Ariana's POV
Ariana sat by the window, staring out into the vast expanse of the forest that stretched beyond the cabin. The darkened trees seemed to be holding their breath, the silence thick with an uneasy stillness. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Her thoughts kept circling back to Kael. He had left hours ago, attending to pack matters, but she couldn't push the nagging sense of worry from her mind. It had been growing steadily ever since they arrived at the cabin. She missed him, but something deeper within her—a strange intuition—told her something wasn't right.
Her fingers absentmindedly traced the silver pendant hanging around her neck. It had belonged to her mother, a cherished gift, and had always been a reminder of the family she had lost. Lately, it felt as though it was pulsing with an energy she couldn't explain—soft, but there. Alive, almost.
Suddenly, a knock echoed through the quiet of the room, making Ariana jump. Her heart skipped a beat. She wasn't expecting anyone. Could it be Kael? But no, the feeling in the pit of her stomach told her it wasn't him.
She opened the door, only to find Ronan standing there. His eyes met hers with a coldness she had never seen before, and despite his calm exterior, Ariana immediately felt a shift in the air. It wasn't the familiar warmth she had grown to trust over the years.
"Ronan," she breathed, a flicker of confusion crossing her face. "What are you doing here?"
He stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, his gaze scanning the room before settling on her. "We need to talk, Ariana."
Ariana's brow furrowed. "About what?"
Ronan's expression grew serious. "Kael's not here, and that's a problem."
She shook her head, trying to make sense of his words. "What do you mean?"
His voice lowered, barely above a whisper. "There are rumors. Whispers in the forest. A rival pack. Hunters. And they're not just after Kael."
Ariana's stomach twisted at the mention of danger, but before she could ask more questions, Ronan stepped closer, his eyes now hard. "They want you, Ariana. And not just because you're with Kael."
Ariana's breath hitched. "What are you talking about?"
"You're tied to a prophecy. There's more to you than you think. You have powers," he continued, his tone laced with urgency. "And there are people who would do anything to control them before you even realize what you're capable of."
She stared at him in disbelief. Powers? She wasn't special. She had no abilities—at least, none she could sense.
"What… what do you mean?" she whispered, feeling the weight of his words press against her chest.
Before Ronan could respond, a loud crash interrupted them. The door slammed open, and Kael entered, his eyes wild with fury. He stood between them, his broad shoulders tense, his jaw clenched as he glared at Ronan.
"Ariana," Kael's voice was low, dangerous. "Are you alright?"
Ariana swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "I'm fine, Kael, but Ronan—"
Kael's gaze shifted from her to Ronan, and the air grew thick with tension. "What the hell is going on here, Ronan?"
Ronan's hands raised in mock surrender. "Calm down, Kael. I'm just telling her the truth."
Kael's eyes burned with protectiveness as he turned back to Ariana, his voice softer now, but still filled with that fierce edge. "Ariana, you don't need to listen to him. He's just stirring things up."
But Ariana couldn't ignore the gnawing feeling in her gut. "Kael… I need to know what's happening. What's this prophecy Ronan is talking about? What powers? Why are people after me?"
Kael's expression faltered, his eyes flashing with something Ariana couldn't decipher. "You're not ready for this," he muttered, more to himself than to her.
Kael's POV
Kael's heart pounded as he looked at Ariana, her eyes filled with confusion and fear. He hated seeing her like this, hated that Ronan had taken it upon himself to fill her head with half-truths and fear.
He had always known there was something special about Ariana—something that ran deeper than what she could see in herself. But she wasn't ready to understand it. Not yet.
Ronan's presence here wasn't a coincidence. Kael had known something was wrong when he picked up the faint scent of another wolf pack on the wind during his patrol. But hearing Ronan speak of a prophecy, powers, and enemies coming for Ariana—those were words Kael was not ready to confront.
He took a step closer to Ariana, his protective instincts kicking in. "You're safe here with me," he promised, though there was a crack in his voice. "Nothing is going to happen to you."
But Ariana's gaze was unwavering. "Why can't I know? Why can't you tell me what's really going on?"
Kael's mind raced. He had always protected her, always kept her safe, but this… this was different. If he told her the truth, if he revealed the prophecy that bound her to the future of their world, everything would change. And Kael wasn't sure if he was ready for that change.
"I don't want to put you in danger," Kael said, his voice rough. "But there's more at play here than you understand. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, Ariana. You're mine to protect."
Ronan snorted, clearly unimpressed by Kael's words. "You can't protect her from everything, Kael. You're not the only one with power here."
Kael turned his head sharply to Ronan, his eyes narrowing. "Stay out of this, Ronan. You've already done enough."
But inside, a fear Kael had never felt before stirred. Ronan was right. There were things he didn't know. Things he couldn't protect her from.
Ariana reached out and gently touched his arm, her voice softer now. "Kael… Please, tell me the truth. I need to know."
He gazed down at her, the weight of her trust pressing heavily on him. "You will, Ariana. Soon. But not tonight."