The faint morning light filtered through the window, but Talia had barely slept. The words carved into the wood haunted her thoughts, playing on a loop in her mind. Her wolf stirred restlessly, an undercurrent of unease rippling through her.
Destiny. What does it even mean?
A knock on her door made her flinch, the tension in her body snapping tight.
"It's me," Kael's voice came from the other side.
Talia exhaled, brushing a hand through her tangled hair before opening the door. Kael stood there, looking more serious than usual. His eyes flicked to her, then to the window behind her, where the carved message was still visible.
"We need to talk," he said.
She stepped aside, letting him in. He moved to the window, his jaw tightening as he read the message.
"It's getting bolder," he said, his voice low.
Talia crossed her arms. "What does it want from me, Kael? It can't just be about a prophecy."
Kael turned to her, his gaze heavy. "It's not just about the prophecy. It's about power. If the Shadow Wolf captures you, it could use your bloodline to strengthen its army. Or worse—destroy the packs altogether."
Her stomach twisted. "And if I stay here, it'll put everyone at risk."
Kael's expression hardened. "You're not leaving. Running won't solve anything. The pack is stronger with you here."
Talia clenched her fists. "You're asking me to trust a pack that abandoned me, Kael. That turned its back on me when I needed it most."
Kael flinched, guilt flashing in his eyes. "I made mistakes, Talia. But I won't let them happen again."
Before she could respond, a loud howl echoed from the training grounds, sharp and urgent.
Kael stiffened. "Stay here," he ordered, but Talia was already moving past him, grabbing her boots.
"I'm not hiding," she snapped, her voice firm. "If this is my fight, then I'm facing it head-on."
Kael didn't argue, his lips pressing into a thin line as they hurried outside.
---
The training grounds were in chaos. Wolves in their shifted forms snarled and snapped at each other, their tension palpable. At the center of the commotion stood Logan, Kael's Beta, his expression grim.
"What's going on?" Kael demanded, his Alpha tone cutting through the noise.
Logan turned to them, his gaze landing on Talia. "Rogues. Three of them. They crossed the border early this morning. We chased them off, but they left a message."
He motioned to a tree near the edge of the clearing. Carved into the bark were the same words Talia had found on her window:
You cannot escape your destiny.
A chill ran down her spine, but she squared her shoulders. "They're trying to intimidate us," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "But we can't let them."
Logan looked at Kael, his expression cautious. "She's right. But we also can't ignore the fact that they're targeting her specifically. If they get too close…"
"They won't," Kael interrupted, his tone final. "We'll double patrols and strengthen our defenses. No one gets in—or out—without my approval."
Talia felt the weight of the pack's gazes on her, a mixture of curiosity, fear, and resentment. She wasn't just an outsider anymore—she was a potential threat.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of preparations. Kael ordered additional training for the pack, pushing everyone to their limits. Talia joined in, her determination burning brighter with every passing moment.
By evening, she was sparring with Logan, their movements fluid and precise. He was faster than Kael, his strikes sharper, but Talia held her ground.
"Not bad," Logan said, a hint of admiration in his tone as he dodged her kick. "You've got potential."
Talia smirked, using his momentary distraction to land a punch to his ribs. "Thanks for the vote of confidence."
Logan chuckled, stepping back to catch his breath. "You've got fire. I'll give you that."
Kael approached them, his expression unreadable. "That's enough for today," he said, his eyes on Talia. "Get some rest. You'll need it."
---
That night, Talia sat by the fire in the packhouse's common room, her thoughts heavy. The other wolves avoided her, their whispers barely audible but impossible to ignore.
Kael entered, his presence drawing the room's attention. He didn't say anything, just walked over and sat beside her.
"You're handling this better than I expected," he said after a moment of silence.
Talia scoffed. "Is that your way of saying I'm not as weak as you thought?"
Kael's lips twitched in a faint smile. "It's my way of saying I underestimated you. You've got more strength than most wolves I know."
She glanced at him, her anger softening. "Why now, Kael? Why admit that now?"
His smile faded, replaced by something more vulnerable. "Because I see it now. And because I need you to believe it too."
For the first time in years, Talia felt a flicker of something she hadn't dared to hope for—belonging.
But as the fire crackled and the night deepened, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching her. The Shadow Wolf's warning echoed in her mind, a reminder that her fight was far from over.