Chapter 4 4

The SUV bumped along the dirt road, the forest around them thickening into an impenetrable wall of shadows. The moon was high now, its pale light slicing through the canopy in silvery streaks. Elena stared out the window, her mind swirling with unanswered questions and the nagging disbelief that still clung to her.

"How big is your... territory?" she asked, breaking the tense silence.

Damon glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "It stretches over twenty square miles. Enough space to keep my pack safe and hidden."

"Hidden from what?"

"Humans, mostly," he said. "But also from other packs that would see us as competition. Like Magnus's."

She frowned. "This Magnus guy-why does he want your territory so badly? And why am I suddenly part of his plan?"

Damon's grip on the wheel tightened, his jaw clenching. "Magnus thrives on power. Territory means resources, influence, and control. He's been circling my pack for years, looking for a weakness. When he found out about you, he saw an opportunity."

"Why me?" Elena demanded, her frustration boiling over. "You keep talking like I'm some kind of weapon, but I don't even know what I am!"

"You're a latent werewolf," Damon said firmly, his voice calm but unyielding. "That makes you rare. And your bloodline-your mother's connection to my pack-gives you an edge. If Magnus can turn you, force you to side with him, he'll use your abilities against us."

"Turn me?" Her voice rose, panic edging in. "What does that even mean?"

Damon slowed the car as the road curved sharply, the tires crunching over gravel. "If Magnus gets to you first, he'll awaken the wolf inside you, but not in the way it's meant to happen. It'll be violent, painful-and you'll lose yourself in the process."

Elena's stomach churned, her fingers gripping the strap of her bag. "And you? What's your plan?"

"To protect you until you're ready to awaken safely," he said simply. "You deserve a choice in this, Elena. Magnus won't give you one."

The car came to a stop in a wide clearing, and Damon killed the engine. The forest was eerily quiet, the only sound the distant rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"We're here," he said, stepping out of the vehicle.

Elena hesitated, her heart pounding as she followed him. The clearing was surrounded by tall trees, their branches forming a natural barrier. In the center stood a large, rustic lodge, its windows glowing warmly in the night.

"This is your pack's home?" she asked, eyeing the building warily.

"One of them," Damon said. "It's a safehouse, designed to be hard to find and even harder to attack."

He motioned for her to follow him up the wooden steps to the front door. As they approached, the door opened, and a tall, muscular man with dark hair and sharp blue eyes stepped out. His gaze landed on Elena, and his expression hardened.

"This her?" the man asked, his voice low and gravelly.

"Yes," Damon said. "Elena, this is Kane, my second-in-command."

Kane didn't offer a smile or even a nod. He studied her like she was a puzzle he couldn't quite solve. "You're bringing her here? Are you sure about this, Damon?"

"I don't have a choice," Damon said evenly. "Magnus knows about her. She's safer with us than on her own."

Kane's eyes narrowed. "Safer for how long? You know what'll happen if she-"

"That's enough," Damon interrupted, his tone firm. "We'll deal with it when the time comes. For now, she's under my protection. That's not up for debate."

Kane's jaw tightened, but he stepped aside to let them in.

The interior of the lodge was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the tension lingering in the air. A large stone fireplace crackled in the main room, casting flickering shadows across the walls. Several other people-men and women of varying ages-were scattered around, their conversations halting as Elena and Damon entered.

All eyes turned to her, and the weight of their stares made her skin crawl.

"This is Elena," Damon announced, his voice carrying authority. "She's with me now. Treat her as one of us."

The room remained silent, the pack members exchanging wary glances. Finally, a petite woman with auburn hair and sharp green eyes stepped forward.

"I'm Tessa," she said, her tone friendlier than Kane's but still guarded. "Welcome to the pack... I guess."

"Thanks," Elena said, though the word felt hollow. She glanced at Damon. "What now?"

"Now," he said, "you get some rest. You'll need it."

Elena wanted to protest, to demand more answers, but the exhaustion from the night's events was beginning to catch up with her. Damon led her to a small room at the end of the hall, its simple furnishings a stark reminder of how far she was from the life she knew.

Before he left, Damon paused in the doorway, his expression softer than she'd seen all night. "I know this is a lot to take in," he said quietly. "But you're not alone in this, Elena. Not anymore."

She didn't respond, her mind too overwhelmed to form words. Damon nodded once, then closed the door behind him, leaving her alone with her thoughts-and the unsettling knowledge that her life had just changed forever.