but there was no point in hiding the truth. "I'm barely keeping it under control. The moon… it's pulling harder than before. And the curse… I don't know how much longer I can fight it."

Garrett's jaw tightened, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence was heavy, filled with unspoken fears. Finally, Garrett spoke, his voice low. "We need to find out what's causing this. If the curse is evolving, if it's getting stronger, then we're all in danger. The pack, the town… everyone."

Neville nodded, the weight of responsibility settling on his shoulders. "I've been thinking the same thing. We can't afford to ignore this. But I don't even know where to start. The curse has been with us for so long, and no one's ever found a way to break it or even fully understand it."

Garrett opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway. A young pack member, barely out of his teens, burst into the room, his face pale and his eyes wide with fear.

"Alpha," he gasped, struggling to catch his breath. "There's been an attack. On the outskirts of town. It… it was brutal."

Neville's heart sank. He didn't need to hear the rest to know what the boy was going to say. "What kind of attack?" he asked, already dreading the answer.

The boy swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Animal, they think. But… it wasn't just any animal. The bodies… they were torn apart, like something… like a wolf."

Neville felt a cold wave of horror wash over him. He had feared this, had sensed it coming, but hearing the words still hit him like a punch to the gut. "Shit. Where?" he demanded, already moving toward the door.

"Near the old mill, by the river," the boy replied, his voice still shaky. "One of the deputies has already cordoned off the area. He sent me for the sheriff, who I said would most likely come directly here from the compound, but… they don't know what they're dealing with."

Neville exchanged a glance with Garrett, who nodded grimly. "Let's go," Neville said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

They went to the changing area, bundled up their clothing, and called forth their wolves. The fastest way to the old mill was cross country, where even an ATV couldn't make it. Better to shift and run. They galloped out of the compound, moving through the forest with the speed and silence of the apex predators they were. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting everything in an otherworldly glow. As they neared the old mill, the scent of blood reached Neville's nose, sharp and metallic, mingled with the unmistakable musk of a wolf.

His wolf surged within him, eager to hunt, to fight, but Neville forced it down. He couldn't afford to lose control now. Not when so much was at stake.

As they approached the scene of the crime, they stopped in an area where they could shift without being seen. Both men shifted, and the maelstrom of color, sound, and light swirled around them until they were human once more. Quickly, they pulled on their clothing.

Neville remained out of sight as Garrett entered the crime scene alone and sent his deputy to block the only access road into the area, telling him to hold everyone there until he'd had a chance to take a preliminary look. Once the deputy was gone, Garrett motioned to Neville to join him, handing him a pair of latex gloves.

Neville's worst fears were confirmed. The ground was stained with blood, and the bodies—what was left of them—were scattered around the clearing. The victims had been savaged beyond recognition, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, their flesh torn apart as if by claws and teeth.

Neville's stomach churned, but he forced himself to remain calm, to assess the scene with a clear head. The scent of the wolf was strong here, but it wasn't one he recognized. He breathed a sigh of relief. This wasn't the work of any member of his pack.

Garrett crouched beside one of the bodies, his expression grim. "It's worse than I thought. This… this wasn't just an attack. It was a slaughter."

Neville nodded, his eyes scanning the ground for any clues, any sign of what they were dealing with. "It's not one of ours," he said quietly. "The scent is wrong. But it's definitely a wolf-shifter."

Garrett looked up, his eyes narrowing. "If it's not one of ours, then where did it come from? There haven't been any rogue wolves in this area for years."

Neville didn't have an answer, and that scared him more than anything. The curse was changing, growing stronger, and now there was another wolf-shifter or some kind of shapeshifter in his territory, one capable of this level of violence. The implications were chilling.

"We need answers," Neville said, his voice tight with anger and frustration. "And I think I know who might be able to help."

Garrett stood, removing the latex gloves. "Tamzyn March?"

Neville nodded. Garrett frowned. "We don't have a choice. If the curse is evolving, if there's another wolf-shifter out there killing people, we need to know how to stop it. I think Tamzyn can help."

Garrett nodded reluctantly. "All right, but I'm coming with you."

"No," Neville said firmly. "I need you here. Work with your deputies and keep an eye on the pack. We can't afford to let our guard down, not with the full moon so close."

Tamzyn

The moonlight filtered through the dense canopy of trees as Tamzyn made her way back to her secluded cottage in the woods. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and pine, and the silence of the forest was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a night bird. Normally, the solitude of the forest brought her peace, but tonight, the stillness felt oppressive, like a heavy weight pressing down on her.

Her mind was still reeling from the events of the day. The vision of the young girl trapped by dark magic had shaken her, but it was the encounter with those who had come looking for the child that lingered in her thoughts. She had managed to hide her powers from them, but it had been a close call. Too close.

As she walked, Tamzyn couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. It was a sensation she had grown accustomed to in the past few days, ever since the dark magic had begun to stir in the woods. But tonight, it felt more intense, more immediate. The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and she quickened her pace, her senses on high alert.

The shadows around her seemed to deepen, and the path ahead grew darker, as though the light of the moon was being swallowed by the night. Tamzyn's breath hitched as she felt the unmistakable presence of dark magic closing in around her. She stopped, her hand instinctively reaching for the small pouch of protective herbs she always carried with her.

But before she could react, the shadows came alive.

They surged out of the darkness like a tidal wave, coalescing into forms that were both solid and ethereal, their shapes shifting and writhing as they moved. Tamzyn's heart pounded in her chest as she took a step back, her eyes widening in horror. These weren't just any creatures; they were shadow beings, ancient entities born of dark magic, and they had come for her.

She barely had time to think before the first one lunged at her, its clawed hand slashing through the air where her head had been just a moment before. Tamzyn ducked, her instincts taking over as she summoned a protective barrier of energy around herself. The creature's claws scraped against the invisible shield, sending sparks of magic into the air.

But the shadow creatures were relentless. More of them emerged from the darkness, their red eyes glowing with malevolent intent. They circled her, probing at her defenses, searching for a weakness.

Tamzyn knew she couldn't hold them off for long. The barrier she had erected was strong, but it wouldn't last against an onslaught of this magnitude. She needed to fight back, to push them away before they could overwhelm her.

Taking a deep breath, she allowed the full extent of her power to surge through her veins. It was a dangerous move, one that she had avoided ever since she had been banished from her coven. But she had no choice now. If she didn't use her magic, she would die here, alone in the woods.

Tamzyn closed her eyes and reached deep within herself, tapping into the well of energy that lay dormant beneath the surface. The magic responded instantly, roaring to life like a long-dormant flame that had been reignited. She felt it flow through her, filling her with strength and clarity, sharpening her senses until the world around her seemed to slow.

She opened her eyes, and with a flick of her wrist, she sent a blast of pure energy toward the nearest shadow creature. The force of the attack shattered the creature's form, scattering it into wisps of darkness that dissolved into the air. But there were more—too many more.

Tamzyn spun on her heel, her movements graceful and precise as she unleashed a flurry of spells, each one designed to repel the dark entities that surrounded her. Fire burst from her hands, searing through the shadows, while bolts of lightning cracked through the air, illuminating the night with blinding flashes.

The creatures shrieked in pain and fury, their forms flickering and wavering under the onslaught. But they didn't retreat. Instead, they pressed forward, their numbers seemingly endless. Tamzyn's heart raced as she realized the full extent of the threat she was facing. These weren't just random attacks; they were coordinated, driven by a purpose she couldn't yet understand.

As she fought, Tamzyn's mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. The dark magic she had sensed in the woods, the strange events in Silver Ridge, the visions—everything was connected. But how? And why were these creatures after her?

The answer came to her in a flash of insight, like a piece of a puzzle clicking into place—the prophecy.

It was something she had only heard whispers about when she was still a part of her coven. An ancient prophecy that spoke of a witch who would rise to face a great darkness, a darkness that threatened to consume everything in its path. The details had always been vague, shrouded in secrecy and speculation. But now, as she faced the relentless assault of the shadow creatures, Tamzyn knew with a chilling certainty that the prophecy was real—and that she was at the center of it.

The realization sent a surge of determination through her. She couldn't allow herself to be consumed by fear. She had to survive this, had to uncover the truth about the prophecy and the dark forces that were gathering in Silver Ridge.

With a final burst of energy, Tamzyn unleashed a spell that rippled through the clearing, a wave of light and power that swept the shadow creatures off their feet and sent them scattering into the night. The air hummed with the residual energy of the spell, and for a moment, everything was still.

But the victory was short-lived. Tamzyn could feel the presence of the creatures lingering at the edges of the clearing; their power and ranks had been diminished, but she was sure they would strike again. She knew they wouldn't give up easily, not until they had accomplished whatever dark purpose they had been sent to fulfill.

Breathing heavily, Tamzyn lowered her hands, the last remnants of her magic fading into the air. She was exhausted, the toll of the battle weighing heavily on her, but she couldn't rest yet. She needed answers, and there was only one place she could think of to find them.

The town's archives.

It was a risky move. The archives were located in the heart of Silver Ridge, in the basement of the town hall, and they were usually off-limits to anyone without special permission. But Tamzyn knew that the answers she sought had to be buried there, hidden in the old records and forgotten lore of the town's history.

She couldn't afford to wait any longer. The threat was greater than she had imagined, and time was running out. If the prophecy was true, if she was meant to face this darkness, then she needed to know everything there was to know about it.

Gathering her strength, Tamzyn began the long walk back to town. The night was quiet again, the shadows retreating into the darkness to lick their wounds, but she knew they would be back. The battle was far from over.

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