Chapter 1 The Awakening

The streets of New Orleans were always alive with a hum of energy, but tonight, as the moon rose above the horizon, the city seemed to be holding its breath. The usual noise of the bustling nightlife was replaced by an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the wind or the distant wail of a saxophone. The city, rich with mysticism and old-world charm, hid its secrets in the shadows of its winding alleys and forgotten corners. And tonight, those secrets were ready to come to the surface. Lila walked through the streets with a purpose, her heels clicking sharply against the cobblestone roads. She had lived in the city, her entire life, but there was something tonight—something about the air, the way the shadows seemed to stretch longer than usual—that made her feel like an outsider in her city. She pulled her dark coat tighter around her slender frame, the cold wind biting at her skin as it swirled around her. The chill didn't bother her, but the unsettling sensation crawling down her spine did. Something was coming. She could feel it. For years, Lila was haunted by the stories her mother had told her about the D'Alembert family curse—the curse that bound them to the Wolfe family in a never-ending cycle of revenge. Her mother, Lucienne, was adamant about keeping the truth hidden, afraid that Lila would uncover the past and, worse, get caught in the same web of hatred that had claimed their ancestors. But Lila was no fool. She had grown up listening to the whispers of the city, to the stories that floated in the undercurrent of New Orleans' darker side. She knew the Wolfe name, and she knew the power it carried. And she hated them. She hated them for what they had done to her family and for the brokenness they had caused—the betrayal, the curse. Her mother had tried to protect her, but Lila had always felt the pull of something more. A destiny she couldn’t ignore. Tonight, that destiny would finally reveal itself. She reached the doorstep of a small, nondescript building tucked away in the French Quarter. The door was old, with faded paint and a cracked brass handle. But it was here—this place—that she would find the answers—the truth. Lila hesitated momentarily, her hand resting on the door as her heart beat louder. She had never been inside this building before, but the stories had led her here. The tales of artefacts that could break the curse, of knowledge that could give her the upper hand over the Wolfe family. She couldn’t deny it any longer. The time for hiding was over. With a deep breath, she pushed the door open, the hinges creaking in protest. The air inside was thick with the scent of old paper, incense, and something more—something she couldn't quite place. It was dark, the only light coming from a few flickering candles that lined the walls, casting long shadows across the room. Bookshelves filled with ancient texts lined every inch of the walls, the shelves sagging under the weight of forgotten knowledge. The room smelled like a mystery. A woman stood at the far end of the room, her back to Lila. She was dressed in dark robes, her long, silver hair flowing down her back. She didn't turn as Lila entered, but Lila could feel the weight of her presence, which seemed to fill the room. "You've come," the woman said in a soft voice with undeniable authority. Lila swallowed, her pulse quickening as she stepped further into the room. "I need to know the truth," Lila said, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest. “I need to know what happened between the D'Alemberts and the Wolfes." The woman finally turned to face her. Her eyes were dark, her expression unreadable. "You seek knowledge, but knowledge has a price. Are you prepared to pay for it?" Lila nodded without hesitation. She had already paid too much. Her family had suffered long enough. She would do whatever it took to break the curse. The woman studied her for a moment as if weighing her resolve. Then, she stepped aside, revealing a small wooden table at the centre of the room. Upon the table lay an ancient book, its cover worn and frayed with age. The symbols etched into its surface glowed faintly in the candlelight, casting an eerie light around the room. "This is the Book of the Bloodlines," the woman said. "It is key to understanding the curse that binds your family to the wolves. But be warned, once you open this book, there is no going back." Lila's heart raced as she moved toward the table, her fingers brushing lightly over the book's cover. She could feel the weight of the history it carried—the pain, the sorrow, the blood. This book has seen centuries of betrayal and revenge. It was the story of her family, written in ink and blood. She hesitated for only a moment before opening the book. As the pages flipped, the air in the room seemed to change, growing heavier. A strange hum filled her ears, and the world seemed to tilt for a brief moment. The woman’s voice broke through the disorienting sensation. “The D'Alemberts and the Wolfes are bound by a curse that stretches back to the earliest days of the werewolf clans. Your family betrayed theirs, and the price was a life that was never returned. The Wolfes swore vengeance and ensured your family paid the price.” Lila's fingers trembled as she read the words on the page. The story of her ancestors unfolded before her eyes: a tale of power, betrayal, and sacrifice. A tale that had been hidden for generations. She turned the page, her breath catching in her throat. There it was, the name that had haunted her every waking moment: Kai. The heir to the Wolfe clan. The one who would carry the curse into the next generation. The woman’s voice grew darker. "The curse is more than just vengeance. It is a blood debt, paid in full only when one of you sacrifices everything. The Wolfes will stop at nothing to make sure it is repaid." Lila's mind raced. Kai. She had never met him, but the name filled her with rage and something else she couldn't quite name. It was him, then. He was the key to ending the curse. But how? How could she break a cycle that had lasted for centuries? How could she stand against a family as powerful as the wolves? “I need to find him,” Lila whispered, more to herself than to the woman in the room. The woman nodded, her expression unreadable. "You are already on the path, child. But beware. The wolfe’s family are not the only ones who are watching. Others seek the power that lies within you. Others who will stop at nothing to claim it." Lila closed the book, her mind reeling from what she had just learned. The truth was more than she had ever imagined. The wolves, her family, and the curse were all tied together in ways she couldn't fully understand. But one thing was clear: she couldn't back down now. Her blood was as much a part of this curse as Kai, and she was determined to see it through. The game had begun, and she would play it to the bitter end. With a final, determined glance at the woman, Lila turned and walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing in the silent hall. The truth had been revealed, and the path was set before her. The question now was whether she was strong enough to face what awaited her in the darkness. The woman's voice echoed softly in the distance as the door closed behind her. “Beware, Lila. The moon will rise, and the wolves will come with it."