The riverbank stretched out before them, dark and foreboding under the blanket of night. The rushing water churned and foamed, the sound of it relentless, drowning out all but the most persistent of noises. For a moment, as Kael and Eryk emerged from the hidden tunnel, there was silence between them, a shared breath as they looked out over the rushing waters. The air was thick with unease, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on both of them.

Eryk felt the cool breeze on his face, but it did little to calm the tension coiling in his chest. He had never imagined that his life would lead him here, to this point of uncertainty. The very kingdom he was destined to rule was being threatened, not by foreign invaders or a political rebellion, but by creatures of legend—wolves that were more than mere animals. And through it all, Kael stood by him, the only anchor he had in this storm.

"Where do we go from here?" Eryk asked, his voice steady but filled with the weight of a thousand questions that had yet to be answered.

Kael’s eyes scanned the river, his expression hardening. He wasn’t looking at the water, though. He was looking at something farther beyond it, as though sensing the unseen, the danger that lingered in the darkness. “We don’t have much time,” he said, his voice low. “The wolves are close, and whoever is leading them has eyes everywhere. They’ll be searching for us.”

Eryk nodded, taking in the situation. Their only escape from the palace had been through the hidden tunnels, but now that they were out in the open, they were vulnerable. They had to move fast.

“Is there anyone who can help us?” Eryk asked, his gaze turning to Kael. “Anyone who can fight back against this... whatever it is?”

Kael hesitated, a shadow flickering across his features. “There are allies,” he said quietly, “but they are few. Most of them are in hiding, scattered across the kingdom. The wolves have been hunting them down, picking them off one by one.”

Eryk clenched his fists. The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. “This is bigger than just us, isn’t it?” he asked. “They’ve been planning this for a long time.”

Kael nodded grimly. “Yes. Whoever is behind this isn’t just interested in taking the throne—they’re interested in destroying everything your family built. The wolves, the humans, the magic—it’s all connected.”

Eryk turned his gaze to the dark waters below, trying to make sense of it all. "But why me? Why is my family’s bloodline so important to them?"

Kael’s eyes flickered with something Eryk couldn’t quite place, a mix of regret and something more complicated. “It’s not just about the bloodline. It’s about the power that comes with it. The power that your ancestors sealed away centuries ago, hidden in plain sight. And someone has found it.”

Eryk’s breath caught in his throat. “What power?”

Kael took a step closer, lowering his voice so that it was almost a whisper, though the night was silent around them. “The magic of the old kings. Your ancestors were not just rulers—they were guardians. They protected something ancient, something dangerous. A power that can reshape the very fabric of reality.”

Eryk stared at Kael, feeling a growing sense of disbelief. Magic? Guardians? His family’s history was filled with grand tales of honor and duty, of victories and struggles. But this? This was something out of myth, something that belonged in stories, not in the real world.

“You’re saying my family... my bloodline, is tied to some kind of ancient power?” Eryk asked, his voice barely audible, his mind racing to grasp what Kael was telling him.

Kael’s expression was pained, his gaze unwavering. “Yes. But it’s not just a blessing. It’s a curse as well. That power can be used to protect... or to destroy. And someone—someone dark—has learned how to unlock it.”

Eryk’s stomach twisted at the implication. “Who?”

Kael’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching as he glanced over his shoulder. “I don’t know yet. But they’ve been following you. Watching you, waiting for the right moment to strike. Whoever they are, they’ve been biding their time.”

A rustle in the trees above them made Eryk’s senses flare. He wasn’t sure if it was the wind or something more sinister, but he could feel it—someone, something was close. The wolves? The enemy’s soldiers? His heart raced as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up.

“Kael,” he whispered urgently, “I feel it. We’re not alone.”

Kael’s eyes flashed in the direction of the sound. Without a word, he stepped in front of Eryk, his posture rigid, as if ready for whatever was about to emerge from the shadows. His hand instinctively went to the blade at his side, the hilt nearly invisible against the dark fabric of his cloak. His presence alone was enough to shift the balance, to make the air around them crackle with a sense of danger.

From the trees, a figure stepped out—a tall, slender figure with dark hair and piercing eyes. The stranger’s features were sharp, almost too perfect, and his clothes seemed to shimmer with an ethereal light. He was neither human nor wolf, but something in between. A hybrid.

Eryk’s pulse quickened as the stranger’s gaze locked onto him, and he instinctively took a step back. There was a coldness in those eyes, a predatory gleam that made his skin crawl.

“Who are you?” Kael demanded, his voice commanding and low, the tension between them palpable.

The stranger smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I am someone who knows what your bloodline holds, Prince Eryk. And I know what you’ve hidden. It’s time for you to come with me.”

Eryk’s throat tightened as the stranger’s words sent a chill down his spine. This wasn’t just a threat. This was a warning.

Kael’s grip tightened on his blade. “I don’t think you understand,” he said, his voice a low growl. “You won’t be taking him anywhere.”

The stranger’s smile faltered slightly, but there was no fear in his expression. Instead, his eyes flashed with something far darker—amusement. “You misunderstand, wolf. I’m not here to take him. I’m here to make him understand his destiny.”

Before Eryk could react, the stranger raised his hand, a strange flicker of energy crackling around his fingers. The air grew thick, heavy with an unnatural force. The earth beneath their feet seemed to tremble, and Eryk felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.

Kael stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. “You think you can control him with magic? Think again.”

The stranger’s laugh was soft, almost mocking. “Oh, Kael. You’ve been playing at this for too long. It’s not just magic that controls him. It’s the blood. And it’s time for him to awaken.”

The words hit Eryk like a blow to the chest. Awaken? What did that mean? What was he supposed to awaken to?

Kael was already moving, his sword flashing in the moonlight, but the stranger’s hand was raised, and the air around them grew colder. With a sudden crack, the earth split beneath their feet, and a wave of dark energy surged toward them. Eryk’s heart skipped a beat, and his instincts screamed at him to run. But he was rooted to the spot, as if the very earth was holding him in place.

In that moment, Kael turned toward him, his eyes fierce. “Run, Eryk. Now.”

But it was too late. The ground beneath them shattered, and darkness engulfed the world around them.