A Dangerous Introduction
1568 Words
“Run, Vaelith.”
The order had barely left Draven’s mouth when the first wolf lunged.
Vaelith moved.
Not backward.
Forward.
She ducked beneath the snapping jaws, seized the edge of a fallen chair, and swung it hard into the creature’s ribs.
The wolf crashed sideways.
For half a second, everyone froze.
Including Draven.
Vaelith looked at him.
“What?”
His expression was murderous.
“I told you to run.”
“And I ignored you.”
“I noticed.”
Another wolf charged.
Draven shifted.
The transformation was brutal and fast.
Bones cracked.
Muscles surged.
Dark fur swept across his skin until a massive black wolf stood where the Alpha had been.
Vaelith had seen shifters transform before.
Never like this.
Draven was enormous.
His shoulders were nearly level with her chest, his black coat reflecting the pale light spilling through the shattered doorway.
And his eyes—
Gold.
Not the cold gray she’d seen before.
Gold, burning with something primal.
The wolf snarled.
Every attacking creature stopped.
Then they attacked together.
Chaos exploded through the entrance hall.
Claws struck stone.
Furniture shattered.
A guard slammed into the wall.
One of the intruders went for Vaelith.
She grabbed a broken table leg.
The wolf leaped.
She swung.
It caught the wood between its teeth.
Vaelith’s eyes widened.
“Oh, that’s not fair.”
The wolf jerked its head.
The table leg flew from her hands.
It lunged again.
Something black slammed into it from the side.
Draven.
The two wolves crashed across the floor.
Vaelith stumbled backward.
A second attacker appeared behind her.
She didn’t see it.
Draven did.
He released the first wolf and crossed the room in a blur.
His claws caught the attacker before it reached her.
The wolf yelped and retreated.
Draven stood between Vaelith and the intruders.
His lips curled.
The message was unmistakable.
Come closer.
None did.
A low growl rolled through the room.
The attacking wolves suddenly turned toward the open doorway.
Then they ran.
All six disappeared into the darkness.
Draven didn’t chase them.
He shifted back.
Vaelith looked away just long enough to give him some privacy while he grabbed a black coat from one of the guards.
When she looked again, he was fastening the collar.
His expression was ice.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
He walked toward her.
“Vaelith.”
“I said no.”
He reached for her wrist.
She pulled away.
“I can check myself.”
His eyes narrowed.
“Fine.”
She examined her arms.
Nothing.
Then her fingers touched her ribs.
Pain flashed through her.
She winced.
Draven noticed.
“Your ribs.”
“They’re fine.”
“They aren’t.”
“You’re surprisingly annoying for someone who just turned into a giant wolf.”
His gaze remained fixed on her.
“Lift your arm.”
“No.”
“Vaelith.”
“Draven.”
Neither moved.
A guard cleared his throat.
“Alpha…”
Draven didn’t look away from her.
“Leave.”
The guard vanished.
Vaelith raised an eyebrow.
“You enjoy ordering people around.”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest.”
Draven stepped closer.
“Your ribs.”
She sighed.
“You’re not touching me.”
His jaw tightened.
“I wasn’t asking permission.”
“That attitude is exactly why you’re going to die alone.”
A strange silence followed.
One of the corners of his mouth twitched.
“Is that your medical diagnosis?”
“No. That’s my professional opinion.”
“You’re not a professional.”
“Neither are you.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his gaze dropped to her collarbone.
The silver mark was glowing beneath her clothes.
His expression hardened.
“You need to leave.”
Vaelith stared at him.
“We’ve established that isn’t happening.”
“You don’t understand what those wolves were.”
“Then tell me.”
“They weren’t attacking Blackthorn.”
She frowned.
“They attacked your house.”
“They were looking for you.”
The words landed heavily.
Vaelith looked toward the broken doorway.
“Why?”
Draven didn’t answer.
“Why are they after me?”
“I don’t know.”
“You’re lying again.”
“I don’t know everything.”
That surprised her.
Draven Kael admitting ignorance felt almost unnatural.
He continued.
“But I know enough.”
He stepped toward the broken entrance.
“They weren’t here to kill you.”
Vaelith followed.
“Then what were they here for?”
Draven looked at the claw marks carved into the stone.
“To make sure I knew they had found you.”
Her stomach tightened.
“Found me?”
He nodded.
“Someone has been searching for you.”
“Who?”
Draven’s gaze shifted toward the dark forest.
“The Moon Council.”
Vaelith’s anger returned.
“I’ve never even met the Moon Council.”
“That doesn’t mean they don’t know you.”
“What do they want?”
His eyes returned to hers.
“You.”
The answer chilled her.
Before she could respond, footsteps approached.
Seraphine entered the hall.
Her usually composed expression had disappeared.
“Alpha.”
Draven turned.
“Report.”
“Three guards are injured. None are dead.”
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
“And the wolves?”
“Gone.”
Seraphine’s eyes moved toward Vaelith.
Then toward the glowing mark beneath her collarbone.
Something unreadable crossed her face.
“You shouldn’t have brought her here.”
Vaelith’s head snapped toward her.
“I didn’t exactly volunteer for the invitation.”
Seraphine ignored her.
“You knew this would happen.”
Draven’s expression hardened.
“I knew there was a possibility.”
“A possibility?”
Seraphine’s voice sharpened.
“Six rogue wolves entered the heart of Blackthorn. They crossed three patrol lines without being detected.”
She stepped closer.
“This isn’t a possibility anymore.”
Draven said nothing.
Seraphine looked at Vaelith.
“She’s a liability.”
Vaelith folded her arms.
“I’m standing right here.”
“I know.”
“Then perhaps talk to me instead of about me.”
Seraphine’s eyes narrowed.
“You don’t understand what you’re carrying.”
Vaelith touched her collarbone.
“Then someone should stop speaking in riddles and explain it.”
Draven looked at Seraphine.
“Enough.”
“But—”
“I said enough.”
Seraphine fell silent.
Vaelith noticed something.
Not fear.
Respect.
Everyone in this house listened when Draven spoke.
Not because they liked him.
Because they knew better than to challenge him.
She looked around the damaged hall.
“You really are terrifying.”
Draven glanced at her.
“Is that supposed to bother me?”
“No.”
She smiled faintly.
“I’m just making observations.”
“Then observe this.”
He walked toward the staircase.
Vaelith followed.
“Where are we going?”
“Your room.”
She stopped.
“Why?”
“You’re staying here.”
Her eyebrows rose.
“Didn’t you just spend the last hour telling me to leave?”
“Yes.”
“And now?”
“Now I’m telling you to stay.”
“You’re aware those are opposite orders, right?”
Draven continued up the stairs.
“I changed my mind.”
Vaelith stared after him.
“That’s incredibly reassuring.”
He stopped halfway up.
Without turning, he spoke.
“Your room is in my wing.”
Her mouth fell open.
“What?”
“You’ll be safer there.”
“That sounds suspiciously like an excuse.”
“It isn’t.”
“Then why your wing?”
He finally turned.
His eyes met hers.
“Because whatever is hunting you already knows where you are.”
His voice lowered.
“And I won’t give it another chance to reach you.”
Something in her chest tightened.
Vaelith hated that his words affected her.
She hated even more that she believed him.
She climbed the stairs.
Draven waited.
When she reached him, he stepped aside.
She passed.
Then his voice stopped her.
“Vaelith.”
She turned.
He was watching her with an expression she couldn’t understand.
“What?”
“Don’t go near the forest.”
She frowned.
“Why?”
“Because something lives there.”
“What?”
His eyes darkened.
“Something even I don’t control.”
A chill passed through her.
Then, from somewhere beyond the estate walls, a howl echoed through Blackthorn.
Not like the wolves that had attacked.
This sound was deeper.
Older.
And somehow—
familiar.
Vaelith’s silver mark burned.
Her knees nearly buckled.
Draven caught her arm.
This time, neither of them pulled away.
Her gaze lifted to his.
His pupils had narrowed.
“Did you hear that?” she whispered.
Draven stared toward the forest.
“Yes.”
The howl came again.
Vaelith’s heart pounded.
And the voice inside her awakened.
Vaelith.
She went rigid.
Don’t trust him.
Her eyes widened.
Draven looked down at her.
“What happened?”
She couldn’t answer.
Because the voice spoke again.
He knows what they did to us.
Vaelith slowly looked into Draven’s eyes.
For the first time, she wondered whether the dangerous secret in Blackthorn wasn’t what was hunting her.
Maybe it was the Alpha himself.
And Draven seemed to realize she had just learned something he desperately didn’t want her to know.
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