Silver mist threaded through the trees like cloth, swathing the trees in a quickly darkening cloud. The sun inched closer to the horizon with each step I took, threatening to leave me in the dark. I continued to stumble toward the orange glow, my feet catching in the twisted brown roots of the trees that loomed above me.

The pain echoing through my empty chest was indescribable. The sensation was unlike any other I'd ever felt. Crushing pain ripped through my chest with every breath I took, the anger and sorrow gripping my chest in a vice-like grip. The bond that I had formed with Damien was fraying.

My feet would occasionally stop of their own accord, moving slower and slower until I was slumped against a tree, exhaustion marking my figure. But then I saw Damien's face. The dark hair that slipped down over his forehead, the jaw line that I knew by heart. The eyes, with all their stormy blue beauty. Him, slumped on the floor, with my hand holding the syringe. And I would push myself on. Because I had to. I had to. I was going to save his life, and the lives of the people he loved. He was hurt already, I could feel it. But that was nothing compared to the heartbreak he would feel when his pack got slaughtered by an enemy as black as coal and as slippery as smoke in a cage.

Finally, I reached the edge of his territory. In front of me stretched more woods, but their scent was foreign against my nostrils. I could tell they were small, and probably allies. Slowly, I hunched to the ground, my arms wrapped around myself shivering. Wind rattled through the trees, ever darkening shadows stretching across the floor. I looked out through the trees. Nothing moved in the silver mist, and all I saw was icy cold clouds snaking ominously through the trunks of twisted trees, their gnarled roots sticking up into the air like fingers.

Frustration ripped through me. "Fine! I'm here! Come and get me! I did what you asked! I fucking stabbed my own mate, so where the hell are you?!" My voice echoed through the empty forest, curling across the monochrome scene.

And then silence fell over the forest. I never noticed how the forest seemed to breathe, at least until the rustles, rattles, and creaks that I took for granted disappeared. Now eerie silence blanketed the forest like a cloud, muffling any sound. My heart pounded in my ears.

Slowly, a black swathed figure stepped out of the white oblivion. The person was wearing a black hood that fell over their face, and attached to a long, loose gown that obscured the identity of the figure.

My eyes met the blackness where the person's face was. I shivered, feeling their invisible eyes slither over my crumpled body.

Anger spread through me, hot as fire.

"I hope you're fucking happy." I growled, using the tree to push myself into a semblance of standing.

"We are relieved that you saw the true path, with us." The voice was emotionless and bleak.

"The true path?" I snorted. "I saw reason, yeah, because you threatened everything I love. But don't get me wrong, I hate you, and I will destroy you." I hissed.

"Your anger is strong. That is good." Their words floated on the still air.

"You're a fucking psychopath." I spat.

"We will teach you to control your power. You will grow to understand what true love is with us."

I snorted. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"

"We are your family now, Alexia." Slowly, the figure's hands rose, a low chant bubbling under their voice. I could feel energy growing, pooling in the person. And then it stopped. With a flick, the magic snapped toward me. I gasped, and stumbled back, my hands coming up to uselessly block my face.

It was dark and sticky, like oil and glue and mold, and it slipped across my skin in angry tendrils.

"Stop!" I coughed, landing on the ground. The slithering pieces burrowed into me, slipping through my mouth, nose, skin. I felt it move inside of me, and I screamed. I raked my fingernails across my arms in a futile attempt to get it out, but it wasn't tactile, and my fingers passed through the spectral tentacles with only a cold tingle.

And then I couldn't move. I tried to open my mouth to scream, but my muscles were frozen. Panic tore through my body, but I was as mobile as an inanimate object, completely vulnerable to attack. And then the tendrils reached my mind, and I slipped screaming into a black hole of oblivion. 

A/N:

So... a lot has happened. Firstly, this book has been renamed to Call of a Wolf. This is because one of my friends found out about this book, which is bad. Very terrifyingly bad. The teasing will never end. So I changed the name so it is un-find-able... I hope. I'm not sure I really like the new title, but you can comment and tell me if you like it, and what it could be changed to. 

(Something similar happened to my username. This also may change in the future.)

Vote and comment, please!

~TheBookDragon (formerly UI)

P.S. Y'all are amazing. If you're reading this, I'm so grateful you decided to stick with my wild ramblings and strange story. You guys are awesome.