He Caught Me.

Rhea's POV.

I had taken the hand of the masked man, the stranger. But was it just me, or were the pack members of this pack really scared of me? Why?

"I don't feel comfortable here, Rhea," Aria said out, her voice tinged with worry and fear. I could sense it too, but it was too late to make any silly decisions now.

I continued walking with the masked man till we arrived at his study. The guards standing before it bowed to him before opening the door.

As we walked into the study, he offered me a seat, which I took.

"Are you okay? You look… nervous," he asked as he took off his mask, revealing his face. He looked quite older than I imagined.

"I'm fine, just the way everyone looked at me right now. It felt like I was a monster that must have taken something precious from them." I let out my worries, but he only cackled.

"Oh, don't mind them. Ignore them. I'll go get a glass of water for you. You've had a tough day." He offered. I nodded before he turned and left the study.

I was all alone now, the nagging feeling that I was in the wrong place kept tugging at my heartstrings. Why did I feel this way?

In order to distract myself a bit, I decided to look around the study. At least, reading a book wouldn't be a bad idea. I was sure to get distracted that way.

Back at the Shadow Fang pack, I barely had anything to read after the death of my mother. I was seen and mocked as a slave. No one cherished me until Jace, who I just found out felt nothing for me.

He just loved the idea of me being with him.

I moved along the shelves, running my fingers across the old spines, hoping to find something that would distract me. Something… peaceful.

That's when I saw it.

A brown box, tucked away on the top shelf, almost hidden by shadows. Something about it called to me.

Dragging a chair close, I climbed up carefully, my fingers reaching through the dust and silence. I pulled the box down slowly, the weight of it oddly heavy for its size.

My breath caught as I opened it.

Inside was a single book. Its cover was deep blue, glowing faintly in the dim light, like it held the entire sky within its pages. Stars seemed to shimmer across the surface, though I knew that couldn't be real.

"Open it…"

The whisper slid through my mind like silk. Soft, tempting.

Aria, my wolf, stirred inside me, growling low. "Don't touch it, Rhea. Don't open it. Something's not right."

But I didn't listen.

Something in me needed to know what was inside.

My hand moved on its own, trembling as my fingertips brushed the edge of the book.

And then; A bolt of pain cracked through my head. My vision blurred. My breath hitched.

Memories, vivid, wild, and endless—slammed into me like a wave crashing on the shore. My eyes rolled back, turning white, as images burst behind my eyelids.

I knelt before the same masked man who had saved me a few minutes ago. A vile grin on his face as he held onto something shiny, like the moon stone. It was only a myth but he held onto it. His eyes glowing with greed and dangerous desire as he licked his lower lip.

I begged him to let me go but he didn't. Instead, he echoed, "You'll always die by my hand." Immediately, he raised the sword and pierced it through my chest, blood gushing out from my mouth as he stabbed me.

At that moment, I saw Alpha Damon Blackthorn. I couldn't forget his face. He charged towards the masked man in the burning battlefield and slammed his claws through him. He ran towards me and cried, begging me to stay alive but it was late.

Immediately, Aria took over me, pulling my hand from the book as I swiftly came back to normal. My breaths came out in heavy gasps as my eyes widened in shock.

I looked around in panic as I climbed down from the chair, "Where am I?" I muttered beneath my ragged breaths.

As I tried to figure out what had just happened, why I felt like I had a second life and had been killed by my savior, the doors to the study slammed open, making me jolt in terror.

My eyes snapped towards the door and I found him. He had a weird smile as he brought in the cup of water and handed it over to me.

"Here you go."

With shaky hands, I received it, my every move cautious and calculated. I needed to understand what was happening.

He paused, "You are trembling, is there an issue?" he asked again.

I had to act calm. I had to act like all was fine. Like I didn't just see him kill me. I swallowed nervously, "I'm… I'm fine." I stuttered.

"But you don't look…" He stretched his hand and was going to reach for me but swiftly, I took an instinctive step backward.

He paused, his eyes trailed over my shoulder and just then, I could see it. The malicious glint in his eyes.

"You know something." He snarled, walking closer to me.

I mirrored his steps by walking backward, my heart racing rapidly in fear. What have I gotten myself into again?

"Who are you?" I gasped, my voice trembling.

Before I could blink, he lunged at me, his hand closing tightly around my neck like a steel trap. The pressure was crushing, squeezing the air from my lungs.

"Let me go…" I choked out, panic rising fast, but he didn't loosen his grip. His eyes were fierce, desperate.

"Tell me what you saw!" he growled, his voice rough and demanding. "Where is the moon stone?"

I struggled, gasping for air, feeling the world tilt. But I refused to give in.

With the last bit of strength I had, I reached behind me and grabbed the glass of water on the table. Smashing it hard against his head, the glass shattered, cutting through the tension.

He staggered, releasing me instantly.

Without missing a beat, I sank my teeth into his arm, biting down hard. His grip loosened further, and I twisted away, finally free.

Once he did, I took to my heels. I shouldn't have left the Vaughn pack. I shouldn't have taken this stranger's hand. Now I was at a more deadly risk of losing my life.

I raced towards the door. I pulled it open, ready to run out but my breath hitched at the sight of five guards turning towards me as they stood before the door. There were two before and suddenly five? He had planned all of this like he knew my next move. Something wasn't right here.

"Get her!" The man growled from inside and immediately, the guards grabbed me by the arm.

I struggled to pull out, gnashing my teeth in agony as I wished to be free but it was five against one.

They turned me towards the man. A sense of dread washed over me as I watched him walk closer to where they had held me.

My struggle became more fierce but it was all in vain.

The second he got closer, he leaned towards me, sniffling my hair, my body like a goblin.

"Same scent… same soul… same face but different name. You are perfect just like before," he snarled viciously, leaving me confused.

He dipped his hands into his pocket and took out a crystal vial. Before I knew what was happening, he sprinkled the dust in the vial on my face.

The second I inhaled it, I felt Aria grow weaker than usual. Then a blinding painful ache spiked through my head, making me feel pain before blacking out.