CHAPTER 7: UNVEILING THE TRUTH

I still felt like I was shifting even though my transformation ended a long time ago. The symbol on my forearm glowed under the moonlight and this reminded me constantly that I was more different than I ever think. I examined the mark as I sat down in the cabin with my knees pulled to my chest. It looked ancient. I didn't know what it meant, but I know it was a mark that everything will change henceforth.

I was startled by a knock on the door, I stood up to open the door but it opened before I could reach it. It was Ronan, he had an unreadable expression on his face but his eyes flickered with emotions.

"You are supposed to be resting now," he said as he stepped in.

"How can I be resting with everything that is happening?" I raised my arm, showing him the scar. "This is a mark that has deprived me of my sleep".

Ronan looked at the symbol carefully with an expression I couldn't read, and said, "I know what the symbol is".

I was shocked. "You do"?

"I am not so sure what it is but I have seen it somewhere in our ancestors' book. Just like Elder Markus said, it is the Moonbound mark given to the one who will reshape our future.

"His words sent a chill down my spine. "How?" I asked

He slowly exhaled and as he ran his hands through his dark hair he said "I don't really know, the prophecy was kept a secret by our elders for centuries, but it is certain that whoever is marked bears extreme power that will either save or destroy us.

"I see why the pack is afraid of me".

Ronan gave me that piercing look again and said "it is the same reason why I have been afraid of you".

The silence between us was thick, I felt like running away from all these; the prophecy, the powers, the mark, and everything it came with. But I knew I couldn't. it is my reality now; it is my fate.

The silence was broken by a low growl outside accompanied by hurried footsteps. Ronan's instincts were immediately on high alert. Instantly he reached for the door and looked out into the darkness.

"What was that?" I asked in a low voice as I walked up to him.

He didn't respond immediately, he was focused.

"Someone or something is here with us" he whispered.

There was a rustling and a swift movement. My breath seized as I saw three figures come out in the darkness, they had dangerous eyes that reflected hunger and rage. They were Rogues.

Ronan gave a low growl and ordered me to stay behind him.

I didn't hear him clearly because something inside me was erupting. A forceful kind of energy went through my veins, and it made my skin tingle. It seemed familiar, it was the same energy I felt the first time I shifted, the same power that had marked me as the Moonbound.

One of the Rogues stepped forward, he was the tallest among them, he had a cunning smile on his face. "Prophecy lady, didn't expect to find you so soon". He said as he examined me. My pulse raced and I asked who he was. He laughed and said he was just a messenger.

"You should deliver your message and be on your way". Ronan said as his claws extended.The rogue smiled and said his alpha had a message for me. That he knew what I was and what I could do and he wanted me to know my time was running out. This sent a cold chill over my body.

"And who is this Alpha of yours?" I asked.

"Caleb" he said.

This made Ronan furious, and his eyes burned with anger. "That is a lie" he said.

"I am not" the Rogue said and stepped closer.

Ronan was fast, he attacked the Rogue in an instant. Chaos began as the other Rogues also attacked, I dodged the first attacker and kicked him, this sent him staggering and he fell to the ground, but I wasn't swift enough and the second one lunged at me and knocked me to the ground. He tried to dig his claws into me but suddenly, the power erupted from within me and it exploded. I threw the Rogue off me and he fell hard to the ground.

Ronan had subdued the first Rogue and then turned to the second Rogue, who had already lost confidence, and fear was seen in his eyes as he staggered and tried to find his balance. And then he disappeared into the woods shouting," It isn't over!".

Ronan faced me, as I was trying to get a hold of the reality of what just happened. He walked closer to me and gazed into my eyes.

"I don't understand what just happened, what I just did". I said confused.

"You don't, but they know what you are".

This sent a scary realization through my whole body. They know what I am. They aren't just scouts; they came for a reason. They are hunting me. And now Caleb Reed knew where I was.