Chapter 6: The Pack's Secret
The woods were quieter than usual, the stillness unsettling. Dante tightened his grip on the flashlight as he made his way to the clearing where he’d first encountered Orin and the others. Questions buzzed in his mind, too loud to ignore. Why him? Why now? And what exactly did they want from him?
As he approached, the beam of his flashlight caught the glint of eyes in the dark. Several figures stepped out of the shadows, their movements silent and predatory. Orin stood at the forefront, his amber eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. The other wolves—some in human form, others halfway transformed—watched Dante with guarded curiosity.
“You came,” Orin said, his deep voice calm but commanding. “I wasn’t sure you would.”
Dante squared his shoulders, determined to keep his voice steady. “I need answers. Why me? Why did this happen?”
Orin nodded, gesturing for Dante to step closer. The other wolves parted, forming a loose circle around them. “It’s not a coincidence, Dante. Your bloodline carries the mark of the wolf. This—your transformation—was inevitable.”
Dante frowned, his mind racing. “What do you mean? My parents aren’t… they’re normal. No one in my family has ever mentioned anything about werewolves.”
Orin’s expression softened, but his tone remained firm. “Your family may have tried to bury the truth, but it’s there. Somewhere in your ancestry lies a connection to our kind. Sometimes, the wolf skips generations, lying dormant until it awakens. For you, that time is now.”
The weight of Orin’s words settled heavily on Dante’s chest. He thought about his parents, his sister Mia. Had they known? Or had they been just as unaware as he was? He shook his head, trying to process the revelation.
“Okay,” Dante said, his voice quieter. “But why do I feel like my whole life is falling apart? I didn’t ask for this.”
“No one does,” Orin replied. “But denying what you are won’t help you. Accepting it will.”
A low growl rumbled from one of the wolves nearby, a lean woman with piercing grey eyes. “Enough coddling, Orin. He’s a liability until he proves otherwise.”
Dante turned to her, bristling at the accusation. “I didn’t ask to be dragged into this, but I’m not a liability.”
The woman’s lips curled into a smirk. “We’ll see.”
Orin raised a hand, silencing her. “There’s another reason we’ve brought you here, Dante. You need to know the truth about the dangers you face. There are others who know about us—humans who see us as monsters.”
Dante’s heart skipped a beat. “You mean Taggart?”
Orin’s eyes darkened. “He’s one of them. A Hunter. They’re a secretive group that has existed for centuries, dedicated to eradicating our kind. Taggart isn’t the only one, and he won’t stop until he’s found what he’s looking for.”
Dante’s stomach churned. He thought of the rifle-toting man stalking the woods, of Clara’s frantic warning the night before. “So, what do I do? Hide forever?”
Orin shook his head. “You learn. You grow. You fight, if it comes to that. But you can’t do it alone. That’s why I’m offering to train you—to teach you how to harness your abilities. But there’s a catch.”
“Of course there is,” Dante muttered. “What is it?”
“Loyalty,” Orin said, his gaze piercing. “To the pack. We protect our own, and in return, we expect the same from you. But loyalty isn’t just a word; it’s proven through action. If you want our help, you’ll have to show us where you stand.”
Dante hesitated. He’d spent the past weeks struggling to keep his secret from everyone, trying to juggle his old life with this new reality. Now, Orin was asking him to pick a side. Could he trust them? Did he even have a choice?
“What do I have to do?” he asked finally.
Orin gestured to the circle of wolves. “We have a task for you. A test. There’s a cabin on the other side of the woods, abandoned but used by the Hunters as a watchpoint. You’ll go there and retrieve something they’ve taken from us—a relic that’s vital to our pack. Bring it back, and you’ll earn our trust.”
Dante’s pulse quickened. “And if I don’t?”
“Then you’re on your own,” Orin said simply.
The words hung in the air, heavy with finality. Dante swallowed hard, his throat dry. He looked around the circle, at the expectant faces of the wolves. This was more than just a test; it was a choice that would define his future.
“Fine,” he said at last. “I’ll do it.”
The wolves exchanged glances, some approving, others skeptical. Orin clapped a hand on Dante’s shoulder. “Good. We’ll be watching.”
As the pack dispersed into the shadows, Dante felt the weight of his decision settle on his shoulders. The cabin was two miles away, and the thought of walking into Hunter territory sent a shiver down his spine. But he couldn’t back down now. If he was going to survive this new life, he’d need allies—and he’d need to prove he wasn’t just a scared kid in over his head.
With one last glance at Orin, Dante turned and disappeared into the woods, his heart pounding as he set out to face the unknown.
Source: Some or all of the content was generated using an AI language model