episode 4
1582 Words
EPISODE 4: THE WOLF IN THE DARK
“Natalia Rose…”
My entire body froze.
The voice came again from beyond the compound walls.
“Natalia…”
Selene stirred inside me.
For the first time since Tony broke our mate bond, my wolf wasn't silent.
She was awake.
Terrified.
But awake.
Selene?
A low growl answered me.
Something is coming.
Alpha Hillary stepped in front of me.
“Everyone, move.”
The guards immediately surrounded us.
Tony tried to get out of the bed.
“Father, don't.”
Hillary turned sharply.
“Stay where you are.”
“But Natalia—”
“You're injured.”
Tony clenched his jaw.
“I can still fight.”
“You can barely stand.”
The doors of the infirmary shook.
Everyone went silent.
BOOM.
The entire building trembled.
I jumped.
Another impact hit the doors.
BOOM!
Wood cracked.
The guards raised their weapons.
Hillary's eyes turned completely gold.
“Do not open those doors.”
The third impact never came.
Instead, everything became silent.
Too silent.
Then I heard footsteps.
Slow.
Heavy.
Coming from the corridor.
One of the guards whispered,
“Alpha…”
Hillary raised his hand.
“Stay back.”
The footsteps stopped outside the infirmary.
My heart hammered against my ribs.
Then the door slowly opened.
A man stepped inside.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Dressed entirely in black.
His dark hair fell across his forehead, and his eyes were an unnatural shade of silver.
The moment I saw him, Selene growled.
Him.
I swallowed.
Who is he?
Selene didn't answer.
The stranger looked around the room.
Then his eyes landed on me.
Everything inside me went still.
He smiled.
Not warmly.
Not kindly.
Like he'd finally found something he'd been searching for.
“There you are.”
Hillary moved in front of me.
“Who are you?”
The stranger's smile disappeared.
“You already know.”
Hillary's face hardened.
“I asked you a question.”
“And I answered it.”
The stranger took one step forward.
The guards immediately pointed their weapons at him.
“Don't.”
His voice was quiet.
Yet every wolf in the room stiffened.
Power rolled through the air.
Even Hillary seemed to recognize it.
The stranger's eyes never left mine.
“Natalia Rose.”
I stepped backward.
“How do you know my name?”
“Because I've been looking for you.”
“Why?”
His gaze dropped to my shoulder.
To the glowing mark beneath my dress.
His expression changed.
“You have no idea what you've awakened.”
Hillary grabbed my arm.
“Stay behind me.”
The stranger laughed softly.
“You still don't understand, Hillary.”
Hillary's eyes narrowed.
“Understand what?”
“That she's not yours to protect.”
The words made something inside me twist.
Hillary stepped forward.
“She is under my protection.”
The stranger's eyes flashed.
“For now.”
A growl came from Hillary.
“You're trespassing on my territory.”
“I didn't come for your territory.”
His eyes returned to me.
“I came for her.”
My stomach tightened.
“Why?”
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked toward Tony.
Tony stared at him.
Then his face went pale.
“You…”
The stranger turned.
Tony's eyes widened.
“I remember you.”
The stranger smiled.
“Good.”
Hillary looked between them.
“You know him?”
Tony struggled to breathe.
“He was there…”
“Where?” Hillary demanded.
Tony swallowed.
“Three years ago.”
The stranger said nothing.
Tony continued.
“At the northern border.”
Hillary's expression darkened.
“You were one of them.”
“One of who?”
I asked.
Tony looked at me.
“The rogue wolves.”
The stranger laughed.
“Rogue.”
He said the word with disgust.
“That is what you call anyone who refuses to kneel.”
Hillary stepped closer.
“State your name.”
The stranger looked at him.
“Damon.”
My heart skipped.
Damon.
There was something strangely familiar about the name.
But I couldn't remember where I'd heard it.
Damon looked at me again.
“I didn't come here to hurt you, Natalia.”
“Then why are you here?”
“To warn you.”
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
“About what?”
“The blood moon.”
The mark on my shoulder suddenly burned.
I gasped.
Damon noticed.
His eyes sharpened.
“It has started.”
Hillary looked at my shoulder.
“What has started?”
“The awakening.”
My breathing became shallow.
“What awakening?”
Damon took another step.
Hillary immediately blocked him.
“Don't come any closer.”
Damon stopped.
His eyes remained fixed on me.
“You were hidden for twenty years.”
My blood ran cold.
“Hidden?”
“Your parents thought they could keep you safe.”
I stared at him.
“My parents?”
Damon nodded.
“They knew what you were.”
“No.”
My voice shook.
“They never told me anything.”
“Exactly.”
I looked at Hillary.
He seemed unsettled.
“Who are you talking about?” he demanded.
Damon ignored him.
“Natalia, you need to leave this territory before the blood moon rises.”
“Why?”
“Because every Alpha who knows what you are will come looking for you.”
Hillary's jaw tightened.
“And why should I believe you?”
“Because the first one has already arrived.”
A sudden howl came from the forest.
Then another.
Then dozens more.
The guards looked toward the windows.
Damon smiled.
“They're here.”
Hillary turned to the guards.
“Seal every entrance.”
The guards rushed out.
I looked at Damon.
“Who is coming?”
He looked directly into my eyes.
“The Blood Alpha.”
The name sent a strange tremor through me.
“Who is the Blood Alpha?”
Damon's expression became serious.
“The most dangerous Alpha alive.”
Hillary's face hardened.
“And what does he want with Natalia?”
Damon answered without hesitation.
“To claim what was promised to him.”
My heart stopped.
“Promised?”
Damon looked at me.
“You.”
Silence filled the room.
I shook my head.
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I don't care.”
I stepped forward.
“I belong to myself.”
For the first time, Damon looked impressed.
A faint smile touched his lips.
“That's exactly why they fear you.”
Hillary glanced at me.
Then he turned to Damon.
“If you're finished with your riddles, leave.”
Damon's eyes narrowed.
“You should listen to me, Hillary.”
“I don't take orders from rogues.”
“You will when you discover who is standing outside your walls.”
Before Hillary could respond, a violent explosion shook the compound.
The windows shattered.
Everyone screamed.
Glass flew across the room.
Hillary grabbed me and pulled me against his chest, shielding me with his body.
I felt his arms tighten around me.
Then a deafening roar came from outside.
Damon's face changed.
“He's here.”
Hillary released me.
“Who?”
Damon walked toward the broken window.
He looked into the darkness.
Then he whispered,
“Lucian.”
A second roar shook the entire compound.
The lights went out.
Darkness swallowed the infirmary.
Someone screamed.
A guard shouted,
“They've breached the western wall!”
Hillary's eyes glowed gold.
“Everyone stay together!”
But then Selene suddenly howled inside me.
Mate.
I froze.
My heart stopped.
What did you say?
Selene's voice trembled.
The one outside…
Another roar echoed through the compound.
And this time, my body reacted before my mind could.
My knees weakened.
My heart raced.
Something inside me pulled toward the darkness.
“No…”
I whispered.
Hillary looked at me.
“Natalia?”
I pressed a hand against my chest.
“I can feel him.”
Damon stared at me.
His face had gone pale.
“It's too soon.”
“What?”
He looked toward the darkness.
“The Blood Alpha has found his mate.”
My eyes widened.
“Who?”
Damon slowly looked at me.
“You.”
Before I could respond, a massive black wolf crashed through the shattered window.
The guards raised their weapons.
Hillary shifted instantly.
His enormous golden wolf stood between me and the creature.
The black wolf growled.
Red eyes.
The same red eyes I'd seen outside the guest house.
The same creature that had attacked Tony.
But this time, I could feel something different.
Recognition.
The black wolf stared directly at me.
Then he shifted.
A man emerged from the darkness.
Tall.
Muscular.
His body covered in scars.
Long black hair framed a dangerously handsome face.
His red eyes locked onto mine.
My breath caught.
He looked at me as though he'd known me all his life.
Then he spoke.
“Natalia.”
My heart slammed against my chest.
He took one step toward me.
Hillary growled.
“Stay away from her.”
The man's lips curved into a cold smile.
“You still don't understand.”
His eyes never left mine.
“She was never yours to protect.”
He took another step.
“I came for my mate.”
And Selene whispered the words I had been desperately hoping I would never hear.
He is our mate.
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