Chapter 6: Whispers of Blood

The night wind sliced through the forest silence like a blade.
Allen lay on the stone altar, breathing heavily, the black mark on his chest spreading like a living creature. Tendrils of dark energy flowed beneath his skin, as if ready to break free at any moment.
Caleb stood before the altar, gripping his dagger tightly, his palm slick with cold sweat. The moonlight poured down coldly, casting the ruins into a dreamlike glow; everything before him felt both real and strangely otherworldly.
Beside Allen, a woman sat cross-legged, her palm pressed against his forehead. Her brow furrowed slightly as she murmured ancient incantations. Silver runes shimmered on her palm, emitting a faint light like a delicate veil enveloping Allen, slowly suppressing the encroaching darkness.
But Caleb could tell it was no easy feat.
“How is he?” Caleb asked quietly, his voice hoarse, eyes filled with unease.
The woman was silent for a moment before looking up at him. “He’s stable for now. But... only until dawn.”
Caleb’s heart sank sharply; his clenched fingers trembled slightly. “What happens after dawn?”
She withdrew her hand, gently stroking the cursed mark on her wrist, her voice cold. “His consciousness will gradually be consumed by the beast. If the source of the curse isn’t removed, he’ll become a wolf completely.”
Allen on the altar whispered faintly, calling out something unclear, his voice laced with pain and struggle. Caleb bent closer to listen and froze.
Allen was calling—brother.
Caleb’s heart trembled fiercely, a warmth flickering in his eyes, replacing his earlier anxiety.
“Allen, don’t be afraid,” Caleb said softly, reaching out to gently wipe the cold sweat from Allen’s forehead. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
The woman watched quietly, her gaze softening. “You two are very close.”
Caleb nodded, a faint smile touching his lips. “We grew up together. He always liked to follow me around. When I went to fetch water from the river as a child, he’d sit by the shore holding the bucket, shivering in the cold winter, unwilling to leave.”
The woman listened silently, the chill in her expression gradually fading, a glimmer of nostalgia shining in her eyes. “I used to do the same with my brother. Wherever he went, I refused to leave his side.”
“You have a brother too?” Caleb asked in surprise; this was the first time she had spoken of her past.
She nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Yes. He was an extraordinary hunter—braver and stronger than I was.”
Caleb fell silent for a moment before cautiously asking, “And now?”
Her smile vanished instantly, her gaze drifting toward the darkness ahead. “He was killed by werewolves while trying to save me.”

Caleb was stunned.
The wind swept through the ruins, and her voice seemed to merge with the night, barely audible. “If I hadn’t been cursed, he wouldn’t have died.”
Caleb looked into her eyes, filled with guilt and pain, wanting to say something but hesitating, finally whispering, “You did all you could.”
She shook her head, voice grave. “That’s why I won’t let anyone else suffer the same fate.”
She stood, eyes scanning the surroundings, moonlight casting a resolute glow across her face. “While we still have time, we must leave.”
“Where to?”
“To find the two who cast the curse.” Her eyes turned icy, her tone unwavering. “Only by killing them can Allen’s curse be broken.”
Caleb took a deep breath, hoisting Allen onto his back, his gaze firm. “Lead the way.”
Deep within the forest, darkness thickened.
The three figures weaved through the dense woods, shadows as black as ink surrounding them. In the distance, the faint howls of wolves echoed.
The woman led with light, swift steps, each one expertly avoiding hidden traps and dangers among the trees.
“Why do you know this forest so well?” Caleb couldn’t help but ask.
She kept her eyes ahead, her voice calm. “I hunted here for many years.”
Caleb was silent for a moment. “Before your brother died?”
“Yes.” She whispered. “This is werewolf territory—ordinary people dare not enter. But hunters must learn to survive here, or they quickly become prey.”
Just then, a low growl rumbled nearby. Caleb froze instantly, tightening his grip on the dagger.
From the shadows emerged a massive black wolf, its eerie blue eyes gleaming menacingly in the dark.
Caleb’s heartbeat quickened; his body tensed. “They’re still following us?”
The woman frowned slightly. “Something’s wrong...”
The black wolf growled low, inching closer, but it didn’t leap forward. Instead, it stopped just before them, staring intently at Allen.

Caleb instinctively shielded Allen behind him. “What does it want?”
The woman fixed her gaze on the wolf, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “It’s hesitating.”
“Hesitating?”
“Wolves usually obey their leader’s commands, but this one... seems to be struggling.”
Caleb’s expression grew serious. “What do you mean?”
She didn’t answer but stepped forward slowly, locking eyes with the black wolf. “If you still have any sense, step back.”
The wolf growled softly, its gaze shifting between Allen and the woman. Finally, it retreated slowly, vanishing into the darkness.
Caleb watched the wolf disappear, confusion clouding his face. “Why did it leave?”
The woman pondered briefly, then whispered, “Perhaps it doesn’t want to see Allen die.”
Caleb frowned deeply. “You mean…”
She nodded, her eyes complex. “The curse on Allen might be deeper than we thought. He might not be an ordinary sacrifice.”
Caleb fell silent, unease creeping into his heart. He looked down at Allen’s sleeping face and vowed silently: No matter the truth, I will never give up on you.
As dawn’s first light slowly spread, the darkness in the forest began to recede.
At the edge of the ruins stood an ancient stone gate, its surface carved with wolf heads, like guardians from a thousand years past, watching all who approached.
The woman stopped, her gaze steady. “We’re here. This is the source of the curse.”
Caleb, carrying Allen, stood before the stone gate, his heartbeat quickening.
He knew that the moment they stepped through that gate, they would face a journey where life and death hung in the balance.