– FREYA-
Freya approached the cottage cautiously, the sight of its weathered walls stirring a mixture of nostalgia and unease. The overgrown path crunched under her boots, and the air carried the faint scent of damp wood and wildflowers. The small structure felt both familiar and foreign, a place that once sheltered her but now seemed like a relic of a life she wanted to leave behind.
She pushed open the door, stepping into the dim interior. Dust motes danced in the faint light filtering through a crack in the roof. Her fingers brushed the edge of the table, its rough surface grounding her as her thoughts spiralled.
Her wolf stirred in her mind, urging her to move, but she stayed rooted, absorbing the silence. “It’s still here,” she murmured to herself, her voice breaking the stillness. A bittersweet smile ghosted her lips as she looked around. This place had been her prison and her sanctuary and it seemed a lifetime ago she had lived here although only a few days.
A soft rustle outside caught her attention. She stiffened, her wolf bristling, but she forced herself to stay calm. Slowly, she turned toward the doorway, her heart hammering in her chest.
A tall figure stepped into view, his broad shoulders silhouetted against the light. He moved with a quiet confidence, his presence both unsettling and strangely familiar. He paused just inside the doorway, his piercing grey eyes locking onto hers.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said, his voice low and even. It carried an edge of authority, but it wasn’t unkind.
Freya straightened, her heart pounding. “Who are you?” she asked, her voice steady despite the unease curling in her stomach.
The man tilted his head slightly, studying her as though she were a puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. “I could ask you the same thing,” he replied, his tone calm.
Freya’s wolf growled softly in her mind, a low warning that she couldn’t ignore. “I don’t have to answer to you,” she said, her gaze narrowing.
“No,” he agreed, taking a deliberate step closer. “But you should be more careful. Not everyone in this forest has your best interests at heart.”
Freya’s eyes flicked to the doorway, her body tensing as she weighed her options. “Why are you here?” she demanded, her voice firmer this time.
The man’s lips curved into a faint, almost sad smile. “Because I heard whispers,” he said softly. “Whispers of a wolf who doesn’t yet understand what she is.”
Freya’s breath hitched, the words striking a chord deep within her. The whispers. She had heard them too, those strange, fragmented voices that had haunted her since her shift. “What do you know about that?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“I know they’re calling to you,” he said, his grey eyes steady. “And that if you stay here, you’ll never understand their purpose.”
Freya took a step back, her hand brushing the table behind her. “What do you want from me?”
“Nothing,” he said simply. “I’m here to help.”
Before Freya could respond, a low growl rumbled from behind her. She turned sharply as Tobias stormed into the cottage, his blue eyes blazing with fury. His wolf surged to the surface, radiating protective aggression.
“Get away from her,” Tobias snarled, placing himself between Freya and the man.
The man didn’t flinch, his expression calm but unreadable. “I mean her no harm.”
Tobias growled, his fists clenching. “I don’t care what you mean. You shouldn’t be here.”
“Tobias, stop,” Freya said, stepping forward. “He hasn’t done anything.”
“Not yet,” Tobias snapped, his gaze never leaving the man.
The man smirked faintly, his grey eyes flicking to Freya. “You’re lucky to have someone so devoted,” he said, his tone almost amused. “But you should ask yourself—what are they protecting you from?”
Freya frowned, confusion flickering in her eyes. “What are you talking about?”
He didn’t answer, his attention shifting back to Tobias. “You don’t trust easily,” he said, his voice even. “Good. You’ll need that.”
Before Tobias could respond, Finn appeared in the doorway, his expression a mixture of confusion and alarm. “What the hell is going on?” he demanded, looking between the three of them.
“Stay out of this,” Tobias growled, his protectiveness flaring.
Finn crossed his arms, stepping further into the room. “If Freya’s involved, it’s my business too.”
Tobias’s wolf bristled, his growl deepening. “Watch your mouth.”
“Stop it, both of you,” Freya snapped, her voice cutting through the tension. She turned to Finn, her gaze softening. “I’m fine.”
Finn hesitated, glancing at Tobias before nodding reluctantly. “If you’re sure.”
The man stepped back toward the doorway, his grey eyes lingering on Freya. “You’re stronger than you know,” he said quietly. “Don’t forget that.”
With that, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving the three of them standing in tense silence. Freya’s mind raced, questions swirling as she looked at Tobias and Finn.
– DAEMON-
Daemon moved deeper into the forest, his steps purposeful, his mind racing. Freya. The sight of her after twelve years had hit him like a blow. She was alive. She was here. And she was so much more than the girl he remembered.
He stopped near a stream, crouching as the cold water flowed over his hands. The whispers had grown louder, no longer fragmented but clear and commanding. They carried a weight he couldn’t ignore, an urgency that resonated with his very soul.
As he focused, the air around him seemed to shift. The faint hum in his veins became a roar, and the energy within him coiled tightly, demanding release. He raised his hand, his fingers trembling slightly, and the power responded. A faint shimmer appeared in the air before him, almost imperceptible at first.
The shimmer grew, coalescing into the glowing outline of a wolf. It hovered above the ground, its form flickering like smoke caught in the moonlight. Daemon’s breath hitched as he stared at the apparition. The wolf’s translucent eyes locked onto his, ancient and knowing.
The whispers grew louder, their cadence matching the rhythm of his heartbeat. “You are not alone. You were never alone.”
The wolf dissolved into wisps of light, fading into the air. Daemon exhaled slowly, his hands lowering as the power settled within him. It wasn’t just a vision—it was a reminder. Freya’s presence had unlocked this within him, and he knew now that they were connected by more than shared history. They were part of something far greater.
“They’ll come for you, soon” he murmured, his voice low and steady. “But I won’t let them take you. I need to deal with that mate of yours, if that is what he is.”
His wolf growled softly, its energy coiling like a spring. Whatever storm was coming, he would face it. And Freya would never face it alone.
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