The corridors of the palace were alive with panic. Eryk’s heart hammered in his chest as he followed Kael through the labyrinth of stone walls, his mind struggling to process what was happening. The howls of wolves echoed outside, their eerie chorus reverberating through the palace grounds. The sound was chilling, a constant reminder that something far beyond ordinary wolves was prowling at the kingdom’s gates.

Kael moved with an ease that Eryk couldn’t quite understand. It was as if he was more attuned to the palace than any guard, as if he knew the shadows and the silence of these walls intimately. His movements were fluid, his steps deliberate, guiding Eryk through the winding hallways with an uncanny sense of direction. The prince’s breath quickened as they rounded another corner, Kael’s grip on his arm never faltering, never loosening.

"Where are we going?" Eryk’s voice broke through the quiet tension. He could feel the fear creeping up his spine, but he forced it down, trying to focus on the immediate need for action. "Where do we hide?"

Kael didn’t answer right away, his gaze fixed ahead. His sharp senses, honed by his wolf heritage, told him they were running out of time. "The secret passage," he muttered, almost to himself. "It’s the safest place. From there, we can find a way to get out of the palace unnoticed."

Eryk’s brow furrowed. "A secret passage?"

Kael nodded, his sharp eyes meeting Eryk’s for a brief moment. "It’s been used for centuries. Only the royal family and a few trusted allies know of it. It leads beneath the palace and connects to the caves along the riverbanks. It’s the last place anyone would think to search."

Eryk was about to respond when another wolf’s howl rang out, closer now. His pulse spiked. "Then lead the way," he said, his voice steady but filled with urgency.

Kael nodded, turning down a narrow hallway, leading Eryk toward a hidden door tucked away behind an ornate tapestry. It was barely noticeable unless one knew where to look. Kael pushed it open with ease, revealing a narrow stone stairway descending into darkness.

Eryk hesitated for only a moment, then followed Kael into the shadows. The cool, damp air hit him as they descended, the stone walls pressing in around him. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of claustrophobia, but he quickly shook it off. The sounds of chaos from above—the clashing of swords, the frantic shouting of soldiers—reminded him that staying above ground wasn’t an option.

As they made their way deeper into the passage, Kael’s pace quickened. His heightened senses picked up every shift in the air, every subtle noise. He could smell the faint scent of earth, damp and ancient, mixed with something else—something darker. It was an omen, and Kael didn’t need to be told that the danger was closing in. The wolves were only the beginning.

The two of them moved in silence, the sound of their footsteps muffled by the thick stone. The passage seemed to stretch on forever, and Eryk’s mind raced with questions. Why was Kael so sure of this place? How had he known it existed? And what exactly was Kael? He wasn’t just a human—he couldn’t be. The way he moved, the way he seemed to blend with the shadows—there was something otherworldly about him.

“You’ve never told me what you are,” Eryk said suddenly, his voice echoing slightly in the stillness. His words were more an observation than a question, though they held an edge of curiosity that he couldn’t suppress.

Kael paused in his step, glancing over his shoulder at Eryk, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “I’m not human,” he said simply, his voice low, as though the words themselves carried weight he wasn’t ready to share.

Eryk’s heart skipped a beat. "Then what are you?"

Kael’s eyes softened slightly, his lips tugging into a brief, almost wistful smile. “I’m a wolf, in the truest sense. But I was born human... or at least, I used to be. My blood is both cursed and blessed.”

Eryk’s mind spun. “Cursed and blessed?” he repeated, his voice quiet, a thread of disbelief lacing his tone. “How?”

Kael didn’t answer right away. Instead, he kept walking, his gaze fixed ahead, as though there was something he couldn’t quite bring himself to say. Eryk didn’t push further, knowing that now wasn’t the time for such revelations. But the weight of Kael’s words lingered in the air between them.

Soon, the passage began to widen, the stone giving way to a network of tunnels carved into the earth. The air grew thicker here, and the faint sound of running water reached Eryk’s ears. They were getting close to the river.

Kael turned down another corridor, and Eryk followed closely, his steps slow, cautious. The quiet was unnerving, and the urgency of their situation kept his nerves taut. He couldn’t help but wonder what awaited them at the end of this passage. Were they truly safe down here? Or was this just another temporary escape?

They arrived at a small chamber where the passage opened up into a cavern-like space. A narrow stream of water flowed through the stone floor, its steady current a reminder of the river that lay beyond. The walls were lined with rough-hewn stone, and in the far corner, Eryk spotted a wooden trapdoor set into the floor.

Kael walked over to it, crouching down to pull open the heavy door. The scent of the earth beneath was strong, and a rush of cold air from the river greeted them.

"From here, we can make our way to the riverbank," Kael said, his voice quiet but resolute. "We’ll be safe for now. But we can’t stay here long. The wolves are only the beginning. Whoever’s behind them won’t stop until they get what they want."

Eryk’s heart clenched at the words, and a sense of dread settled deep within him. He didn’t know what they were facing, but he could feel the storm building around them, and it terrified him.

"You said... they’re after me," Eryk said, his voice strained. "Why? What do they want with me?"

Kael’s expression darkened as he stood, his eyes locking with Eryk’s. “It’s not just you they want,” he said, his tone heavy with a burden Eryk couldn’t fully understand. "It’s the throne. Your family’s bloodline. The power you hold. Whoever leads these wolves... they seek to destroy everything in your kingdom. And they’ll stop at nothing to take it."

The weight of Kael’s words sank in, and Eryk felt a chill of fear run through him. He had always known that his position as prince would make him a target—every heir to a throne had enemies. But this... this was something different. Whoever was behind these wolves was not just a rogue enemy. This was something far darker. Something more dangerous.

Kael extended his hand, his gaze firm. “We need to go. Now.”

Eryk hesitated for only a moment before taking Kael’s hand, the touch sending a strange spark through him. He didn’t know what awaited them outside, or what was lurking in the shadows, but one thing was clear—he was no longer just a prince. He was part of something much larger, something that tied him to Kael, to the wolves, and to the storm that was about to engulf them all.

Together, they moved forward, into the unknown.