The events of the previous night weighed heavily on Freya as she stared out the window of the small coffee shop she often visited. The world outside seemed so normal, so calm, but inside her, everything was a storm. She was still reeling from the encounter with the mysterious man who had tried to take her. If Kieran hadn't shown up… she didn't even want to think about what might have happened.
The warm mug in her hands was the only thing anchoring her to the present moment. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Kieran, the way he had protected her without hesitation. There was a fierceness in him, a primal power that both frightened and comforted her. She didn't understand the connection she felt with him, but she couldn't deny its intensity.
Her phone buzzed on the table, startling her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen: a message from Mia.
Mia: "Where are you? You've been acting weird lately. Do you need to talk?"
Freya bit her lip, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. How was she supposed to explain everything that had happened? The attacks, the strange prophecy, the wolves. Mia would think she had lost her mind. And maybe she had. Instead of replying, she locked the phone and tucked it back into her pocket, turning her gaze back to the street.
The bell above the door chimed, and Freya's heart skipped a beat. She knew who it was before she even looked up.
Kieran.
He moved through the small café with a quiet grace, his presence commanding attention even though he said nothing. His golden eyes locked on hers, and Freya felt that strange pull again, as if some invisible force was drawing them together.
He slid into the seat across from her, his expression serious but soft. "How are you feeling?"
Freya took a deep breath, her fingers tightening around the mug. "I don't know," she admitted. "Everything is happening so fast. I can't wrap my head around it."
Kieran nodded, his gaze never leaving hers. "I understand. It's a lot to take in."
"That's an understatement," Freya muttered, running a hand through her hair. "I just… I don't know what to believe anymore. My whole life, I thought I was normal. Disregarded all my mum said like it was some folktale, Now I find out I'm what exactly? Half-wolf?"
Kieran's expression softened further. "You're not just half-wolf, Freya. You're special. That's the reason Gabriel's men are after you."
At the mention of Gabriel's name, a chill ran down Freya's spine. "Who is he? Why is he hunting me?"
Kieran's jaw clenched, and for a moment, Freya thought he wouldn't answer. But then he leaned forward, lowering his voice. "Gabriel is one of the most dangerous Alphas in the region. He's been hunting for something, or rather someone for a long time. We don't know all the details, but we believe it's connected to the prophecy."
Freya frowned, her mind spinning. "The prophecy? You mentioned that before, but what does it mean?"
Kieran hesitated, as if weighing how much he should tell her. "There's an ancient prophecy that dates back centuries ago, that speaks of a hybrid, a being born of both human and wolf blood who will tip the balance of power in our world. Some believe that the hybrid will unite the packs and bring peace, while others think she will be the cause of a great war."
Freya's heart pounded in her chest. "And Gabriel seems to think I'm this hybrid?"
Kieran's gaze was intense, filled with an emotion she couldn't quite read. "I wasn't much of a believer myself but It's possible. Your existence alone is proof that the prophecy might actually be real and If Gabriel believes you're the one, he'll stop at nothing to capture and control you or… if you resist... eliminate you."
Freya felt a wave of nausea at the thought. Her entire life had been turned upside down in the span of a few days, and now she was supposed to believe she was at the center of some ancient prophecy? It sounded like something out of a fantasy novel.
"I don't want to be part of any prophecy," she said, her voice trembling. "I just want to live a normal life."
Kieran's eyes softened, and for the first time, Freya saw a hint of vulnerability in him. "I know. But sometimes, we don't get to choose our fate."
Freya stared down at her mug, her thoughts swirling. Everything he was saying made sense in a twisted way, but it was still hard to accept. She had grown up believing she was just another girl in a small town. Now, she was being told she was something much more, a key figure in a battle she hadn't even known existed.
She looked up at Kieran, searching his face for any sign of deceit. But all she saw was sincerity, and something else... something deeper that made her heart race.
"Why are you helping me?" she asked quietly. "You don't even know me."
Kieran's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening. "It's not just about the prophecy. It's about you. From the moment I saw you, I knew… I felt the connection."
Freya's breath hitched. She had felt it too, that strange pull between them, like their fates were intertwined. But she had been too scared to acknowledge it, too confused by everything else.
Kieran's eyes bore into hers, his voice low and rough. "According to tales, we're bonded, Freya. Whether you want to accept it or not, it's the truth. That's why I'm here. That's why I'll protect you, no matter what."
Bonded. The word sent a shiver down her spine. She didn't fully understand what it meant, but she could feel the truth in his words. There was something between them, something powerful and undeniable.
Freya swallowed hard, her mind spinning with questions. "What does that mean? Being bonded?"
Kieran leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving hers. "In our world, bonds are rare, but when they happen, they're unbreakable. It's like… two souls recognizing each other. Once a bond is formed, it's for life."
"For life?" Freya echoed, her voice barely a whisper.
Kieran nodded. "Yes. And I think that's why Gabriel is after you. If he can control the hybrid She-Wolf, if he can control you, he'll have the power to reshape our world. That's why he sent his men after you last night."
Freya's hands trembled as she processed his words. She wasn't just being hunted because of the prophecy, she was being hunted because of the bond she shared with Kieran. The thought terrified her, but it also made something inside her stir, a strange sense of belonging that she couldn't explain.
She looked up at Kieran, her voice steadying. "What do we do now?"
Kieran's eyes darkened, and Freya could see the fierce determination in them. "like I said last time, We fight back. I'll teach you everything I know, how to protect yourself, how to control your powers during shifting and after. But first, we need to get out of here. It's no longer safe for you."
Freya's heart pounded in her chest. "Where will we go?"
"There's a safe house not far from here," Kieran said. "My pack can help protect you, but we have to move quickly. Gabriel's men will be back, and they won't stop until they have you."
Freya hesitated for only a moment before nodding. As much as she wanted to stay in her familiar life, she knew it wasn't an option anymore. The world she had known was gone, replaced by one filled with danger and uncertainty. But at least she wouldn't be facing it alone.
Kieran stood, offering her his hand. "Are you ready?"
Freya looked up at him, her heart racing. She wasn't sure if she would ever be ready for what was coming, but she knew she had no other choice. She took his hand, feeling that strange warmth spread through her again as their skin touched.
"I'm ready," she whispered, her voice filled with a determination she hadn't known she possessed.
Together, they left the coffee shop, stepping into the darkened streets. The night air was cool, but Freya felt a fire burning inside her—a fire that had been ignited by the bond between her and Kieran, by the knowledge that she was no longer just an ordinary girl.
As they disappeared into the shadows, Freya couldn't help but feel that her life was about to change in ways she couldn't even begin to imagine. But no matter what came next, she knew one thing for sure.
She wasn't going to run. She was going to fight.
And she wasn't alone.