Lena couldn't breathe.
The Alpha's words echoed in her mind, over and over again.
Something this pack was never meant to see again.
Her fingers tightened against his shirt as she struggled to steady herself. His grip on her arms was firm, grounding—but it only made everything feel more real.
More dangerous.
"What does that mean?" she asked, her voice shaking despite her effort to stay calm. "You're not making any sense."
The Alpha didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he studied her—his gaze sharp, calculating, as if he were piecing together something fragile and volatile.
"You saw something," he said finally. "When you reached for your wolf."
Lena swallowed hard. "I didn't just see it… I felt it."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"It wasn't like before. It wasn't empty."
His jaw tightened slightly. "Tell me exactly what you saw."
Lena hesitated.
The memory alone made her chest tighten.
"Fire," she began slowly. "Everywhere. And… eyes."
She shivered.
"They weren't mine."
A flicker of something crossed his face—recognition.
And that scared her more than anything.
"You know what it is," Lena said, pulling away slightly. "Don't you?"
Silence.
That was answer enough.
"Tell me!" she demanded, her fear quickly turning into frustration. "My whole life I've been told I'm weak, broken, useless—and now suddenly I'm not, and no one will explain why?"
Her voice cracked at the end, emotion slipping through despite her effort to stay strong.
The Alpha's expression shifted.
Not softer—but less guarded.
"You were never weak," he said.
Lena let out a hollow laugh. "That's easy to say now."
"It's the truth."
"Then why did everyone believe it?" she shot back.
Another pause.
Longer this time.
Because this time, the answer mattered.
"Because they were meant to," he said quietly.
Lena froze.
"What?"
He stepped back slightly, creating space between them—but his eyes never left hers.
"Your weakness wasn't natural," he continued. "It was… enforced."
Her heart dropped.
"You're saying someone did this to me?"
"Yes."
The word hit harder than she expected.
"Why?" she whispered.
The Alpha's gaze darkened.
"To hide you."
A cold chill ran down Lena's spine.
"From who?"
But even as she asked, something deep inside her already knew the answer wouldn't be simple.
"It's not just about who," he said. "It's about what."
Lena shook her head, overwhelmed. "Stop speaking in riddles. Just tell me the truth."
His expression hardened again.
"You're not ready for all of it."
Anger flared instantly.
"You don't get to decide that!"
Before she could say anything else, a sudden howl cut through the night.
Sharp.
Urgent.
Both of them turned toward the sound.
The Alpha's posture changed instantly—every trace of distraction gone, replaced by pure authority.
"What is that?" Lena asked, her voice barely steady.
"Trouble," he said.
Another howl followed.
Closer this time.
And this one wasn't from their pack.
Lena's blood ran cold.
"Stay here," the Alpha ordered.
"Wait—"
But he was already moving, his body shifting mid-step with fluid precision. In seconds, where he once stood, a massive wolf now took his place—dark, powerful, and terrifyingly fast.
He disappeared into the trees.
Just like that.
Lena stood frozen, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
The forest had changed.
The air was heavier now.
Thicker.
Dangerous.
She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm the rising panic.
Stay here.
That's what he said.
But something didn't feel right.
Another sound echoed through the trees—not a howl this time.
Footsteps.
Behind her.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Lena turned sharply.
"Hello?" she called out, her voice trembling.
No response.
But the feeling…
She wasn't alone.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Not the Alpha.
Not anyone she recognized.
Tall. Cloaked. His presence… wrong.
Predatory.
"Well," the stranger said, his voice smooth but cold. "I didn't expect to find you so easily."
Lena's instincts screamed at her to run.
"Who are you?" she demanded, forcing strength into her voice.
The man smiled.
Not kindly.
"You don't know?" he said. "That's disappointing."
He took a step closer.
Lena stepped back.
"You should," he continued. "After all… I've been looking for you for a very long time."
Her heart nearly stopped.
"What do you want from me?"
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight.
"The same thing everyone will want once they realize what you are."
Lena's chest tightened.
"And what is that?" she asked.
His smile widened.
"Power."
The word landed like a blow.
Lena shook her head. "You're wrong. I'm not—"
"Oh, but you are," he interrupted smoothly. "You just haven't awakened yet."
Another step closer.
Too close.
"And when you do…" his voice dropped, almost excited now, "you won't belong to this pathetic little pack."
Fear surged through her veins.
"Stay away from me," she warned, though her voice wavered.
He chuckled softly.
"You don't get to make that choice."
Something inside Lena snapped.
That same energy from before surged again—stronger this time, hotter, wild and uncontrollable.
"Leave," she said, her voice suddenly deeper… steadier.
Not entirely her own.
The stranger paused.
For the first time, uncertainty flickered in his eyes.
"There it is," he murmured. "I was wondering when it would show itself."
Lena's hands trembled, but the power didn't fade.
It grew.
Unfamiliar.
Terrifying.
Real.
"I said," she repeated, her eyes locking onto his, "leave."
The air shifted.
The ground beneath her feet seemed to hum with energy.
And for a brief moment…
The stranger looked almost… impressed.
Before his expression darkened again.
"This isn't over," he said.
Then, just as suddenly as he appeared—
He vanished.
Lena stood there, frozen, her breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts.
The power faded slowly, leaving behind exhaustion and confusion.
And one terrifying realization.
Whatever she was becoming…
Others already knew.
And they were coming for her.