Alpha'sShadow

like a ghost, slipping through her fingers every time she tried to close her eyes. The conversation with

, the wolf with its fiery eyes, and Henry's cryptic warnings. She knew she was being

hat w

of the puzzle were beginning to come together, but she still needed more pieces. She wasn't sure how,

out the door. The chill in the air bit at her skin, but it bare

hat housed decades of local history. It was the perfect spot to dig into the city's deeper, hidden past. The librarian, Mrs. Wren, was an o

t, with only a few patrons scattered at tables, their heads buried in books. Mrs. Wren sat at her desk, her glasse

in a voice that was more amused than sur

ng her bag down on the counter. "I'm looking for information on the Sha

e like to revisit." She looked around, lowering her voice. "But I suppose if you're digging around for answers, I

ris echoed, rai

said, standing and leading Iris toward the back of the libr

eel the weight of centuries of forgotten stories pressing down on her. Mrs. Wren stopped at a small, unmarked

ere most of our local history is stored. Just... be careful w

derstand. She was here to find answers,

the heavy silence of the archives. As Iris sifted through the old reco

ted there were gaps in the records, pages torn out, as though someone had intentionally

ugh most documents described them as mere myths or legends created by fearful townsfolk. However, as Iris dug d

tual," a ceremony that was said to occur once every few decades. The

were creatures who had the power to change form, who had lived

d her broke her focus,

his expression shadowed by the dim light. His icy blue eyes met

The man from

hing in her throat. She stood up quickly, kn

" she demanded, her voice tremblin

stay out of the forest, Iris." His voice was low, gravel

, though she could feel her pulse

le, but it was cold and unreadable. "I don't want anything from

back. "What is

if you want answers, you're asking the wrong questions. It's no

ading into the shadows of the archive. Iris stood froz

nt. The air felt heavy, suffocating, as though the walls themselves were cl

mething hidden. And now, she had been

eone far more danger