Kamrynn's POV
The palace came alive one person at a time, their voices gradually filling the halls with laughter and chatter. Everyone had woken up and slipped back into their routines, but I couldn't seem to keep up. My thoughts were weighed down by the nightmare and the dread it had left in its wake.
Hours melted away like snow on a summer morning, and before I knew it, the sun was sinking below the horizon. Tonight's agenda was packed-storytelling, singing, a drama performance, a talent show, and even a friendly competition between the Alphas to demonstrate their skills to everyone. The grand finale? A couple's dance.
I cringed at the thought of the last event. If it were up to me, I'd have spent the night in my room, warm under a blanket, away from prying eyes and uncomfortable encounters. But I knew Rmonica wouldn't let me off the hook.
"Company will help," Aryna said softly in my mind. "You've been overthinking all day. A little distraction could do wonders for you."
"Maybe," I muttered aloud, though I wasn't entirely convinced.
"You might even enjoy yourself," she encouraged.
I sighed, reluctantly pulling myself out of bed to prepare. I chose something simple but snug-a cream sweater and thick leggings. The air outside was especially cold tonight, and I wasn't taking any chances.
When I stepped outside, the courtyard was alive with energy, a scene so vibrant it almost stole my breath. The massive bonfire at the center roared to life, its flames licking high into the crisp night air, casting flickering shadows over the crowd. The warm, golden glow of lanterns strung overhead gave the gathering a magical quality, and the moon hung low, full and luminous, bathing everything in its ethereal light.
The Pack had gathered close to the fire, their faces glowing as they listened intently to Tiona. She stood at the heart of it all, her voice low and mesmerizing as she spun a tale that had everyone leaning forward, captivated.
My gaze drifted across the crowd, and as if drawn by an unseen force, I spotted Kyven and Thalia almost instantly. They were seated near the front, and Thalia was practically glued to his side. She clung to his arm with such ferocity I wondered if she was trying to fuse herself to him, her head buried in his shoulder in what could only be described as an overly dramatic display of fear.
"Could she be any more extra?" I muttered under my breath, my voice dripping with irritation.
It wasn't about Kyven, not really. It was the way Thalia seemed to dramatize everything, as if the world revolved around her. Kyven, of course, played into it perfectly, his hand wrapped tightly around hers, giving her the silent reassurance she didn't need.
As if sensing my annoyance, Kyven's eyes suddenly lifted and found mine across the fire. His gaze locked onto me, sharp and intense, and my stomach twisted uncomfortably. I looked away quickly, pretending not to notice, scanning the crowd instead for a seat.
"Kamrynn, over here!" Amara's voice called, cutting through the din.
I turned to see her waving enthusiastically from a spot near the other maids. Grateful for the distraction, I weaved through the crowd and sank into the empty seat beside her, forcing myself to focus on Tiona's voice.
Tiona's voice lowered as she leaned closer to the fire, the flickering flames casting eerie shadows across her face. Her eyes scanned the crowd, her tone dropping to a hushed, almost conspiratorial whisper.
"It was on a night like this," she began, her voice pulling everyone into a tense stillness. "The moon hung high, its silver light casting long shadows over a village nestled deep in the woods. The villagers were celebrating, much like us. There was music, dancing, laughter... but none of them noticed the thing lurking just beyond the trees."
The fire crackled loudly, making several people jump.
"They called it the Black Stalker," Tiona continued, her voice chillingly even. "It wasn't a beast you could see with your eyes, at least not at first. It came as a shadow, a wisp of smoke, slipping through cracks, curling beneath doors. It didn't roar or growl. It whispered, its voice weaving into the wind, saying things that didn't make sense but left you feeling... wrong."
She paused, letting the words settle over the crowd.
"No one knew where it came from," she said. "But one thing was certain-it didn't come to kill. Not at first. It came to know you. To burrow into the deepest, darkest corners of your mind, pulling at your fears and secrets, twisting them into weapons.
"Old Marda was the first to hear it," Tiona said, glancing around the circle. "She claimed she heard her daughter's voice calling from the woods-a daughter who'd been dead for years. She followed the voice into the darkness, and when the villagers found her the next morning, she was... different. She looked the same, but her eyes... her eyes were wrong. They didn't blink. They didn't focus. It was as if her soul had been drained from her body."
Several listeners shifted uncomfortably, their gazes darting to the shadows beyond the firelight. I could feel my stomach shift uncomfortably, the dread creeping in.
"Marda wasn't the only one," Tiona went on. "One by one, the villagers began hearing things. A lost loved one's voice. A child crying. Whispers in the night that called them out into the woods. And when they came back, they were hollow. Lifeless. Soulless."
"What happened to them?" someone whispered, breaking the tense silence.
Tiona's gaze snapped to the speaker, her eyes widening dramatically. "No one knows," she said. "Some say they were puppets, their bodies controlled by the Stalker. Others believe they were just empty shells, walking corpses. Whatever they were, they weren't human anymore. They didn't eat. Didn't sleep. They just... existed. Watching. Waiting."
The crowd was deathly silent, the crackling fire the only sound.