The Midnight Pack's territory was full of people and things going on. Ronan told the warriors to go fight, and two more patrols were added to the lines of defence. The stress was felt by everyone in the pack, even the youngest ones. Everyone was scared because they knew something bad was going to happen.
Elara sat on the edge of the packhouse grounds and watched the water. Even though the lake looked beautiful from far away, it didn't make her feel better. She told Ronan something important, but it also let people hurt her. The way he looked at her told her he was wary, and she knew the other people were too.
It wasn't easy for her to earn trust, and it was hard for her to tell the truth by herself.
Ronan looked at her from a long way away with his arms crossed over his chest. Even though they hadn't talked since they met in the clearing, he kept thinking about what she said. It had been a long time since he thought about the name Kieran Nightstorm. The ruthless alpha had always been a danger, but now it was between them.
"Alpha, are you still thinking?" Sylas' voice stopped him in his tracks.
He saw his beta coming up behind him when he looked up. He spoke in a rough way and said, "Just thinking."
"About her?" He asked Elara with a pointer.
It took Ronan a while to answer. Instead, he let out a sigh and ran his hand through his hair. "I am not sure what to think." It looks like she's getting something out. She might be lying about Kieran, but that doesn't mean she is.
He put his arms across his chest. "What's the plan then?" Kieran will act quickly if he wants her.
He said, "We make our defences stronger and get ready for the worst." "But I want to learn more about her." I want to know what makes her so important to him and this prophecy.
Hey, Sylas, he smiled. "How are you going to do that?" There's no sign that she's likely to tell anyone her secrets.
That made Ronan's jaw hurt. "I'll figure it out."
The next night, Elara was asked to go to Ronan's private room. As she stood at the door, her heart was beating fast. He didn't tell her what to expect, but she knew this wasn't like any other meeting.
Ronan was standing by the window, facing away from her, when she came in. The room wasn't very bright because the stone walls were in shadow from the moonlight.
"Do you want to see me?" Elara asked with a steady voice, her nerves under control.
His sharp blue eyes locked on hers when he turned around to look at her. "Be honest with me, Elara. Do not give any more vague warnings or half-truths. If you want me to trust you, you have to tell me the truth.
Elara took a big breath. Something awful was going to happen, but that didn't make things any better.
"What do you want to know?" she asked.
The direct answer from Ronan was "Everything." "Your link to Kieran, the prophecy, and the real reason you came here."
While Elara thought, her mind was racing. She had been keeping her secrets to herself for a long time. She was now told to tell everyone. But she knew she couldn't win this battle by herself.
"They were part of the Nightstorm Pack," she said softly and steadily. "At first, they were loyal to Kieran, but when they found out what he was planning, they turned against him." He was going to kill anyone who stood in his way and take over more land. He told them they were traitors because they didn't want to fight in his war.
Ronan paid close attention, but no one could read his face.
"Kieran killed them," Elara said with a voice that was shaking. "I was only a kid, but I remember the night he came to get us." My mum hid me, and I saw him do... She got sidetracked and couldn't finish the sentence.
Ronan was very angry because his fists were clenched together at his sides. "Since then you've been running?"
She said "yes." "I stayed hidden for years and moved from place to place." It was then that the visions began. There were fears of a big war and a darkness that would cover everything. You were always the centre of attention.
Ronan gave a strange look. "Me?"
She said, "The prophecy says that the alpha and his mate will work together to defeat the darkness." "At first, I didn't want to believe it, but there were clear signs." I had to find you.
"Who is Kieran?"Ronan asked. "What does he have to do with this?"
The colour of Elara's face changed. "He knows about the prophecy." He knows that if we work together, we can beat him. That's why he wants me dead. The prophecy doesn't mean anything without me.
His mind was going crazy as he just stared at her. Her story was interesting, but it didn't answer all of my questions.
"What do you not want to say?" He asked in a low voice.
Elara thought for a moment, and her amber eyes showed that she was worried. "There's something else." This is something I haven't told anyone.
I asked Ronan, "Then tell me."
Elara shook her hands and took a deep breath. "The prophecy isn't just about us overpowering evil." One of us has to give up a lot, too, according to the message. I think it's about me.
When she spoke, Ronan's chest got tight. Giving up something was nothing new to him because he had done it many times for his pack. He didn't like the thought of Elara having to pay.
It was something like, "We'll find another way."
Elara turned her back on him. "You don't get it." We can't do anything about this. "It's fate."
Ronan said in a loud voice, "The word fate is just a word." "We choose for ourselves."
Elara saw hope in her eyes when she looked at him. She began to think for the first time that they might be able to change the future.
But she knew the truth. It would cost more than either of them thought to stop the darkness that was coming.