CHAPTER THREE

The rest of the dinner party is uneventful. The guests do their best to try to engage me in conversation, but I keep to myself as much as possible. I'm worried that I might say something that reveals the secrets I'm holding inside.

I'm also worried that I might slip and just lose it. If my emotions were ever going to come back to the surface, I'm sure it would be tonight. I'm on edge, more than I can remember ever being.

I'm barely able to keep it together around the guests. I'm sure other members of the pack have noticed. But they don't know what to say to me. Nobody does.

After a couple of hours, everyone leaves, and I excuse myself to go upstairs to bed.

Falling asleep is a struggle. I cannot stop thinking about the prophecy.

When I do finally manage to drift off, I dream of the new alpha.

He's walking toward me with a look of kindness on his face. He extends his hand and helps me off the ground. But as I get to my feet, I realize that I'm standing on the edge of a cliff. I'm standing on the edge of a cliff, and the new alpha is right behind me. I look down, and I see nothing but trees and rocks far, far below. I try to hold onto the rock face, but have no grip.

I turn around and look back at the new alpha. He is still smiling, staring at me with a look of kindness.

There is no way off the cliff. I know I'm going to fall. I take a step forward and the new alpha moves with me. He is still holding out his hand to me, and I reach out to take it.

We both step forward at the same time. But we fall in different directions. He falls into the abyss below. I hear his scream, but can't see him. I feel the air rush past me. It feels cold on my skin.

Then, I feel a hand wrap around my arm. I look up to see the new alpha. He has both hands gripping my arms, holding me in place. He looks into my eyes, and I see a look of determination. He is saving me.

I look back down and see that I am standing over the edge of the cliff. But I'm safe. He has caught me before I can fall.

I wake up, covered in sweat and gasping for breath. I sit on the side of the bed for a moment and try to collect my thoughts. I've never had a dream like that before. It felt so real.

I force myself to get up. I listen to the sound of rain on the roof. The morning is gray, and the air is thick, like a fog has settled over everything.

The fog is inside of me, too. It blankets my thoughts and muddles my ability to make sense of what's happened.

I head downstairs and am surprised to see Marko at our kitchen table.

"I was just about to come get you," my mother says.

"What's going on?" I ask.

"Marko's here on behalf of the alpha," she says. "He's requested a meeting with you."

"What does he want?" I ask.

"It's better if you ask him yourself," Marko says.

I look at my mother. She nods. I know there's nothing she can do. If the alpha wants to see you, you don't say no.

"I guess I'll go get ready then," I say.

I head upstairs to my bedroom and try to calm down.

I'm not sure what to expect, but I try to make myself look as presentable as possible.

I leave my hair down, but do my best to smooth it out. I put on a dark t-shirt and a pair of jeans. I put a little bit of make-up on, and head back downstairs.

"You ready?" I hear my mother ask as I approach the kitchen.

"Yeah," I say.

"Good," she says.

Marko and I walk to the front door.

"Are you coming?" I ask my mother.

"No," she says. "The alpha said he wanted to see you alone."

That makes me uneasy, but I know better than to object. I follow Marko outside, and we walk through the forest.

We don't take the usual path to the alpha's house. Instead, we go on a trail that I do not know. At least, I don't think I know it. I've never been on this trail.

It is dark under the canopy of the trees. Rain clatters on the leaves, and I can feel the moisture in the air.

We walk for a few minutes, and finally, we come out of the woods into a clearing. In the center of the clearing is the alpha's house.

It's in the same style as the rest of our houses, but it's bigger. It looks more like a palace than a home. It rises at least three stories above the ground, and it has an imposing presence.

Marko and I walk up the front steps to the house and Marko knocks on the door for me.

The door swings open, and the alpha answers.

"Come in," he says.

Marko and I do as we're told.

"You know what to do," the alpha says to Marko, and before I have a chance to process what is happening, Marko has grabbed me.

He pins my arms behind me and starts pushing me towards the basement.

"What are you doing?" I cry. "Where are you taking me?!"

"I'm sorry, Nicole" the alpha says. "But we know about the prophecy. And I can't risk having you out and about. I can't risk the new alpha finding you again."

Marko throws me in a cell in the basement. He locks the door behind him, and then he and the alpha leave.

I scream, but no one hears my cries. Or, if they do, they don't care.

I sink down to the floor, sobbing. I don't understand what's happening. I don't know what I've done wrong.

And then, I remember something the alpha said. He couldn't risk the new alpha finding me again.

Again.

Shelby was the only one who knew we'd met already.

I'm here because of her. My best friend betrayed me.