The forest seemed to still as the man's words echoed in Emilia's ears. Daughter. The syllables felt foreign and invasive, like a thread being pulled from a tapestry, threatening to unravel everything she thought she knew.
"I don't know who you are," Emilia said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound strong.
The man stepped closer, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim moonlight. He moved with a predator's grace, deliberate and confident, as though he had all the time in the world.
"But I know who you are," he said, his tone calm but with an edge that set her nerves on fire. "And whether you remember me or not, it doesn't change the truth."
Emilia instinctively stepped back, her mind racing. Liam's warnings about rogues and hidden threats echoed in her thoughts, but this man didn't look like a rogue. He exuded power, his presence commanding and unnerving all at once.
"What truth?" she demanded, forcing herself to stand her ground.
"That you were born to lead," the man said, his voice taking on a reverent quality. "That the blood of kings runs through your veins. That you are the heir to a legacy greater than you can imagine."
Emilia blinked, her heart thundering. "You're insane."
The man chuckled, the sound low and unsettling. "Am I? Then tell me, Emilia—why do the wolves bow to you? Why do you hear the call of the pack even when you resist it? Why does the moon itself seem to follow you?"
His words struck a chord, stirring something deep within her that she couldn't explain. She thought of the night she first shifted, the way the forest seemed to come alive around her, the pull she felt toward something she couldn't name.
"Who are you?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
He tilted his head, studying her as if deciding how much to reveal. "My name is Darius. I was the Alpha of the Bloodmoon Pack, your father's greatest ally—and his eventual downfall."
"My father?" The words felt foreign on her tongue.
"Yes, Emilia," Darius said, his tone softening. "Your father. A man who was betrayed and slaughtered by those he trusted most. A man who fought to protect you before the pack tore itself apart."
Emilia shook her head, the weight of his words too much to bear. "You're lying. My parents died in a car accident. That's what I was told."
"Lies," Darius said, his voice sharp. "Convenient lies to keep you hidden, to make you forget who you are. But you can't run from the truth forever."
"I don't believe you," she said, but her voice lacked conviction.
Darius stepped closer, his gaze piercing. "You don't have to believe me now. But you will. The truth always finds its way."
---
Behind her, the sounds of pursuit grew louder. Emilia turned, her breath hitching as the rogues emerged from the trees, their eyes glowing with feral hunger.
Darius didn't flinch. Instead, he raised a hand, and the rogues stopped in their tracks.
"Enough," he commanded, his voice firm and unyielding. The rogues growled low in their throats but obeyed, retreating into the shadows.
Emilia stared at him, disbelief and suspicion warring within her. "You control them?"
Darius smiled faintly. "I have influence over those who respect power. And they know better than to challenge me."
"Why are you here?" she asked.
"To protect you," he said simply.
"Protect me?" She laughed bitterly. "From what?"
"From them," Darius said, gesturing toward the forest. "And from yourself."
Before she could respond, a new figure emerged from the trees—Liam, his chest heaving, his fur matted with blood. He shifted back to human form as he approached, his expression dark with anger and relief.
"Get away from her," Liam growled, stepping between Emilia and Darius.
Darius raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And who are you to give orders, boy?"
"I'm her protector," Liam said, his voice steady despite the tension crackling in the air.
Darius smirked. "Protector? You've done a fine job so far, haven't you?"
Liam's fists clenched, but Emilia stepped forward before he could respond.
"Enough," she said, her voice cutting through the tension. She turned to Darius, her gaze firm. "If what you're saying is true, then prove it."
Darius studied her for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Come with me, and I'll show you everything."
"Like hell she will," Liam interjected, stepping closer to her.
"She has a choice," Darius said smoothly. "Unlike you, I won't force her hand."
Emilia glanced between the two men, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and doubt. Darius's words tugged at something deep within her, but Liam's presence was a grounding force.
"Emilia," Liam said, his voice low. "You don't know what he's capable of."
"And I don't know what you're keeping from me either," she shot back.
Liam flinched, guilt flickering across his face.
Darius extended a hand toward her, his golden eyes gleaming. "Come with me, Emilia. Let me show you the truth."
The forest seemed to hold its breath as she stood there, torn between the two.
And then, from the depths of the forest, a new sound echoed—a chilling, inhuman roar that sent a shiver down her spine.
Darius's expression darkened. "It seems we're out of time."
"What was that?" Emilia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Something far worse than rogues," Liam said, his tone grim.
The roar came again, louder and closer this time.
Darius turned to her, urgency in his gaze. "Choose, Emilia. Now."
She looked at Liam, then at Darius, her heart pounding as the roar grew deafening.
"Who do
I trust?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
And then the shadows erupted, and all hell broke loose.