Chapter 39: The Elder’s Secret
Elder Iris POV
When I heard steps behind the cave, I put down my walking stick. It hurt like it hadn’t hurt in fifty years, my heart. Those weren’t tamed lions coming after us; I knew those dogs could walk anywhere.
"Caleb?" I whispered it, almost afraid to believe it.
The young wolf came out of the cave through the back door, but something was very wrong. His silver-blue eyes went back and forth between being normal and that awful controlled light. He was using all of his strength to fight the mind control at all costs.
"Elder Iris!" he screamed and fell to his knees. "I can’t..." I can’t hold it much longer. The First Shadow’s power is getting stronger."
All fifteen of us pressed deeper into the cave as Caleb crawled inside. Blood dripped from his nose from the effort of fighting the control. I’d seen this before, decades ago, and it meant only one thing - we were running out of time.
"Where’s Lily?" Brock ordered, grabbing his brother’s shoulders.
"Safe," Caleb panted. "Hidden where even I don’t know. She made me forget the spot before the control took hold again. Smart girl."
Aiden knelt beside his brother. "How long can you fight it?"
"Minutes, maybe less." Caleb’s eyes flashed bright for a second before returning to normal. "The First Shadow isn’t just controlling our pack anymore. He’s joining all the controlled wolves across the country. Building an army."
The cave fell silent except for the sound of controlled pack members still calling from the front entry. My hands shook as I realized what this meant. I’d hoped we’d have more time, but the signs were all there.