The forest was draped with silence as heavy as a blanket in the night. Angela 's every breath was calculated, fearing that breathing too deeply could expose her innermost thoughts. Meeting Nikolai had made her feel uneasy, although she would never acknowledge it openly. His words of caution reverberated in her thoughts. A war is on the horizon. She couldn't refute the plain truth in his statement, despite her desire to do so.
She experienced the heaviness, as though the sky was on the verge of bursting open and unleashing chaos on her world.
Moving forward cautiously, she scanned the horizon once more. There were only trees and shadows around, but she couldn't rid herself of the sensation that eyes were observing her from all directions. Her usual instincts were correct, and tonight they were loudly alerting her.
Conflict. The sound echoed like a far-off drumming, tugging at the innermost core of her existence.
While she walked back to the edge of the woods, her mind wandered to Devin . Since their last tense encounter days ago, she hadn't laid eyes on him. The conversation had been filled with too many venomous words. They had never gotten along, not from the moment they first met. He embodied all her fears, a natural predator shaped by anger and suffering as she had learned to dread. However, fate, being cruel and twisted, had determined that he would be her second opportunity partner.
A portion of her resented him for that. Another aspect of her, significantly more risky, couldn't help but dwell on him.
He was merciless, icy. His grey eyes had gazed at her as though she were just a tool, another piece in his never-ending quest for revenge.
However, deep down, there was another feeling, something she was not prepared to confront. Possibly a shared sorrow. A pain that is experienced by more than one person.
The noise of breaking branches snapped her out of her thoughts. Angela 's muscles tightened right away as her hand gravitated towards the concealed blade under her jacket. She stopped, paying attention. The atmosphere was calm, with only a slight rustle of wind in the trees. But then it returned once more, this time even closer.
There was a person present.
Angela bent down, her form naturally merging with the darkness. She became more attentive, noticing even the slightest noises - footsteps, quiet and purposeful, approaching from the north. The individual, whoever it may be, was advancing with the accuracy of a predator. Her heart raced, yet she made an effort to stay composed.
Someone had been watching her.
Before the form appeared from the shadows, she was first hit by the smell. Wild canine species known for their pack behavior and hunting prowess. The tall, wide-shouldered man appeared, his silhouette outlined by the dim moonlight, causing her eyes to squint. His eyes sparkled with an amber hue as they both locked gazes momentarily.
"Angela ," said the man in a low and cautious voice.
She failed to unwind. "Kael, tell me your desires."
Kael used to be part of her old pack, which she abandoned when everything went wrong. She was disturbed by his presence, not just because she hadn't seen him for more than a year, but also because his arrival signaled trouble.
"I came to locate you," he responded, moving closer but still keeping a respectful distance. "We have to have a discussion."
She formed a sour grin on her lips. Amusing. That's the current topic of conversation.
Kael had no smile on his face. He kept a stern, solemn expression on his face. Angela , you cannot ignore this conversation. The group... they require your assistance.
The words impacted her more than she was willing to acknowledge.
She had left them, left everything behind - her house, her relatives. Following the rejection from her partner and the subsequent tragedy, there was no reason for her to stay. That was the minimum, according to her own words.
"She stated flatly that she is no longer part of the group." "You are aware of that."
Kael's demeanor became a bit gentler, yet his gaze stayed deeply focused with amber eyes. "It's not important." Whether you choose to acknowledge it or not, you are still part of our group. At this moment, we require all the wolves we can acquire.
Angela disdainfully crossed her arms in front of her. "So this is the reason for this?" The group is disintegrating, and you're here to bring me back into the chaos?
"The situation goes beyond that," Kael remarked, his tone turning grimmer. Events are underway - events that are unknown to you. The equilibrium is changing, and we are unprepared. Lacking your presence—"
"I won't return, Kael," Angela cut in, her voice cutting. "I have personal issues that I need to manage."
Kael moved one step nearer, his eyes fixing on hers. Angela , this goes beyond just the group. It concerns staying alive. There is a greater force at work here - something that surpasses us.
Angela tightened her jaw, her thoughts moving quickly. She desired to leave, to abandon everything behind. However, there was something in Kael's tone that made her pause. His purpose wasn't solely to pressure her into coming back. There was another thing - something more profound.
She inquired, her voice lowered, "What do you mean?"
Kael looked around, as if making sure no one was watching. When he spoke once more, his voice was just barely audibly. The vampires are on the move. They've been forming risky partnerships. We've been listening to gossip about the Alpha King... and the werewolves who have joined forces with him.
Angela felt a chill in her blood. The Monarch Alpha. Just the name caused a wave of fear in the atmosphere. He was the one responsible for tearing apart her family and instructing her partner to abandon her. If he was implicated, it meant trouble was ahead.
"Is this somehow my fault?" she inquired, attempting to maintain a composed tone.
Kael's gaze became gentler. "You were consistently the most powerful among us, Angela . More powerful than you think. You are the one who can prevent what is about to happen.
Angela shook her head, letting out a bitter chuckle. "Kael, you are trusting the wrong person."
He moved nearer, his tone becoming more pressing. Sorry, but I can't do that task as it requires changing the content. I am trusting the only individual who has demonstrated the ability to resist and fight back. You have been avoiding this for a long time, Angela . It's time to confront it.
Both of them remained silent for a long period of time. The breeze whispered among the trees, bringing the aroma of pine and soil. Angela felt overwhelmed as she struggled to decide between her past and the future ahead of her.
However, she was aware in her heart that Kael was correct. She had been moving quickly on foot. Since the night her family was massacred, she had hidden her pain, anger, and fear under layers of denial and stubbornness. However, the reality was that she was unable to keep running indefinitely. Not from here.
Not belonging to the Alpha King.
She released a gradual exhale, feeling her shoulders become tense. "I can't make any guarantees," she murmured, her eyes focused on the floor. "I will pay attention, however."
Kael's face became gentler, and he showed a slight smile for the first time since he got there. "That's the only thing I request."
The words hung in the air between them, fragile and heavy. Angela knew that by agreeing to listen, she was opening a door she couldn't close. But part of her also knew that this was something she couldn't ignore any longer.
The storm was coming, and she had a choice to make.
Kael glanced toward the darkened forest, his amber eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "We don't have much time," he said quietly. "Meet me at the old clearing tomorrow night. I'll explain everything then."
Angela nodded, her throat tight. "I'll be there."
As Kael disappeared into the shadows, Angela stood alone once more, the weight of her decision settling heavily on her shoulders. She had spent so long trying to bury the past, but it seemed the past had found her anyway.
With one last glance at the forest, she turned and made her way back toward the city. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale glow over the landscape, but it offered no comfort.
The surface had cracked, and beneath it, something dark and dangerous was waiting to be unleashed.