The moon hung heavy in the sky, its pale light casting an eerie glow on the clearing beneath the towering trees. Aria's heart raced as she stood at the center, surrounded by shadows. The cold air clung to her skin, the whispers of ancient wolves seeming to call her name.
She had heard the legends, but hearing them and standing here were two different things. The sacrifice.
Tonight, the Shadowlands would claim her, just as they had claimed so many before.
The ceremony was silent, but the fear in the air was deafening. She had expected this night to come, had prepared herself for death, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of it. The weight of the curse hanging over her was more suffocating than she imagined.
Aria tried to steady her breath, her fingers trembling as she clutched the charm her mother had given her. "I'm not afraid," she whispered to herself, though she knew the lie was bitter on her tongue.
The high priestess stepped forward, her eyes cold and distant. "You are the chosen one, the sacrifice to the Shadow Alpha. You are to be claimed by the cursed beast of the pack. There is no escape."
Before Aria could respond, the wind shifted violently, and a figure emerged from the darkness. A massive wolf, its fur like midnight, eyes glowing with an otherworldly intensity. The Shadow Alpha.
But it wasn't just any wolf. Aria could feel the power of him, his presence a force that could break mountains. He was more than a monster. He was a legend.
Her legs trembled, and she could hardly breathe as he stalked toward her. The pack members watched in silence, their gazes filled with a mixture of awe and fear.
The Shadow Alpha paused in front of her, towering above her fragile form. His breath was ragged, and the world seemed to go still.
And then... he spoke.
"You're not meant to die tonight, Aria."