The mysterious ally.

As I stood there in darkness, aside from the moon's constant gaze, we could've been in absolute darkness. I was still mesmerized by the fact that Kaiden came to save me. 

His calm disposition had shifted the entire aura of the atmosphere, and it was really overwhelming. However, I couldn't shake off the fact that I felt like something was off.

I was worried about what I didn't know about.

"Thank you very much," I said with a tensed voice. " Even though I was scared, I was still very grateful that he came through for me. "Honestly, I didn't know what would've happened if you didn't come to my rescue. Thank you for coming back to save me."

Kaiden immediately leaned on a vine tree at the other end of the corner, as he began to look into my eyes.

"Rory, you don't need anyone to step up and fight for you. You're strong, and I bet you don't know the kind of strength you possess!"

"Are you for real?" I looked at him with scorn written on my face. "And what do you stand to gain from this? A full accolade for being the supposed hero, isn't it?"

Suddenly, he began to smile weirdly, like one who had transmigrated from another realm. "I'm not here to gain anything, neither am I seeking any material gain or favor. I just think that you deserve to be treated right."

Just as he said those words, I felt an ignition of hope and life in my soul. It's been long I felt this way, and I was super grateful that he was actually making me feel good.

However, just the following second, I was immediately engulfed in doubt. "Treated, right?" I asked him in a calm yet bitter voice. "You know how hard it is in the pack, talk more for a rejected mate like me."

"Rory, I totally understand." Kaiden said with a soft expression that showed he had something in mind. "But, what's been hard for you?"

To be honest, the moment he asked that question, I felt scared.

Where do I even start from?

How would I even comfortably talk about my biggest fear?

What do I even do at the moment?

"Honestly speaking, I've felt like an outsider for so long. I felt like I didn't belong here. Like I was a nobody."

With a serious tone, he began to ask me questions. "Why do you feel like that? Remember, you were born into this pack."

"Oh! " That could be the problem!" I mumbled in anger and fear, as my emotions were beginning to get hold of me. "I grew up being compared to others, being told how I couldn't do anything good, how I wasn't worth it. At this moment, I just want to prove myself worthy."

As I spoke, Kaiden nodded deeply, as if he was weighing my words. It wasn't going to be easy.

"Rory, everyone has to find their inner strength, even if it means you have to step out of your comfort zone. For you to prove yourself worthy, you must first believe in yourself. So tell me, what are you afraid of?"

Immediately he asked that question, I just felt weak. Truth be told, I wasn't even ready to answer that question, but with the look in his eyes, I couldn't help it.

At that moment, I bit my lips in vulnerability. Deep down inside my mind, I felt exposed. "To be honest, I'm afraid of failing. " Afraid of failure," I finally admitted with a sigh. "Or maybe that I'm not worthy enough, or I'll end up disappointing everyone."

"I understand you." At that moment, he stepped forward towards me, with a voice slightly above a whisper. "I've been there before. I felt that way before. You're not alone!"

Immediately he said that, I looked into his eyes to see if I'd see any hint that he wasn't sincere to me, but I just couldn't see any. 

He looked like he was telling the truth, and even though my instincts didn't trust him, I still felt a kind of bond with me. "Right now, you're so confident. " How did you manage to overcome your fears?"

"I think confidence is an outfit we put in to shield us from bad people," he said with an evil chuckle. "Sometimes, it is camouflage that we must wear. I've also learned that bravery isn't the absence of fear, but it is the inner strength in us that helps us overcome the hurdles of life."

At that moment, his words hit deep inside my heart. There was something about him that strangely resonated with my personality.

Why was he being so open to me? 

Am I supposed to trust him? 

"But Kaiden, why are you helping me? Why do you care about me?"

He suddenly paused, and the tension between us immediately intensified.

"Because I believe in you, and I know that you're stronger than what you've been told. I believe that you need to be reminded of that, often."

Just as he said that, I felt shivers run down my spine, as a result of the depth of his statement.

I grew up in a world where everyone had an ulterior motive, for everything they ever did. I grew up in a world where betrayal was the order of the day. Now, after being in this kind of rough life, I've almost gotten used to the fact that these things seem foreign.

They looked impossible to me.

"But, to even start with, you barely know me," I whispered in a calm voice.

"Maybe or maybe not. " I just want to help you," he replied in a calm voice. "Rory, you deserve to be respected, loved and treated well. You're a powerful lupine, and I know that."

As he spoke, I began to feel the fuel of hope being ignited in my soul. For the first time in ages, I felt alive. I felt worthy. I felt whole. "So, how do I...?"

Before I could finish talking, there was an ear-deafening noise from the surrounding trees, and that noise sent a wave of fear to my soul.

My heart sank in fear.

At that moment, I looked over to Kaiden, and he also looked shocked by the noise.

"What could that be?" I asked with a shaky and scared voice.

Immediately, Kaiden looked at me with a sense of urgency in his eyes. "Don't be too far from me," he said to me, while scanning through the entire atmosphere like he was looking for something. "I don't think we're alone."

Truth be told, at that moment, I felt scared.

 "What do you mean by that? Who's out there?"

"That's what I can't answer, because I don't know," he said to me with a calm and protective look. However, I can feel it in this atmosphere. We have to move towards the den, now!" 

Without being told, I knew that something was amiss. If we weren't careful, something evil could happen to us. To be honest, each step we took towards the den seemed like the worst was about to happen. From the chippings of the birds, to the violent movements of the trees, were just so scary.

"Can you sense something in the atmosphere?" I asked him with a whisper, as we both hastened our steps.

"Just keep going, keep moving," Kaiden said in a firm tone. "I don't know what it is, but I know that it is close."

Each passing moment we spent in this wilderness seemed like an eternity to me. It seemed like it was unending.

"What if it was the elders?" I whispered in an anxious and scared tone. "What if it was..."

"No!" Kaiden interrupted in a very urgent tone.

"It can't be them. They couldn't dare try to follow me into the dark forest by this time of the night. In all honesty, this one feels different. The aura is different."

Immediately he said that, my fear intensified. Who could it be?

"So?"

As if our discussions had triggered whatever it was, I noticed that there was a loud growl from under the canopy we were in.

"Rory, run for your life... Run!" Kaiden said to me with a sense of urgency, as he dragged my hands at the speed of light. From his actions, he was ready to confront whatever it was.

At that moment, I could barely process his words, as my brain went blank.

As I looked back, I was terrified by what I saw. I saw the figure of an otherworldly creature emerging from the darkness. It looked like it was made of darkness, and it was willing to destroy all of us.

"Rory, behind me, now!" Kaiden commanded with a powerful voice, but unfortunately, I couldn't even move an inch, as it felt like my body had been pinned to that particular spot.

"Kaiden, what are we up against?" I cried out in fear, as I was already overwhelmed by my emotions.

With deep seriousness on his face, I watched as he locked his eyes on the creature. "I don't know what it is, but we're just about to find out."

Suddenly, we began to feel the vibration of the ground beneath us. It was shaking like an earthquake was about to happen. Now, I knew that the main battle was about to begin.

At that particular moment, I knew that I was stronger than I could imagine. I felt a sudden surge of adrenaline, and I was ready to fight off whatever it was.

But before I could even do anything, the worst happened. The figure immediately charged at Kaiden, and I almost went crazy. Because if anything happened to him, then I would also be gone.

Now, I am caught on the web of two confusing thoughts. I could either fight with Kaiden, or run for my dear life.

As the whole war continued, I knew for sure that no matter what the outcome would be, my life would never remain the same, ever.

And slowly, as the darkness began to close in on us, I knew for sure that the worst had happened. Kaiden was somewhere else.

At this moment, my heart was already far away from my body, as fear had overwhelmed me.

What do I do?