The clearing was silent except for the occasional groan of the injured and the faint rustle of the wind. The pack's eyes bore into Lucien, their rage and distrust palpable. Aria stood between him and the pack, her body taut like a bowstring ready to snap.
Roderick's face was a mask of cold fury, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "You're a fool, Aria, bringing this abomination into our midst. Do you understand what you've done?"
Aria squared her shoulders. "I understand perfectly. And I also understand that we wouldn't be standing here if it weren't for him."
Lucien remained unnervingly calm, his crimson eyes meeting Roderick's unwaveringly. "She's right. I saved her. I saved all of you."
A growl rippled through the crowd, low and menacing.
"You expect me to believe you did this out of the goodness of your heart?" Roderick sneered.
"No," Lucien said, his voice measured. "I did it because your enemy is mine, too. And if you're smart, you'll stop seeing me as a threat and start seeing me as an ally."
Roderick's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. "Allies? Wolves and vampires? Do you think me a fool?"
"Only if you refuse to listen," Lucien shot back. "You've seen tonight's losses. That was just the beginning. There's something far more dangerous brewing—something that will destroy both our kinds if we don't stop it."
Aria held her breath, glancing at Roderick. He was a man who valued strength and loyalty above all else, but reason was not always his strong suit.
Elias, standing a few feet away, stepped forward cautiously. "Alpha, maybe we should hear him out," he said, his tone reluctant but firm.
Roderick's sharp gaze snapped to Elias. "You side with her now?"
"I side with the pack," Elias said evenly. "And if what he says can save lives, we can't afford to dismiss it outright."
Roderick's nostrils flared, but the murmurs of agreement from the pack seemed to cool some of his anger. He finally turned back to Lucien, his lips curling into a snarl. "Speak. But if I hear one lie, I'll rip your throat out myself."
Lucien inclined his head in a mock bow. "Fair enough."
He stepped forward slowly, hands raised to show he wasn't a threat. The wolves tensed, but they let him approach.
"The attacks on your pack aren't random," Lucien began. "They're part of a coordinated effort by a faction of vampires who want to see an end to the uneasy truce between our species. They believe war is inevitable and want to strike first."
"And why should we believe you're not one of them?" Roderick growled.
Lucien smirked faintly. "Because if I were, I wouldn't be here warning you. I'd be celebrating your downfall."
A ripple of unease passed through the pack.
Aria took a step forward, her voice steady. "He warned me before tonight's ambush. That's why I tried to convince you to reconsider the plan, Alpha."
Roderick's eyes darkened, but he didn't interrupt.
Lucien continued, "The faction is led by a vampire named Varis. He's powerful, ruthless, and entirely without mercy. He sees alliances as weakness and believes the only way to ensure vampire dominance is to eliminate any threat—starting with you."
"And what do you gain by betraying your own kind?" Roderick asked, his voice thick with suspicion.
"Survival," Lucien said simply. "Varis doesn't care about loyalty. Once he's done with you, he'll turn on anyone who doesn't follow his vision—including me."
Roderick crossed his arms, his expression still skeptical. "Why not kill him yourself, then?"
Lucien's smirk returned, but there was no humor in it. "Do you really think I'd be standing here if it were that simple? Varis has an army. I have myself. You do the math."
The silence that followed was heavy, every wolf processing his words.
Finally, Aria broke the quiet. "We can't fight this alone. Not if what he's saying is true."
"You're suggesting we trust a vampire?" one of the wolves snarled.
"I'm suggesting we be smart," Aria shot back. "We've lost too many already. If we don't adapt, we'll lose everything."
Roderick's gaze flicked between Aria and Lucien, his inner conflict evident. Trusting a vampire was unthinkable, but the losses they'd suffered couldn't be ignored.
"We'll discuss this further," Roderick said finally. He gestured to two enforcers. "Take him to the holding cell. He doesn't leave until I say so."
Lucien raised an eyebrow but didn't resist as the wolves approached. "Fair enough. But don't take too long to decide. Varis won't wait."
The enforcers led him away, and the pack began to disperse. Aria stayed behind, her chest tight with anxiety.
Elias approached her, his expression unreadable. "What's really going on, Aria?"
She sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. "I don't know. I just… I believe him. I don't know why, but I do."
Elias frowned. "You're risking everything on a feeling?"
"It's more than a feeling," she said. "It's instinct. And it's telling me we're in more danger than we realize."
He studied her for a long moment before nodding. "I hope you're right. Because if you're wrong…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the warning was clear.
---
Later that night, Aria found herself unable to sleep. She slipped out of her quarters and made her way to the holding cell where Lucien was being kept.
The guards nodded as she approached, stepping aside to let her in.
Lucien was seated on the floor, his back against the wall, his eyes closed. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "Couldn't stay away, could you?"
"Don't flatter yourself," she said, crossing her arms. "I need answers."
He gestured for her to sit. "Ask away."
Aria hesitated before sitting on the opposite side of the cell. "Why did you really warn me? And don't give me that 'survival' nonsense. There's more to this."
Lucien's smirk faded, and for the first time, his expression turned serious. "You're right. There is more. But I don't think you're ready to hear it yet."
Her jaw tightened. "Try me."
He leaned forward, his crimson eyes locking onto hers. "You're not just a wolf, Aria. You're something more. Something Varis fears. And if you want to survive, you'll need to figure out what that is—before he does."
The words hit her like a punch to the gut, leaving her reeling.
"What are you talking about?" she demanded.
Lucien leaned back, his smirk returning. "You'll find out soon enough."
Aria stood abruptly, her mind racing. Whatever he meant, it wasn't something she was prepared to face.
But deep down, she knew her life was about to change forever.