Chapter 4
1325 Words
Chapter 4: Secrets Beneath the Moonlight
I don’t get much sleep that night. Every time I close my eyes, I see Kieran’s cold smile, hear his chilling warning. “Amon isn’t who you think he is.”
When morning comes, I’m still restless, pacing around my apartment as the sunlight filters through the curtains. My mind keeps circling back to Amon. There’s something undeniably magnetic about him, but now I know that charm is only the surface. What lies beneath is something darker, something dangerous.
I’m startled out of my thoughts by a knock at the door. My heart leaps, half-expecting Kieran’s unsettling face, but when I open the door, it’s Amon.
He looks different today—less composed, like the weight of the world is pressing down on him. “We need to talk,” he says, stepping inside before I can even invite him.
I close the door and fold my arms. “Finally. Are you actually going to tell me what’s going on?”
He looks at me, his gray eyes intense. “What did Kieran say to you last night?”
“Nothing that made any sense,” I reply, walking to the kitchen to put some distance between us. “Just more cryptic warnings about how I shouldn’t trust you.”
Amon exhales sharply, rubbing the back of his neck. “You shouldn’t have been alone with him.”
“Yeah, well, that’s hard to avoid when you keep walking off and leaving me to fend for myself.”
He looks at me, his expression softening. “You’re right. I shouldn’t have left you alone. And I should’ve been honest with you from the start.”
I narrow my eyes. “Honest about what?”
Amon hesitates, and for a moment, I think he might back out. Then he takes a deep breath. “There’s something you need to know about me, Clara. Something… not normal.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Not normal? Like what? Are you secretly married? A spy? Oh, let me guess, you’re in the mafia.”
He actually laughs, a low sound that somehow puts me at ease. “No. Nothing like that. But it’s… complicated.”
“Try me,” I challenge.
He steps closer, and suddenly the air feels heavier. “I’m not just a businessman. I’m the Alpha of a werewolf pack.”
I blink at him, waiting for the punchline. But his face remains serious. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not,” he says, his voice steady. “That’s why Kieran warned you. He’s part of a rival pack, and he’ll do anything to undermine me—including using you.”
I let out a short laugh, but it’s more out of disbelief than amusement. “A werewolf. Seriously? That’s the best you’ve got?”
Amon doesn’t respond. Instead, he steps back, his eyes glowing faintly silver. His hands curl at his sides, and for a split second, I swear I see his nails elongate into claws.
“Holy—” I stumble backward, nearly knocking over a chair. “You’re not joking.”
“I told you,” he says calmly, his eyes fading back to their usual gray. “I’m the Alpha of the Midnight Fang Pack.”
My mind races as I try to process this. “So… what? You turn into a wolf under a full moon and howl at the stars?”
He smirks. “It’s a bit more complicated than that. But yes, I can shift whenever I need to. It’s part of who I am.”
“And Kieran?” I ask, still trying to wrap my head around this.
“He’s a rogue,” Amon explains. “A wolf who’s broken away from pack law. Rogues are dangerous because they have no loyalty, no rules. They do whatever they want, no matter who gets hurt.”
I sit down, feeling overwhelmed. “So, last night, all those powerful people at the gala… were they werewolves too?”
“Not all of them,” Amon says, leaning against the counter. “But many of them were. Our kind exists in secret, blending into human society. That’s why you can’t tell anyone about this, Clara. It’s dangerous—for you and for me.”
“Dangerous?” I echo, looking up at him. “Why would it be dangerous for me?”
“Because now that Kieran knows you’re connected to me, he’ll see you as a target.”
I swallow hard, the weight of his words sinking in. “A target? For what?”
“To hurt me,” Amon says simply. “If he can’t get to me directly, he’ll come after the people I care about.”
I freeze, the air seeming to leave the room. “People you… care about?”
His gaze meets mine, and there’s something raw in his expression. “Yes, Clara. You’ve become important to me, whether I meant for it to happen or not.”
I don’t know what to say to that. My life has gone from normal to werewolves and rival packs in less than 48 hours. How am I supposed to process this?
Before I can respond, Amon’s phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, and his expression darkens. “It’s my Beta,” he says, answering the call. “What is it?”
I can’t hear the other person, but whatever they’re saying makes Amon’s jaw clench.
“I’ll be there soon,” he says, hanging up. He turns to me, his expression grim. “There’s been an incident. I have to go.”
“An incident?” I repeat, standing up. “What kind of incident?”
“Pack business,” he says, already heading for the door.
“Amon, wait!” I call after him. “You can’t just drop this bombshell on me and leave!”
He pauses, looking back at me. “I know this is a lot to take in, Clara. But I promise, I’ll explain everything. Just… stay safe. Don’t open the door for anyone but me.”
And then he’s gone, leaving me alone with a million questions and no answers.
---
The hours crawl by, each one more agonizing than the last. I try to distract myself by cleaning the apartment, but my thoughts keep returning to Amon. What kind of “incident” could be serious enough to pull him away? And what am I supposed to do if Kieran shows up again?
As night falls, I sit by the window, watching the shadows lengthen across the street. The city feels eerily quiet, as if it’s holding its breath.
Just when I’m starting to doze off, there’s a knock at the door.
I freeze, my heart pounding. Amon’s words echo in my mind: “Don’t open the door for anyone but me.”
“Clara,” a voice calls out. “It’s me. Open up.”
It’s Amon. Relief washes over me, and I rush to the door, unlocking it quickly.
But when I open it, it’s not Amon standing there. It’s Kieran.
“Well, hello again,” he says, smiling that same cold smile. “Miss me?”
Fear grips me, and I try to slam the door shut, but Kieran’s hand shoots out, stopping it effortlessly.
“Now, now,” he says, stepping inside. “Is that any way to treat a guest?”
“What do you want?” I demand, backing away.
“To talk,” he says, closing the door behind him. “Amon isn’t the hero you think he is, Clara. He’s hiding things from you. Things that could get you killed.”
“I don’t believe you,” I say, though my voice shakes.
Kieran chuckles, his eyes glinting with something dangerous. “You will. Soon enough.”
And with that, he turns and walks out, leaving me trembling in the middle of the room.
- Writer
