Rhea.
Morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow across my room. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the floor but not really seeing it. My mind kept replaying last night in the garden.
That voice—haunting, whispering my name—had felt so real. And the way Remus looked afterward, like he knew more than he was willing to share. It had all left me feeling restless, the peace I once found in the garden now replaced with a sense of dread.
I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shake off the unease that clung to me like a shadow. Was it my imagination? Maybe the stress of everything was finally getting to me, making me hear things that weren't there. But deep down, I knew it wasn't that simple. The voice had been too clear, too intentional. Someone or something was out there, and it wasn't friendly.
I glanced at the door, wondering if I should find Remus and talk to him about it. He had seemed so distant last night, as if he was keeping something from me. But what if he brushed it off, told me I was overreacting? The thought made me hesitate. I didn't want to seem paranoid or weak, especially not to him. Yet, the alternative—keeping this to myself—felt just as unsettling.
A soft knock broke the silence of the room, pulling me out of my thoughts. My heart jumped into my throat, and for a split second, fear rooted me in place. My eyes darted to the door. The memory of that voice whispered through my mind again. What if...?
I took a shaky breath, pushing the thought aside. It was just a knock. Slowly, I stood up and moved toward the door, my hand hovering over the handle for a moment. Then, with another deep breath, I turned the knob and opened it.
Rachel stood there, her usual bright smile in place, but it faltered slightly when she saw my face. "Hey," she said softly, concern flickering in her eyes. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
I forced a smile, trying to play it off. "Rough night," I muttered, stepping back to let her in. My voice sounded shaky even to my own ears.
Rachel entered, her eyes never leaving my face as she shut the door behind her. "What happened?" she asked, her tone gentle but insistent. "You look like something really spooked you."
I wanted to tell her. The words were right there on the tip of my tongue. But fear held me back. If I said it out loud, it would make it real, and I wasn't sure I was ready for that. So instead, I shrugged, looking away. "I... I don't know," I admitted. "Maybe it was nothing."
She studied me for a long moment, and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. Rachel was always good at reading people, and I knew she wasn't buying my attempt to brush this off. She moved closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Rhea, you're shaking. Whatever it is, it wasn't nothing."
Her words were like a dam breaking. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Last night," I began, my voice barely more than a whisper. "In the garden... I heard something. Someone. They... whispered my name. And when I checked, there was nothing there."
Rachel's eyes widened, her face paling slightly. She didn't interrupt, letting me continue. "Remus was with me," I added. "He acted like it was no big deal, but I could see it in his eyes. He was worried. More than worried. Like he knew what it was."
Rachel's expression turned serious. "Did you talk to him about it? Really talk?"
I shook my head, feeling a fresh wave of uncertainty. "No. He was so closed off after it happened. I didn't want to push him."
Rachel sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "To ease your fears, talk to him. If there's something going on, you deserve to know. This is your life too."
I knew she was right, but the thought of pressing Remus for answers made my stomach twist into knots. What if it changed everything? What if he told me something I wasn't ready to hear? I sank down next to Rachel, feeling the weight of it all. "I'm scared," I admitted. "I'm scared of what he might say. And what it means if he doesn't say anything at all."
Rachel put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "I get it," she said quietly. "But living in fear and uncertainty isn't living, Rhea. You need to know the truth, whatever it is."
Her words hung heavy in the air. I nodded slowly, knowing she was right. I had been avoiding the truth, afraid of what I might find. But now, with the memory of that voice and the darkness it hinted at, I couldn't hide from it anymore.
"I'll talk to him," I said finally, feeling a sense of resolve building inside me. "I have to."
Rachel gave me a small, supportive smile. "Good. And remember, I'm here for you. No matter what."
I returned her smile, feeling a little less alone. "Thanks, Rachel. Really."
We sat there in silence for a moment, both lost in our own thoughts. The room felt heavy with unspoken fears, but also with the faintest hint of hope. I didn't know what Remus would say when I confronted him, but I knew I couldn't keep ignoring the unease growing inside me.
Rachel left a few minutes later, promising to check on me later in the day. As the door clicked shut behind her, I was left alone again with my thoughts.
I shook off the lingering thoughts and forced myself to focus on the day ahead. I couldn't let fear control me. Not now. I needed answers.
With a deep breath, I got dressed for work, choosing a simple blouse and pants, something that made me feel both comfortable and ready for anything. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror one last time, trying to convince myself that I was calm and in control, even though my heart was racing.
When I arrived, instead of heading to my own office, I found my feet taking me toward Remus's. I needed to see him. I needed to talk to him about everything that had been haunting me since last night.
As I approached his office door, I hesitated, a knot of anxiety tightening in my chest. But then I took a deep breath, squared my shoulders, and pushed the door open.
Remus was sitting behind his desk, his eyes scanning over some pack documents. His expression was one of deep concentration, the usual furrow of his brows showing how involved he was in whatever he was reading.
He didn't notice me at first, so I stood there for a moment, gathering my thoughts. But the second he glanced up and caught sight of my face, his expression changed. His eyes darkened with concern, and he immediately set the papers aside.
"Rhea," he said softly, standing up. "What's wrong?"
I didn't beat around the bush. I was tired of secrets and half-truths. "We need to talk," I said, my voice steady but carrying an edge that surprised even me. I walked further into the room, not stopping until I was standing directly in front of him. "About last night. About everything."
His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something—fear, maybe, or worry. He crossed his arms, his posture becoming defensive. "I told you, there's nothing to worry about," he replied, his voice calm but with a hint of impatience.
"Don't lie to me," I shot back, my frustration bubbling to the surface. "I know there's more going on. The voice in the garden, the way you looked afterward... Remus, I feel like I'm living in a house full of secrets, and I can't take it anymore. I need to know what's happening."
His demeanor shifted immediately. The warmth that was usually in his eyes faded, replaced by a cold, guarded look. It was like a wall had suddenly come up between us. "Rhea, there are things I haven't told you because I was trying to protect you," he said, his tone now icy and controlled. "You have to trust me on this."
My heart pounded in my chest. "Protect me? By keeping me in the dark?" My voice rose, echoing off the walls of his office. "You don't get to decide what's best for me, Remus. I deserve to know the truth, no matter how ugly it is."
He clenched his jaw, his eyes flashing with anger. "You think this is easy for me?" he snapped, stepping closer, his presence almost suffocating. "You think I enjoy hiding things from you? I'm trying to keep you safe!"
"Safe from what?" I demanded, my hands balled into fists at my sides. "You keep saying you're protecting me, but from what? Tell me, Remus! Stop hiding behind vague warnings and tell me what's really going on!"
The tension in the room was thick, both of us standing there, locked in a battle of wills. Finally, he let out a harsh breath, his eyes never leaving mine. "Fine," he said, his voice low and controlled. "There's a threat to the pack, an ancient enemy. Someone with the power to infiltrate our territory without being seen or detected. The voice you heard in the garden... it was a warning. A warning that things are about to get dangerous."
I felt the blood drain from my face, my heart sinking at his words. An ancient enemy? Infiltrating the pack? It sounded like something out of a nightmare, something that couldn't possibly be real. But the look in Remus's eyes told me it was real—very real.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner?" I whispered, feeling a mixture of fear and betrayal. "Why did you let me walk around, clueless about what's happening around me?"
He shook his head, frustration etched into his features. "Because I didn't want you to be afraid," he admitted, his voice strained. "I wanted to protect you from the darkness that's closing in on us. And yes, I should've told you, but I... I was trying to shield you from it."
I shook my head, anger flaring up again. "By keeping me in the dark, you put me in more danger," I snapped. "If I had known, I could have been prepared! Instead, I'm blindsided and terrified!"
He took a deep breath, his eyes softening just a fraction. "I know," he said quietly. "And I'm sorry. But this is why I need you to stay close, to not wander alone, especially at night. This enemy, whoever they are, is watching us. Waiting."
I swallowed hard, fear clawing at my insides. But with that fear came a surge of determination. "No," I said firmly, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'm not going to hide and wait to be saved. I want to be involved, Remus. I want to know everything so I can be ready for whatever is coming."
He shook his head again, his eyes hardening. "You don't understand how dangerous this is."
"Then make me understand," I pressed, my voice steady. "You brought me into this pack. You made me your Luna. So treat me like one. Don't shut me out just because you're afraid."
He stared at me for a long moment, the room filled with the tension of our silent struggle. Finally, he turned away, his shoulders slumping slightly. "This isn't what I wanted for you," he murmured, almost to himself.
"But it's what I need," I replied, my voice softer now. "We face this together, or not at all."
He turned back to me, his expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "Fine," he said, his voice cold and clipped. "But you follow my lead. No wandering off, no taking risks. Understood?"
I nodded, a part of me relieved that he was finally letting me in, even if just a little. "Understood."
For now, it was enough. But as I looked into his eyes, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something much darker than either of us had anticipated.
Just as I opened my mouth to speak again, Remus's phone buzzed on the desk. The sound cut through the silence like a knife. He glanced at the screen, his eyes narrowing as he read the caller ID. Without a word, he picked up the phone and brought it to his ear.
"Yes?" he answered, his voice tense. I watched him closely, my heart pounding as I tried to read his expression.
At first, his face was set in a hard, unreadable mask. But as he listened, that mask began to crack. His eyes widened, and his face drained of color. Whatever the person on the other end was saying, it was bad. Really bad.
I took a step closer, my hands shaking. "Remus?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. I could see fear flicker in his eyes, fear that sent a cold chill down my spine.
He didn't respond. He just listened, his jaw clenching tighter and tighter with every passing second. Finally, he ended the call and let the phone drop to his side. He looked at me, and in that moment, I knew. I knew we were in deep trouble.
"We need to leave," he said abruptly, his voice filled with urgency and panic that I had never heard from him before. "Now."
My heart skipped a beat. "What? Why? What's going on?"
He grabbed my arm, his grip firm but not painful. His eyes were wild, darting around the room as if searching for unseen threats. "I don't have time to explain. We just... we need to get out of here, Rhea."
"Remus, you're scaring me," I admitted, my voice trembling as I tried to keep up with his sudden change in behavior. He had never been this frantic, this shaken. And it terrified me more than anything else.
He led me toward the door, his movements quick and purposeful. As we hurried through the hallway, I glanced back at his desk. His phone was still lit up, the screen displaying a message he hadn't bothered to clear. For a brief second, I saw the words before he pulled me out of the room:
"She knows."
A shiver ran down my spine. My thoughts raced as I replayed the words over and over in my mind. Who was "she"? What did she know? And how did this connect to the voice in the garden, to the threats Remus had been hiding from me?
"Remus," I said, my voice cracking with fear and confusion. "What does that message mean? Who knows? And what do they know?"
He didn't answer. His jaw was set, his eyes fixed ahead as we moved quickly down the corridor. It was like he was in a trance, solely focused on getting us out of the pack house. My heart pounded louder with each step. Every corner we turned felt like it was leading us further into the unknown, into danger I couldn't see but could feel creeping up on us.
"Remus!" I tried again, yanking my arm free from his grip and stopping in my tracks. "You need to tell me what's happening!"
My eyes scanned the scene. The entire pack was gathered outside. Elara, Alaric, Rachel, Tessa—everyone was there. Their faces were a mixture of worry and suspicion, eyes locked on me as if I was the enemy. My heart sank. Something was terribly wrong.
"Remus, what's happening?" I asked again, my voice cracking with fear and confusion. "Why is everyone here? What's going on?"
Before Remus could answer, Elara stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury. "Drop the act, Rhea," she spat, her voice cold and cutting through the air like a knife. "We all know you have a hand in this."
I stared at her, stunned and speechless. My heart pounded so hard I thought it might burst out of my chest. "What are you talking about? What is she talking about?" I stammered, my gaze darting to Remus. He was silent, his face an unreadable mask, but I could see the storm brewing in his eyes.
"You heard me," Elara continued, stepping closer, her gaze fixed on me like a predator cornering its prey. "The threats, the whispers, the voice you claimed to hear. You expect us to believe that you had nothing to do with it? This pack has never faced such dangers until you arrived."
My blood ran cold. The accusation hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. I glanced around at the faces of the pack members. They all looked at me with a mix of doubt and fear, as if they were searching for some sign of my guilt. Rachel stood by Elara's side, her eyes wide with uncertainty, while Tessa crossed her arms, her face twisted in a smug expression that made my skin crawl.
"That's not true," I said, my voice trembling but loud enough for everyone to hear. "I don't know anything about what's happening. I would never endanger the pack."
"Is that so?" Elara hissed, her eyes narrowing into slits. "You show up, and suddenly we're under threat from an ancient enemy? How convenient."
I felt like the ground was slipping out from under me. My mind raced to piece together what was happening, but everything was a blur. I turned to Remus, searching for support, for any sign that he believed me. His eyes were locked on Elara, his jaw clenched so tightly I could see the muscles working beneath his skin.
"Remus," I pleaded, my voice breaking. "You know me. You know I wouldn't—"
He cut me off, his voice strained. "Rhea, get in the car."
I stared at him, my heart dropping into a bottomless pit. "No, not until someone tells me what's going on!"
Elara sneered, crossing her arms. "You want to know what's going on? Fine. We've received threats, warnings from an enemy who has remained hidden for years. And then, conveniently, you hear a voice in the garden, warning you. How do we know you're not part of this? How do we know you're not leading this enemy to us?"
"That's absurd!" I shouted, feeling anger flare up inside me, pushing against the fear. "You can't seriously think I would betray you all. I've done nothing but try to prove myself, to be part of this pack!"
Elara took another step toward me, her eyes burning with suspicion and anger. "You expect us to believe that when all the signs point to you? You've been sowing discord since the day you arrived."
"Enough," Remus finally snapped, his voice like a thunderclap that silenced everyone. He turned to his mother, his expression colder than I had ever seen it. "This isn't the time for accusations, mother. We have a real threat, and standing here pointing fingers isn't going to help."
Elara's gaze shifted to her son, her expression softening slightly but not losing its edge. "And what do you suggest we do, Remus? Ignore the obvious?"
"We leave," he said through gritted teeth. "Right now."
"But what about—" I started to say, but Remus cut me off with a fierce look.
"Rhea, get in the car," he repeated, his voice leaving no room for argument. There was a warning in his tone, a plea that said he couldn't protect me if I didn't do as he said.
My hands were shaking as I moved toward the car. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, judging me, weighing me like a traitor caught red-handed. I wanted to scream, to defend myself, but I knew it would be useless. In this moment, the pack didn't see me as one of their own. They saw me as an outsider, a possible threat.
Remus opened the car door and practically shoved me inside, slamming it shut behind me. I watched him through the window, his face a storm of conflicting emotions as he turned back to the pack. He spoke to them, his voice too low for me to hear, but I could see the tension in every line of his body.
Elara glared at the car, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Alaric stood beside her, his expression grim. Rachel looked torn, glancing between me and her mother, uncertainty written all over her face. Tessa, however, had a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth, as if she was enjoying every second of this spectacle.
I clenched my fists in my lap, trying to steady my breathing. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion, anger, and fear.
How had things spiraled out of control so quickly? And why was Remus dragging me away without giving me a chance to clear my name? What was he planning to do next?
As Remus walked around to the driver's side, the car door opened, and he slid in beside me. He glanced at me, his eyes shadowed with something I couldn't quite read—fear, anger, maybe even guilt. He put the car in gear, his movements quick and rough.
"Remus," I started, but he shook his head.
"Not now," he muttered, his voice strained. "We need to get out of here first."
I bit my lip, swallowing down the torrent of emotions clawing their way up my throat. As the car sped down the driveway, leaving the pack house and all its accusing eyes behind, I couldn't help but feel the weight of Elara's words pressing down on me.
She believed I was involved. The pack believed it. And the worst part was, a tiny, nagging voice in the back of my mind wondered if maybe, just maybe, there was some truth I wasn't aware of.
Who was the "she" in the message? And why did it feel like the walls were closing in on me, trapping me in a nightmare I couldn't escape?