Mira had never felt so disturbed in her life. The air in Dane's private estate seemed thick and filled with tension, the room felt suffocated to her due to the weight of everything she had learned over the past few days. The werewolf world was far more complicated than she could have ever imagined, and now she is involved in it.
After the strange incident with the symbol on her wrist, Dane had taken her to an old library hidden deep inside his estate. It was filled with ancient books and dusty journals that seemed to vibrate with an energy she couldn't understand. There, they had met a werewolf professor named Eamon. He was old, his silver hair and old skin showing signs that he had lived far longer than any normal human. His look was calm, yet Mira could feel the power underneath his quiet looks.
Eamon had a story for her. A story that had been kept secret for centuries.
"The symbol on your wrist, Mira," Eamon started, his voice steady and low. "It's an ancient mark. It's connected to a prophecy. A prophecy that had existed for some generations, hidden from the world. Until now."
Mira's heart seized in her chest. "A prophecy? What does it say?"
Eamon looked at her, his old scary green eyes focused on hers. "It speaks of a time when a human, someone from a bloodline long forgotten, will play a key role in the fate of the werewolf world. This human will be marked by the ancient symbol, and will either unite the packs or destroy them."
Mira felt a shiver run down her body. "I'm supposed to unite or destroy the packs?" she asked with a whisper of her voice. "How? I don't even understand this world."
Eamon nodded. "It is not just about physical strength, Mira. It's about choice. The prophecy is not clear about what will happen, only that you will have the power to choose. You are now faced with the decisions so choose wisely. The rogues want you, and Dane's pack also wants you. But you must decide which path you will take."
Mira felt her mind racing. She couldn't even understand all of this. She came to the city in search of answers, for the truth about several disappearances she had noticed, and now she had found herself deeply involved in a werewolf war, with the fate of everyone in her hands.
"I don't understand why it should be me?," she said while shaking her head. "How do I make a choice here? And why me? Why is it my responsibility?"
Eamon's eyes on her softened. "You are not the first to be chosen by this prophecy, Mira. There have been others throughout history. But none of them were like you. You are a bridge between the human and werewolf worlds. Your bloodline has been hidden for generations, but it is strong. Your ancestors were once powerful friends of the werewolves, and now, you are the last of them."
Mira's mind kept mixing. Her ancestors? Powerful friends of werewolves? The idea seems obscene. She had grown up in a world where humans and werewolves were separated by fear and secrecy. She had never been told anything about this hidden legacy.
"I didn't ask for this," Mira said, frustration growing inside her. "I'm just a journalist. I'm trying to uncover the truth, not be a part of some ancient prophecy."
Eamon's expression became more serious. "The truth, Mira, is that you are already part of this world. You cannot run away from it. Your bloodline connected you to both sides. The rogues want you because they believe you can help them overthrow the Alpha Pack. Dane's pack wants you because they believe you can help them preserve their power. But the decision is yours. You must choose which path you will follow."
Mira felt her head filled with various questions and decisions. How could she make a choice like that? The rogues were violent, ruthless, and dangerous. But Dane's pack wasn't much better—they were all about maintaining control, about keeping the werewolf world hidden from humans. Both sides had their own agendas and their own reasons for wanting her. And Mira didn't know who to trust among both of them.
"I don't know what to do," she replied with a shaky voice. "I can't choose among them. I don't even know if I have the strength or knowledge to make a difference."
Eamon placed a soft hand on her shoulder, his hold on her was firm for someone that old. "You are stronger than you think. The power inside you is already beginning to awaken. But you must control it, Mira. It is not just physical strength you will need, it is wisdom, courage, and the ability to make the hard choices."
Mira nodded slowly, trying to understand his words properly. But before she could say anything else, Dane appeared at the entrance of the library, his eyes sharp and alert. He looked with more authority in the small lighted space, his eyes were calculating as if he were expecting something.
"What's the problem please?" Mira asked, her heart seized for a moment.
Dane looked at her, his looks serious. "We are in trouble," he said quietly. "The rogues have sent a message."
Mira's breath seized in her throat. She had a feeling she knew what was coming.
Dane handed her a piece of paper, the ink appeared as if it had been written in haste. Mira's eyes went through the message, and her heart kept beating fast as she read every word.
"We want her alive. Bring her to us."
Mira's breath seized in her throat. The rogues wanted her. Not dead. Not captured. Alive. The message was clear, she was a prize in this war. And they would do whatever it took to get her.
"What do they mean by 'alive'?" Mira asked, her voice shaking.
Dane's eyes became dark, his jaw remained firm. "They want to use you, Mira. They think you can help them win this war. They'll stop at nothing to get you."
Mira felt panic all over her. She couldn't run away from this. No matter what she did, the rogues would be after her. And Dane's pack wouldn't let her go either. They were all part of this war, and she is now in the middle of a war she did not know of.
"What should I do?" she asked, with a whisper of her voice.
Dane moved closer, his presence commanding. "You have two choices, Mira. You can stay with me, with my pack, and fight for the balance we've worked so hard to maintain. Or you can go to the rogues, and risk everything. The prophecy is clear, but it's up to you to decide what it means."
Mira looked straight at him, her heart heavy with indecision. She had always praised herself for being able to find answers, and for uncovering the truth whenever needed. But now, the truth seems out of reach for her and more complicated than she had ever imagined.
As she stood there, the prophecy kept replaying in her mind and it weighed heavily on her, Mira knew that no matter what choice she made, nothing would ever be the same again.
The sound of something moving outside the door shifted their attention. Footsteps. Silent but heavy. The rogues were already here. And they weren't going to wait for Mira to decide.