Chapter 2 2

Evelyn woke to the sound of the wind howling outside the thick stone walls of the packhouse. The fire in the hearth had dwindled to nothing but embers, casting long shadows across the room. For a moment, she lay still, letting the quiet settle around her as she tried to shake off the lingering tension from the night before.

Alfred's words echoed in her mind. You're everything.

She had no idea what that meant. What he meant. The strange pull between them, the way his gaze had felt both commanding and comforting all at once, unsettled her. It was as though every fiber of her being was responding to him, despite the fact that everything in her screamed to run far, far away. She didn't want to need him. She didn't want to depend on anyone, especially not someone like him.

But here she was, trapped in his packhouse, under his protection-if that was even what this was. Her heart thudded in her chest as she rose from the bed and walked to the small window. Outside, the dense forest stretched endlessly into the distance, but there was no sign of the Crescent Pack, no sign of the danger she had narrowly escaped.

For now, she was safe.

The door to her room creaked open, and she spun around, startled. Alfred stood in the doorway, framed by the dim light from the hallway. His golden eyes locked onto hers, piercing and unyielding.

"Good morning," he said, his voice low and rich, though there was no warmth to it.

Evelyn straightened, trying to steady her breath. The night had been restless-her dreams haunted by the image of Alfred and his pack, their eyes cold and distant. She had thought about escaping, running off into the forest, but she knew she couldn't. Not yet. Not with her past chasing her.

"I didn't expect you so soon," she said, her voice steady despite the fluttering anxiety in her stomach. "I thought you were giving me space."

"I am." Alfred stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "But there are things we need to discuss."

Evelyn crossed her arms over her chest, feeling vulnerable in his presence. "I'm not interested in what you have to say."

Alfred raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by her defiance. "You'll listen eventually. You have no choice."

Her pulse quickened. She hated the way he spoke to her, as if he knew everything. As if he held all the cards. She had nothing to bargain with, nothing to use against him. But still, she stood her ground.

"I don't owe you anything," she replied, her voice colder now. "I didn't ask to be here."

"And yet, here you are," Alfred countered smoothly, his gaze never wavering. "You didn't ask for this fate, but it's yours now. The Crescent Pack will not stop hunting you. They'll tear through this land if they have to, and they'll find you eventually."

"I know," Evelyn said quietly, though the fear in her chest gnawed at her. "I'm not blind. But that doesn't mean I trust you."

Alfred's expression softened, but only for a moment. "Trust is earned, not given. I get it."

She tilted her head, studying him. "You really think I'd just accept whatever you say, whatever you offer? I don't know you."

His lips curled slightly, a wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You don't know me, but you will. I'm the only one who can protect you from what's coming."

Her throat tightened. "Why? Why protect me?"

Alfred's eyes flicked to the side, as if considering his words. When he spoke, his voice was lower, more serious than before.

"Because we're bound by more than just circumstance. By blood, by the moon. You're not just any hybrid, Evelyn. You're the key to something bigger. And right now, you need me more than I need you."

Evelyn's heart slammed against her ribcage. "What do you mean? What are you talking about?"

Alfred didn't answer immediately. Instead, he crossed the room, his steps measured and deliberate. He stood by the window, his back to her.

"I'm not here to explain everything to you, not yet," he said, his voice calm but firm. "But I will. In time. But you need to understand something. You're important. To me, to my pack, to this war. There's no escaping that."

Evelyn's chest constricted with a mixture of confusion and fear. She had no idea what he was talking about. Important? She had nothing to offer him. She had no power, no claim to anything. She was just a survivor-a girl running from the wolves that had slaughtered her village.

But the way Alfred spoke, the certainty in his words-it made her question everything she thought she knew about herself.

"Do you think I care about your war?" she asked, her voice shaking now. "I'm not part of your pack. I'm not part of anything. I just want to be left alone."

"You can't be left alone," Alfred said, his voice sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. "You think I want this for you? You think I want to keep you here, under my watch? But I have no choice. You have no choice."

Evelyn looked away, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She wanted to scream, to fight back, to demand answers. But the weight of everything-the loss, the danger, the uncertainty-pressed down on her.

Alfred's gaze softened, and for a moment, she saw something else in him-something vulnerable, buried beneath the layers of command and control.

"I don't want to force you into anything," he said quietly. "But you need to understand, Evelyn. There's no escaping this. No running. Not anymore."

She swallowed, her throat dry. "What do you want from me?"

He turned to face her fully now, his eyes intense, but there was something gentler in them this time. "I want you to survive. That's all. But surviving means facing the truth. Facing who you are. And facing what we can do together."

Evelyn's heart pounded in her chest as his words sank in. She didn't know what to make of him, of his promises, or of the strange connection she felt toward him. But she knew one thing for sure: her life was no longer her own. The moon had marked her, and now, it seemed, the Alpha of the Bloodfang Pack had as well.

"What happens now?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.

Alfred's eyes met hers, unwavering. "Now? Now we prepare. The Crescent Pack is coming for you. And we'll be ready."

The silence in the room stretched between them, heavy and filled with unspoken tension. Evelyn could feel the weight of Alfred's gaze, the same gaze that had both unsettled and stirred something deep within her. Her heart pounded in her chest, her thoughts racing.

She had no idea what he meant by "preparing." Was he talking about a battle? What kind of war was he referring to? And why did she have to be a part of it?

Evelyn opened her mouth to question him further, but before she could speak, there was a knock on the door. Alfred turned sharply, his body tense, his eyes flicking to the door.

"Enter," he commanded, his voice firm and unyielding.

The door creaked open, and a tall, broad-shouldered wolf stepped inside. His features were rugged, with dark, piercing eyes that seemed to take in every detail of the room. His stance was relaxed, but there was an unmistakable aura of authority about him. He wore a dark leather jacket, and his presence seemed to fill the room with an undeniable power.

"Alpha Alfred," the newcomer said with a slight nod, his voice low but respectful. "The pack is ready. We've secured the perimeter and are ready to move out at your command."

Alfred's expression remained stoic, but there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Good," he said simply. "Ensure that the borders are well-guarded. The Crescent Pack won't stop until they have her."

Evelyn tensed at the mention of her name. She didn't want to be the center of this conflict. She didn't want to be anyone's prize or pawn. She wanted to be left alone to heal, to find a way to live without the shadow of her past hanging over her.

The new wolf's gaze shifted to her, lingering for a moment before he looked back at Alfred. "Understood. But Alpha," he hesitated, his voice a little more cautious now. "Are you sure about this? Bringing her here-"

Alfred cut him off with a sharp look. "I'm sure."

The wolf-clearly a beta, based on his deferential tone-nodded again. "As you command."

He turned to leave, but Alfred's voice stopped him. "Wait."

The beta paused, his body tense as he waited for Alfred's next words.

"Tell the others to prepare for a meeting tonight. We need to discuss the situation. The Crescent Pack will not be our only threat for long. There are other forces at play, and we need to be ready for all of them."

The beta bowed his head slightly. "Of course, Alpha. I'll get the word out."

With that, he left the room, leaving Evelyn alone with Alfred again.

Alfred's expression shifted slightly as he turned back to her, his gaze softening ever so slightly. "The pack is ready, Evelyn. We'll stand together to protect what's ours."

Evelyn crossed her arms, trying to remain composed, though the weight of the situation pressed heavily on her chest. "I'm not yours, Alfred. I didn't ask for any of this. I'm not a part of your pack, and I never will be."

Alfred's lips tightened, but there was no anger in his eyes-just something deeper. "You don't have to be a part of my pack to be under my protection. But whether you like it or not, your future is tied to mine now. And whether you choose to fight or not, you're part of this battle."

Her heart raced at the thought. Part of this battle. Evelyn wanted to argue, to fight back against the destiny that was being thrust upon her, but she couldn't deny the truth in Alfred's words. The Crescent Pack wasn't going to stop until they had her. And even if she could run, she knew the consequences would be dire.

"Why me?" she asked quietly, her voice tinged with frustration. "What makes me so important?"

Alfred's expression darkened, the weight of his answer heavy in the air. "You're not just anyone. You're a hybrid- one of the rarest and most dangerous kinds of werewolves. But your bloodline, your heritage... it's more than just power. You have the potential to change everything. For better or for worse."

Evelyn's mind reeled. "Change everything?"

Alfred nodded slowly, his eyes steady. "The Crescent Pack wants to control your power. They know what you can become. And they want to use it for their own ends. But you're mine to protect. And if I can teach you to harness that power, we can fight back. We can change the future of our kind."

Evelyn took a step back, her thoughts swirling. She had never asked for power. She had never wanted to be part of this world of pack politics and wars. She just wanted peace, freedom from the violence and death that had consumed her life.

"I didn't choose this," she said, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and anger. "I didn't choose to be a hybrid. I didn't choose any of this."

Alfred took a step forward, his presence imposing but strangely calming. "None of us choose our fates, Evelyn. But we can choose how we face them. And right now, your only option is to survive."

Evelyn felt the weight of his words settle deep within her. She had no choice but to stay here for now, in this strange, oppressive place, under the protection of a man she barely knew. But that didn't mean she had to trust him-or accept what he was offering.

Forcing herself to meet his gaze, she spoke with more conviction than she felt. "I don't need your protection. I can protect myself."

Alfred's lips twitched into a small, knowing smile. "Maybe. But I'm not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to trust your instincts. Trust the power inside you. And most importantly, trust that I'm not your enemy."

Evelyn swallowed hard, her pulse quickening as his words lingered in her mind. There was something about him- something magnetic and dangerous- that kept pulling her in. She didn't know what it was, but it terrified her.

Alfred stepped back, his posture relaxed but still commanding. "For now, get some rest. We'll begin your training tomorrow. There's much to learn, and we don't have time to waste."

Evelyn didn't respond, but she didn't need to. Her silence spoke volumes.

Alfred turned to leave, his broad shoulders filling the doorway as he paused one last time. "Remember, Evelyn, the Crescent Pack will come for you. And when they do, we'll be ready."

With that, he was gone, leaving Evelyn alone in the dimly lit room, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

She wasn't ready for this. She wasn't ready to fight, to wield whatever power she might possess. And yet, as the moonlight filtered through the window, casting long shadows across the floor, Evelyn knew that her life had changed forever. The future, it seemed, was no longer hers to control.