Awakening The Silver Wolf

I didn't have any weapons with me save for just a butter knife, but I picked it regardless as I walked to the door.

If the knife didn't work out I would use my teeth and fingers, but I wouldn't go down without a fight.

Common sense screamed at me to stay away from the door, to call for help. But common sense wasn't my strong suit. Lila, with her holier-than-thou attitude, had a way of reminding me of that.

I looked down and the shadow was still there. What were they waiting for it? Who could they be? From the shadow I could see it was only one person. I could take out one person.

I placed my hand on the door knob and took a deep breath, preparing myself.

I swinged open the door, and I lunged forward, knife poised, ready to strike. But then I saw who it was, and my attack faltered.

I stumbled, losing my balance in my sudden halt, and braced for the inevitable fall. But it never came. Strong arms caught me before I hit the ground.

Rowan held me before I could fall, his arms wrapped tightly around my waist.

I looked up at him and he was staring at me with shock and amusement in his eyes.

Why had I never thought about the fact that Rowan could have been my visitor? Because I was stupid, that's why.

"What are you doing?" Rowan asked as he looked down at me, amusement still playing in his eyes, his arms still around me.

"I uhm… I thought… I was just preparing myself incase someone attacked me. You can never be too careful," I stuttered, feeling my face burn.

Rowan looked at me for a whole before he threw his head back and laughed. The sound was so loud and free I feared he might wake the entire house.

I have never not want to exist as I did right now. Why will he find my situation amusing?

He finally stopped laughing and wiped a tear from his eyes. Even though I was burning with shame, I still liked the look in Rowan's eyes right now. It was better than that haunted look he had earlier.

He still haven't let me go.

"You're safe in this house, Ravenna. Nobody will hurt you," he said softly.

"One can never be too careful, don't you think?" I asked.

"Indeed," he responded, smiling softly.

As we stood just silently staring at each other, I became aware of his hands on my lower back, how close we were to each other.

Rowan cleared his throat and finally let me go. I stepped back, already missing his warmth.

"How are you doing?" I asked, because even though he might be laughing now, he still has that haunted look in his eyes.

Rowan's expression was one of shock before his face softened. I don't think it was everything asked about his well-being.

"I'm not going to lie to you and tell you I'm fine. But I will be. I have to. It's what a leader does."

Even though he's a leader, he doesn't have to shoulder everything alone.

"I'm here if you want to talk," I offered.

He smiled. A soft, wide, genuine smile. And he looked so young it made my heart squeeze.

"Thank you, Ravenna," he expressed.

I nodded, and we stood in silence, my butter knife now forgotten.

"I wanted to see how you were doing," he finally said, his hands in his pocket. "You shouldn't have seen that."

I released a breath. "I'm mostly fine. I was honestly shaken by the sight but I'll be fine. Lilith is the one you should be checking on."

Rowan expression softened. "I already did. She'll be fine. She's strong."

I nodded because I believed him. Lilith was strong. She could push through this.

I looked up at Rowan's face when he had remained silent for long. I caught staring at me with an emotion I didn't understand in his eyes.

He met my eyes and held it, and I suddenly felt hot in all the places he had held me.

I was the first to break eye contact because I was a coward.

Rowan straightened, and his expression became guarded again.

"Good night, Ravenna," he said as he walked away.

"Good night, Rowan."

***

Two weeks had passed since the gruesome incident, and the forest remained eerily quiet. No further display, no attack.

Yet, a palpable tension hung in the air.

People moved with a guarded stiffness, shoulders hunched, legs spread wide, as if bracing for an unseen threat that could strike at any moment.

Lilith, Joseph and I were sitting at the roof watching the sunset, with the smell of autumn in the air.

It was peaceful, it was calm, but it felt like the calm before the storm.

"What is he like?" I asked. "This Darius guy."

"He's big," answered Lilith.

"Ugly," answered Joseph, making a face.

"He has horns," Lilith joked, and we all laughed, the tension momentarily easing. But the laughter died quickly, replaced by a sobering silence.

"He built his territory on blood," Joseph stated, his face hard, and a spill ran down my spine. "Both the blood of his enemies and allies. He's a beast without a heart. It wasn't like this when his father was ruling. His father was a man of peace. His son is the opposite."

We sat in silence once more, me soaking the words.

My time at my old pack had taught me that everyone does things with a motive. So what was Darius motive? Was he looking to expand his territory? Or did he just thrive on the blood and violence?

Perhaps it was both.

"Will we be fine?" Lilith broke the silence, her voice low as if she was talking to herself.

"We will, Lil," Joseph replied softly. "We're prepared for him."

She nodded absentmindedly. I closed the space between us and hugged her. Joseph did the same, his body covering us both.

We stayed on the rooftop until the sky darkened and the stars come out. It would be a moonless night.

"Come on," Joseph said as he stood. "Let's head back inside."

As I rose, the calm of the forest was suddenly by a sudden sharp alarm—a piercing siren blaring from the pack house, it's sound slicing through the quite.

My heart almost stopped. I knew what that alarm was but I still turned to Joseph, as if he could tell me I was just overthinking. But no, Joseph's expression was dark. So dark, he looked like a different person.

"He's here," he growled.