Shadow and Moonlight

Chapter 9 • Shadowed Secrets

I grappled with the weight of Alerick's words, the gravity of it settled heavy upon me, sending shivers down my spine as I struggled to comprehend the magnitude of his revelation. The true power of his pack... what could he possibly mean by that? And what does it have to do with me?

"Wh-what do you mean, the true power of our pack, uh, your pack," I asked, correcting myself as I repeated his words.

Alerick's gaze bore into mine, his expression grave as he considered his next words carefully. "There are things about our pack, about our lineage, that you don't know. Things that have been kept from the pack for generations. It's complicated."

I frowned, the pieces of the puzzle slowly beginning to fall into place. "You mean there's more to your pack than meets the eye," I ventured, my mind racing.

Alerick nodded, confirming my suspicions. "And your powers are the key to unlocking them."

"Why?" The gravity of his words washed over me like a wave, leaving me reeling in its wake.

"You... or rather, the power you possess is the key to tapping into the true potential of our bloodline."

The true potential of their bloodline... "The dark secret of our bloodline. There's a reason we're called the Shadowed Claws," Alerick continued. "He wants to unlock it, and he needs you to do it."

"Okay, but why? Why would he want to tap into something dark and clearly dangerous? I mean, there's obviously a reason why your ancestors kept it a secret." I paused, trying to make sense of it all.

"He wasn't always like this," Alerick started, his voice trailing off as his demeanour shifted, reluctance evident in his expression.

I watched as Alerick struggled with his words, his usual confidence wavering as he seemed to grapple with his own inner turmoil. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a vulnerability that he had long kept hidden from view.

I saw the turmoil raging within Alerick's mind, the weight of his secrets threatening to crush him under their burden. He hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal, his desire to protect his family's legacy warring with his need to confide in me.

But as he looked into my eyes, something shifted within him, a flicker of trust igniting in the depths of his gaze. With a resigned sigh, he made a decision, knowing that there was no turning back now.

"I'll tell you everything," he vowed, his voice barely above a whisper. "But you have to promise me one thing: that you'll be prepared for the truth, no matter how dark it may be."

ALERICK
Grappling with the weight of my past, memories flooded my mind like a torrential storm, each one more painful than the last. I hesitated, unsure of where to begin, but knowing that I couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer.

"My father... he wasn't always like this," I began, my voice heavy with sorrow. "There was a time when he was a good man, a strong leader who cared for his pack above all else."

But then, everything changed. It began innocently enough, with a visit to a neighbouring pack-your pack, the Silver Fangs-I was accompanied by my father.

Our pack was left in the care of my father's beta and my mother, who was pregnant with my younger sibling at the time. They were supposed to keep the peace and maintain order, but when my father and I returned, we found chaos instead.
As I continued to recount the harrowing events of my past, the memories came flooding back with a force that threatened to overwhelm me. The difficulty of reliving those painful moments, the raw emotions that accompanied them, weighed heavily on my shoulders as I struggled to find the strength to continue.