Cara pov
I waved at him, flashing a nervous smile. He returned it, making my heart flutter before I quickly looked away, pretending to be focused on something else.
“Cara, are you even listening?” Emma’s voice pulled me back to reality.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, of course,” I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I prayed she hadn’t noticed how distracted I was.
Emma raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. “You’ve been staring at my brother, haven’t you?”
“No, I haven’t! It’s not like that,” I protested, a little too quickly, desperately trying to correct the assumption that I’d been sneaking glances at Alexander.
“Sure, you haven’t,” she teased, nudging me with her elbow. “Don’t worry, though. He’s been sneaking glances at you, too.”
My heart skipped a beat, a strange fluttering sensation rising in my chest. Why was he staring at me?
Trying to change the subject, I grabbed a cup of punch from a nearby table and took a sip. “So, where did Emily go?” I asked, hoping to steer Emma away from the topic of Alexander.
Emma frowned, scanning the room. “She was supposed to meet me here. I wonder where she went.”
“You didn’t see her?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Nope. I thought she was with you.”
“Maybe she’s just taking a break?” I suggested, trying to keep my voice light.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Typical Emily, probably sneaking off with one of the guards. You know, doing…” She made an exaggerated kissing face, causing me to grimace in disgust.
“Gross!” I said, scrunching my nose. Emma burst out laughing.
“So, what’s next on the agenda?” I asked, eager to change the subject.
“They’re about to start the pack dance,” she said, pointing toward the clearing near the bonfire. “You have to join! It’s tradition.”
“I don’t know…” I hesitated, feeling a bit out of place.
“Nope, no excuses!” Emma declared, grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the clearing. “You’re part of the pack now, and you’re going to have fun, whether you like it or not!”
Before I knew it, I was surrounded by the other wolves as the music grew louder. The beat was lively, and the pack members began singing and swaying. At first, I stood there awkwardly, unsure of how to join in. But then, I caught Emma’s encouraging smile, and I decided to let go.
I moved with the rhythm, letting the energy around me sweep me away. I twirled and laughed along with everyone else, and for the first time in a long while, I felt free.
The music eventually faded, and an older man stepped forward, commanding the crowd’s attention.
“Gather around!” his voice boomed, gruff and full of authority. “It’s time to share the tale of our kind.”
“That’s Jacob,” Emma whispered as we sat down. “He’s been telling this story for as long as I can remember.”
The pack members settled, some leaning forward in anticipation, others wrapping themselves in blankets as the night air cooled. Jacob stood by the bonfire, his shadow long and eerie behind him.
“Long ago,” Jacob began, “when the world was young, we werewolves lived in peace, ruled by a mighty Alpha named Fenrir. Under his leadership, the packs thrived. We were strong, united, and our power was unmatched by any other creatures. We were united as one big pack and people lived in harmony with one another.”
His voice was deep, each word drawing me deeper into the story. “But then, something changed. A personal servant, a server of wine in Fenrir’s court gave birth to a special child, a werewolf unlike any we had ever seen. This child was more powerful than any Alpha child born, with abilities beyond comprehension. He could control the elements, heal with a touch, and his strength knew no limits. He was called the ‘Special child.'”
The crowd murmured, curiosity and unease mixing in their expressions. A shiver ran down my spine as the name rang strangely familiar.
“At first, his existence was kept secret,” Jacob continued, “and he served as Fenrir’s personal servant. But over time, it was discovered that there were others like him…’Special Ones,’ as they came to be known. Their presence caused unrest in Ellorin.”
Jacob’s voice grew darker. “Enemies of the throne began recruiting these Special Ones for their own purposes, using their power for evil. Discord spread, and when the king’s daughter was assassinated, Fenrir, blinded by grief, ordered the execution of all Special Ones.”
The crowd gasped, and I felt a knot form in my stomach.
“Many were furious with Fenrir’s decree, especially those whose children were killed. Even the Special One rebelled, turning his back on the Alpha King. He gathered others like him, and together, they waged war against the king.”
The flames flickered, casting shadows across Jacob’s face, making him look more menacing. “For years, we fought, tearing each other apart. Many of our kind perished.”
Jacob paused, letting the tension hang in the air. Only the crackling of the fire broke the silence.
“So, how did the war end?” someone in the crowd asked, unable to hold back.
Jacob smiled before continuing. “The war ended when the Special One and Fenrir clashed in a fierce and long battle for days. It was a clash that shook the mountains themselves. In the end, no one knows who truly won. What we do know is that without their leader, the Special child who was the strongest and the only one to go toe to toe with the Alpha King, they were defeated and driven into the mountains, never to be seen again.”
Jacob’s eyes scanned the crowd, lingering on each of us. “Since then, those of his bloodline have been shunned, hunted even, for they are a curse upon our kind. The Special Ones are a reminder of chaos and destruction.”
A strange tightness gripped my chest, a sense of deja vu as if I’d heard this story before in another life.
Jacob’s voice lowered. “The Special child vanished after his fight with Fenrir, but there are some fanatics who believe that his legacy lives on. A prophecy claims that one day, another like him will rise.”
“And that,” Jacob finished, his voice dropping to a growl, “is why we must remain vigilant. For if they return, our peace will be shattered once more.”
The crowd fell into a thick silence, buzzing with curiosity and unease.
“Jacob,” a young wolf called out, breaking the quiet, “what was the name of the Special One?”
A hush fell over the crowd, and I felt my heart skip a beat. Jacob’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully before he spoke again. “They had many names, but there is one that has stood the test of time, Cupbearers. They were known as Cupbearers, for they carried within them a power that could tip the balance of this world.”
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck rise as whispers spread through the crowd. The word seemed to echo in my mind, stirring something deep inside me.
Jacob scanned the crowd again, asking, “Any more questions?” But I wasn’t listening anymore. My mind was racing, lost in the story of the Cupbearers.
Debby had once told me that the cause of my unexplained dreams and burst of strenghts is because of what I am.
A Cupbearer!!