CHAPTER FOUR
1274 Words
THE SIGNS
Ronan’s POV
“I don’t think this is the right decision to make.”
Xander’s voice came through. He was my best friend and my most loyal follower. I would not even hesitate to make him my beta when everything finally aligns. He had been by my side through everything, even when the world turned its back on me.
I walked away from them and stood by the window. I kept my eyes on the sky like I was trying to ask it for some kind of answer or help. We were in the middle of nowhere, inside Shadowlands, a large place I built with my own hands. It was hidden deep inside the woods with no neighbours and no packs around. It was quiet most times, but that was the kind of life I needed to survive after everything that happened.
I had been banished from home for more than a year, and this place was where I found myself again. I was trying to retrace my steps, fix broken relationships, figure out what exactly happened, and find a way back home. At least, that was the plan. Every day felt like I was walking on thin ice.
“Alpha…”
I made a sharp sound with my tongue and mouth and stopped Xander before he could finish.
“I told you not to address me by that title,” I warned.
He shrugged a little. He hesitated to speak, but he still spoke.
“I am sorry, but I still find it strange and disrespectful to call you by your name.”
“I don’t remember complaining to you about that,” I said.
He swallowed hard and nodded. “Alright, Ronan.”
“Good.”
He stepped back. “I still think this is the wrong thing to do,” he insisted. “Or you all don’t think so?” He turned to the other men.
We were a small team. Some of them were outside doing one duty or another. A few others were scattered somewhere around the haven. Most of these men were people I found the same way I found Lucia. Broken, lost, rejected, or running from something.
They nodded slowly. One of them mumbled, “Yes, it’s risky.”
“The two females you saved in the past turned out to be sent by them. They were going to hurt you. They could have killed you. What makes you think this one is different?” another one asked.
For a moment, I almost snapped. What did they mean by risky? Did they think I could not fight off enemies? Did they think I would not sense danger? But I forced myself to breathe. I knew they were not being disrespectful. They were only concerned and scared, maybe. The same enemies who banished me were still after me. They wanted me dead. My banishment was not enough for them. They wanted to end my existence as if I were a stain in their history. I guess my existence threatened their peace of mind, and honestly, that made me feel good.
“I understand your concerns,” I said. “But trust me, she is not one of them. She is clean. She has no idea who Drestan is.”
“Still…” one of them tried to speak.
“Still nothing, Nicklaus,” I cut in, interrupting him. Xander had clearly pushed him to speak through body language. “Her wolf just awakened. She needs help.”
“And you also think there is something about her,” Xander added.
I kept quiet. He was not wrong. I knew there was something about her from the very moment I saw her in the woods. It was not only about her beauty. There was something in her eyes, something deep. Like they held secrets, fear, pain, and something else I could not place my hands on.
“There is nothing about her,” I said with a straight face. “She only needs help with shifting for the first time.”
Xander walked toward me and placed his hand on my left shoulder. I turned and looked at him, then at the others.
“We have a lot to achieve, Ronan. We don’t need distractions,” he said. “You don’t need distractions.”
“I know,” I answered simply.
They nodded and walked out one by one. The room became silent again.
I sank into the chair. Lucia’s name echoed in my head. I felt a strange pull toward her earlier in the woods. From the moment our eyes met to the moment our bodies touched, something shifted. It was strange because I never believed I could instigate an awakening. Her awakening came with so much force and chaos. It made me question what the moon goddess was planning. Why her? Why now? Why through me? There had to be a reason. I could not shake off the feeling that I would need her in the future.
A soft knock came on the wooden door, pulling me from my thoughts. My men never knocked. They barged in whenever they wanted. So who was this? It could be one of the few others in the haven, but I doubted it.
This place was not a pack. I refused to call it one. I refused to see myself as an alpha leading a pack again. The word pack tasted like poison in my mouth. A pack destroyed me. A family hurt me. So I avoided those titles. It helped me stay detached emotionally. At least it was better than pretending I did not feel anything.
“You may come in,” I said, keeping my voice firm.
The door swung open and there she was. Lucia. Speaking of the devil that somehow felt like an angel.
“Hi Ronan,” she said softly. She rubbed her palms together while walking toward me like she was scared she might offend me by just breathing.
I tried to stay neutral. I did not want to appear dismissive and harsh because that might scare her away. But I also did not want to appear inviting or soft, so she would not think I was trying to play the same mind game that Kaine played on her.
“Lucia, what brings you here?” I asked. It was a good place to start.
“I need your help,” she said. Her voice sounded like she was pleading, even though she tried to hide it.
I raised a brow. “My help?”
She nodded lightly.
“Tell me,” I urged.
“I think I am getting awakened. I need your help with training, so I can learn to master this new part of me that is showing up.”
I smiled a little. I had already planned to talk to her about this. I wanted to help her. I just hoped she would be open to it.
“I think you are on your way to becoming a wolfed omega,” I said.
She nodded slowly, but she looked worried.
“Are you not happy about this?” I asked.
“I don’t know.”
“Why?”
“If it had shown up earlier, Kaine would not have rejected me,” she said with a disappointed look.
“And who is Kaine?” I asked as if I did not know.
“A nightmare I want to forget soon.”
I nodded. Her tone told me not to ask about him. I respected it.
“Come with me,” I said as I stood and took the lead.
- Writer
