Chapter 23
The next few days blurred together.
I felt like I was walking in a fog—everything around me was moving, but I couldn’t keep up. Every time I tried to think about the prophecy, about what Ian had said, my mind would shut down in a panic. The weight of it was too much. I couldn’t breathe under it, and yet it clung to me, suffocating me with every step.
I spent most of my time trying to keep things normal. I still went to class, still hung out with Abigail. But nothing felt normal. Not anymore.
Every glance, every whisper, every second spent in Ian’s presence made me more aware of how deep we were in this together. The way he looked at me now was different—there was a tension in his gaze, an unspoken understanding that we couldn’t escape this. We were tied to something bigger than ourselves.
But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I didn’t have a choice. Whatever my destiny was, I was already in it. And the only thing left to do was to embrace it.
I was sitting in the library when my phone buzzed. It was a message from Ian.
Ian: Meet me tonight. We need to talk.
My stomach tightened. He hadn’t asked for a meeting like this in a while. I texted back quickly.
Ava: What’s going on?
Ian: It’s time for you to know the full truth. I’ll explain tonight.
I didn’t hesitate. I grabbed my things and left.
That evening, I met Ian at the edge of campus, near the darkened woods where we had first crossed paths. The air was thick with the promise of something coming—something big.
When Ian appeared from the shadows, his eyes were filled with urgency, his usual confidence replaced by something raw and desperate.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“I told you the prophecy,” Ian said, stepping closer to me. “But there’s more you need to know. The Alphas are already aware of your bloodline. And they’re preparing for war.”
My heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean, ‘preparing for war’?”
“The packs are in turmoil, Ava,” Ian said, his voice low and serious. “There are factions within the Alpha clans, and they all want to control the prophecy. Whoever controls you—controls everything.”
I shook my head, feeling the ground beneath me shift. “But I don’t want any part of that! I just want to be normal.”
Ian’s expression softened. “I know. But you’re not normal, Ava. And neither am I. This isn’t something we can run from.”
I looked down at the ground, my thoughts racing. “So what are we supposed to do? Just… accept this? Accept that I’m part of this battle between the packs?”
Ian took my hands in his, his grip tight and steady. “We don’t have to accept it. But we do have to fight back. Together.”
“But who are we fighting?” I asked, fear creeping into my voice. “Who’s after me?”
“There’s a new Alpha rising,” Ian said, his jaw tightening. “Someone with a claim to the prophecy—and to you. His name is Viktor, and he’s dangerous.”
I felt a chill run down my spine. “What does he want with me?”
“He believes the prophecy says you’ll join him—unite the packs under his rule,” Ian explained. “But if we let him control you, he’ll use that power to destroy everything we’ve fought for. Everything we care about.”
I squeezed his hands, my heart pounding. “And if I don’t join him?”
“Then he’ll do whatever it takes to force you,” Ian said, his voice hardening. “He’s ruthless.”
I could feel the fear gnawing at me, but I also felt something else—something stronger. Resolve. I wasn’t going to let Viktor take control of my life. I wasn’t going to be anyone’s pawn.
“We’ll stop him,” I said firmly. “We’ll stop him together.”
Ian’s eyes softened, and for a moment, it was just the two of us. No packs. No prophecy. Just a promise between us.
“I’ll protect you,” he whispered, brushing a stray hair away from my face. “Whatever it takes.”
“I’ll fight with you,” I said, my voice steady. “We’ll face this head-on.”
Ian nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “Together.”
The world was closing in on us, and Viktor’s shadow loomed large. But as long as we stood side by side, I knew we had a chance. The battle for our lives, our futures, was only just beginning.