The Rogue's scheme
The pack house was unusually quiet as the day rode on, an eerie tension hangs in the air. The sounds of training in the training ground had died down, leaving only the occasional crackle of a fire on the fireplace. Maya stood in the main hall, her gaze was fixated on the various pack members who moved with purpose, each preparing for the unknown future that awaits them.
It had been a long and stressful day. The weight of everything she is passing through pin her down. Maya's thought was interrupted when the large wooden door to the hall was pushed open, and an unknown man stepped in.
He was tall and has the shape of a body builder, with dark and unkempt hair that framed his manly features. His had green eyes, which flickered nervously as he scanned through the room. His aura was undeniably that of a rogue. Maya immediately felt a chill run down her spine.
"Who are you?" Alpha Marcus asked, his voice rigid as he stepped forward to confront the unknown man.
The rogue was reluctant for a moment, his eyes fixed to the floor as if he was thinking of what to say . "I am…Kian," he said, in a low tone. "I... I need help. And I have information about Alpha Rowan's plans to wage war on your pack."
A murmur swept through the room. Alpha Rowan …The name sent a ripple of unease through the pack, and Maya.
Alpha Rowan had always been a threat, always lurking in the shadows, scheming like a devil, waiting for the right moment to attack us off guard.
"And what is it you have to say about Rowan's plans?" Marcus pressed, as he looked at him keenly .
Kian now straightened his posture. "I know his every moves. His next steps. He plans to make a move soon enough…targeting your pack. But... I can't speak freely here. Too many eyes are present," he added, glancing suspiciously at the pack members scattered around the hall.
Maya's brow stretched as she observed him carefully . Something about his presence here is suspicious and she doesn't sit right with that. His words were structured as if well rehearsed. There was something deceptive in his looks and tone,she felt he was hiding under a mask he was wearing that didn't quite fit in the urgency of the information he was bearing.
"I'll make sure no one overhears you ," Luna Evelyn spoke up, in a soft but commanding voice. The elders signaled Kian to follow them into a quieter, and more secluded area in the pack house.
As they walked off, Maya couldn't help but feel a sense of unease deep down. She had seen enough to know when someone is hiding something. Kian's eyes kept darting to her whenever he thought no one was looking. Maya had to suppress herself, resisting the urge to confront him right then and there. She need not take any rash steps, but something within told her that Kian wasn't who he claimed to be.
---
Later that evening, after the council had finished discussing with Kian, Maya was roaming through the corridors of the pack house, her mind was preoccupied with different thoughts . She had to clear her head, find some way to set everything into place.Everything seems to weigh down on her... it was all too much for her to handle.
As soon as she walked into the quiet courtyard, she heard a soft voice of a male calling her name. On turning, her eyes met with Kian's who stood by the gates, his arms crossed, with an unreadable expression.
"Can I have a moment with you?" Kian asked calmly, his voice filled with something Maya couldn't quite place. It wasn't fear ..like before. This time, she saw an unmistakable edge to his words.
Maya met his gaze, narrowing her eyes to look at him from his head to his toes. "I think you've spoken enough already. You've made your point…about Alpha Rowan. But I don't believe anything you've said so far."
Kian's lips gave a sly grin. "That's because you don't understand yet. I'm not here to hurt you, Maya, actually." He took a step forward, and Maya consciously backed away, her wolf stirring beneath her skin.
"I'm offering you something …an alliance, a chance to break free from the prophecy, from Liam's control," he continued, his voice lowering to a near whisper. "You don't have to follow the path they've laid for you. You're more than just their pawn."
Maya felt her pulse quicken at his words. Now it was evident that He was trying to manipulate her, trying to prey on her fears. He has now shown her his intentions for coming to their clan, and Maya wasn't stupid enough to fall for his lies.
"You're wrong," Maya said, her voice cold. "I'm not some pawn. And neither is Liam. We will protect this pack in unity whether you like it or not."
Kian's smile faltered. "You think you can trust him? Liam is not who you think he is. He's just as much of a threat as Rowan."
Maya's heart skipped at the mention of Liam's name. Raising her hands to her chest, where the mate bond pulsed softly, reminding her of the bond they shared. She could feel his presence, even though he wasn't present there with her. She would not let this rogue turn her against him.
"I'm not interested in your mind games, Kian," Maya retorted. " I'll make sure you leave this pack before you cause any more trouble. If you really have information about Rowan,then share it with the council."
Kian's gaze darkened, and for a moment, Maya thought she saw a glimpse of something dangerous in his eyes. But just as it came it disappeared,
suddenly he gave an unpleasant nod.
"Fine," he said.
"But remember …when the time comes, you'll wish you'd accepted my offer to you."
Haven't said that, Kian turned and walked away, leaving Maya all by her self in the courtyard.
She exhaled deeply, her mind racing. She knew he wasn't done with her, she knew his mission here was far from over.
But Maya also knew something else. She wasn't going to let anyone …especially not a stranger like Kian …undermine the future she was fighting for. She had too much at stake than to allow someone like him get into her head.
---
The following day, the pack gathered for their regular training session, Maya couldn't shake the unease that Kian's words had awoken within her. But she had more pressing matters to attend to, and as much as it pained her, she knew the only way forward was to confront the truth, no matter how difficult it may seem.
Later that evening, after a long day of training and strategizing with the pack, Maya stood outside the balcony of her room, watching the sunset. Her thoughts conflicting, but they always returned to Liam. The bond between them, the future they were supposed to build together. It seemed so close, yet so far.
She could feel the pull of the mate bond deep within her, urging her toward him. If she think of deciding on it, doubts would creep in. Could she truly trust him? Could she trust herself?
Suddenly, a voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Maya," Liam's deep voice called from behind her.
Maya turned to see him standing there, he looked eager to see her. His eyes searched hers, as if trying to read her thoughts.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Maya hesitated for a moment before giving a reply . "Yeah. Just thinking."
As soon as Liam moved closer, his presence brought both comfort and unsettlement.
"About what?" He asked.
Maya bit her lip before she replied. "Everything…thinking about us and the future of the pack ."
Liam's expression softened, and for a moment, Maya saw vulnerability in his eyes ,the same vulnerability that had been hidden beneath his tough macho for so long.
"We'll figure it out," Liam said, reassuring her . "Together we will overcome all this ."
Maya wasn't sure if she believed him or not , but she was willing to give it a trial. And for the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe…just maybe their future didn't have to be shaped by the prophecy alone.
Later that night, as Maya lay in bed, her mind raced. The rogue was gone for now, but she knew he ain't done yet. She couldn't help but wonder what was truly coming for them. Would they be ready?,
Could she trust Liam?,
Or was there something darker at play, something none of them saw coming?
That was was preoccupied her heart until she drifted away fast sleep.