The morning sun shone through the thick canopy of trees, giving the Midnight Pack's territory a hazy glow. The stress from Elara's arrival was still there, even though it was a very quiet morning. It was like a storm was about to break. Ronan went to the training grounds. In the early morning air, he could hear the sounds of wolves training fights. He was still antsy from the night before.
Even though Ronan kept a close eye on the pack warriors as they trained, he wasn't thinking about them. He couldn't shake the feeling that Elara's arrival wasn't a stroke of luck. He made him feel like she was missing pieces to a puzzle, which Ronan didn't like.
When Sylas yelled "Alpha," Ronan stopped what he was doing. He walked up to him with a serious look on his face.
"What is it?" Ronan asked as he wiped his forehead dry.
Sylas said in a neutral voice, "Elara has been wanting to meet with you again." "The prophet says there is more for you to learn."
That made Ronan's jaw hurt. He didn't want to talk to her again, but he also couldn't ignore her. "Where is she now?"
Then he said, "In the clearing by the lake."
He replied, "Yes." "Make sure the warriors are very alert." Nothing else we know about her could be hidden.
Sylas hesitated, which showed that he loved Ronan. "Do you not trust her?"
He quickly said, "I don't trust people who drive my pack crazy." "But that doesn't mean I won't pay attention to the danger she poses."
Ronan then walked toward the clearing, but he wasn't sure what he was doing.
The water around Elara's sad face showed when she stood by the lake. Even though she had only been here for one day, she could already feel how heavy the mission was. The fact that Ronan was cold made her feel even worse because it was clear that the Midnight Pack didn't trust her. But she couldn't give up now. There was too much at stake.
He was coming up behind her when she turned around. It was impossible to ignore how tall and powerful he was, and the way his piercing blue eyes locked on hers made her feel both suspicious and interested.
Ronan spoke in a low, sharp tone, "You wanted to talk."
Elara gave a nod and gathered her strength. "I know you don't believe me, but you need to hear this."
He crossed his arms and didn't seem to be feeling anything. "Go on."
Elara gave it some thought before she spoke. She stated, "The prophecy doesn't just talk about our bond." It talks about a darkness that will appear and destroy everything in its path. A darkness caused by betrayal and blood.
It got darker in Ronan's eyes. "What does that have to do with you?"
Elara looked at the ground and her voice was trembling. "Because I'm a part of it."
The air around them seemed to get cooler. His mind was going crazy as he just stared at her. "Explain," he asked.
Elara shook her hands and took a deep breath. "My family was in the Nightstorm Pack." But Kieran Nightstorm, one of them, killed them a long time ago. He killed my parents because he believed they were a threat to his power. My mom hid me before they came, which is the only reason I got away alive.
It got darker on Ronan's face. That made him hate the rival alpha even more than before because he already knew Kieran was mean.
"Now what?" When he asked, his voice was cold. "Why are you here?" "Why do you need my pack?"
"Because Kieran wants me," Elara said, and her voice broke. "He knows about the telling." He wants to kill me and hurt you both at the same time. He knows that I'm your mate.
Ronan felt his chest get tight. I didn't feel better even though it looked like the puzzle pieces were coming together. His goals had always been risky, but now they were personal.
"Why did you wait to tell me this?" Ronan asked with a stern tone.
Elara looked into his painful amber eyes. "I knew you wouldn't believe me," she said. I did that because I didn't want to put you in danger.
He clenched his teeth. He wasn't sure if he should be mad at her for lying or proud of her for living her life with courage. He had to pay attention to the threat at all times.
Ronan called a meeting of his closest family and friends back at the pack house. Mara was in charge of the pack's strategy, and Liora was in charge of healing. They sat down with Sylas at the long wooden table in the war room.
"Elara says Kieran is after her because of the prophecy," Ronan said, his voice calm even though he was mad.
Sylas put a face on it. "And you believe her?"
"I believe the danger is real," Ronan said. "It doesn't matter if the prophecy is true or false right now. Make sure the pack stays safe.
Mara, a she-wolf, leaned forward. She had sharp eyes and a smart mind. "If Kieran knows about Elara, he will act soon." We need to get ready.
Liora spoke very softly. She was the oldest in the group and had been with the pack for a long time. A lot of things have been unknown about the prophecy, but it has never been wrong. If Elara is really the alpha's mate, she's not by chance here.
He looked at Liora for a while. "Do you believe we can trust her?"
She said, "I believe we should be careful." "But I also think she might be important for the pack's survival."
The room went silent as Liora's words hit home. He leaned back in his chair and quickly thought of something. He was in charge of the Midnight Pack, and the choices he made could kill or save people.
He finally spoke. "There should be twice as many border patrols." Help us defend ourselves better. Also, watch Elara very carefully. We need to be ready in case Kieran follows her.
The other people nodded, but they looked serious.
Ronan couldn't get rid of the feeling that this was just the beginning when the meeting was over and the group began to move. He could feel the ghosts of the past following him around. Their lives and the lives of the pack were in danger.