Chapter 105 The Hidden Truth

Chapter 105 The Hidden Truth
A soft, ethereal light emanated from the tree, pulsing gently like a heartbeat. It was beautiful and terrifying and powerful, and I couldn't look away.

I approached slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. The air around the tree felt different, charged with an energy that made my skin prickle and my hair stand on end.

I reached out, my fingers trembling, and touched the bark.

The surge of energy that passed through me was so powerful it made me gasp. It was like being struck by lightning, a jolt of pure, raw power that coursed through my veins and set every nerve in my body alight.

I staggered back, my hand was burning, but I didn't let go. The connection was so strong.

I pressed my palm flat against the bark, feeling the warmth of the tree beneath my skin.

The symbols on my hand began to glow, matching the light that pulsed through the tree. I could feel it, the energy flowing between us.

Slowly, reverently, I moved my hand along the trunk. The bark was rough beneath my fingers, but I could feel something beneath the surface. 

I stopped at a particular spot, my hand hovering over a section of the trunk that felt different. 

I pressed down, and the bark crumbled away, revealing a hollow space within the tree. And inside that hollow space was a book.

It was old, even older than the one I had found in the library. Its cover was made of leather that had darkened to near-black with age, its pages yellowed and fragile. Symbols were embossed on the front, the same branching lines that marked my palm.

I reached in and pulled it out, my hands trembling. The book was heavy and thick.

I opened it slowly, my eyes scanning the pages. The handwriting was elegant, precise, the same script I had seen in the other book. But this one felt different. 

It was more like a diary, or a journal.

I glanced through the pages, my heart pounding. There were names and dates, descriptions of rituals and ceremonies, illustrations of symbols I didn't recognize. And there, in the middle of the book, was a drawing of a woman.

She was beautiful, with dark hair and pale skin and eyes that seemed to look right through me. She was wearing a simple dress, her hands clasped in front of her, her expression serene and knowing.

I recognized her immediately.

Seraphina.

I traced the image with my finger, feeling a strange connection to the woman in the drawing. She must have been related to me. I concluded so, even though I had never seen her face before.

I was about to read more when I heard a distant sound. Voices and footsteps. 

The pack was waking up, beginning their daily routines. I had been gone too long.

I raised my head, my heart racing. 

When I looked back at the tree, it was gone.

Just like that, vanished. As if it had never been there at all.

I stared at the empty space, my mind reeling. The tree was gone, but the book was still in my hands. 

I tucked the book into my clothing, hiding it beneath my jacket. My hands were shaking, but I forced myself to stay calm.

I turned and ran, my feet carrying me through the forest, back toward the compound. The voices grew louder, the sounds of the pack filtering through the trees.

I burst out of the forest, my breath coming in ragged gasps. 

I slowed to a walk, forcing myself to appear calm and collected. 

I made my way back to my room, my steps were quick. I didn't stop to talk to anyone, neither did I make eye contact with anyone. I just kept walking, my eyes fixed on the door ahead.

I slipped inside and closed the door behind me, leaning against it, my breath coming in shaky gasps.

I pulled the book out from beneath my jacket, my hands trembling.

I sat down on the edge of the bed, the book heavy in my lap.

–

Zarek POV

The rendezvous point was a small clearing at the edge of a dense forest, hidden from view by the thick canopy of trees. 

We couldn’t go further with the car.

I stepped out of the car, my boots crunching against the fallen leaves. The air was cool and clean, carrying the scent of pine and earth. The sky was beginning to lighten up.

Brennan joined me, his expression carefully neutral. We moved toward the group of wolves, they were my men, I had sent them earlier on before I left.

"Alpha," one of them said, stepping forward. He was a large wolf, scarred and weathered, his eyes sharp and watchful. "We've been expecting you."

I nodded, my gaze sweeping over the gathered wolves. They were seasoned warriors, loyal and battle-hardened. They would follow me into hell if I asked them to.

"The Blood Fang," I said, my voice steady. "What do we know?"

The wolf gestured toward a map spread across a nearby log. "We've been tracking them for weeks. They're holed up in an old compound about ten miles from here. Heavily fortified and guarded."

"How many?"

"I can't tell, it could be fifty, or maybe more."

I studied the map, my mind racing. Fifty wolves. Heavily fortified. It would be a difficult fight, but not impossible.

"We hit them at dawn," I said, my voice firm. "We move fast, we hit hard, and we don't stop until every last one of them is dead."

The wolves murmured their agreement, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

I turned to Brennan, my expression unreadable. "You ready?"

He met my gaze, his eyes steady. "I'm always ready."

I nodded, turning back to the map. “What about the leader?” 

“That’s the problem, I don’t think this is all of them.” One of the wolves voiced out his thoughts.

“I have a feeling that something is wrong.” I murmured, trying to piece the puzzle together.

“We should get rid of the once here first, then we can think of where next to go. Don’t forget your marriage is in a day or two.” Brennan chipped in.

“Whatever we are going to do needs to be done fast, I need to return back to the pack as soon as possible, something is definitely not right.” I didn’t feel settled.