The Unexpected Mate

Chapter 10: The Gathering Storm

War.

The word echoed through Tiana's mind long after Marcus spoke it.

Nobody in the room seemed surprised.

Concerned?

Yes.

Tense?

Definitely.

But surprised?

No.

That frightened her more than anything.

It meant they had expected this.

Expected the Shadowborn to return.

Expected a battle.

Expected bloodshed.

And somehow she was at the center of it all.

Marcus remained near the door.

His expression was grim.

"The scouts confirmed it."

Timothy folded his arms.

"How many?"

Marcus exhaled slowly.

"We counted nearly two hundred."

Silence filled the room.

Tiana's stomach dropped.

Two hundred?

The number sounded impossible.

The Shadowborn had seemed terrifying when there were only a few dozen.

Two hundred felt like a nightmare.

Marcus continued.

"And they're still gathering."

Timothy's jaw tightened.

The Alpha looked toward the moonlit window.

Calculating.

Planning.

Preparing.

Tiana watched him carefully.

She was beginning to recognize the different sides of Timothy.

The gentle side that appeared when they were alone.

The protective side that surfaced whenever she was threatened.

And this side.

The Alpha.

The leader.

The warrior.

The man responsible for an entire pack.

The responsibility seemed heavy.

Much heavier than she had realized.

Marcus eventually left.

Promising to organize additional patrols.

The door closed behind him.

Leaving Tiana alone with Timothy once again.

The silence lingered.

Neither seemed eager to break it.

Finally, Tiana sighed.

"Everyone keeps talking about war like it's normal."

Timothy looked at her.

His silver eyes softened slightly.

"It isn't normal."

"It sounds pretty normal to everyone else."

A shadow crossed his face.

The expression made her nervous.

"What?"

The Alpha looked away.

Toward the mountains.

Toward the darkness.

Toward whatever threats waited beyond the pack territory.

"The Shadowborn have been growing stronger for years."

The answer immediately caught her attention.

"Why?"

Timothy hesitated.

Then answered.

"Because they're looking for something."

A chill ran down her spine.

She already knew the answer before he spoke it.

"Me."

Timothy remained silent.

That silence was confirmation enough.

The realization settled heavily on her shoulders.

The war wasn't really about territory.

Or power.

Or pack politics.

It was about her.

Her existence.

Her bloodline.

Her abilities.

The thought made her feel sick.

"People are going to die because of me."

The words escaped quietly.

Timothy immediately stepped closer.

"No."

The certainty in his voice surprised her.

"They're going to fight because they're protecting their home."

The explanation didn't help.

Not much.

The guilt remained.

Because if she didn't exist, none of this would be happening.

As though sensing her thoughts, Timothy gently lifted her chin.

The touch sent warmth racing through her body.

The bond pulsed strongly.

Neither ignored it.

Neither mentioned it.

"Tiana."

His voice was softer now.

"None of this is your fault."

She stared into his silver eyes.

Searching for dishonesty.

Finding none.

The sincerity made her chest tighten.

For a brief moment, she forgot about the war.

Forgot about the Shadowborn.

Forgot about everything except the man standing in front of her.

Then a loud knock shattered the moment.

Timothy immediately stepped back.

The sudden distance felt strangely disappointing.

The realization annoyed her.

The door opened.

Lyra entered.

The blonde woman looked exhausted.

Yet determination burned in her eyes.

"Council meeting."

Timothy frowned.

"Now?"

Lyra nodded.

"The elders insisted."

The Alpha sighed heavily.

Clearly irritated.

Tiana noticed.

Apparently Timothy wasn't particularly fond of being summoned.

The realization amused her.

Lyra's gaze shifted toward Tiana.

The jealousy remained.

But something else had joined it.

Concern.

Fear.

Uncertainty.

It was the first time Tiana had seen anything other than hostility from her.

The change was unexpected.

"The entire pack knows about the silver light."

The statement immediately killed the humor in the room.

Tiana's stomach tightened.

Of course they knew.

Hundreds of wolves lived here.

News probably traveled fast.

"What are they saying?"

Lyra hesitated.

A rare sight.

Then she answered.

"They think the prophecy is beginning."

Silence.

Tiana stared.

"What prophecy?"

Nobody answered immediately.

That alone was enough to tell her she wasn't going to like the answer.

And for some reason, she had the feeling that whatever prophecy the wolves feared...

it was about her.

"What prophecy?"

The question hung in the air.

Nobody answered.

Tiana looked between Timothy and Lyra.

Their silence immediately irritated her.

Again.

Always silence.

Always secrets.

She was beginning to hate both.

"Seriously?"

Lyra shifted uncomfortably.

Timothy sighed.

The Alpha rubbed a hand across his face.

Clearly debating how much to tell her.

Finally, he spoke.

"Long ago, the Moon Goddess gave a vision to the First Luna."

Tiana folded her arms.

Listening carefully.

"The vision spoke of darkness."

A chill ran through her body.

"The Shadowborn?"

Timothy nodded.

"Among other things."

That wasn't reassuring.

Not even slightly.

The Alpha continued.

"The prophecy said a descendant of the First Luna would one day awaken."

The room grew quiet.

Tiana already knew where this was going.

And she didn't like it.

"The silver light."

Timothy nodded again.

"The blessing."

The realization settled heavily inside her.

"You think it's me."

Lyra laughed bitterly.

"Think?"

The blonde woman shook her head.

"We watched you throw a Shadowborn through three trees."

Fair point.

Tiana couldn't really argue with that.

The memory still felt unreal.

Like something that had happened to somebody else.

Not her.

Not normal Tiana Sands.

Yet here they were.

Talking about prophecies.

Magic.

Ancient bloodlines.

Her life had become ridiculous.

A loud bell suddenly echoed through the pack house.

The sound vibrated through the walls.

Everyone froze.

Timothy's expression darkened instantly.

"What was that?"

Lyra immediately moved toward the door.

"Council summons."

The Alpha cursed under his breath.

Tiana blinked.

"You curse?"

Lyra actually laughed.

The sound surprised everyone.

Including herself.

For a brief second, the hostility disappeared.

Then reality returned.

Timothy shook his head.

"Stay here."

Tiana immediately frowned.

"No."

The Alpha stared.

She stared back.

The battle of wills lasted several seconds.

Neither looked away.

Neither backed down.

Eventually Lyra snorted.

A very amused snort.

The sound broke the tension instantly.

Timothy looked annoyed.

"Tiana."

"No."

The answer came immediately.

The Alpha sighed heavily.

"You don't even know where we're going."

"I'll learn."

Timothy pinched the bridge of his nose.

The gesture made him look strangely human.

Strangely normal.

Tiana almost smiled.

Almost.

Then Timothy pointed at her.

"You're impossible."

The words made her grin.

A real grin.

The Alpha looked betrayed.

Lyra laughed again.

This time louder.

The sight stunned Tiana.

For the first time, she saw a different side of the blonde wolf.

A side that wasn't angry.

Or jealous.

Or hostile.

Just amused.

The realization was unexpected.

A knock interrupted them.

Marcus entered.

The older wolf looked serious.

"The council is waiting."

Timothy groaned.

Marcus ignored him.

Apparently everyone ignored the Alpha sometimes.

The discovery amused Tiana.

Several minutes later they entered a large chamber near the center of the pack house.

The room was enormous.

A circular table dominated the space.

Around it sat several older wolves.

Men and women.

Some looked kind.

Others looked terrifying.

Every pair of eyes immediately focused on Tiana.

The attention made her uncomfortable.

Very uncomfortable.

One elderly woman stood.

Silver hair flowed down her back.

Wisdom filled her dark eyes.

"So."

The woman's gaze remained fixed on Tiana.

"The child has finally arrived."

Tiana resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Child?

Really?

She was eighteen.

Not eight.

Timothy noticed.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

The elderly woman continued.

"My name is Elder Sarah."

Tiana nodded politely.

"Nice to meet you."

Sarah smiled.

Then her expression became serious.

"The Shadowborn are moving."

The atmosphere immediately changed.

Every trace of humor vanished.

The council members exchanged worried looks.

Marcus stepped forward.

"Our scouts confirmed the reports."

Sarah nodded.

"The prophecy has begun."

The statement seemed to affect everyone differently.

Some of the elders looked afraid.

Others looked hopeful.

A few appeared deeply conflicted.

Tiana noticed every reaction.

And none of them made her feel better.

She shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

The council members weren't looking at her like she was a person.

They were looking at her like she was an event.

A problem.

A solution.

A mystery.

Anything except an actual human being.

The feeling irritated her.

One elder slowly stood.

An older woman with sharp features and stern eyes.

"If the prophecy is truly beginning, then we must prepare."

Several council members nodded immediately.

Another elder frowned.

"Or perhaps we've misunderstood the signs."

The first woman scoffed.

"Misunderstood?"

She pointed toward Tiana.

"The silver light appeared in front of dozens of witnesses."

Murmurs spread through the room.

The second elder folded his arms.

"Prophecies have been misinterpreted before."

Sarah remained silent.

Watching.

Listening.

Carefully studying the debate.

Tiana cleared her throat.

Nobody noticed.

She cleared it again.

Still nothing.

The council continued discussing her as though she wasn't sitting five feet away.

Her patience snapped.

"Excuse me."

The room immediately fell silent.

Every head turned toward her.

Finally.

Tiana folded her arms.

"Would somebody mind explaining this prophecy properly?"

A few elders exchanged embarrassed looks.

The realization made her want to roll her eyes.

Apparently none of them had considered that she might want details.

"You all keep talking about it."

She gestured around the room.

"And somehow I'm still the only person here who doesn't know what it actually says."

Timothy looked suspiciously amused.

Lyra quickly looked away.

Probably to hide a smile.

Sarah sighed softly.

Then the elderly woman nodded.

"You're right."

The room grew quiet.

"It is time you learned the truth."

Suddenly every council member became serious.

And Tiana knew whatever came next was going to change everything.

Again with the prophecy.

Tiana was getting tired of hearing about it.

Especially since nobody seemed interested in explaining the entire thing.

One of the elders suddenly stood.

A large man with scars covering both arms.

"We should move her."

The room fell silent.

Tiana blinked.

Move her?

She was standing right there.

The man pointed toward her.

"The Shadowborn want her."

The statement immediately irritated her.

Timothy's expression darkened.

"No."

The answer came instantly.

The elder wasn't impressed.

"If they find her—"

"They won't."

Power rolled from Timothy.

Pure Alpha authority.

Several council members immediately lowered their eyes.

The scarred elder remained standing.

Defiant.

"The pack could be destroyed."

Tension filled the room.

Dangerous tension.

The kind that made Tiana nervous.

For a brief moment she thought Timothy might actually throw the man through a wall.

Then Sarah raised a hand.

Silence followed.

Instant silence.

Apparently Sarah was important.

Very important.

The elderly woman looked toward Tiana.

Her expression softened.

"You have your mother's spirit."

The statement surprised her.

Unlike everyone else, Sarah sounded pleased.

Not sad.

Not guilty.

Pleased.

The elder slowly approached.

Then stopped directly in front of her.

The room became completely silent.

Sarah studied her carefully.

As though searching for something.

Then suddenly her eyes widened.

Shock filled her face.

Real shock.

The reaction startled everyone.

Including Timothy.

"What?"

Sarah didn't answer immediately.

The elderly woman continued staring.

Almost disbelieving.

Then she whispered four words.

Words that made the entire room freeze.

"She's stronger than expected."

Silence followed.

Absolute silence.

Every council member stared.

Timothy stared.

Marcus stared.

Even Lyra looked shocked.

Tiana's stomach dropped.

Because something in Sarah's voice told her those words weren't good.

Not good at all.

And for the first time since arriving at the pack house, she wondered if the power inside her was something to fear.