CHAPTER 5

A sudden noise outside the restroom made me jolt. A muffled voice. A shuffle of movement. My breath hitched.

I turned toward the door, my heart hammering. Something felt… off. The air was thick with something unseen, something primal. My wolf stirred inside me.

"We are no alone."

I took a hesitant step forward and reached for the door handle. Twisted. Pulled.

It didn't budge.

My stomach dropped.

Panic clawed at my chest. I yanked harder. Still nothing. The door was locked.

From the outside.

A chill ran down my spine. My breath came fast, sharp. Someone locked me in here.

Then, a presence—strong, undeniable—brushed against my senses. Not just one. Two.

And they were waiting for me.

"Break the door." Aerie's voice was firm, commanding.

My hands tightened. I braced myself. And with a deep breath, I pushed.

The lock shattered.

The door swung open, slamming against the wall with a deafening bang.

And standing there, waiting for me, was a woman with striking blonde hair and two men who watched me with knowing, predatory smiles.

My blood turned to ice.

How did she know me?

Aerie's voice was the answer.

"Because they are werewolves."

The woman's eyes glinted with a knowing smirk, her blonde hair glowing under the dim light. "You really have grown, Rory," she said, as if she knew me. I didn't know her.

The man beside her stood still, his presence enough to make the air seem heavier, thicker. He was handsome, but intimidating in a way that made my breath catch.

I took a step back, my instincts screaming at me. "Who are you?" I demanded, my voice shaky. "What do you want with me?"

The woman stepped forward, her expression amused. "Rory, I didn't come here to waste time on anything. I ain't any threat to you. I want to send you home."

Home? The word felt like it didn't belong here, not in this moment. My heart raced. "I'm not going anywhere," I shot back. "My family is outside. My mom and my sisters are waiting for me." My chest tightened. I could feel them out there. I had to get to them.

The woman raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "Those people?" She scoffed. "They ain't your family, for God's sake. You are a werewolf, and they are human. I don't have time to explain any shit. Your mom is waiting for you at the werewolf kingdom."

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I felt the world tilt beneath me. "My mom?" I whispered, staring at her. "My mom is out there? At the werewolf kingdom?" My voice cracked, disbelief pouring through me. She is lying,I thought.

"I ain't going anywhere," I said again, shaking my head. "I'm not a werewolf. I'm not going anywhere with you.",I lied as i didn't believe her.

Her eyes darkened slightly. "You're making things harder, Rory," she said, her tone shifting, sharper now.

She gave a quick motion to the man. Without hesitation, he moved toward me, closing the space between us in seconds.

I didn't wait. I couldn't. My heart hammered as panic surged through me. But as he reached for me, I realized something—he wasn't trying to hurt me. He wasn't even fighting back when I pushed against him. He just… wanted to grab me.

It was like he was distracting me, testing me. I punched, kicked, struggled. My body was moving on its own, driven by the wolf inside me.

Let go, Rory, Aerie urged. Fight.

I threw another punch, feeling the strength surge in my limbs. The man dodged it easily, moving with unnatural speed. I tried to keep up, but he never hurt me—just guided me back, like I was a child.

Then, a sharp image pierced my mind—a woman with dark hair, sitting on a throne. Her face was blurry, shifting like a dream. She spoke, her voice cold.

"We need to wipe out the werewolf population."

The vision hit me like a wave, drowning everything else out. I froze. Confusion flooded my mind. What did that mean? Who was she?

My vision wavered, and I staggered, disoriented. Before I could react, I felt the cold press of silver on my skin. The burn was immediate, sharp, excruciating.

I gasped, my strength vanishing. My knees buckled beneath me, and everything faded to black.