The fire crackled softly in the distance, but the warmth that usually brought comfort felt empty tonight. I sat apart from the others, my back resting against the rough bark of a tree, staring at the weak flicker of flames.

It was like the last fragile ember of hope in all of us, slowly burning out. The group had fallen into silence, each of us drowning in our own thoughts, our own guilt. The pain of Sarah's sacrifice was still fresh, a wound too deep to ignore. And then there was the crushing weight of knowing Eden would return-stronger, deadlier, more vengeful than before. I could hear the soft breathing of Mascot nearby.

He was still alive, at least for now. Clara's magic had done enough to slow the bleeding, but his wounds, like mine, went beyond the physical. The emotional weight of it all-the betrayal, the guilt-it was almost too much to bear. I wanted to look at him, to see if he was in as much pain as I was. But I couldn't bring myself to.

Instead, I focused on the fire, letting its dying light keep me grounded. "Tasha..." I heard him stir, his voice barely a whisper. "I'm sorry." Those words, that familiar, broken tone, sliced through me like a knife. I hated how much power he still had over me, even after everything. The betrayal, the cost-it had been too high. His actions had led us to this, and now, with Sarah gone and Eden more dangerous than ever, I didn't know how to forgive him.

And maybe I never would. "I never meant for this to happen," he continued, his voice trembling with guilt. I clenched my fists, digging my nails into the palms of my hands. Don't cry, I told myself. Don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you break.

"I'll make it right," Mascot promised, though his words felt empty, like they weren't enough to bridge the gap between us.

"Not now," I cut him off, my voice colder than I intended. "Just... not now." The silence that followed was heavy. Seth was pacing nearby, the lines of worry etched deep into his face. Clara worked quietly, focused on healing our physical wounds, but I could tell she was hurting too. Ethan, always the protector, stood at the edge of the clearing, eyes scanning the dark shadows as if waiting for something to pounce. But nothing came. Nothing ever did. I couldn't take it anymore.

The weight of Sarah's final words-You're the only one who can stop him-came back to mind. The talisman around my neck a reminder of how my journey began with her. The artifact hanging from my belt was supposed to be the key to stopping Eden, but right now, it felt like a useless item, a reminder of a destiny I didn't know how to fulfill.

"I need some air," I muttered, though no one was really listening. I wasn't expecting anyone to stop me, and they didn't. I stood up, slipping into the woods before anyone could say anything more. The forest was dense and cold, its thick canopy blocking out the moonlight. The wind whispered through the leaves, and every sound felt amplified in the stillness.

My boots crunched softly against the underbrush as I wandered further away from the camp. Each step I took was filled with questions, doubts-how could I stop Eden when I didn't even know where to begin? How could I live up to Sarah's faith in me when I could barely hold myself together? I kept walking, my mind swirling with thoughts I didn't want to face. The tears came before I could stop them, warm and heavy as they rolled down my cheeks.

Out here, I could be vulnerable. No one was watching. No one was judging. Sarah had been wrong-I wasn't ready for this. I wasn't a leader, and I wasn't the one destined to stop Eden. How could I be, when everything inside me was breaking apart? I stopped at a fallen log and sank to the ground, burying my face in my hands. The forest around me seemed to echo my despair, the quiet pressing in on me like a physical force. I had never felt so alone. I wanted guidance, a sign, something from the spirits or the ancestors-anything that could give me the strength to keep going. But there was nothing. Nothing but this aching loneliness.

Suddenly, a rustle in the underbrush made me freeze. My heart leapt into my throat, my breath catching as I strained to listen. The forest had been eerily quiet until now, and the sound felt out of place, like it didn't belong.

My hand instinctively went to the dagger at my side, fingers curling tightly around the hilt. I rose to my feet, every nerve in my body on high alert.

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice steadier than I felt inside. But no answer came. The rustling continued, closer now. My pulse raced as I took a cautious step forward, dagger drawn.

The shadows ahead seemed to shift, revealing a dark figure moving between the trees. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel something-someone-watching me. Then came the growl, low and deep, reverberating through the trees. My blood ran cold as the figure stepped into the faint light filtering through the canopy. A wolf, not a dark werewolf but massive all the same. Its fur gleamed in the dim light, and its eyes-those eyes-stared straight into mine, glowing with a dangerous intelligence. I had faced wolves before, but nothing like this.

This one was different. There was something primal about it, something ancient, like it had seen more of the world than I ever could. The wolf took a step closer, its growl fading into a heavy silence. I could see the power in its every movement, the strength in its massive form. But it didn't attack. It just... watched. I held my ground, my heart thudding painfully in my chest. If this was how it ended, so be it. I wasn't going to back down. For what felt like an eternity, we stared at each other, the tension between us growing thicker by the second.

But then something shifted in its eyes, something I couldn't quite place. Recognition? Understanding? It tilted its head, as if considering me, and then-just as suddenly as it had appeared-the wolf turned and vanished back into the shadows, leaving me standing alone, breathless and confused. I stood there for a long time after it was gone, my dagger still in hand, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Why hadn't it attacked me? Why had it spared me? I didn't have answers-only more questions.

With a deep sigh, I sheathed my dagger and turned back toward camp. I didn't have time to dwell on the mysteries of the forest. Eden was still out there, and my mission hadn't changed. I had to find a way to stop him, whether I believed in myself or not. My thoughts were still a mess, my heart heavy with the burden of leading this impossible mission.

The wolf from before lingered in my mind, but its purpose, remained unclear. All I knew was that Eden was still out there, and every second that passed brought us closer to a final confrontation I wasn't sure we were ready for.

As I approached the camp, I could see the dim glow of the fire and the familiar silhouettes of my companions. Seth had finally stopped pacing, and Clara was sitting quietly next to Mascot, her hands glowing softly as she worked on healing him further. Ethan stood at the edge of the clearing, his back to me, ever vigilant. They were still there, waiting, but somehow, I still felt like I was on my own.

All of a sudden, a shadow flickered in the corner of my vision. I froze. What's that?