The following days passed in a blur. Desmond found it difficult to focus on anything other than the strange encounter with Kael. The werewolf's words echoed in his mind: "You're too dangerous." "You're not just a pawn." The weight of those statements pressed on him, but he couldn't make sense of it. He was still learning about his own abilities—his powers, his place in this world, and the dark truth that seemed to be unraveling with every passing day.
He had been training harder than ever, trying to push himself beyond his limits. Elias had warned him not to grow too complacent, and Desmond knew that he couldn't afford to take things lightly. There were forces at play here—forces he didn't fully understand yet—but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try.
Today, though, he wasn't alone.
As the morning sun began to creep through the trees, Desmond met Elias at their usual training spot. The forest was quieter than usual, as if the world itself had decided to hold its breath in anticipation.
"You're early," Elias noted, approaching with his usual calm demeanor.
Desmond gave a small nod. "I needed to clear my head."
Elias studied him for a moment, sensing that something was off. "Is this about the werewolf you met?"
Desmond stiffened, but he didn't look away. "Yeah. Kael. He's one of them."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "One of the wolves. I figured as much. But you need to be careful. They don't show up for no reason."
Desmond glanced around, making sure they were alone. "What does that mean?"
Elias's gaze grew more intense. "The werewolves don't just interact with anyone. They have their own agenda. And right now, you're part of that agenda."
Desmond frowned. "Why me?"
"Because of what you are," Elias said simply, as if that should answer everything. "But you're still a puzzle. No one knows exactly what you're capable of, and no one's sure whether they should ally with you or try to eliminate you."
Desmond's heart skipped a beat. The words hit him harder than he expected. He had always known there was something off about him, but hearing it out loud made it feel far too real.
"How long do I have before I have to choose a side?" Desmond asked, his voice low.
Elias sighed, taking a few steps toward the edge of the clearing. "That's the problem. You don't get to choose. It's not that simple. You're a wildcard, Desmond, and that makes everyone around you nervous."
Desmond clenched his fists. "And what happens if I don't pick a side?"
"You're not going to have a choice," Elias said, his tone grim. "They'll make that decision for you."
Desmond didn't respond. The weight of the situation was too much to process all at once. He was caught between two worlds—one that saw him as a threat, and one that wanted to control him.
A rustle in the bushes broke their silence, and both men turned their heads in unison. A figure stepped into the clearing—a familiar figure, one that caused Desmond's heart to race.
"Kael," Desmond muttered, taking a step back. "What are you doing here?"
The werewolf smiled, though there was no warmth in it. "We need to talk," Kael said, his tone direct. "You don't understand what you've gotten yourself into, Desmond. And it's time you did."
Desmond's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Everything," Kael replied cryptically. "You've been dancing around the edges of something far more dangerous than you realize. You're connected to it—whether you like it or not."
Elias stepped forward, his posture shifting into something more protective. "And what exactly is that supposed to mean, Kael? If you've come here to make threats, you can leave."
Kael's eyes shifted to Elias, and for a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence between them. Then Kael's gaze returned to Desmond.
"I didn't come here to make threats," Kael said calmly. "I came to warn you. There are forces that are already moving against you. You might think you're in control, but the reality is, you're just a pawn in a much larger game."
Desmond felt a wave of unease wash over him, but he refused to show any weakness. "If I'm just a pawn, then why are you trying to talk to me?"
Kael's expression softened for the briefest of moments, and for the first time, Desmond caught a glimpse of something that wasn't hardened cynicism. "Because you're not just a pawn," Kael said quietly. "But that means you'll have to choose a side soon. Or someone will choose for you."
Desmond didn't know what to say. He was drowning in a sea of unanswered questions, and the more he heard, the more confusing it all became.
Elias's hand rested on Desmond's shoulder, grounding him in the present. "This is too much. We need to focus on what's immediately in front of us, not what the wolves have to say."
Kael's lips twitched into a small, grim smile. "Believe me, you're already in the thick of it. And it's only going to get worse from here."
Without another word, Kael turned and vanished into the trees, leaving behind an unsettling silence.
Desmond stood frozen for a moment, trying to process everything he had just heard. Elias's grip tightened, but he didn't say anything.
They both knew that whatever was coming, Desmond couldn't avoid it much longer.
Later that night, Desmond sat on the edge of his bed, staring out the window at the moonlit sky. The weight of Kael's words lingered, like a storm cloud on the horizon. He was connected to something darker than he had ever realized, something that made both the vampires and werewolves wary of him.
But even more troubling was the growing realization that he wasn't as much in control of his own fate as he had thought. Forces were at play—ancient, dangerous forces—and Desmond was caught in the middle of it all.