10. A mysterious man Damien

AT THE SAME TIME

ADRIAN'S POINT OF VIEW:

Isabella was light in my arms, far too light. Even now, unconscious, she felt fragile, like she'd slip away if I wasn't careful. My grip tightened as I carried her, her shallow breaths barely brushing against my collarbone. The moment she collapsed, I didn't hesitate. I picked her up, ignoring every protest, ignoring even the way my own heart clenched at seeing her this way. I had to get her somewhere safe. Away from here. But, of course, Xavier wasn't going to let that happen easily.

"Put her down, Adrian." Xavier's voice was low, controlled.

I didn't stop walking, forcing him to keep pace beside me.

"Not happening." My voice came out sharper than I intended. 

I didn't have the patience for his territorial bullshit right now.

"You're taking her out of the pack's protection." He snapped, stepping in front of me. "She's injured. Let the healer take care of her here."

I growled, my wolf bristling at the idea of handing her over to anyone else.

"She collapsed in your so called protection." I shot back. "Forgive me if I don't trust your pack to keep her safe."

"Would you two stop acting like rabid dogs fighting over a bone?" Mira's voice cut through the tension like a blade.

I turned my head to see her standing with her arms crossed, her sharp green eyes locked onto Isabella in my hold. There was something in that gaze I didn't like something possessive, but not in the way a mate might look at their other half. No, it was something else entirely. Mira's lips curled slightly, like she was trying to hide a scowl. 

"You're being ridiculous." She scoffed. "She's not even worth all this."

A low, dangerous growl rumbled in my chest before I could stop it. 

"Watch your mouth."I said.

Xavier, to my surprise, didn't immediately defend Mira. His gaze was still locked on Isabella, his expression unreadable. Then, from the fragile body in my arms, a faint voice stirred.

"You two shouldn't like me…" Isabella's words were slurred, barely above a whisper. "Just like Damien…"She said.

Silence. Xavier stiffened beside me. Mira's expression shattered into something raw, something furious. And me? I bared my teeth, my grip tightening around Isabella as a dangerous growl vibrated through my chest. Damien. His name alone was enough to set every nerve in my body on fire. I didn't know how or why Isabella knew that name, why she whispered it like it was something forbidden, something cursed but I did know one thing. But Mira? She was the only one who didn't seem shocked by Isabella's words. Instead, she let out a slow, deliberate sigh, crossing her arms as she tilted her head.

"Damien." She said, like the name itself was a taste on her tongue. "Now, that's interesting. I didn't think you'd know about him, Isabella."

"That's not an answer."I growled

Mira barely spared me a glance. Her green eyes stayed fixed on Isabella, who was still limp in

my arms, her breathing shallow, her face pale.

"You're overreacting." Mira finally said, flipping a strand of blonde hair over her shoulder. "Damien is just a man with a tragic story. He lost everything his pack, his family, his future. Now he hates everything and everyone, and no one dares to get in his way."

Her words sent an uneasy chill down my spine. Xavier's fists clenched at his sides. 

"That doesn't explain why Isabella would mention him."Xavier said.

"She's delirious." Mira said with an exaggerated shrug. "Why are you both so worked up?"

I narrowed my eyes. 

"Because no one just says his name. No one dares to."I said angrily.

Mira gave me a slow, knowing smirk. 

"Then maybe you should ask her why she did."Mira smirked.

I looked down at Isabella again. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was having a dream or a nightmare. Damien. Why him?

"We need to wake her up."Xavier said.

"Not here." I snapped. "She needs to be somewhere safe."

Mira scoffed. 

"Oh please, she was fine before you two started treating her like some fragile little thing."Mira laughed.

"And you seem a little too eager for her to be left alone."I growled.

Mira's smirk wavered, but only for a second. Then she rolled her eyes.

"You're paranoid."Mira frowned.

Xavier ignored her, his attention locked onto Isabella. "Adrian, put her down. She's in my pack's territory. She's staying here."Xavier said.

A low, warning growl built in my throat.

"Not a chance."I said. "You can't just take her."

"Watch me."Xavier said angrily.

Xavier stepped forward like he was about to rip her from my arms, but before either of us could move, Isabella stirred. A sharp gasp left her lips, and her eyes fluttered open, glassy and confused.

"Damien is coming for me."She whispered.

A sickening chill crawled up my spine, and my wolf bared his teeth. Xavier inhaled sharply.

"What did you just say?"Xavier asked.

Isabella's fingers twitched, gripping weakly at my shirt as if she were trying to ground herself.

"He's coming." She repeated, voice barely above a breath. "And… and I don't think he's coming alone."

Silence. Mira, for once, had nothing to say. Xavier and I exchanged a look, our instincts screaming in warning. Damien wasn't just a name. He was a storm. And if Isabella was right, the storm was already on its way. Xavier and I were still processing Isabella's warning when I noticed something shift in Mira. Her arms, usually crossed in false confidence, slowly dropped to her sides. Her eyes, wide and calculating, flickered between Isabella's pale face and the forest beyond, like she was replaying something in her head. Then, ever so slightly, I saw her swallow hard. Mira? Worried? That was new.

"You…" She whispered, her voice almost too quiet. But I caught it. "You can't be…"

Xavier turned to her with a scowl. 

"What are you mumbling about now?"Xavier asked.

Mira didn't even look at him. Her focus was locked on Isabella, studying every inch of her like she was suddenly seeing something the rest of us weren't. Then she took a step back. A cold, hollow laugh slipped from her lips, but it wasn't cocky like usual. It was… unsettled.

"The priest." She murmured. "He said there would be another."

My grip on Isabella tightened. 

"Another what?"I asked.

Mira's gaze snapped to me, lips parting slightly before pressing into a thin line. She was hesitating. Xavier caught onto it too. 

"Mira, talk. Now."He said.

She scoffed. 

"Why would I tell you anything?"Mira asked.

"Because if you don't, I will make you." I growled.

She flinched, just barely, but enough for me to notice. That's when I knew whatever she was thinking, it terrified her.

"The priest I met before coming here." She muttered. "He told me there was supposed to be one hero. One."

Xavier frowned. 

"And?"He asked.

Mira clenched her fists. 

"He also said… if another appears, then fate will change."Mira said.

"You were supposed to be the hero." He said slowly, realization dawning on him.

Mira's lips curled into a bitter smirk. 

"Exactly."Mira said.

Understanding settled in my chest like a boulder. She wasn't afraid for us. She was afraid for herself. Because if Isabella was the 'another' the priest spoke of then things would change. Then Mira's story, the path she thought was hers was already crumbling beneath her feet.