Chapter 2 GHOST OF THE PAST.

The moon was shining beautifully across the forest, and the fragrance of the lovely flowers filled the air. Aveline walked alone in the bush, her mind far away, and she was lost in thought of someone who was once everything to her.

She reached a secluded spot surrounded by tall, old trees. This spot holds lots of memories for Gabriel and her due to the many hours they spend together, talking, laughing, and dreaming of a future that now seems impossible.

She stepped into the clearing and paused, trying to catch her breath. The place felt haunted by memories of love, of loss, of the man who had once promised her everything. The grass beneath her feet was still worn from their last visit, but now it seemed different. She felt a deep ache in her chest as if part of her had been buried here, in this very spot.

Aveline knelt on the ground, her fingers brushing over the earth. This had been Gabriel's favorite place to sit. She closed her eyes and let the memories flow in her mind. She could almost hear his voice, clear as day, the way he had once spoken to her about their future.

"One day, we'll make this pack the strongest in the region," Gabriel had said that night, his hand resting gently on hers. "But it won't just be about strength. We'll build it on love, on trust, on loyalty. You and I, Aveline... we'll lead them together. We'll be unstoppable."

His words had been sincere, so full of promise. He had been so sure of himself, of their future. But now, those words felt cruel because they reminded her of what she lost. She had been so certain that nothing could tear them apart, that they would be invincible together. But she had been wrong.

Aveline's fingers were shaking while she touched a small smooth stone placed on a wood log on the floor. It was one of Gabriel's favorite things, a simple stone he had found on one of their walks through the forest. He always believed it brought him luck.

She could still remember the day he was taken from her, the day everything had changed. The attack by the rival pack had been swift, brutal, and unexpected. She had been left in the ruins, surrounded by the bodies of their fallen warriors, while Gabriel had been reported dead. No one had questioned it, not even when there were no signs of his body, no proof of his death. It had all felt too sudden, too clean.

She always trusted and believed Gabriel, but now she fears that the trust she had wasn't misplaced. She didn't even question his absence; she didn't doubt that he was gone. But now, with the strange feeling creeping up in her chest, something like hope, or maybe suspicion. Aveline couldn't help but wonder if he had been hiding something from her all along.

As Aveline sat in the clearing, lost in her thoughts, a rustling sound of the dried flower interrupted her. She looked up startled with her senses immediately alert. A figure emerged from the shadows, one of the pack warriors, his face filled with surprise.

"Aveline?" The warrior's voice was steady, his face filled with disbelief. "What are you doing out here? You should be at the packhouse."

Aveline stood up quickly, brushing her pants off the dirt, trying to hide the unease that was on her face. "I needed some air," she said, her voice steady despite the mixed emotions inside her.

The warrior does not seem moved by her speech; his gaze is fixed on her as if he is reading something written on her face. "You're not supposed to be this far from the pack, Aveline. It's dangerous, especially with all the rumors flying around about the rival pack." He looked over his shoulder as if he was expecting someone to jump out from the forest.

Aveline frowned, she sensed something wasn't right. "What rumors?" she asked, her tone became sharper than she intended.

The warrior moved closer, looking over his shoulder again. "I overheard Elder Thorne talking to the Alpha earlier today. He mentioned something about the rival pack being a greater threat than we thought. They're moving quickly, planning something. The Alpha's worried. Elder Thorne said we need to act fast."

Aveline looked lost. Elder Thorne, the ever-watchful and calculating elder of their pack, had always been someone she'd respected. Her mind went to how the warrior spoke, the way he avoided her eyes, which made her feel uneasy. Thorne had always been one to keep his cards close to his chest, but why was he sharing this with the Alpha? And what exactly did he mean by "act fast"?

"Did Thorne say what the Alpha plans to do?" Aveline asked, her voice low and steady, despite the uncountable words in her mind.

The warrior shook his head. "No. He only said that the Alpha was meeting with the rival pack tomorrow... for a council meeting. A rare one. It's urgent. Something big is happening."

Aveline's mind raced. A council meeting? She had never known the Alpha to meet with their enemies so openly, especially not after everything that had happened with Gabriel. What was going on? What was the Alpha hiding from them?

The warrior looked at her, his eyes filled with fear. "Aveline there's something else. Elder Thorne said we need to be ready for anything. This could change everything.

Aveline nodded slowly, her thoughts filled with confusion. Tomorrow. The Alpha was meeting with their enemies. The rival pack. She had to be there. She had to know what was happening. The thought of Gabriel, of his supposed death, lingered in her mind like a ghost she couldn't shake.

"Thank you," she said quietly, turning away from the warrior. "I'll handle it."

As she made her way back to the packhouse, her mind kept racing with different questions and possibilities. What was Thorne really up to? And why was the Alpha so determined to meet with their enemies now? She couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with Gabriel.

Aveline stepped into the packhouse with loads of questions in her mind and suddenly, she overheard a conversation between the Alpha and Elder Thorne. "It's time," Thorne said, his voice cold. "Tomorrow, we move. There's no turning back now." Aveline's heart raced further. What were they planning? And why did it feel like everything was coming to a head?