The forest was silent.
Elara's breath came in uneven gasps as she ran behind Lucien, branches snapping under her feet. The school was far behind them now, but her heart was still racing.
"Slow down," Lucien said suddenly.
They stopped near a narrow clearing surrounded by tall trees. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting pale silver shadows across the ground.
Elara bent forward, trying to catch her breath.
"What… was that thing?" she asked.
Lucien stood still, listening carefully to the forest around them.
"A rogue Lycan," he replied.
"You keep saying that word."
His golden eyes turned toward her.
"Lycan."
"Yes," she said nervously. "What exactly is that?"
Lucien hesitated.
For a moment, it looked like he was deciding how much truth she could handle.
"Lycans," he began slowly, "are what humans call werewolves. But we are far older… and far more dangerous."
Elara felt a chill run down her spine.
"And the one at the school?" she asked quietly.
"It was hunting."
"Hunting what?"
Lucien's gaze moved directly to the pendant hanging around her neck.
"You."
Elara froze.
"That's impossible."
"You felt it too, didn't you?" he said. "The way it looked at you. The way your pendant reacted."
She touched the silver pendant instinctively. It was warm again.
"But why me?" she whispered.
Lucien stepped closer.
"Because your blood is different."
"My blood?"
"Yes."
The wind stirred through the trees, carrying a distant howl across the night.
Lucien's expression darkened.
"You come from an ancient Lycan bloodline," he said.
Elara stared at him.
"No… that can't be real."
"Your family sealed your power long ago," Lucien continued. "The pendant was created to hide you."
Her mind spun.
"My parents never told me anything like that."
"That was the point."
The silence between them grew heavy.
Finally, Elara looked up at him.
"Why do you know all this?"
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the dark forest as if expecting something to emerge from the shadows.
When he finally spoke, his voice was lower.
"Because I've been searching for you."
Elara's heart skipped.
"Searching for me?"
Lucien nodded once.
"For years."
Before she could ask another question—
A deep, chilling howl echoed across the forest.
Much closer this time.
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"They found us."
Elara's stomach dropped.
"You mean there's more?"
Lucien's gaze hardened as he stepped slightly in front of her again.
"Yes."
His claws slowly began to extend again.
"And they won't stop until they get you."
Sometimes the truth is more dangerous than the monsters chasing you.