CHAPTER TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE - THE ENIGMATIC STRANGER

Anna leaned forward, intrigued despite her wariness. "What exactly have you heard?" Lucas's eyes gleamed with excitement. "There are stories, passed down through generations, of a relic of immense power. An artifact that could change the very fabric of werewolf society. And all signs point to it being here, in your possession." Erik and Anna exchanged a glance. Erik spoke first, his tone cautious. "That's... quite a claim, Mr. Blackwood. What makes you so sure this artifact exists, let alone that we have it?" Lucas reached into his briefcase, pulling out a stack of papers. "I've spent years piecing together fragments of lore, deciphering ancient texts. Look here," he said, spreading out several documents on the desk. "These are references to the artifact from various sources across centuries. And this," he pointed to a faded map, "suggests its last known location was in this very region." Anna leaned in, examining the papers. The information was impressive, matching up with details