Chapter 8: Shadows in the Night

The third week at Beacon Hills High School flowed like an underground river. Beneath the surface of normalcy, something dark lurked in the shadows, and Elias felt the warning of his dreams growing closer to reality.

Since the visions had begun, his relationship with Scott and Stiles had grown distant. Although they tried to understand him, Elias felt that involving them would not only be unfair but dangerous. His mind was divided between everyday life at school and the increasing sense of threat that seemed to intensify around the Hale mansion.

That night, while Talia reviewed old family books in the library, Elias walked through the thick woods surrounding the mansion. Something had changed; the air was heavy, and the breeze seemed to whisper ancient secrets that filled him with unease. He often stopped, listening, hoping some answer would reveal itself among the trees.

When he finally returned to the mansion, he found Talia sitting in the living room, watching the flames in the fireplace with a worried expression.

—Elias —she said as he approached—. Have you felt anything unusual lately? Something... unusual in the woods?

Elias nodded, not surprised that Talia had sensed the same unease.

—There's something else in the air. It's not like when it's just us —he replied, his words echoing in the dim light of the room.

Talia looked at him with serious eyes, as if assessing his words.

—You've always been perceptive, Elias. It's one of the traits you inherited from your lineage. But there's something I haven't fully told you. Something that could give you a better idea of what we're facing.

Elias remained silent, inviting her to continue.

—The night you were born, your mother, Isolde, told me something she only shared with me, and that I was meant to pass on to you when you were ready. Your lineage is more than special. —Talia lowered her gaze for a moment before continuing—. Your mother believed that you would be the "white wolf."

Elias frowned, intrigued and somewhat bewildered by the term.

—The "white wolf"? —he repeated, hoping Talia would explain further.

Talia nodded, her expression growing even more somber.

—The legend of the white wolves is as old as our kind. It is a bloodline that descends from Lycaon, the first werewolf. White wolves are different, Elias. They not only possess greater power but also have a special connection to nature and the spirits of our lineage. Your mother believed you were the first of this line in centuries. White wolves are seen as guardians of the pack and bearers of change.

Elias felt a chill at her words. He knew his mother had been a powerful alpha, but he never imagined his lineage tied him to such an ancient prophecy.

—Is that why... why I have these visions? —he asked, trying to piece it all together.

—Probably. It's possible your power is trying to warn you about something. The night you dreamed of the mansion in flames, I also had a vision: the pack divided, danger lurking, and a threat I have yet to identify. What you are seeing is real, Elias. The threat looming over us is not imaginary.

The conversation left Elias with more questions than answers. He decided to head back into the woods to clear his mind, and this time Cora joined him. They walked in silence, both trying to decipher what they had heard.

—So are you really... a white wolf? —Cora finally asked, a mix of awe and respect in her voice.

Elias sighed, unsure how to respond.

—I guess so, or at least that's what Talia believes. But I don't feel different, Cora. I'm still... me. The only thing that's changing is this feeling that something terrible is about to happen. It's like I have to protect the pack from something I don't even fully understand.

Cora gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

—Well, whatever it is, we're in this together. And no matter what happens, you're not alone.

Elias smiled, grateful for her words. In the midst of uncertainty, knowing he had Cora by his side made him feel stronger. But when he looked up and gazed through the trees, he felt a chill run down his spine. There was something in the air, something that seemed to be watching them silently.

The next morning, while Talia checked the security of the mansion, she found several strange markings on the perimeter of the woods. The bark of the trees was etched with ancient symbols that she recognized immediately: they were signs of warning and curses, meticulously inscribed to signify enemy territory. Seeing this filled her with a sense of foreboding.

She called Elias and Cora, explaining what she had found.

—These markings... can only be made by witches or creatures with dark knowledge. If someone has been here, it's because they're watching us closely, waiting for the right moment —Talia explained, her tone stern and alert.

—Do you think... it could be someone from our mother's family? —Cora asked quietly, fearing the answer.

—It's possible, but so far we haven't seen any movement in their territories. It's more likely to be another threat, someone we don't know —Talia replied.

Elias felt the weight of her words. The threat he had sensed was not only real but already encroaching on their territory, surrounding them like a hunter stalking its prey.

That night, Elias dreamed again. The dream was a repeat of the vision that had haunted him since he arrived in Beacon Hills: the mansion in flames, fire devouring every corner while smoke enveloped the forest like a black cloud. But this time, there was something more. In the midst of the flames, a figure appeared in the courtyard, a shadow that seemed to be watching him, grinning mockingly as everything burned around it.

He woke with his heart racing, breathing heavily. The figure in the flames was not just a product of his imagination; something, or someone, was causing that catastrophe. And he, as the guardian of his family, felt a duty to stop it.

In the following days, Elias, Talia, and Cora reinforced the security of the woods and the mansion, trying to stay one step ahead of any attack. Each night, the sense of danger grew, and Elias remained vigilant, knowing that the moment he would have to face his destiny was drawing closer.

Talia, aware that her family was in danger, taught Elias several protection rituals and instructed him in ancient defense techniques. She knew the best way to prepare him was to teach him to harness his abilities to the fullest.

—Remember, Elias —she told him one night, as they practiced under the moonlight—, the true power of a white wolf lies not just in strength, but in wisdom and the ability to protect your own.

Elias absorbed every word, knowing Talia's knowledge would be key to their survival.

That night, as he prepared for bed, he looked at his reflection in the mirror of his room. There was something strange about the image; his eyes glowed with a white hue, as if a hidden energy was awakening inside him. In that moment, he knew the transformation was near and that the power of the white wolf would soon manifest.

At that moment, Cora knocked on his door, concerned.

—Elias, have you smelled that? There's something... in the woods.

Elias nodded, realizing that the threat he had sensed was finally about to erupt. His instincts told him to prepare to fight and protect his family at all costs.

The following night, as the Hales slept, a shadow moved among the trees, surrounding the mansion. The wind carried the smell of smoke and destruction, as if Elias's forebodings were finally materializing. In the distance, the first flames.