The forest went still.
Completely still.
Even the wind stopped.
I looked toward the trees, pulse quickening.
"Tell me that voice isn't talking about me."
Kael stayed silent.
That was answer enough.
I stared at him.
"You've got to be kidding me."
His jaw tightened slightly.
"Diana"
"No." I stepped back. "You don't get to say my name like that and avoid explaining things."
The voice echoed again.
"She has awakened."
Closer this time.
My wolf pressed forward uneasily.
Kael moved in front of me instinctively.
Protective.
Again.
Interesting.
A figure stepped out from the shadows.
Tall.
Dressed in dark silver robes.
Not wolf.
Not human.
Something else.
Ancient.
His eyes landed on me immediately.
And the pressure in the air doubled.
I fought the urge to step back.
Barely.
"So," the stranger said calmly, "the bloodline survived."
I frowned.
"People really need to stop saying cryptic things around me."
His gaze shifted briefly to Kael.
"You told her nothing?"
Kael's expression hardened.
"She didn't need to know."
"She does now."
I crossed my arms.
"Yes. I absolutely do."
Finally.
Someone with common sense.
The man studied me carefully.
Too carefully.
Then
He bowed his head slightly.
Not deeply.
But enough to shock me.
"Heir."
I blinked.
"No."
He looked confused.
"That is your title."
"I'm rejecting it."
Kael rubbed a hand across his face.
"You can't reject bloodlines the same way you reject mates."
"Watch me."
The ancient stranger almost smiled.
Almost.
Interesting.
"Explain," I demanded.
The man straightened.
"Your bloodline belonged to the first wolves created by the Moon Goddess."
"Yes, I got that part."
"They ruled before Alphas existed."
That caught my attention.
"What?"
Kael exhaled quietly beside me.
The stranger continued.
"The Originals were not chosen by strength alone."
A pause.
"They were chosen by the moon itself."
Silence.
I processed that slowly.
Then
"I don't want it."
The words came instantly.
Honestly.
Because I didn't.
Every powerful thing connected to me lately tried ruining my life.
The stranger's expression remained calm.
"It doesn't matter what you want."
I hated that sentence.
Everyone kept deciding things for me.
Mates.
Packs.
Bloodlines.
Enough.
"I'm getting really tired of people saying that," I said coldly.
Silver energy flickered briefly around my fingers.
The stranger noticed.
Kael noticed too.
Neither looked pleased.
Good.
"You are unstable," the stranger observed.
"That's rude."
"It's dangerous."
"That's worse."
Kael stepped closer slightly.
"Diana."
"What?"
"Breathe."
I stared at him.
"I am breathing."
"Not properly."
Annoyingly accurate.
I exhaled sharply.
The silver glow faded.
Barely.
The ancient stranger watched the interaction carefully.
Then
"They're already searching for her."
Kael's expression darkened.
"I know."
"They won't stop now."
My patience snapped.
"Who is 'they'?!"
Silence.
Then the stranger answered.
"The remaining Originals."
Cold settled in my chest.
"There are more of you?"
"A few."
That was already too many.
"And they want me because…?"
The stranger held my gaze.
"Because your awakening changes everything."
I hated how serious everyone became when talking about me.
It was stressful.
A distant howl echoed again.
Closer than before.
Kael looked toward the trees instantly.
"We're out of time."
The stranger nodded once.
Then his gaze returned to me.
"You have two choices, heir."
I already disliked this conversation.
"Those choices being?"
"Come willingly."
A pause.
"Or be hunted until you do."
Silence.
Then
I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because I was exhausted.
"Fantastic," I muttered. "That's exactly how my week should continue."
Kael looked at me.
"You shouldn't joke right now."
"I joke when I'm annoyed."
"You're always annoyed."
"Correct."
That earned the smallest reaction from him.
Progress.
The howl sounded again.
Very close now.
Kael stepped beside me.
Ready.
Dangerous.
"Decision time, Diana."
I looked between them.
One hiding secrets.
The other speaking in riddles.
And both acting like my life belonged to something bigger.
Maybe it did.
But that didn't mean they owned it.
I lifted my chin slightly.
"I'll go," I said.
Kael stiffened.
The ancient stranger nodded once.
Then I smiled faintly.
"But on my terms."
Silence.
Good.
Let them get used to that.