Lena's POV
"You're shaking." Damien's voice was calm, steady—a sharp contrast to the storm brewing inside me.
I hadn't even realized my hands were trembling until he pointed it out. I clenched them into fists, refusing to let him see how rattled I was. "I'm fine."
"You're not," he said, stepping closer. His gaze was unrelenting, like he could see through every carefully constructed barrier I had. "Victor has a way of getting under people's skin."
"He didn't get under mine," I snapped, though the quiver in my voice betrayed me. "I just—I need answers, Damien. Real answers, not half-truths or cryptic warnings."
Damien sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. "I told you—this world isn't simple. If I could protect you without telling you any of it, I would."
"Well, you can't!" I shot back, my frustration boiling over. "I'm in this now, whether I like it or not. So stop treating me like some fragile thing and start being honest."
His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. Instead, he turned and poured himself a drink from the crystal decanter on the sideboard. "You really want to know why Victor wants you?"
"Yes," I said firmly.
Damien downed the whiskey in one swallow before turning back to me. "It's your bloodline, Lena. It's rare—ancient. There hasn't been anyone like you in centuries."
I frowned. "What does that even mean?"
"It means," a new voice cut in, cold and sharp, "you're either the solution to our war or the spark that burns everything to the ground."
I spun around to find Victor Kane standing in the doorway, his presence as unnerving as ever.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Damien growled, stepping between us.
Victor ignored him, his predatory gaze fixed on me. "You didn't tell her, did you?"
"I told her enough," Damien snapped.
Victor's lips curved into a smirk. "Clearly not. Let me fill in the gaps for you, Lena."
"Don't," Damien warned, his voice low and deadly.
Victor chuckled, unfazed. "You see, Lena, your bloodline is more than just ancient. It's powerful. Unique. It ties you to every pack in existence, which makes you the perfect bridge—or the perfect weapon."
"That's ridiculous," I said, my voice shaking despite my best efforts.
"Is it?" Victor tilted his head, his green eyes gleaming. "Why do you think your brother went into hiding? He knew what you were, what you could become. He tried to shield you from it, but he couldn't hide forever."
"Ethan went into hiding because of you," I spat.
Victor's smirk faded, replaced by something darker. "Your brother made his choices, Lena. He aligned himself with Damien, thinking he could protect you. But even he couldn't resist the pull of power forever."
"What are you saying?" I demanded, my heart pounding.
Victor's gaze flicked to Damien. "You haven't told her about Ethan's betrayal, have you?"
Damien's expression darkened, and for the first time, I saw uncertainty in his eyes.
"Damien?" I prompted, my voice barely above a whisper.
"He's lying," Damien said firmly.
"Am I?" Victor asked, his tone mockingly innocent. "Tell her, Damien. Tell her what her dear brother did to save his own skin."
"Enough!" Damien roared, his voice echoing through the room.
I stepped back, startled by the intensity of his outburst.
Victor smiled, clearly enjoying the chaos he was sowing. "I'll leave you two to sort this out. But remember, Lena, the truth has a way of surfacing—whether you're ready for it or not."
He turned to leave, but paused in the doorway. "Oh, and Damien? My ultimatum still stands. You have three days to hand her over, or I'll come back with my entire pack."
"You won't touch her," Damien growled.
Victor smirked. "We'll see."
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving a suffocating silence in his wake.
I turned to Damien, my chest heaving. "What was he talking about? What betrayal?"
Damien hesitated, and the sight of it—this man who was always so sure, so in control—shook me to my core.
"Lena," he began, his voice softer now, almost pleading.
"Don't," I interrupted, holding up a hand. "Don't try to protect me. Don't give me another half-truth. Just tell me the damn truth."
He exhaled heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Ethan made a deal with Victor. He thought he could outmaneuver him, but…"
"But what?" I pressed.
Damien met my gaze, his silver eyes filled with regret. "Victor used him to get to you. Ethan didn't betray you, Lena. He tried to save you. But in doing so, he played right into Victor's hands."
The floor seemed to drop out from under me. "No," I whispered, shaking my head. "Ethan wouldn't—he couldn't—"
"He didn't have a choice," Damien said quietly. "Victor would've killed him otherwise. And now, because of that deal, Victor thinks he has a claim on you."
I sank into the nearest chair, my mind spinning. Everything felt like it was unraveling, the truth cutting deeper than I ever could've imagined.
Damien crouched in front of me, his expression uncharacteristically vulnerable. "I swear to you, Lena, I'll keep you safe. No matter what it takes."
I looked at him, searching his face for something—anything—that could anchor me in this storm. "Why me?" I asked, my voice barely audible. "Why is everyone so obsessed with me?"
"Because you're more important than you realize," Damien said.
Before I could ask what he meant, a howl echoed through the night, chilling me to the bone.
Damien's expression hardened instantly. "They're here."
"Who?" I asked, dread pooling in my stomach.
He stood, his posture tense. "Victor's pack. He's not waiting for three days."
The room filled with the sounds of footsteps—Damien's pack members rushing to defend the estate.
Damien turned to me, his silver eyes blazing. "Stay here. Don't move."
And then he was gone, leaving me alone in a house that suddenly felt far too big, far too dangerous.
The echoes of Victor's words lingered in my mind, his ultimatum hanging over me like a guillotine. And somewhere, in the chaos outside, was a truth I wasn't sure I was ready to face.