Mate of Fate

Chapter4

Ethan's hand trembled as he held the piece of paper. His heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the symbol. It was impossible to mistake it for anything else—the Phoenix pack's mark.

His mind raced with questions. Why would Aiden have this? Had he come into contact with the Phoenix pack? And more importantly, what did it mean for their family and pack?

Ethan tucked the paper back into the bag before anyone else noticed. He couldn’t ask about it here, not in front of his grandparents or Aiden. He needed answers, but he would have to wait for the right moment.

“I’ll take this upstairs,” Ethan said curtly, grabbing the bag and leaving the room before anyone could stop him. He needed time to think, to process.

In his room, Ethan locked the door behind him and spread the paper on his desk. His wolf growled softly, sensing his unease.

“Why would Aiden have this?” he muttered under his breath.

His mind flashed back to Daisy. She had the same symbol on her wrist. Could she be connected to the Phoenix pack? It didn’t make sense. She seemed lost and harmless in the forest. But Ethan had learned long ago that appearances could be deceiving.

A knock at his door interrupted his thoughts. “Ethan, it’s me,” Aiden’s voice called out.

Ethan quickly stuffed the paper into his desk drawer and unlocked the door. Aiden stood there, pale but upright, a slight smirk on his face.

“You didn’t have to leave in such a rush,” Aiden said, stepping inside. “What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing,” Ethan replied, keeping his tone neutral. “I just thought you could use some rest.”

Aiden studied him for a moment, his twin instincts clearly picking up on Ethan’s tension. “You’ve always been a terrible liar, Ethan. Spill it.”

Ethan sighed, his wolf urging him to confront Aiden, but he held back. “I’m just... worried about you. That’s all. You show up early, covered in blood, and expect me not to freak out?”

Aiden chuckled weakly. “It’s not like I planned to get ambushed.”

“Ambushed by who?” Ethan pressed, his tone sharper than intended.

Aiden’s smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. “Rogues. I was passing through neutral territory, and they jumped me. I fought them off, but it wasn’t easy.”

“Rogues,” Ethan repeated, narrowing his eyes. “Are you sure it wasn’t someone else?”

“What are you trying to say?” Aiden asked, his tone defensive.

Ethan hesitated, debating whether to bring up the symbol. Instead, he shook his head. “Forget it. Just rest, okay?”

Aiden frowned but nodded, sensing that Ethan wasn’t ready to share whatever was bothering him.

---

Later that night, Ethan couldn’t sleep. The image of the Phoenix pack’s symbol burned in his mind. His wolf paced restlessly, urging him to take action.

Unable to ignore the pull any longer, he decided to find Daisy. She was the only lead he had. If she was connected to the Phoenix pack, he needed to know why.

---

Daisy sat on the edge of a stream, staring at her reflection in the water. Her thoughts were a chaotic mess. She still didn’t understand why Ethan had stormed off or why she felt so drawn to him.

Her fingers traced the symbol on her wrist absentmindedly. She had no memory of how she got it, only that it had always been there.

A rustle in the bushes snapped her out of her thoughts. She turned quickly, her senses on high alert.

“Who’s there?” she called out, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ethan stepped out of the shadows, his expression unreadable.

“You,” Daisy said, standing up. “What are you doing here?”

“I need answers,” Ethan said bluntly. His intense gaze locked onto hers. “That symbol on your wrist—where did you get it?”

Daisy instinctively covered her wrist. “I don’t know. Why does it matter?”

“It matters because that symbol belongs to the Phoenix pack,” Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. “And they’re responsible for the death of my parents.”

Daisy’s eyes widened. “What? No, that can’t be true. I’m not—”

“Don’t lie to me,” Ethan growled, his wolf pushing to the surface. “If you’re connected to them, I need to know.”

“I’m not lying!” Daisy shouted, tears forming in her eyes. “I don’t know anything about the Phoenix pack or your parents. I swear!”

Ethan’s wolf hesitated, sensing her fear and sincerity. He took a step back, his anger waning.

“Then explain the mark,” he demanded, softer this time.

“I can’t,” Daisy said, her voice trembling. “I’ve had it as long as I can remember. I don’t know what it means.”

Ethan studied her, torn between distrust and the strange bond he felt toward her. His instincts told him she was telling the truth, but the symbol couldn’t be a coincidence.

“We’ll figure this out,” Ethan finally said. “But if you’re lying to me...”

“I’m not,” Daisy interrupted, meeting his gaze. “I want answers as much as you do.”

Ethan nodded, though his mind remained heavy with doubt. The path ahead was unclear, but one thing was certain—Daisy was now entangled in the web of his pack’s darkest secrets.