The Truth Unveiled

“What happens now?” she asked, her voice barely audible.

Kaelan didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped closer, his gaze fixed on hers. And in that moment, she realized that the battle wasn’t over—not yet.

“Kaelan,” Rhea pressed, her tone firmer this time, though her trembling hands betrayed her unease. “What are you not telling me?” 

He let out a slow exhale, the weight of the moment pressing down on him like a heavy chain. His dark eyes, once sharp with confidence, now shimmered with hesitation. “There’s more to this,” he admitted quietly, his voice carrying a gravelly edge. “The Hati Bulan didn’t just reveal our connection. It... warned me about what’s to come.”

Rhea’s brow furrowed as she stepped back, putting some distance between them. “Warned you? About what?” 

Kaelan hesitated. He looked away, his jaw tightening. Words fought to surface, but he bit them back, as if saying them aloud would make the weight of the truth unbearable. “It spoke of a sacrifice,” he finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

Rhea froze, her heartbeat thundering in her chest. “Sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?” 

Kaelan’s silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. His eyes darted to hers, and in the dim light of the moon filtering through the cabin’s window, she saw something she hadn’t expected: vulnerability.

“The kind that could break us,” Kaelan said finally, his voice trembling with uncharacteristic rawness. “The Hati Bulan said that to fulfill the prophecy, to stabilize the bond between us and unite the packs... one of us might have to—” He stopped abruptly, his throat tightening around the words, refusing to say them.

“Die?” Rhea finished for him, her voice cracking.

Kaelan flinched like she’d struck him, and his silence was all the confirmation she needed. Her breath caught in her throat, and she staggered back, the weight of his revelation crashing down on her like a tidal wave.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “No, there has to be another way.”

Kaelan stepped forward, reaching for her, but she took another step back, her arms wrapping around herself protectively. “Rhea,” he said softly, his voice pleading, “I won’t let anything happen to you. Whatever it takes, I’ll keep you safe.”

“How?” she snapped, her voice rising with frustration and fear. “How are you going to protect me from this, Kaelan? From a prophecy that demands one of us to—” Her voice faltered, unable to finish the sentence. She turned away from him, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her temples. “This is insane. This can’t be happening.”

Kaelan’s fists clenched at his sides. He hated seeing her like this—fractured, vulnerable, and scared. She had always been the strong one, the one who didn’t flinch in the face of danger. But now, she was unraveling, and it was his fault.

“I don’t know how yet,” he admitted, his voice steady but filled with determination. “But I’ll figure it out. I’ll do whatever it takes to fulfill the prophecy without losing you.”

Rhea spun around to face him, her eyes blazing. “And what if you can’t, Kaelan? What if there is no other way?”

“Then I’ll be the one to make the sacrifice,” he said without hesitation, his voice firm.

Rhea’s breath hitched, and for a moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of his words hanging heavily in the air. “You can’t just decide that,” she said finally, her voice shaking. “This isn’t just about you.”

“It’s about us,” he corrected, stepping closer. “And I refuse to let you bear the burden of this alone. I’ve already made too many mistakes, Rhea. Too many lives have been lost because of me. If it comes down to it, I’ll do what needs to be done.”

“That’s not your choice to make!” she shot back, her voice rising. “You think sacrificing yourself is some noble act? It’s not. It’s selfish, Kaelan, because you’re not thinking about what that would do to me.”

Her words struck him like a blow, and for a moment, he was speechless. She was right, of course. He hadn’t thought about what his death would mean for her. All he could focus on was his determination to protect her, no matter the cost.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his gaze dropping to the floor. “I just... I can’t lose you, Rhea. Not now. Not ever.”

Her anger softened at his words, but the fear in her chest remained. She closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath as she tried to process everything. “This prophecy,” she said after a long moment, her voice quieter now, “it’s not fair. How are we supposed to fight something we don’t even understand?”

Kaelan stepped closer, his hand brushing against hers. “We’ll figure it out,” he said, his voice filled with quiet conviction. “Together.”

Rhea looked up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “What if we can’t?”

“We will,” he said firmly, his hand gripping hers now. “We have to.”

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of a sharp knock on the cabin door. Both of them tensed, their gazes snapping to the door. Kaelan immediately stepped in front of Rhea, his protective instincts kicking in.

“Who is it?” Kaelan called out, his voice low and dangerous.

“Kaelan,” came a familiar voice. It was Lila, Rhea’s closest friend. “It’s me. Open up.”

Kaelan hesitated for a moment before moving to the door and opening it. Lila stood there, her face pale and her expression grim.

“We have a problem,” she said without preamble, stepping inside.

“What kind of problem?” Kaelan asked, his tone sharp.

Lila glanced at Rhea, then back at Kaelan. “Zane. He knows.”

The blood drained from Kaelan’s face. “Knows what?”

“About the Hati Bulan,” Lila said. “And the prophecy. He’s already making his move.”

“How?” Rhea demanded, stepping forward. “How could he know?”

Lila shook her head. “I don’t know. But he does. And he’s not going to sit back and let you two fulfill it.”

Kaelan cursed under his breath, his mind racing. “What’s he planning?”

“Something big,” Lila said. “He’s rallying his forces. Word is, he’s heading to Eryon.”

Rhea’s stomach dropped. “Eryon? Why?”

Kaelan’s face darkened. “Because that’s where the answers are.”

Lila nodded grimly. “If he gets there first—”

“He won’t,” Kaelan interrupted, his voice hard. “We’ll stop him.”

Rhea turned to him, her brow furrowed. “Kaelan, we don’t even know what we’re looking for. And if Zane has the upper hand—”

“We don’t have a choice,” he said, cutting her off. “If we don’t stop him, he’ll destroy everything. The packs, the prophecy, us.” He turned to Lila. “How much time do we have?”

“Not much,” Lila admitted. “He’s already on the move.