Divided Grounds

Dawn broke over the Stone Circle, coloring the ancient rocks with golden light. One week had passed since the fight with Morta. One week since Liam and Elijah had nearly died. One week of waiting, watching, and wondering what would come next.

Aria stood in the middle of the circle, surrounded by thirty wolves of all ages. Some looked eager, others scared. All of them waited for her to speak.

"Today we learn to find our elements," she revealed. "Every wolf has one that speaks to them strongest."

At the edge of the circle, Marcus watched with arms crossed. Beside him stood several older wolves, their faces tight with worry.

"This isn't our way," one grumbled. "Magic belongs to Omegas, not regular wolves."

Marcus said nothing, but his eyes never left Aria.

"Close your eyes," Aria told the group. "Feel the earth beneath your feet. The air in your lungs. The heat in your blood. The moisture on your skin."

The younger wolves followed without question. The teens closed their eyes after a moment's hesitation. The adults looked at each other nervously before joining in.

"Now reach inside yourself," Aria continued. "What calls to you strongest?"

Little Sky stepped forward, her eyes still closed. Wind whirled around her, lifting her hair. "Air," she said, her voice stronger than it had been a week ago.

Other wolves began to discover their elements. A boy of fourteen caused small rocks to rise from the ground. A mother of three made water drip from her fingers. A old hunter's hands grew warm with fire.

Marcus's frown worsened with each new display.

From the trees appeared Elijah and Liam, walking side by side. The black poison had left its mark—both men had strange dark lines running from their hands to their hearts. But they walked tall, their eyes clear.

The training stopped as everyone turned to watch their Alpha approach.

"Elijah," Marcus stepped forward. "We need to talk."

Elijah's face hardened. "Later, Father. I want to see how the training is going."

"This isn't training," Marcus hissed. "This is tearing apart everything that has kept us safe for centuries."

Liam put a gentle hand on Elijah's arm. The touch seemed to calm the Alpha instantly.

"Safety built on lies isn't true safety," Liam said softly.

Marcus's eyes flashed with anger. "You know nothing of what we've sacrificed to keep our people alive!"

"Dad," Elijah warned. "Not here."

But it was too late. The exercise circle had gone silent. All eyes moved between Marcus and the Alpha pair.

Aria cleared her throat. "Let's take a break," she told her class. "Ten minutes to rest."

As the dogs scattered, an uncomfortable tension filled the air. Elijah, Liam, Aria, and Marcus moved to a private area of the clearing.

"You're moving too fast," Marcus growled. "Changing too much at once."

"We almost died because of secrets and lies," Elijah shot back. "No more."

"The old ways kept us hidden from humans," Marcus affirmed. "From hunters!"

"The old ways were made up to control Omegas," Liam replied. "To steal their power."

Marcus shook his head. "You don't understand what you're risking."

Before the fight could get worse, a commotion broke out among the training group. A young wolf named Reed was fighting loudly with an older wolf named Grayson.

"I don't have to listen to you anymore!" Reed shouted, his hands glowing with green earth energy. "The old rules are dead!"

"You show respect to your elders, boy!" Grayson growled, his eyes turning amber as his wolf rose to the surface.

Elijah ran over, placing himself between them. "Enough!"

"Tell him the old ways are gone," Reed ordered. "Tell him I don't have to bow to him just because he's older."

"Tell him respect still matters," Grayson replied. "Or there will be no pack left!"

Aria joined her brother at Elijah's side. "Both of you are right," she said. "And both wrong. We need new ways AND old wisdom."

The stress in the air hung like a storm cloud. Then a new sound cut through the silence—slow, mocking clapping.

Everyone turned to see a person dressed in black walking into the Stone Circle.

"Rook?" Aria gasped.

But the wicked smile wasn't Rook's. The eyes still glowed with purple light.

"Morta," Liam whispered.

"Such drama," Morta said through Rook's mouth. "Wolves always did love their pack politics."

Elijah stepped forward, his body tensing. "You were buried under half a mountain."

"Did you think rocks could hold a goddess?" Morta laughed. "I've waited centuries for this moment. I won't be stopped by a pile of stones."

"What do you want?" Aria asked, green light already glowing around her hands.

"To watch," Morta responded simply. "You're tearing yourselves apart quite nicely without my help."

Marcus moved to stand beside his son. Whatever their differences, they were united against this threat.

"Leave our territory," Marcus growled. "You're not welcome here."

"Oh, I'm leaving," Morta smiled. "But first, a gift."

She raised Rook's hand. Purple fire exploded from his fingers, shooting straight into the sky. The flame spread, becoming a dome that covered the entire Stone Circle.

"What are you doing?" Liam asked.

"Creating a test," Morta explained. "This barrier will stay in place until you all agree on your future. One vision, one voice."

Elijah rushed forward, but the moment he touched the purple light, he was thrown backward. Liam caught him before he hit the ground.

"You can't keep us here," Aria said, earth energy pulsating around her.

"I don't have to keep you anywhere," Morta replied. "You'll keep yourselves trapped far better than I ever could."

She turned to leave, walking straight through the barrier as if it wasn't there. But at the edge of the trees, she stopped and looked back.

"Oh, and one more thing," she called. "You have until the full moon to reach agreement. After that... well, I've always wanted to know what happens when a goddess absorbs an entire pack's power at once."

With those words, she disappeared into the forest.

Panic spread through the wolves. Some ran to the barrier, trying to break through. Others fell to their knees in despair.

Elijah helped Liam to his feet, then raised his voice. "Everyone stay calm! We will figure this out together."

But as he spoke, the ground beneath them shook. Deep cracks formed in the earth, spreading outward from the center of the Stone Circle.

"What's happening?" someone cried.

Aria put her hand on the ground, her eyes wide. "Something's coming up from below. Something old... and angry."

The biggest stone in the circle suddenly split in two. From the crack appeared a skeletal hand, its bones glowing with the same purple light as Morta's fire.

"The door," Luna whispered, appearing beside Aria. "The door is opening."