The rain had stopped by the time Aria returned to the pack's compound, though the chill in the air lingered. The tunnels beneath Raven Hollow felt emptier than usual, the familiar scent of damp stone and earth failing to ground her as it normally did. Every step she took echoed faintly, a reminder of just how far underground they were.
The encounter with Lucien had left her shaken, though she would never admit it out loud. His words replayed in her mind like a haunting melody, each syllable unraveling what she thought she knew.
"You see only what you've been taught to see."
The phrase burned in her memory, making her question truths she had held onto since she was old enough to fight. Vampires were the enemy. They killed, manipulated, and thrived off destruction. That was the narrative the pack had fed her for as long as she could remember.
But now, doubts crept in like shadows.
Aria entered the central hall of the compound, the low hum of voices growing louder as she approached. The pack was gathered, their faces tense and expectant. She quickly realized why—Alpha Roderick stood at the head of the room, his arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression as grim as she'd ever seen it.
He looked up as she entered, his sharp eyes narrowing. "Aria."
She stopped in her tracks, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room shift to her.
"Where have you been?" Roderick asked, his tone even but laced with an edge that made it clear this was not a casual question.
Aria met his gaze, her spine straightening. "Out."
"Out," he repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "While the rest of us are here preparing for what's to come, you're out wandering the streets?"
"I needed answers," she said simply, refusing to back down.
Roderick's eyes darkened. "Answers to what?"
Aria hesitated. She knew she couldn't tell him the truth—not yet. "The vampires. Their movements don't make sense. I was following a lead."
The lie was thin, and she knew it. Roderick's gaze bore into her, searching for cracks. But before he could respond, Elias stepped forward from the crowd.
"Alpha," Elias said, his voice calm, though his eyes were wary. "If Aria has a lead, perhaps we should hear it."
Roderick didn't look away from her, his jaw tightening. "Fine. Speak."
Aria swallowed hard, the tension in the room pressing against her like a physical weight. "The vampires aren't acting out of desperation. They're moving with purpose, like they're following orders. But their targets don't line up with what we've seen before. I think there's a division within their ranks—one that we might be able to exploit."
It wasn't entirely a lie, though it wasn't the whole truth either.
Roderick studied her for a long moment before nodding slowly. "If that's true, then we need to act quickly. But next time, you report to me before running off on your own. Understood?"
"Yes, Alpha," Aria said, though her voice lacked conviction.
Roderick turned back to the pack, his voice rising as he addressed them. "We've fought too long and lost too much to falter now. The vampires think they can take this city from us, but we will remind them who the hunters are. Prepare yourselves—we move at dawn."
The pack erupted into murmurs of agreement, their collective energy buzzing like an electric current.
Aria slipped out of the room as soon as she could, her heart pounding in her chest. She didn't know what Roderick planned, but she knew one thing for certain: if she didn't act soon, the fragile balance between the wolves and the vampires would shatter completely.
She made her way to her quarters, her thoughts racing. She needed clarity, needed to make sense of everything Lucien had said. But as she opened the door, she froze.
Someone was inside.
"Close the door," a voice said, low and familiar.
Aria stepped inside and shut the door, her hand instinctively going to her blade. "Elias. What are you doing here?"
Elias leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression was calm, but there was a tension in his posture that put her on edge.
"I should be asking you the same thing," he said. "You've been acting strange since last night. I want to know why."
Aria clenched her jaw. "I already told you. I needed answers."
"Don't lie to me," Elias said, his voice sharper now. "You're hiding something, Aria. I can see it in your eyes. Whatever it is, it's going to get you killed—or worse."
She turned away, her hands curling into fists. "You don't understand."
"Then help me understand," he said, stepping closer. "We've fought side by side for years. I've watched your back, and you've watched mine. But now you're shutting me out, and I need to know why."
Aria hesitated, the weight of his words pressing against her. She wanted to tell him, to share the burden that was tearing her apart. But she couldn't. Not yet.
"I can't," she said quietly.
Elias sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Whatever you're dealing with, you don't have to face it alone. Just… be careful, Aria. The pack needs you. I need you."
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotion. Before she could respond, he turned and left, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Aria sank onto the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. The walls were closing in, the weight of her choices threatening to crush her.
And then, a knock at the window.
Her head snapped up, her heart leaping into her throat. She crossed the room and pushed the curtain aside, her breath catching as she saw him.
Lucien.
He stood on the narrow ledge outside, his silver eyes glowing faintly in the darkness.
Aria hesitated for only a moment before unlocking the window and sliding it open.
"You're either brave or stupid," she said, her voice low.
Lucien's lips twitched into a faint smile. "Perhaps both. May I come in?"
She stepped aside, watching as he slipped into the room with a predator's grace.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice sharp.
"To warn you," he said simply. "Your pack is walking into a trap. And if you follow them, you'll never see the truth."
Aria's chest tightened, her mind racing. "How do you know that?"
Lucien's expression darkened. "Because I've been playing this game longer than you can imagine. And if you don't start listening, you're going to lose everything."
His words sent a chill down her spine, but before she could respond, he stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers.
"Trust your instincts, Aria," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "They'll save you when nothing else can."
And then, just as quickly as he had appeared, he was gone, leaving her alone with the storm raging in her mind.