Chapter 3: Shadows of the Past
1066 Words
Kael’s POV
The moon was high, casting silver light over the forest as I stood on the balcony outside my office. My mind raced, replaying every moment since Serena’s return. She was here, in my pack, under my roof. A part of me was relieved—relieved that she was safe, that I could keep an eye on her.
But another part of me—the part that was still tethered to her through the mate bond—was in agony. She hated me, and I couldn’t blame her. I’d made a choice years ago, and it was the wrong one. Rejecting her wasn’t just a mistake; it was a sin.
A knock at the door broke through my thoughts. I turned to find Lila stepping into the room, her dark eyes full of something I couldn’t quite place.
“Kael,” she said, her voice soft, almost sultry. “I heard she’s back.”
I didn’t respond immediately. There was no point in lying. “She is.”
Lila stepped closer, her heels clicking against the hardwood floor. “And you’re just letting her stay? After everything?”
Her words stung, but not for the reasons she thought. “She’s my mate, Lila.”
Her lips pressed into a thin line. “She left, Kael. She’s a rogue. She doesn’t belong here anymore.”
“She’s here because she’s in danger,” I snapped, my patience wearing thin. “And if anyone in this pack has a problem with that, they’ll answer to me.”
Lila’s expression shifted, a flicker of anger crossing her face before she masked it. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”
I didn’t respond as she turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her. The truth was, I didn’t know what I was doing. But one thing was clear: I wouldn’t let anyone hurt Serena. Not again.
Serena’s POV
Sleep didn’t come easily. The walls of the guest room felt like they were closing in, suffocating me with memories of a life I’d tried to leave behind. I tossed and turned, my mind spinning with Elder Aldric’s words.
A prophecy. A wolf born under the silver moon. Me.
It couldn’t be true. I was just Serena—a rogue, an outcast, a woman trying to survive in a world that had done nothing but break her. How could I be the key to anything?
Frustrated, I threw off the blankets and slipped out of bed. The room was too quiet, too still. I needed air.
The packhouse was eerily silent as I made my way outside, the cool night breeze brushing against my skin. The forest loomed in the distance, its shadows stretching toward me like a living thing.
I hesitated at the edge of the trees, my instincts warning me to turn back. But something deeper—something primal—pulled me forward.
The forest was alive with the sounds of the night: the rustle of leaves, the distant hoot of an owl, the faint howl of a wolf. I walked until the packhouse was out of sight, the trees closing in around me.
And then I felt it—a presence, dark and suffocating.
“Hello, Serena.”
I spun around, my heart racing. A figure emerged from the shadows, tall and lean with a cruel smile that sent chills down my spine.
“Ethan,” I whispered, my voice trembling.
He grinned, his eyes gleaming with malice. “It’s been a while, little sister.”
My heart clenched at the word. Ethan. My twin. The brother I’d lost when I left the pack. The brother who now stood before me as a rogue leader.
“What are you doing here?” I demanded, forcing my voice to steady.
He chuckled, a low, menacing sound. “I could ask you the same thing. Didn’t think I’d see you crawling back to the pack that threw you away.”
“I’m not here to stay,” I snapped. “And I don’t owe you any explanations.”
His smile faded, replaced by something colder, sharper. “You should have stayed gone, Serena. You don’t belong here anymore.”
I took a step back, my instincts screaming at me to run. But Ethan moved faster, closing the distance between us in an instant.
“You think you’re safe here?” he hissed, his face inches from mine. “You’re not. And when the time comes, not even Kael will be able to save you.”
Before I could respond, he disappeared into the shadows, leaving me alone in the darkness with my heart pounding and my mind racing.
Kael’s POV
The first thing I noticed when I stepped outside was the scent of blood.
It was faint but unmistakable, carried on the breeze from the direction of the forest. My wolf stirred, growling low in my chest. Something was wrong.
I followed the scent, my senses on high alert. It led me to the edge of the trees, where I found Serena standing alone, her shoulders tense and her breathing ragged.
“Serena,” I called out, my voice sharp.
She turned to me, her eyes wide and filled with something I couldn’t quite place. Fear.
“What happened?” I demanded, closing the distance between us.
She hesitated, her gaze darting toward the forest before settling on me. “Nothing. I just needed some air.”
I didn’t believe her. The scent of blood was too strong, too fresh. But I didn’t push her. Not yet.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” I said instead, my voice softer.
She bristled, her walls going up again. “I can take care of myself.”
I stepped closer, my hand brushing against her arm. “I know you can. But you’re not alone anymore, Serena. Whether you like it or not, I’m here. And I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”
Her eyes softened for a moment, the anger and defiance slipping away. But then she pulled back, putting distance between us once again.
“Goodnight, Kael,” she said, her voice cold as she turned and walked back toward the packhouse.
I watched her go, my wolf restless in my chest. Whatever had happened out here, it wasn’t nothing. And I would find out the truth.
Even if it killed me.
- Writer
