Chapter 88

Abigail

The forest had a smell to it—earthy, like wet moss and pine, mixed with something I couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t unpleasant, but it felt... ancient. That’s the only word I could use to describe it. And as I trudged through the thick underbrush, my feet crunching the dry leaves beneath me, I couldn’t shake the feeling that we were heading into something we were never supposed to find.

“Are we there yet?” I asked, turning to Theo, who was leading the way with his usual barefoot swagger, his hands casually shoved into the pockets of his jacket.

Theo glanced back over his shoulder and smirked. “Relax, Abs. We’re almost there. You’ve been asking that for the past twenty minutes.”

Owen was a few steps behind me, his hands crossed over his chest, eyes narrowed. I could tell he was nervous, but it wasn’t his style to show it. He might be serious about... well, everything, but I knew my brother. He didn’t like doing things he didn’t fully understand, especially if they were dangerous. And this? This was definitely dangerous.

I coudn’t blame him though, not after what happened in the mountains with mom.

“I still don’t understand why we’re doing this,” Owen muttered, kicking a stone out of his path. “This is stupid, Theo. You’re leading us into forbidden territory.”

Theo threw him a glance over his shoulder. “Says the guy who keeps following me.”

I laughed and nudged Owen with my elbow. “Come on, don’t be such a buzzkill. We’re on an adventure. How often do you get to say that? ‘Yeah, I went into the forbidden woods, almost got lost—but I made it out with some crazy power.’”

“Not funny,” Owen muttered, but I could see the corner of his mouth twitch. He was definitely more worried than he let on, but I knew he cared about me, even if he didn’t say it outright. I mean, if I fell into a pit or did something stupid, he’d totally save me.

He was a good brother like that.

“Almost there,” Theo said again, his voice light, but I could see a flicker of something more serious in his eyes. He wasn’t joking anymore. Whatever was out here—whatever he was leading us to—it mattered.

We walked in silence for a few more minutes, and the deeper we went, the quieter it got. The birds, the rustling of leaves, the buzz of insects—everything seemed to fade as if the woods themselves were holding their breath. It was like we had crossed some invisible line, and I had to fight the urge to turn back. But something inside me... pulled me forward. I couldn’t explain it.

Then we reached a clearing. It was small, hidden away by thick trees, and in the center—an ancient ruin. The stones were cracked, weathered with age, covered in vines and moss. It looked like it had been abandoned for centuries.

“This is it,” Theo said, stopping at the edge of the clearing and gesturing to the ruin. “The secret linked to your bloodline, Abigail. To both of you.”

Owen and I exchanged a look. “What do you mean, ‘linked to our bloodline’?” Owen asked, his tone skeptical. “Theo, this doesn’t look like the answer to anything. It looks like an old pile of rocks.”

Theo shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Well, you’re only half right. It’s old, but it’s not just rocks. It’s a shrineor the entrance to it—dedicated to our ancestors. The Moon Wolf Goddess, to be specific.”

I felt my heart jump in my chest. The Moon Wolf Goddess. Her role in the stories our parents told us, and the old legends. But no one ever mentioned a shrine.

“Wait,” Owen interjected. “You’re telling me this shrine is—what? Can cause you to shift early?”

Theo nodded. “Exactly. The shrine grants access to the abilities of the Moon Wolf Goddess. Primal power.” Making his way down the caved path.

I followed quickly, my curiosity winning out over the wariness in Owen’s eyes. He was still hesitant, still skeptical, but I could see the way his gaze lingered on the shrine, like he was wondering if it would really change everything.

The air felt different here, charged with something I couldn’t name. My skin tingled. My heart pounded louder in my chest. I took a deep breath, and I could almost taste the magic in the air.

Theo led us into the ruin, down a narrow path that led to a cave entrance. The cave was dark, but I didn’t feel scared. I felt... drawn to it.

We began climbing—up jagged rocks, carefully stepping around crumbling stone—and just as I thought I had a grip on the climb, I lost my balance.

“Whoa!” I yelped as my foot slipped, and I went tumbling toward the edge of the cliff.

But before I could fall, a pair of strong hands gripped my waist, pulling me back against a solid chest. I half expected to see my brother, but was surprised to find Theo’s arm around me, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. He steadied me, his body pressed up against mine. I froze for a second, the moment hanging between us.

“You good?” Theo asked, his voice low and steady, but there was a hint of something more in his eyes.

I nodded slowly, my face flushed, this feeling unfarmiler. What what that? I stepped back, forcing myself to focus. “Uh, yeah. Thanks.”

Theo didn’t move immediately. His gaze held mine for a moment longer, and I couldn’t help but notice the way his lips curled into a small, teasing smile. “Careful next time. We wouldn’t want to lose our most talented adventurer.”

I rolled my eyes, trying to mask the flutter in my stomach. “Right. Totally. I’ll be sure to not fall off cliffs next time.”

Owen, who had been a few steps ahead, turned back toward us, his arms crossed. “You two done flirting? Can we keep going?”

I blushed deeper, though I snapped back. “We’re not flirting,” I said quickly. “I almost fell to my death, so Theo saved me. That’s it. Nothing romantic here.”

Theo raised an eyebrow. “Never said there was.”

I elbowed him lightly, my cheeks still hot, and he chuckled as he led us forward.

The cave was steep, and soon enough, we reached the bottom. And there, in the center of the cave, was the shrine. A large, ancient stone wolf, its eyes glowing faintly in the darkness. The pool beneath it reflected the moonlight, casting shimmering ripples across the stone. It was beautiful. And ancient. And... powerful.

“This is it,” Theo said, his voice softer now, like he was in awe of the place, too.

I approached the pool, my feet slipping into the cool water. The surface rippled, and I gazed up at the hole in the cave ceiling where the moonlight streamed through. It hit the pool in a perfect beam, illuminating the water like a spotlight.

Theo stepped forward, his expression serious. “Drink from the pool,” he said, his voice low and almost reverent. “It’s how you tap into your power early.”

I hesitated. “But... Owen, he’s—”

“I’m not doing it,” Owen interrupted quickly. His voice was firm, his expression tight. “You don’t know what this could do. And if you react, someone needs to save you when we could just, I don’t know, wait a few years for the same effect.”

“I’m not a kid anymore,” I snapped back, the words leaving my mouth before I could stop them. “I’m not waiting for some ‘perfect time.’ I have to be strong now. For Mom and Dad. For us.”

Owen opened his mouth to argue, but I didn’t let him. I kneeled by the pool, leaning over the edge to drink from the moonlit water.

As soon as the cool liquid touched my lips, a burning sensation shot through my body. My muscles clenched, my bones screamed in agony. I cried out, my hands clutching my chest as the pain intensified.

I gasped, barely able to speak through the excruciating shift that was tearing through me.

And then—footsteps.

Loud. Fast.

“Hey! What the hell are you kids doing here?” a deep voice shouted from the shadows.

The patrol. Miles’s patrol.

I couldn’t even process it. The pain was too much. Everything was spinning, my body trembling as I fought to hold myself together.