Chapter 46 CHAPTER 46
Silverpine had always prided itself on its warriors.
For generations, the clang of steel had been the heartbeat of the pack - a rhythm that spoke of strength, unity, and protection. Every young wolf grew up dreaming of the training grounds, where legends were forged beneath the relentless eye of Trainer Allen.
He had been the best - fierce, disciplined, and respected across the territories. Other packs sent their warriors to learn under his command, and Silverpine thrived because of it.
But lately, something had changed.
The rhythm had faltered. Blades dulled faster. Movements slowed. Focus slipped. Allen blamed the weather, the long nights, even the moon cycle, but deep down he knew the truth - something in the air had shifted.
Some said the ground itself felt heavier now. Others whispered that when the girl disappeared without a trace - the future alpha’s fated mate - she’d taken something vital with her, or the land had befallen a curse, for going against the goddess’ wish and rejecting the chosen Luna so cruelly. The priestess had however disproved these rumours saying she had not heard anything of the sort from the goddess.
But whatever was eating at Silverpine warriors, it still lingered like fog over the field as the morning drills began.
The clang of metal rang out across the grounds, echoing through the pine trees. Rows of young wolves sparred in pairs, wooden swords striking against shields with half the strength they once had. Alan paced between them, his sharp gaze catching every lazy swing, every unguarded stance.
“Again!” he barked. “If an enemy saw you fight like that, you’d be dead before you even shifted!”
The warriors scrambled to reset their stances. Sebastian wiped sweat from his brow, trying to steady his breath. Across from him, his partner lifted his sword again - slower this time. The once sharp rhythm of practice had become sluggish, uninspired.
Allen stopped behind them. “Is this what Silverpine has become?” His voice cut through the air like a whip. “You move like you’re already beaten!”
His eyes landed on Sebastian. “And you, future Alpha, what’s your excuse? The rest follow your lead, and look at them. You’ve gone soft, and so have they.”
Sebastian stiffened, lowering his sword. “I’m doing my best, sir.”
“Your best?” Allen’s tone sharpened. “Your best used to shake the field. Now it barely stirs dust. If this is all Silverpine can give me, the pack’s doomed the moment a real threat shows up.”
Sebastian clenched his jaw but said nothing. His muscles trembled, not from exhaustion but from something deeper - something he couldn’t explain. For weeks now, his body had felt wrong. Heavy. Slower. His energy fading more each day, like the strength was being quietly drained from him.
Alan moved on, leaving a trail of frustration behind him. When he was out of earshot, Sebastian’s partner, a tall, wiry wolf named Lukas, gave him a sidelong glance.
“He’s right, you know,” Lukas muttered. “We’ve all been off lately. You, me, everyone.”
Sebastian nodded faintly, resting his sword against his shoulder. “I’ve noticed. Can’t seem to shake
Lukas gave a short laugh, breathless and bitter. “Yeah, you and me both.”
Sebastian frowned. “What do you mean?”
Lukas shifted his grip on the sword, eyes flicking toward the other trainees before dropping his voice. “It’s… hard to explain. You’ll think I’m crazy.”
Sebastian gave a humourless smile. “Try me. Lately, crazy’s been my middle name.”
Lukas studied him for a second, then exhaled, shoulders slumping a little.
He hesitated before lowering his voice completely. “You ever… have weird dreams?”
Sebastian frowned. “Dreams?”
Lukas took a breath. “All right, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. For weeks now, I’ve been having these dreams. Every night, same thing. I’m in the woods, and someone’s calling me. A woman. I can’t see her face, but her voice… it’s like it gets inside your head. Like a song that won’t stop.”
He swallowed, voice dropping. “And then… things happen.”
Sebastian tilted his head. “Things?”
Lukas gave him a sharp look. “You know what I mean. It’s like we….” he hesitated, “…. like we’re together. It’s… vivid. Too vivid. I can feel everything. Her breath, her touch, her…” He broke off, rubbing the back of his neck. “It sounds insane, I know. But it feels real. When I wake up, I’m in my room but my clothes are dirty, my boots have mud on them, sometimes even leaves tangled in my hair. Like I actually went out there.”
Sebastian frowned. “So… you think you’ve been sleepwalking?”
“That’s what I thought at first,” Lukas said. “But it’s not that simple. Sometimes I wake up with scratches, like claws dragged across my back. Other times I smell that same scent from the dream…. jasmine, maybe? Sweet, but… wrong.” His voice dropped lower, “I know how it sounds,” he said quickly. “But it feels real. Every touch, every breath. And when I wake up, I’m exhausted … like I don’t want to do anything.”
Sebastian let out a dry laugh. “And here I thought I was the crazy one.”
Lukas gave a half-smile. “Told you it sounds insane.”
“No,” Sebastian said, lowering his sword again. “Not insane. Just… strange. You’re not the only one feeling drained lately.”
The trainer’s voice snapped through the air again. “Focus, boys! If you’ve got time to gossip, you’ve got time to bleed!”
Both of them straightened immediately, resuming their spar. Wooden blades met with a dull crack. The movement was sluggish, tired, and Allen’s glare didn’t soften.
He paced past them again, muttering under his breath. “Something’s wrong with this pack…”
Sebastian pushed harder, swinging his sword with renewed effort, but his muscles burned too fast. His breath came shallow, vision blurring at the edges. Every strike felt heavier, every step slower, as though invisible hands were dragging him down.
Lukas called out, “Seb, you okay?”
“Yeah,” he lied. “Just tired.”
But deep down, he knew it wasn’t just fatigue. The nightmares. The weakness. The strange, empty pull inside his chest…. all of it was getting worse.
Whatever was happening in Silverpine, it wasn’t just in their heads.
And though none of them said it aloud, every man on that field felt it too. The quiet, creeping sense that something unseen was watching them train. Something that fed off their strength.
Alan’s whistle cut through the air. “Enough! Pair down, you’re done for today.”
As the young warriors gathered their gear, murmurs spread among them - soft, uneasy, like the rustle of wind before a storm.
Sebastian stayed behind, staring at his hands. They were trembling.