Page 25 of Soul Fated

Bill sighed. "Alright, then. I'll tell you what I know." He settled back down in his chair. "You know of the Shadow Pack?"

Lana nodded. "We've heard the stories. Some of them, at least."

Bill’s eyes were fixed on the dagger in her hand. "Then you know about the relics. There were five of them in total, each with unique powers. The dagger you're holding is one of them. It was said to be the most dangerous of the lot."

Lana's eyes narrowed. "Dangerous, how?"

Bill leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "The dagger's power comes from its ability to absorb the life force of those it kills. With each life it takes, it grows stronger, and its wielder gains abilities beyond those of a normal wolf shifter."

A shiver ran down my spine. I'd known the dagger was powerful, but absorbing life force? That sounded like something out of a horror story. It also made sense of what I’d seen with Nathan. His strength. His ability to control.

Bill continued, "The dagger was created by Seraphina, the founder of the Shadow Pack. She forged it from the bones of her enemies and imbued it with dark magic. It was meant to be a tool of protection, ensuring that the Shadow Pack would always have the strength to shield the world from dark magic."

I frowned. “But it holds dark magic.”

Bill raised an eyebrow. “There's a story that's been passed down through the generations, one that might provide some insight. It's said that Seraphina had to make a great sacrifice to imbue the dagger with its power. A sacrifice that cost her dearly."

"What kind of sacrifice?" Kael asked.

Bill hesitated, then looked Kael straight in the eye. "Her mate."

The room fell into a heavy silence. Lana's grip on the dagger tightened, the wheels visibly turning in her mind.

Bill sighed. "It's just a story, mind you. And of course there was the legend of Thorne."

I pursed my lips. For all his protestations, he seemed to be enjoying the drama of his storytelling. “Who’s Thorne?” I humored him.

His eyes sparkled. “Thorne was a powerful alpha who settled here in Canada when the land was still wild. Driven by the dagger’s insatiable hunger for blood, he began a campaign of conquest, attempting to unite all the packs under his rule.”

Kael shifted in his seat, and my wolf noticed.

Bill continued, “This alpha, believed to be a descendant of Seraphina, nearly succeeded in creating an empire, but his ambitions ultimately led to his downfall. The relics, once united in his grasp, turned against him. Shattering his mind and scattering themselves across the world. With the loss of the relics, the Shadow Pack fell into obscurity, and their secrets were buried with them. The few who survived went into hiding, and over the centuries, the legends of the Shadow Pack became the myths you heard at bedtime.”

Lana and I exchanged a glance. How was any of this helpful?

Bill leaned back in his chair, his eyes heavy with the weight of the story he'd just told. "That dagger is a double-edged sword. It can grant you power, but it can also demand a price."

Kael nodded, his expression grave. "Thank you, Bill."

Bill waved a hand. "Just promise me you'll keep your head on straight, Kael. I don't want to hear any more stories about you running off into the night with a death wish."

Kael's lips twitched. "No promises."

Bill rolled his eyes, then stood up and motioned to the door. "Alright, then. You lot best be off. It's past my bedtime, and I need my beauty sleep."

I nodded, but as I stood, the room seemed to wobble. I grabbed onto the back of the couch, my vision swimming.

"Callista?" Lana’s voice was muffled like she was speaking to me through a wall of water.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Just stood up too fast." I blinked, trying to clear the haze from my vision. When I glanced back at Kael, my whole body went tight. The room was too warm, and the air seemed to press in on me from all sides. My heartbeat pounded in my ears, and my skin felt like it was on fire.

I felt good. So good, I wanted to?—

Oh, shit. No, no, no. The musk of Kael's skin hit me at full force, and my wolf responded instantly, pushing to the forefront of my mind. She was desperate. I was desperate.

This could not happen now. I couldn’t?—

“Callista, hey.” Lana grabbed my shoulder.

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