Chapter Fourteen: The Heart of the Beast
The night air was frigid, cutting through Evelyn like a blade, but the chill that gripped her had nothing to do with the temperature. It was the weight of Darius's words, still echoing in her mind, that made her feel as though she were suffocating. She stood at the edge of the small clearing, her breath visible in the cold air as she tried to calm her racing heart.
Alaric had retreated to speak with the elders of the enclave, leaving her alone to process everything that had happened. And as much as she wanted to block it all out, she couldn't. Darius's presence lingered, the dark energy he radiated still palpable in the air, and the thought of what he had said—about fate, about her bloodline, about power—gnawed at her insides.
Her eyes drifted to the moon, now a sliver in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the landscape. The future, Darius had said. It's already been written in the stars.
She didn't want to believe it. She couldn't. But deep down, a part of her wondered if there was some truth to his words. What was it about her bloodline that made her so important? And why couldn't she escape the pull of this world? Why couldn't she simply disappear into the night and leave it all behind?
But there was no escaping it. The wolves would find her. Darius would find her.
A rustling sound behind her snapped her out of her thoughts, and she spun around to find Alaric standing at the edge of the clearing. His eyes were hard, his jaw clenched, and there was an unmistakable tension in the way he carried himself.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice strained.
Alaric didn't immediately answer. Instead, he stepped closer, his gaze scanning the area with sharp focus, as though he were waiting for something—or someone.
"We need to talk," he said finally, his tone low and serious. "It's about Darius."
Evelyn's stomach twisted. "What about him?"
Alaric's gaze flickered toward her, and there was an intensity in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. "Darius isn't just a threat to you, Evelyn. He's a threat to everyone."
The weight of his words hit her like a punch. She had always known that Darius was dangerous, but hearing it from Alaric made it feel even more real, more pressing.
"Why?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "What does he want?"
Alaric stepped closer, lowering his voice as though to make sure no one else could hear. "Darius has been building power for years. He's been consolidating influence in the shadows, gathering followers who believe that the old ways—the pure bloodlines—are the only path forward. He's obsessed with the idea of ruling over all the packs, of creating a new order where those of the purest blood have control."
Evelyn's mind raced. "But why me? Why does he care so much about me?"
Alaric's gaze softened, his expression troubled. "Because you're more than just another wolf. You're part of an ancient bloodline—one that could tip the scales in his favor. If he can control you, Evelyn, he can control everything. The packs. The clans. The future of the wolves."
She swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. It wasn't just about her anymore. It was about everything. The packs. The future of the wolfkind. And the terrifying reality that Darius wanted her power to shape it all.
"But I don't want any of this," Evelyn said, shaking her head as if trying to shake off the crushing realization. "I didn't ask for this power. I don't want to be some… some tool in his war."
Alaric stepped forward, his presence grounding her. "I know you didn't choose this, Evelyn. None of us choose our fates. But you have a choice now—how you use the power inside you."
She met his gaze, searching his eyes for any hint of doubt. There was none. He believed in her. And somehow, despite everything that had happened, that belief sparked something deep within her. Maybe she didn't know what she was supposed to do, but she wouldn't let Darius take her life. Or the future. Not without a fight.
"How do I fight?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Alaric hesitated for a moment, his eyes darkening. "You must embrace your nature. Accept who you are, Evelyn. The power inside you is the key to defeating him. But you can't be afraid of it. You can't keep running from it. You have to learn to control it."
Evelyn clenched her fists at her sides, her nails digging into her palms. The power inside her was a storm she couldn't ignore. She had felt it before, pulsing just beneath the surface, but she had always shoved it down, afraid of what it might mean, of what it might do. She wasn't sure she could control it. She wasn't sure she even wanted to.
"I don't know if I can," she admitted, her voice trembling with uncertainty.
Alaric reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You can. I believe in you. And I'll help you."
For the first time in what felt like forever, Evelyn let herself believe. For so long, she had thought she was alone in this fight, that she had no allies, no family. But Alaric's words, his unwavering faith in her, gave her a flicker of hope. She wasn't alone. She didn't have to face this battle on her own.
"You don't have to face Darius alone, either," she said, her voice growing steadier. "I won't let him win."
Alaric's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, the hardness that had always defined him seemed to melt away. "I never doubted you."
The two of them stood there for a moment, locked in a shared silence, before Alaric stepped back and gave her a nod. "We need to get ready. The packs are coming. They'll want you for themselves."
Evelyn's heart hammered in her chest. The packs? She had no idea how many were involved in this war, but the idea that they were all coming for her—the idea that she was a pawn in their power struggle—made her feel small, insignificant. And yet, she couldn't back down now. She had to stand tall. Not just for herself, but for the wolves who didn't have a voice in this war.
"I'm ready," she said, though the words felt strange on her tongue. Ready for war. Ready to face a future she hadn't chosen, but one she had to accept.
Alaric gave her a nod, his expression resolute. "Good. Because the hardest part is still to come."
As they turned to leave the clearing, Evelyn's mind raced with the truth of their situation. There was no escaping the war that was coming. But as she walked beside Alaric, her heart steadied. She had a choice now. She had the power to shape her fate. And she would not let Darius, or anyone else, take that from her.
The night was still, but in her chest, the storm was already brewing.
The battle had begun.