The tension in the room was unbearable. I could feel the weight of the Elders' gaze on me, their eyes sharp and full of ancient knowledge. The dim light of the room seemed to fade in comparison to the heavy truth they were about to reveal. Cassian stood beside me, his presence grounding, but also a reminder of the delicate balance I was teetering on.
The silence stretched out, thick with the unspoken. Finally, one of the Elders, a tall man with a long white beard, stepped forward, his voice reverberating in the still air.
"Kieran," he began, his tone measured, "you are the key to a power far older than even our pack's history. Your bloodline is directly tied to an ancient prophecy—one that has shaped the fate of our kind for centuries."
I swallowed, the weight of his words pressing on my chest. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. What was he saying? A prophecy? My bloodline? This couldn't be real. But the serious expressions on their faces told me otherwise.
"Prophecy?" Cassian's voice cracked through the tension. His eyes narrowed as he looked from the Elder to me. "What are you talking about? Kieran's bloodline isn't anything special. He's just... Kieran."
I flinched at the way he said it, like my identity was something that could be dismissed. But the Elders weren't having any of it. The woman standing beside the bearded Elder stepped forward now, her sharp gaze fixed on me.
"Kieran's bloodline is not just any ordinary lineage," she said softly but firmly. "It is the line of the first omega—a line that carries within it a power capable of shaping the supernatural world. A power that can either unite all the creatures of this world or tear it apart."
The air in the room felt charged with the gravity of her words. Cassian's jaw clenched, his frustration and confusion clear as he turned to me, his hand twitching toward me, though he didn't touch me yet.
"This doesn't make sense," he growled. "Why wasn't this told to me sooner? Why didn't anyone warn me about this—about *him*?"
The Elders exchanged another silent glance, the weight of their decision obvious. The bearded Elder sighed deeply, looking at Cassian with a mix of pity and regret.
"We didn't know the full extent of the prophecy until recently," he admitted. "But now we see that it's unfolding faster than we anticipated."
I felt my heart race, my thoughts swirling. My bloodline. The prophecy. Could this really be happening? I had spent so many years trying to stay under the radar, running from the past, from whatever fate might have awaited me. And now, I was being told that my very existence was tied to something that could change the world.
"I don't... I don't understand," I said, my voice shaking slightly as the realization hit me. "How is this possible? I'm just a guy who's been hiding, trying to survive. I didn't ask for this."
Cassian's grip on my shoulder tightened, a silent comfort, though I could sense the growing unease in him. The Elders' eyes softened, but there was no comfort to be found in their gazes.
"You are no mere survivor, Kieran," the woman said gently. "Your role in this prophecy is not one you can escape. Your power is awakening, and with it, the weight of the world will fall on your shoulders."
I could feel my breath hitch in my chest. I wanted to deny it, to scream and tell them they were wrong. But something inside me told me they weren't. Something deep within me was stirring, something I couldn't control. And with that awakening, the future I had tried to run from was catching up to me.
"The prophecy speaks of an omega with the ability to either unite the supernatural world or destroy it," the bearded Elder continued. "Kieran's power is the key to either salvation or devastation. But it is not just his power that is in question—it is his bond with the two of you." He nodded at Cassian and Viktor, who had quietly entered the room. Viktor's presence was like a shadow that stretched over us, and I could feel the tension rise even higher.
"His bond with us?" Cassian's voice was a low growl, a mixture of suspicion and fear. His eyes flashed between Viktor and me, his grip on my shoulder tightening almost painfully. "What does that mean?"
Viktor stepped forward then, his eyes cold and calculating. "It means that Kieran's bond with me is just as crucial as his bond with you, Alpha. Perhaps even more so."
Cassian bristled at the challenge in Viktor's words, and I could feel the tension between the two men, a battle of wills that would only escalate if it wasn't stopped. I turned to face Viktor, trying to make sense of his words, of the danger lurking in them.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice shaking despite myself. "Why are you bringing this up now? Why can't we just focus on what's happening to me instead of... this?"
Viktor's lips twisted into a smile, but there was no warmth in it. "Because, Kieran, you are not just some pawn in a bigger game. You have a choice, and I intend to give you that choice. I offer you an escape from the weight of this prophecy. You can join me, and we can lead our packs together. We could reshape this world. Or, you could stay here, with him," he gestured toward Cassian, "and continue to be a prisoner to fate."
My heart skipped a beat. His words were like a tempting whisper, an invitation to something that could free me from the expectations crushing me. To have the power, the control... But even as the temptation flickered in my mind, I knew it was wrong. I couldn't betray Cassian. I couldn't betray what I felt for him, no matter how overwhelming everything else was.
"I won't," I whispered, though I wasn't sure who I was trying to convince more—Viktor or myself.
Viktor's gaze darkened, but there was a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "You're a fool if you think you have the luxury of choice, Kieran. The world is shifting, and your resistance only makes it worse."
Cassian's anger flared, his voice rising in frustration. "Enough, Viktor. You're not getting him. You're not going to manipulate him, not when I've already claimed him as mine."
Viktor chuckled darkly. "We'll see, Alpha. We'll see."
I felt my chest tighten, the pressure of it all suffocating. I wanted to scream, to run, to escape the pull of it all. But the prophecy. The power awakening inside me. It was too much to ignore.
As the room fell silent, I realized something. No matter what decision I made—no matter who I chose—I was already in danger. Viktor wasn't the only one who wanted me. Others were already plotting, already seeking to control me, to use my power for their own gain. And the worst part was, I didn't know who I could trust anymore.
Cassian was still at my side, though I could feel the uncertainty in him. He wanted to protect me, but I wasn't sure if he fully understood the scope of what was at stake.
And as Viktor's final words echoed in my ears, a new thought settled in my mind: the prophecy wasn't just a threat to me—it was a threat to everything.
I had no choice but to confront it head-on.