Behind the willow

The meeting

James stood in the center of the great hall, his voice echoing against the high stone walls. “I need your help.”

The gathered wolves exchanged glances, their expressions ranging from curious to outright skeptical. The pack hadn’t come together in years, and the weight of their mistrust lingered like a storm cloud over the room.

“You need our help?” a voice called out from the back, deep and gravelly. A tall, broad-shouldered man with graying hair stepped forward. His piercing blue eyes locked onto James. “Since when do you ask for anything, James? You’ve made it clear you don’t need us anymore.”

James’s jaw tightened, but he kept his tone measured. “This isn’t about me, Marcus. It’s about the prophecy. About Sophia.”

The mention of her name rippled through the group like a spark igniting dry tinder. Murmurs spread, voices rising in confusion and dissent.

“The human girl?” another wolf, a lean woman with sharp features, spat. “You’ve put all of us at risk because of her?”

“She’s not just a human,” James said firmly, his voice cutting through the noise. “She’s connected to something bigger. The willow tree—the one tied to our lineage—has already shown us signs. The rival pack is closing in, and Sophia is the key to what’s coming next. If we don’t protect her, if we don’t prepare her, we all lose.”

Sophia stood at the edge of the room, her heart pounding as she listened to James fight for her. She felt out of place among the wolves, their presence powerful and intimidating, but her determination to stand by James didn’t waver.

One of the younger wolves stepped forward, his expression curious but wary. “What do you mean by ‘prepare her’? She’s human. She doesn’t belong in this fight.”

James turned, his golden eyes locking onto Sophia’s. “She’s more than human. The prophecy speaks of a human bound to a wolf, their fates entwined. Sophia has the potential to awaken a part of herself she doesn’t even know exists. A wolf spirit buried deep within her.”

Sophia’s breath hitched. “A wolf?”

James nodded, his gaze softening. “You’re stronger than you know, Sophia. The bond between us has already started to awaken it, but it needs more. You need to connect with the pack and the magic that runs through our bloodline. If we can strengthen your wolf, you’ll have the power to protect yourself—and us.”

Marcus crossed his arms, his expression skeptical. “And how do you plan to awaken this so-called wolf? She’s not one of us. She doesn’t have the instincts or the history.”

“The willow tree,” James said, his voice resolute. “It’s tied to our ancestors and the moon’s magic. It can guide her transformation. But I can’t do it alone, Sophia’s wolf has been in the wood’s, it is heat and it is near”.

The room fell silent, the weight of James’s words settling over the pack. Finally, Marcus spoke, his tone grudging. “If what you’re saying is true, then the rival pack won’t stop until they destroy her—and us. If we stand together, we might have a chance. But if you’re wrong, James, you’ll have brought doom to our doorstep.”

James met his gaze without flinching. “I know the risks. But I believe in her. And I’m asking you to believe in her, too.”

That night, under the light of the full moon, the pack gathered beneath the ancient willow tree. Its branches swayed in a slow, deliberate rhythm, as if aware of the moment’s gravity.

Sophia stood at the center, James by her side, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. The pack formed a circle around them, their eyes glowing with the moon’s reflection, their presence a mix of strength and uncertainty.

“The tree will guide you,” James murmured to her. “It knows your wolf, even if you don’t yet. Trust it, and trust yourself.”

Sophia nodded, her heart pounding as she stepped closer to the willow. She reached out, her fingers brushing the bark, and the now-familiar hum coursed through her, stronger than ever.

A wave of warmth enveloped her, followed by a sudden, intense vision: she saw herself standing in the heart of a forest, her reflection in a pool of water not her human self, but a wolf—a striking creature with silvery fur and piercing blue eyes.

The vision faded, and Sophia gasped, her knees buckling. James caught her before she fell, his grip steady.

“It’s starting,” he whispered.

Around them, the pack watched in awe as the air seemed to shimmer with energy. The willow’s branches glowed faintly, casting light over Sophia as she rose to her feet, her eyes now glowing faintly silver.

For the first time, she felt it—the presence of her wolf, stirring deep within her, powerful and ancient.

James smiled, pride and relief in his expression. “You’re not just human anymore, Sophia. You’re one of us.”