The First Test

Chapter 24: The First Test

Since the Cullens left Forks, Ethan had changed. His life, previously complicated by the tension between his identity as an alpha and his relationship with Rosalie, had fallen into deep darkness. He patrolled the forests almost tirelessly, often spending days without returning home. The pain of his breakup with Rosalie and the feeling of abandonment that the Cullens' departure left him ate away at him inside. His heart seemed to be made of stone, and with every step he took on his solitary patrols, he felt as if he were drifting further and further away from himself

He had avoided his family and the pack, albeit with caution. The latter communicated with them telepathically. He didn't want them to see what he was becoming. Being alpha was a role he had to fulfill, but his mind was clouded by the loss, and he feared that his grief would weaken those who depended on him. Instead of helping him, sadness kept him isolated, consuming him. One day while he was patrolling through the forest he was aimless, hoping for some kind of clarity, but all he found was more loneliness. But at some point in the night he felt like the world was pulling him in a direction he didn't fully understand

As he ran towards where his instincts told him, the forests he used to know by heart began. to feel strange. The wolves of the forest watched him from afar, as if they knew something he didn't. The wind, which used to be a constant whisper in his ears, now seemed to always push him towards the east. He couldn't explain it, but the feeling that something was about to happen grew stronger with each passing day.

Finally, after running for a couple of hours without rest he reached a cave, the same one he had seen. in fragments of dreams, the same where centuries ago, the Quileute metamorphs had performed the ritual that transformed their ancestor into what he is now. The cave, hidden deep in the forest, seemed to glow with an ancient and forgotten energy.

As we entered the cave, the atmosphere changed. The walls seemed to breathe with a pulse of their own, and the air was charged with a palpable energy. That's when he felt it, a presence he hadn't experienced before. It was as if someone else was in the cave with him. He was not alone.

Suddenly, a spectral figure materialized in front of him: his ancestor, the black who received the power he currently had. His figure was imposing, radiating a wild, ancient force that Ethan could feel in every fiber of his being

"The time has come, Ethan," said the deep, resonant voice of the ancestor. The legacy you carry within you calls you. This is your first test.

Ethan felt the tension in his body increase. He knew his power was vast, but the fear of losing control tormented him. The figure of his ancestor watched him, her eyes full of wisdom and indomitable strength

"What kind of test?" —Ethan asked, although a part of him already knew the answer.

—The test of control. Of the balance between what you are and what you could be. Just as I did, you must learn to control the beast that lives within you. But it's not just about physical strength. It's about learning to lead from pain, from loss, without letting it consume you

As his ancestor spoke, Ethan began to feel an imminent transformation within him. His body tensed, and a searing pain began to course through every muscle and bone. It was as if his skin was burning from within. He knew that what was about to happen was more than just a transformation into a wolf. This was something much bigger, more fierce.

The connection with his ancestor grew stronger by the second, and as Ethan felt his body change, he too began to see glimpses of his ancestor's life. he. In quick, fragmented visions, he saw his ancestor facing vampires, leading the pack and sacrificing everything to protect her own. The weight of the legacy fell on him like a storm, but he also felt the power that flowed through his veins, the strength that had been latent within him.

"Strength is not everything," his ancestor warned him. , while the visions intertwined with reality—. True strength lies in controlling chaos, in embracing the beast without letting it dominate you

The pain in his body was unbearable, and for a moment, Ethan feared he would lose himself completely. His mind was torn between rage, sadness, and the growing bestiality that threatened to take control. Memories of his relationship with Rosalie flashed through his mind, a mixture of love and desperation. He remembered how, when he was with her, he always felt balanced, in control. But now, without her, the internal struggle was devastating.

His bones began to creak, and a primal force was unleashed within him. His skin burned and his vision blurred. It was as if he was losing control of his own mind and body. Fear paralyzed him for an instant, but then, a clear voice resonated within him. It was his own voice, his deepest self, reminding him why he was there. I couldn't fail. He couldn't lose himself in the beast.

With a titanic effort, Ethan began to fight to regain control. His mind struggled to overcome the anger and sadness that flooded him. He felt the energy of his ancestor guiding him, pushing him to resist. He was not alone. He never had been

Finally, the pain began to subside. His body, although still trembling, returned to its human form. Ethan was breathing hard, drenched in sweat and exhausted, but something inside him had changed. He felt that the connection to his legacy was stronger, but he also noticed a new presence within him. Something dark, something he hadn't been there before.

His ancestor watched him silently, and before disappearing, he left one last warning

—You have passed the first test, but this is it. just the beginning. The darkness within you is powerful, but so is the light. Keep your balance, Ethan. Or everything you love will fade away.

As the figure of his ancestor faded away, Ethan was left alone in the cave, still processing everything that had happened. He knew he had won a small battle, but the war inside him was far from over. And as he walked out of the cave, with the sun shining on his face, he felt the weight of his destiny, of the responsibility he carried as an alpha and as bearer of a legacy he had only just begun to understand. .