Elias lunged, a snarling figure of pure fury. Eva barely had time to react. She stumbled backward, knocking against a stack of flour sacks, sending a cloud of white dust into the air. Mrs. Maudlin screamed, a high-pitched sound that was swallowed by the sudden roar of the wolf.

But Elias didn't attack Eva. Instead, he swiveled, his focus snapping to Mrs. Maudlin. He seized her arm with unnatural speed, his grip crushing bone.

"You knew the bargain," he snarled, his voice a guttural rasp that was barely recognizable. "You made the oath."

Mrs. Maudlin's face was contorted with terror. "I...I tried to protect her! She's just a girl..."

"Silence!" Elias's eyes flared with golden light. "She is involved now, as you are. You cannot hide secrets from the Pack."

Eva scrambled to her feet, fear giving way to a cold, burning rage. "Let her go!" she shouted, adrenaline coursing through her veins. She grabbed a heavy iron rolling pin from the counter, hefting it like a weapon.

Elias glanced at her, a flicker of something that might have been surprise in his expression. "Stay out of this, girl. This is Pack business."

"She's my friend," Eva retorted, her voice shaking slightly. "Whatever this is, it doesn't have to involve her."

Elias scoffed. "Friend? You know nothing of friendship. Or blood." He tightened his grip on Mrs. Maudlin's arm, and she cried out in pain.

Acting on pure instinct, Eva swung the rolling pin.

It connected with Elias's head with a sickening thud.

For a heartbeat, everything was still. Elias staggered, his grip loosening on Mrs. Maudlin. He turned slowly, his eyes blazing. A thin trickle of blood ran down his temple, mixing with the black hair plastered to his forehead.

The air crackled with tension. Eva knew she'd crossed a line, one that could have deadly consequences. No one attacked the Alpha – not even a future Alpha.

"You dare?" Elias growled, his voice low and dangerous. He took a step towards her, and Eva stood her ground, the rolling pin held high.

But then, something shifted in his eyes. The rage seemed to dissipate, replaced by a strange, conflicted expression. He blinked, and the golden light faded.

"Get out," he said, his voice returning to something closer to normal. "Both of you. Now."

Eva didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed Mrs. Maudlin's hand and pulled her towards the back door. They stumbled outside, into the relative safety of the alleyway behind the bakery.

"What was that all about?" Eva asked, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

Mrs. Maudlin shook her head, her face ashen. "I can't tell you. Not now."

"But you said you were going to! You said it had something to do with me!" Eva pressed, her frustration boiling over.

"I know, I know," Mrs. Maudlin said, her voice trembling. "But something's changed. He knows we're talking. I'll be killed if I say another word. So will you!"

Eva stared at her, feeling a chill settle in her bones. She was an outsider, caught in a web of secrets and ancient rivalries that she didn't understand. And now, she was marked.

A howl echoed from inside the bakery, a mournful sound that sent shivers down Eva's spine.

"We have to go," Mrs. Maudlin said, pulling Eva along. "We have to get to Maggie."

"To the witch? Why?"

"She might know a way to protect you. To hide you from the Pack."

They fled through the narrow streets of Ashwood, keeping to the shadows, avoiding the gaze of the few villagers who were out and about. Eva clutched the envelope Maggie Abernathy had given her, as if it held the key to their survival.

They reached the edge of town, the woods looming dark and foreboding.

"Wait," Eva said, stopping abruptly. "We can't just run off. What about your bakery? Your home?"

Mrs. Maudlin hesitated. "It doesn't matter. My home is no longer safe. I put you both in danger."

Eva grabbed her arm. "I'm not leaving alone. But we need a plan. We can't just wander into the woods and hope for the best."

Mrs. Maudlin looked at her, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "You're right. Okay. Meet me at the abandoned shack in the woods near the lake. It's where I use to go as a child. We'll gather supplies there, then head to Maggie's."

Eva nodded. "Okay. I'll meet you there in an hour."

They separated, each heading in a different direction. Eva made her way back to the bakery, her heart pounding in her chest. She had to get some supplies, something to defend herself with. And she had to find that coin that Elias gave her. It felt important, somehow.

She slipped back into the bakery, the silence inside heavy and oppressive. The door was still splintered, the air thick with the scent of flour and wood. She moved quickly, gathering a few essentials: a knife, some dried meat, a water skin. She found a small wooden box hidden under the counter, filled with coins. She took a handful, her fingers trembling.

Then, she remembered the coin Elias had given her. She searched her pockets, her heart sinking when she couldn't find it. She retraced her steps, looking under the counter, behind the flour sacks.

Finally, she spotted it, lying on the floor near the splintered door. She picked it up, feeling a strange surge of energy as her fingers closed around it. It was warm, almost pulsing with a faint light.

As she held the coin, she heard a sound behind her: a soft footstep.

She whirled around, knife raised.

Standing in the doorway was Elias Greyback.

But he wasn't snarling. He wasn't filled with rage. He looked... lost.

"Eva," he said, his voice low. "You shouldn't have come back."

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

He took a step closer, his gaze intense. "I want to help you."

Eva stared at him, disbelieving. "Help me? You just attacked Mrs. Maudlin! You threatened me! Why would you help me?"

"Because," he said, his voice filled with a strange urgency, "you're in danger. More danger than you can possibly imagine."

He reached out to her, his hand outstretched. Eva hesitated, her mind racing. Could she trust him? Or was this just a trick?

"Come with me," he said. "I can explain everything. I can protect you."

Eva looked into his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit. She saw pain, confusion, and something else: a desperate plea.

Against her better judgment, she lowered the knife.

"Okay," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll go with you. But if you try anything, I swear I'll..."

"I won't," Elias said, his voice sincere. "I promise."

He reached out and took her hand. His touch sent a jolt of electricity through her, a strange and unsettling sensation.

Together, they stepped out of the bakery, into the gathering shadows. Eva didn't know where they were going, or what the future held. But one thing as clear, the world of Ashwood was much darker than she ever could have imagined.