Sabrina’s gaze narrowed, her expression sharpening. “But before we begin, there’s something crucial you need to know,” she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’m aware that you two are seeking the Eternity Book.”
The mention of the book sent a jolt through me. “The Eternity Book? But it’s supposed to be lost. How do you know about it?”
She smiled knowingly, a hint of satisfaction playing on her lips. “Because it isn’t lost, dear. It’s with you, Audrey.”
I blinked, disbelief washing over me. “With me? How could that be?”
Sabrina stepped closer, her red eyes gleaming with intensity. “Your father struck a bargain with me long before he passed,” she explained, her voice dripping with an eerie calmness. “He sought power for you-a power unlike any the world has ever seen. He wanted you to become the strongest werewolf, destined to lead and protect your kind.”
A knot formed in my stomach as I processed her words. “And what does that have to do with the Eternity Book?”
“The bargain was simple,” she continued, her tone becoming more serious. “In exchange for his life, I agreed to make you the guardian of the book. He wanted you to be strong enough to wield its power when the time was right. The book holds ancient knowledge and abilities that could help you harness your true potential. But there’s a catch: when you come of age, you’ll receive clues that will lead you to it.”
I felt a mix of emotions swirling inside me-anger, confusion, and an undeniable sense of purpose. “So, my entire life has been a preparation for this? I didn’t even know this book existed until recently!”
Sabrina nodded, unfazed by my outburst. “Your father was wise. He knew that in this world, knowledge is power. And the book is not just a relic; it is the key to balance between the realms.”
Logan glanced at me, his eyes filled with concern. “What if she’s just playing us? What if the book isn’t real?”
Sabrina raised an eyebrow, her expression unfaltering. “Oh, it’s very real. And you’ll need it if you intend to face the creature hunting you. It’s already drawn blood, and it won’t stop until it claims what it wants.”
The weight of her words hung heavy in the air. I felt the flicker of doubt deep in my chest. “So, what do we do now?” I asked, trying to regain control over my swirling thoughts.
abrina’s smile widened, her eyes gleaming with an unsettling mix of excitement and menace. “What you do now,” she said, “is embrace your destiny. You’ve been running from it, Audrey, but there’s no escaping it anymore. The Eternity Book will reveal itself when you are ready. But first, you must unlock the power within you.”
My mind spun with questions, my pulse racing with uncertainty. “How do I even begin to do that?”
Sabrina’s gaze softened slightly, though the dangerous allure never left her face. “It begins with training-physical and mental. You have raw potential, but the power you’ll need requires control, discipline, and, most of all, understanding. The Veil is vast and full of dark forces, some that will try to sway you from your path.”
Logan stepped closer, his hand brushing mine. “We don’t have time for some drawn-out training.
Sabrina tilted her head, studying me closely. “Tell me, Audrey,” she began, her voice dangerously soft, “have you ever transformed into a werewolf?”
My breath caught in my throat. “Once,” I admitted, the memory of that night flooding back. “It was the first time… I didn’t even know what was happening. I lost control.”
Sabrina’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. “Exactly as I thought,” she said, nodding slightly. “That was your awakening, the first spark of the power your father sought for you. But without guidance, without mastery, you are vulnerable. You must learn to control it.”
Logan’s hand tightened around mine. “She doesn’t need to transform again. We’ll find another way.”
Sabrina laughed, a sound like crackling fire. “Oh, there’s no escaping it. She must embrace her nature if she has any hope of surviving what’s coming. The creature hunting you is a beast of immense power, and only a fully realized werewolf-one in complete control of her abilities-stands a chance.”
I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest. The thought of transforming again terrified me. That first time had been chaotic, painful, and overwhelming. I wasn’t sure I could handle it, let alone control it.
Sabrina’s gaze lingered on me, watching as I wrestled with my fear. “Fear is natural,” she said, her voice smooth, almost soothing. “But fear is also a chain. Break it, and you will be free. Resist it, and it will drag you down. The choice is yours, Audrey.”
I clenched my fists, fighting the rising tide of dread that threatened to overwhelm me. The memory of that first transformation haunted me-bones snapping, skin stretching, the wild, uncontrollable rage that had surged through me like a storm. But I also knew that I couldn’t keep running from this. Sabrina was right, as much as I hated to admit it. If I didn’t learn to control my abilities, whatever hunted us would destroy me. And Logan.
Logan’s presence beside me gave me the strength I needed to face the terrifying truth. I wasn’t just running from my own power-I was running from my destiny. The creature that hunted us had already proven its deadly intent, and the only way to stop it was by embracing the very thing I feared.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded to Sabrina. “Tell me what I have to do.”
Her eyes gleamed with approval, a hint of a smirk pulling at her lips. “Good. The first step is understanding your bond with the wolf inside you. It is not separate from you-it is a part of who you are. When you transformed before, it was chaotic because you resisted it. This time, you will welcome it.”
Sabrina stepped back, gesturing toward the open clearing. “Begin by focusing on your heartbeat. Let it slow, let it match the rhythm of the earth beneath your feet.”
Logan shot me a worried glance, but I gave him a reassuring nod. He didn’t like this, but he knew it had to be done. Slowly, I closed my eyes and concentrated on the beating of my heart, the pulse that echoed through every part of me. It started fast, irregular, reflecting my fear-but gradually, as I focused, it began to slow. My breaths deepened, each one in sync with the pounding of the earth beneath me.
Sabrina’s voice was calm, almost hypnotic. “Good, Audrey. Now reach for the wolf within. Don’t fight her. She is you, and you are her.”
The familiar heat began to build inside me, slow at first, then surging as the wolf stirred. My skin prickled, my muscles tensed, but this time, I didn’t resist. I let the change flow through me, not fighting the discomfort, not letting the fear take hold. Bones shifted and stretched, but it wasn’t as painful as before. It was almost… natural.
The transformation was still overwhelming-the strength, the heightened senses, the wild instinct-but I remained present, holding onto my consciousness as the wolf took form. When I opened my eyes, everything was sharper, clearer. The world had a new intensity to it, but I was still in control.
Sabrina’s smile deepened. “You’re learning. Now let’s see how well you can maintain that control.”
Before I could react, she vanished into the shadows of the trees. Logan tensed beside me, scanning the darkened forest. I growled, instincts flaring as I sensed something shift in the air. Sabrina wasn’t alone out here-something else was lurking, waiting.
“Stay close,” I growled to Logan, my voice rough and unfamiliar in this form.
From the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged, and a deep, menacing growl followed. A hulking shape broke through the trees, its fur bristling, teeth bared. The creature was massive, larger than any wolf I had ever seen. This wasn’t just an ordinary werewolf. It was the beast that had been hunting us.
Logan stepped forward, but I blocked him with my body. “This is my fight,” I said, my voice filled with a strength I hadn’t realized was there before.
Sabrina’s voice echoed from the shadows. “Face it, Audrey. This is the test you’ve been preparing for.”
The creature charged, its eyes locked on me. Every instinct in my body screamed to run, but I stood my ground. As it lunged, I met it head-on, our bodies colliding with a force that shook the ground. We tumbled together, teeth and claws flashing, but I fought with control, not wild desperation.
I could feel the wolf’s strength flowing through me, a fierce power that allowed me to match the beast’s savage attacks. For the first time, I wasn’t afraid of the wolf inside me. I embraced it, used it.
The battle raged on, but the more I fought, the clearer my thoughts became. I wasn’t just reacting-I was strategizing, controlling every move. And in that clarity, I realized something. This creature wasn’t just hunting me. It wanted something… something tied to the Eternity Book.
With a final surge of strength, I knocked the beast back, pinning it beneath me. My claws pressed against its throat as it snarled, but it didn’t strike again. Instead, it lay still, its red eyes boring into mine.
Sabrina stepped out of the shadows, her expression unreadable. “Well done, Audrey,” she said quietly. “But this isn’t over. The beast won’t stop until you unlock the book’s full power. This is just the beginning.”
I released the creature, stepping back as it slunk into the darkness, its presence still heavy in the air. I turned to face Sabrina, panting, my heart still racing. “What does it want?” I demanded, my voice shaking.
“The same thing that all creatures of the Veil want,” she replied, her tone ominous. “The Eternity Book holds the key to unimaginable power. And now, Audrey, it’s time for you to claim it.”
Logan hurried to my side, his hand resting on my shoulder as I slowly returned to my human form. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice filled with concern.
I nodded, though my body ached from the battle. “I’m fine… but Sabrina’s right. This isn’t over.”
Sabrina gave a curt nod. “You’ve proven you can control the wolf, but to unlock the full power of the book, you’ll need more than just strength. You’ll need to face the darkness within you. Only then will the book reveal itself.”
I stared at her, the weight of her words sinking in. Darkness within me? I wasn’t sure what she meant, but one thing was clear-I had a long way to go before I was ready for what lay ahead. And the Eternity Book was the key to everything.