Chapter 3: Unraveling the Threat

With a renewed sense of determination, I slipped the note into my desk drawer, hiding it under a stack of old letters. I would figure this out, no matter what it took. And I wasn’t going to let anyone scare me into silence.

The night dragged on, each hour ticking by with agonizing slowness. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, theories, and fears, but no matter how much I turned it over, I couldn’t make sense of it. Who would want to keep me out of the investigation? And why?

The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became. The note was a clear threat, but it also felt like a challenge. As if someone was daring me to keep digging, to uncover the truth. And I wasn’t one to back down from a challenge.

By the time the first light of dawn began to creep through the curtains, I had made up my mind. I was going to confront Marcus. I needed to know more about this prophecy, about why he had rejected me as Luna.

Maybe there was something in the pack’s history that could shed light on these attacks, something he wasn’t telling me.

The thought of facing Marcus again sent a wave of anxiety through me, but I pushed it aside. This wasn’t just about me anymore; it was about the safety of the entire pack.

Whatever was happening, it was bigger than any personal grudge. And if I had to swallow my pride to get the answers I needed, then so be it.

I dressed quickly, pulling on my jacket and boots, and headed out the door before I could second-guess myself.

The packhouse was quiet this early, the usual hustle and bustle of the day still hours away. I made my way to Marcus’s office, my heart pounding with each step.

When I reached the door, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the doorknob.

What if he refused to see me? What if he still didn’t believe me? I took a deep breath, steeling myself against the doubt. I had come this far; there was no turning back now.

I knocked twice, the sound echoing in the silent hallway. A few seconds passed, and then I heard footsteps approaching from the other side. The door creaked open, and there stood Marcus, his expression unreadable.

“Sera,” he said, his voice flat. “What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you,” I said, forcing the words out before my nerves could get the better of me. “It’s important.”

He studied me for a moment, his eyes searching mine, before he stepped aside, allowing me to enter. I walked into the office, the familiar scent of leather and wood filling the air. The room was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn against the morning light.

Marcus closed the door behind me, crossing his arms as he leaned against the desk. “What’s so important that it couldn’t wait?”

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. “I’ve been looking into the attacks. And I think there’s more going on than we realize. Last night, I found a note—someone’s trying to warn me off. They don’t want me involved in the investigation.”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. “A note? From who?”

“I don’t know,” I admitted, pulling the crumpled piece of paper from my pocket and handing it to him. “But whoever it is, they’re serious. And I think it’s connected to the prophecy. The one you used to reject me as Luna.”

Marcus’s jaw tightened as he read the note, his eyes narrowing. “This could be a prank, Sera. Someone trying to mess with you.”

“I don’t think so,” I said firmly, meeting his gaze. “This is real, Marcus. And it’s dangerous. You can’t just brush this off.”

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I don’t know what you expect me to do. The prophecy is clear. If you lead, the pack is doomed. I can’t risk that, not for anything.”

“Prophecies aren’t always literal,” I shot back, frustration bubbling to the surface. “And right now, we’re all at risk. You need to stop hiding behind old beliefs and start looking at what’s really happening.”

For a moment, he didn’t respond, his eyes dark and conflicted. I could see the weight of his position bearing down on him, the struggle between duty and doubt. But before he could answer, a sharp knock interrupted us.

“Alpha,” a voice called from the other side of the door. It was Gideon, the pack’s Beta. “We’ve got a situation.”

Marcus straightened, his expression hardening. “What is it?”

Gideon opened the door, his face grim. “Another attack. This time, it’s closer. Just beyond the eastern border.”

My stomach dropped, the room suddenly feeling colder. Another attack, and this time it was right on our doorstep.

“Get the patrols ready,” Marcus ordered, his voice all business now. “Double the guards on the borders. We’re not taking any chances.”

Gideon nodded, but before he left, his eyes flicked to me, his expression softening. “Be careful, Sera. We don’t know what we’re dealing with yet.”

“I will,” I promised, though the fear gnawing at me was anything but reassuring.

As Gideon left to carry out the orders, Marcus turned back to me, the hardness in his eyes returning. “This is exactly why I can’t risk you as Luna, Sera. If the prophecy is right, these attacks are just the beginning.”

“Or they could be the result of our inaction,” I argued, my voice rising. “You’re so focused on this prophecy that you’re blind to what’s happening right in front of you. We need to find out who’s behind these attacks and why they’re targeting us.”

“And what if you’re wrong?” he countered, his voice cold. “What if the prophecy is real, and by involving yourself, you’re only bringing more danger to the pack?”

“I don’t believe that,” I said quietly, but with a conviction that surprised even me. “And deep down, neither do you.”

For a moment, we just stood there, locked in a silent standoff. The weight of everything unsaid hung between us, a heavy, oppressive presence. But before either of us could break the tension, another knock came at the door.

This time, it was Elena, her usually bright eyes shadowed with worry. “Sera, you need to come with me. Now.”

“What’s wrong?” I asked, the urgency in her voice sending a spike of fear through me.

She glanced at Marcus, then back at me. “It’s Lysa. She found something… something you need to see.”

I didn’t need any more prompting. I turned on my heel, following Elena out of the office and down the hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. Whatever Lysa had found, I knew it wasn’t good.

We made our way to the training grounds, where a small crowd had gathered. The air was thick with tension, the kind that made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Lysa stood at the edge of the group, her face pale as she caught sight of me.

“Sera,” she called, waving me over. “You need to see this.”

I pushed through the crowd, my breath catching in my throat as I saw what had everyone so rattled. There, in the middle of the training grounds, was a symbol carved into the earth. A twisted, jagged mark that I recognized immediately.

It was the same symbol that had been scrawled on the note I found.

“What is this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Lysa shook her head, her expression troubled. “I don’t know. But whoever left it wanted to send a message.”

As I stared at the symbol, my mind raced, piecing together the fragments of what I knew. The attacks, the prophecy, the note—everything was connected. And now, someone had brought that connection right to our doorstep.

But what did it mean? And why had they targeted me?

Before I could think any further, Elena nudged me, her face pale. “Sera… there’s something else.”

I turned to her, dreading what she was about to say. “What?”

She hesitated, then pulled something from her pocket. It was another note, the edges crumpled and the ink smeared as if it had been held too tightly for too long.

I took it from her, my hands trembling as I unfolded the paper. The words were brief, but they sent a chill down my spine.

You were warned. Now, suffer the consequences.

The ground seemed to shift beneath me, the full weight of the threat crashing down on me like a tidal wave. Someone was watching me, someone who knew more than I did, and they were playing a game I didn’t understand.

But one thing was clear—this was no longer just about me. Whoever was behind this wasn’t just threatening me; they were threatening the entire pack. And if I didn’t figure out what was going on soon, the consequences could be deadly.

I crumpled the note in my fist, my fear quickly giving way to anger. I wasn’t going to let this go unanswered. Whoever was behind this thought they could scare me into submission, thought they could control me with threats and cryptic warnings.

They were wrong.

I wasn’t going to back down.