Chapter 005

"You ought to have been ready," Kael whispered, his tone low and slightly tinged with annoyance. As we made our way through the thick woods that surrounded the pack's territory, his words lingered in the air like an unspoken warning that I could hardly understand.

"What are you ready for?" With the cool night air stinging my skin and the weight of uncertainty bearing down on me from all sides, I bounded back.

For a brief moment, I believed I saw something in Kael's eyes as his gaze shifted to me. Perhaps a softness? However, it was soon concealed by the typical reserved demeanor I had grown accustomed to seeing from him. "For them."

My boots crunched against the leaves as I came to a stop. "Who are 'them'?" I inquired, feeling as though I were suddenly on my way to being put to death.

"You'll see," Kael said, sounding almost... contrite? That didn't make logic, though. There was nothing logical about this.

The trees in front of me parted before I could reply, exposing a clearing where the pack had assembled. My throat tightened each breath. A enormous, crackling fire was the center of a group of at least a dozen wolves in human shape. They were observing us, and I couldn't get the intensity out of their eyes.

Despite the tension in the air, I felt Kael's hand on my back once more, guiding me forward with a warm touch. I saw the others as we got closer to the circle. The first person that drew my attention was tall, broad-shouldered, and had dark hair that fell into his eyes in a way that gave the impression that he was dangerous without effort. However, he was concentrating entirely on Kael and not on me. But the instant I got closer, I felt his stare shift, the weight of it resting directly on me.

I swallowed hard, trying to drive away the peculiar mix of fascination and discomfort churning in my chest.

“Lola,” Kael began, his voice piercing through the confusion in my mind. “This is Luca.” He gestured toward the tall, brooding figure. “He’s our Beta.”

Luca didn’t offer a smile or even a nod. His eyes remained on me, and though he didn’t speak, his presence felt... possessive. My gut twisted, the tug between us apparent, but I couldn’t let it show. Not right now. Not when my entire world has been flipped upside down.

With a shakier voice than I had intended, I stated, "I'm not here to make friends."

Luca's eyes flickered with amusement, and his lips curved slightly. He laughed quietly and said, "Neither are we," which made my skin crawl.

I retreated reflexively as Kael stepped closer, his hand grazing mine as he went by, the heat of his contact searing into my flesh. I didn't want to be attracted to him the way I was; I didn't want to feel this way. However, the magnetic pull between us was difficult to ignore.

“Now, Lola,” Kael said, his voice bearing more weight now, “meet the rest of the pack.”

One by one, they introduced themselves, their names little more than fleeting moments of recognition in my thoughts. I was too focused on the feelings spinning inside me, the inexplicable attraction to the males surrounding me. The next one was a wiry figure with piercing green eyes, his grin a little too big, a little too eager. His name was Ray, and I tried to ignore the way his gaze lingered on me, but it made my heart race.

"You are the one, that's for sure." With a playful tone, Ray inquired. "The one who has the power to either save or destroy us."

I felt Kael's warning, piercing gaze on me as his words struck me like a punch to the stomach.

In an attempt to restore control, I yelled, "I'm not anyone's savior." "My only goal is to live."

"One way or another, you will," Ray answered, his smile widening. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was something about his smile that made me uneasy.

I was standing next to a much more subdued person as the introductions went on. Though subtle, his presence was as powerful. Like Kael, he had dark hair, but his features were gentler and less severe. Something about him seemed almost reassuring. I was drawn in right away by the warmth in his gaze, those dark, deep eyes.

With a stern yet gentle tone, he introduced himself as Evan. He looked at me intensely for a minute, but not in the same way the others had. "Lola, you don't need to be scared. Our purpose is to keep you safe.

I swallowed as I tried to process the flurry of feelings that were rushing through me. "Keep me safe? From where?

Evan looked from me to Kael and back again. "From everything. You have now entered a world beyond your wildest expectations.

A low growl came from the other side of the clearing before I could reply. As my heart pounded in my chest, I turned to see Luca standing there, staring at Evan with narrowed eyes.

Luca hissed in a low, possessive voice, "Don't tell her that." "Let her work that out on her own."

I could sense the tension in the air, like an electric current flowing across the space between each of us. Kael moved between them, his eyes flashing dangerously, his body tight.

His voice pierced the tension as he said, "Enough, Luca." "This is not something we have time for."

After appearing to pause, Luca gave a curt nod and took a step back. However, the boiling rage in his eyes was not missed.

My voice was hardly more than a whisper as I turned to face Evan. "What's happening? Why does everyone appear to be so tense?

Evan put a hand on my shoulder as his eyes grew softer. "Lola, it's not you. The pack is it. You will comprehend, even though you don't yet. Soon.

A piercing howl interrupted the talk as I opened my mouth to ask more. As I turned to face the source of the sound, my body tightened and my heart began to race. I sensed something—no, someone—coming even though I couldn't see what it was. Someone who poses a threat.

With his hand on my arm, Kael commanded, "Stay here." He gazed urgently toward the jungle, and his grip tightened. "Remain motionless."

Fear seeping into my chest, I nodded. However, it was too late. The dark, ominous form of the man had already appeared in the moonlight, emerging from the trees.

Something primitive, something I couldn't control, pulled me to the figure as a deep growl rumbled in my breast.

As the creature moved forward, its eyes glowed with a ferocity that reflected my own growing panic, and Kael's hold on my arm grew tighter.

That's when I came to that realization.

I wasn't alone in being captivated by the prophecy.

As the figure entered the light, its face became visible, and my heart stopped.

I knew who it was.

Furthermore, they weren't meant to be present.