Chapter 7: Growing Bond

Lila's POV

I had never been one to believe in fate, destiny, or any of those made-up ancient stories that supposedly guide people toward their true paths. Life seemed more like a series of random events, chaotic and out of control. But ever since the night that massive wolf showed up at my clinic, it felt like the universe had decided to involve me in something much bigger than I was ready for.

That wolf, with its intense eyes and unnatural presence, wasn’t just some wild animal. Something about that encounter gnawed at me. And then there was Ethan Blackwood, the man who showed up right when I needed help. Our paths kept crossing, and each time, it was like the universe was nudging us closer together. Whether I wanted it or not.

Today was no different.

I had gone to the local café for my usual cup of tea, needing a break from work. The moment I walked in, my eyes were drawn to him. Ethan sat in the corner, talking quietly with Marcus. I tried to ignore him, not wanting to appear like some lovesick teenager who couldn’t stop staring at the handsome guy at school. But damn it, he was hard to ignore.

His presence was magnetic—intense in a way that made the rest of the world fade into the background. I wasn’t sure what it was about him that drew me in. Maybe it was his quiet strength or the way he seemed to carry the weight of the world on his broad shoulders. Or maybe it was the fact that every time our eyes met, I felt a flicker of something I couldn’t explain.

I quickly turned away and found a table in the opposite corner, trying to focus on anything other than Ethan. It didn’t work. My mind kept drifting back to him, to the strange events that seemed to surround me. The illness in the animals, the mysterious symbol on my door, and the way my dreams had become… odd lately. It all connected to something, but what was it.

As I stirred sugar into my tea, I noticed Ethan rise from his seat. He was heading toward the counter, leaving Marcus at the table. My curiosity got the better of me. What could they possibly be talking about so secretively? And why did it feel like every time I saw Ethan, i just wanted to be close to him? Why?

I glanced around the café. It was mostly empty, except for a couple of elderly women chatting near the window and a man reading a newspaper at the bar. No one was paying me any attention. I bit my lip, debating whether I should do it. And then, without fully thinking it through, I made my decision.

I picked up my tea, trying to act casual as I wandered closer to where Marcus sat. I pretended to be looking for something in my bag as I positioned myself near the wall, just within earshot. It wasn’t the most subtle move, but I had to know what was going on.

Marcus leaned in closer to the table, his voice low but clear enough for me to hear.

“We need to act soon, Ethan,” he said, his tone urgent. “Dominic isn’t backing down. He’s growing bolder by the day, and the pack’s getting restless. If we don’t make a move, he will.”

Ethan’s deep voice responded, quieter than Marcus’s but full of authority. “I know. But we can’t rush into this. Kane’s playing a long game, and we need to be careful. If we act too soon, we risk exposing the pack to even greater danger.”

I frowned, leaning in slightly closer. Pack? Danger? Were they talking about a business deal gone wrong or something more? Something felt off. My gut churned with unease.

Marcus’s voice grew sharper. “We can’t afford to wait much longer. The wolves are getting sick. The pack is starting to doubt—"

Ethan cut him off. “I won’t risk their lives. We’ll deal with Kane, but on my terms.”

Wolves? Pack? My head spun as I tried to make sense of what I was hearing. I must’ve misheard. They couldn’t possibly be talking about actual wolves, could they?

And then Ethan’s next words chilled me to the bone.

“I’ll protect them, Marcus. That’s my responsibility as Alpha. But we need to be smart. If Kane knows we’re onto him, he’ll strike first, and that could mean the end for the Silverwood pack.”

Alpha? The word hit me like a punch to the gut. I had heard the term before in reference to wolves, but this was different. Ethan wasn’t talking about some wild animal pack. He was talking about people. His people. And he wasn’t just a leader—he was their Alpha.

I clutched my tea cup, my hand trembling slightly. Werewolves. They were talking about werewolves.

Suddenly, everything started to make a strange kind of sense—the strange behavior in the animals, the illness that seemed to be spreading, and the way Ethan always seemed so… primal. It wasn’t just his intense personality. He was a werewolf.

Is he?

Are werewolves really real?

I felt like the ground beneath me had shifted. I should’ve been terrified, but instead, I was intrigued. This wasn’t just some local legend or fairy tale. This was real. Ethan was real. And if he was an Alpha… did that mean there were others?

I took a shaky breath, trying to process what I had just overheard. My mind raced with questions, but I couldn’t ask them here. Not now.

I was about to slip away when Marcus spoke again, his tone more cautious this time. “And what about the girl? Lila? Are you sure we can trust her?”

My heart leaped into my throat, and I froze in place. **They were talking about me.**

Ethan’s reply was low, almost too quiet to hear. “I don’t know yet. There’s something about her… something I can’t quite figure out. But I don’t think she’s involved with Kane.”

I clenched my fists, a mixture of confusion and frustration swirling inside me. Why were they talking about me? What did I have to do with any of this? I hadn’t done anything to earn their suspicion—except maybe be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I’ll keep an eye on her,” Ethan added. “But she’s not our enemy. I’m sure of that.”

I felt a flicker of relief at his words, but it was quickly overshadowed by a wave of uncertainty. I had stumbled into something much bigger than I had ever imagined, and now, I was tangled up in a world I didn’t understand. Werewolves. Pack rivalries. Threats from an Alpha named Dominic Kane. And somehow, I was in the middle of it all.

Before I could gather myself, Ethan’s voice grew louder, signaling the end of their conversation. “We’ll meet again tomorrow night. Keep the pack on high alert.”

I took that as my cue to leave. Heart pounding, I slipped out of the café as quickly as I could, careful not to draw any attention to myself. My mind was racing, and I needed to think, to process what I had just learned.

As I stepped into the cool evening air, the reality of what I had overheard started to sink in. Ethan and Marcus were werewolves. They were part of a pack, and they were in danger. And for some reason, I was part of it now, too.

But how? 

Somewhere in my gut tells me. I am somehow involved 

I walked down the street, my thoughts swirling in a hundred different directions. I had so many questions—questions I wasn’t sure I wanted answers to. But one thing was clear: I couldn’t ignore this any longer. My life had changed, whether I liked it or not, and Ethan Blackwood was at the center of it.

I was pulled deeper into his world with every step I took, and there was no turning back now.