The first thing Eva became aware of was the pounding in her head, a dull throbbing ache that resonated with every breath she took. It was as if a blacksmith were hammering away inside her skull, each strike sending waves of nausea through her body. She tried to open her eyes, but her eyelids felt heavy, weighted down by exhaustion.

She became aware of pressure on her right hand, the gentle yet firm sensation of fingers laced with hers. It was a comforting touch, a familiar presence that eased the edges of her pain. She stirred slightly, a soft groan escaping her lips.

"Eva?" a voice whispered, a voice she knew intimately, a voice that sent shivers down her spine despite her weakened state. "Eva, can you hear me?"

She managed to pry her eyelids open, her vision swimming. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls, the air thick with the cloying scent of herbs. It took her a moment to focus, to make sense of her surroundings. She was lying on a rough wooden table, a thin blanket pulled over her body. Beside her, Elias sat on a stool, his face etched with concern, his hand still clasped with hers.

"Elias," she mumbled, her voice raspy and weak. "What happened?"

His face softened, a flicker of relief lighting his eyes. "You're awake," he said softly, his thumb gently stroking the back of her hand. "You were hit by magic. You almost..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence.

Eva frowned, struggling to piece together her memories. The fight, the rogue werewolves, the surge of energy, then...nothing. Just darkness.

"The rogue werewolves," she croaked. "Did you...?"

Elias nodded, his jaw tightening. "They won't be bothering anyone again."

"And Maggie...?"

"She's resting. She used a potion to heal you. It was...intense."

Eva shuddered, a fresh wave of nausea washing over her. "I feel...awful."

"You drained a lot of your blood," he told her. "You need rest. She will regain eventually."

Eva tried to sit up, but Elias gently pressed her back down. "Easy," he said. "You're still weak. Just lie still."

She looked around the room then, really taking it in. The shelves lined with jars, the bubbling cauldron, the strange and unsettling artifacts scattered about. It was a witch's lair, straight out of a storybook.

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice a little stronger now.

"At Maggie's mill," Elias replied. "It's the safest place for you right now."

He reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead, his touch gentle and reassuring. "How do you feel?"

Eva took a deep breath, assessing her body. The pounding headache was still there, but it was lessening. The nausea was still present, but it was manageable. She felt drained, exhausted, but...alive.

She focused on Elias, looking deeply into his eyes, searching for answers. "Why did you save me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

His expression softened, his gaze intense. "Because I care about you, Eva," he said, his voice low and sincere. "More than you know. You're important. You're...special."

She frowned, confused. "Special? What do you mean?"

He hesitated, as if unsure how to proceed. "You have magic, Eva. Powerful magic. You used it to defend yourself against the rogues. I saw it. And from what Maggie said, you still have much, much more."

Eva stared at him, her mind reeling. Magic? She? It was absurd. But then, she remembered the surge of energy, the feeling of power coursing through her veins. It had been real. She had felt it.

"But...I don't understand," she stammered. "How is magic given?"

"Maggie said you're descended from someone important" he said. "A warrior with magic running deep in their blood. The magic is blood, they say, but only certain blood like yours can use the gift."

Eva could only stare at him, everything he was saying was completely impossible, but she could not deny it.

"What if I hurt people?" she asked anxiously. "I almost... I almost hit you instead, I am not entirely in control"

Elias nodded and replied "That magic can be controlled, Maggie can help you train it so you won't hurt anyone, especially me."

Eva calmed a little and looked relieved after hearing this information. She trusted Maggie, and she had to start trusting Elias as well to survive and get through this complicated and magical life.

They talked in silence for a moment, only the crackling of the fire and whistling wind broke their peace.

"Anyways," Elias gently said "You don't have to force yourself to think about it now, you must be tired, just think about resting"

Eva shook her head, she couldn't help but worry, she felt like it was her job to worry. "No," she gently said, "Please. I need to know more about you, about me, everything."

Elias held her hand again, he could see the seriousness in her eyes. It was getting late, but he understood her urge to know everything, there would not be another moment to rest and take time to think about the past again. There was so much to discuss, and they both knew it was important.

"What do you want to know?" Elias asked softly.

Eva hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Tell me about the Pack," she finally said. "Tell me about the werewolves, and about your world."

Elias nodded, and began to speak, his voice low and steady. He told her about the history of the Ashwood Pack, about their traditions, their laws, their struggles. He told her about the other werewolf packs in the region, about their alliances and rivalries. He told her about the different types of werewolves - the Alphas, the Betas, the Omegas - and about their unique abilities.

He described the shift, the transformation from human to wolf, the surge of power, the loss of control. He explained the importance of the moon, how it amplified their abilities, how it influenced their emotions.

He told her about the magic that flowed through their veins, the connection to the natural world, the ability to heal and to harm. He told her about the rituals they performed, the ceremonies they observed, the ancient spirits they honored. His words flowed on for hours.

As he spoke, Eva listened intently, her mind absorbing every detail. She learned about the strength of the packs, the history behind them, and the power that everyone in the pack had. She started connecting and thinking to her own past, why was she given to the bakery, how her magic was developed, what was her purpose?

But as the night wore on, Elias's voice began to falter. He grew tired, his eyelids heavy, his sentences disjointed. It became difficult for him to continue.

Realizing this, Eva touched him on his cheek and softly said, "You need to sleep now. Rest."

Elias gave in, and quietly dozed off.

The world was dark, but sleep was still very far. As she laid there, listening and memorizing all the words spoken by Elias, she could not help but think more deeply about her past.

She remembered living in a forest, but all her memories beyond that were gone. The forests, the houses, there were faces without names. She always heard her name in her dreams, but where did her bloodline come from? Was there truly moon in her blood making her the descendant of Aric, the past werewolf that died for humanity?

All that could be felt in her body was the gift of power she had been given, and she knew that this power would bring inevitable pain.

Eva sighed in pain, after hours finally passing by, everything went to sleep.

Or so it was thought. Her eyes fluttered open in her darkness, everything turning into her moonlit field of flowers, and she took this dream as her final descent into dreams.

Finally, the endless night was broken to a glimpse of sun.