Ethan's sudden arrival had shifted the atmosphere, replacing the heat of battle with something colder, sharper and uncertain. His presence was electric, unsettling even the most composed Alphas. The moment he stepped into the arena, the fight slowed, then ceased altogether, as if the very air had thickened.
Maverick's chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, his fists clenched at his sides. Lachlan, usually composed, stood rigid, his gaze locked onto Ethan like a predator assessing a new threat. Alexander merely tilted his head, his sharp eyes flicking over the newcomer with silent calculation.
Whispers spread like wildfire through the crowd.
"A new alpha? Was he supposed to be here?"
"Did you see that flare of magic? It nearly knocked the elders off their feet!"
"The fourth mate… he's real. And he's powerful."
Ethan's golden eyes shimmered under the dim arena lights, his face unreadable. He was breathing heavily, not from exhaustion but from something deeper, something primal. His fingers flexed at his sides as if resisting the urge to lash out, to claim what had drawn him here in the first place.
"Another Alpha?" Alexander finally broke the silence, his voice edged with barely restrained fury.
Ethan tilted his head, his lips curling into a lazy smirk. "And yet, here I am."
Maverick stepped forward, his muscles still coiled from battle. "How did you find us?"
Ethan's eyes darkened, the amusement in his tone fading. "I wasn't supposed to. But the sce, it was unbearable. I tried to ignore it, to suppress it, but it clawed at me. Drove me mad." His fingers twitched. "So I followed it. And here I am."
The weight of his words settled over the arena, suffocating in its intensity. The other Alphas exchanged looks, realization dawning in their expressions. Ethan wasn't just here to fight. He was here for Rory.
The crowd stirred, shifting from curiosity to unease. The competition had changed. The dynamics were no longer predictable.
The elders exchanged murmurs amongst themselves, their ancient eyes calculating, debating. But before any decision could be made, the tension was broken by a different kind of turmoil.
Beyond the arena, past the grand halls of the Alpha's estate, in the solitude of a dimly lit chamber, Lila's shoulders shook as she pressed her back against the cold stone wall. Her breath hitched in anger, frustration bubbling inside her. Across from her, Mira stood with her arms crossed, watching her sister with an unreadable expression.
"You're being ridiculous," Mira finally spoke, her voice laced with irritation.
Lila's head snapped up, her eyes blazing. "Ridiculous? Our father just humiliated us in front of everyone! Do you have any idea how that felt?"
Mira let out a slow breath. "Maybe if you hadn't been so cruel, he wouldn't have had to."
Lila's jaw clenched. "Oh, so now you're taking Rory's side? Of course, you are. Everyone always does."
Mira's brows furrowed. "Lila, you're acting like a child. It's not about sides. It's about right and wrong. What we did was wrong."
Lila's hands curled into fists. "She's been in a coma, Mira. Useless. And yet, everyone treats her like she's some untouchable goddess. Why? What makes her so special?"
Mira hesitated before answering. "Maybe because she is."
Lila let out a bitter laugh. "You sound just like them now."
Mira's expression softened for the first time. "No, I don't. Because unlike them, I see you too. And I know this isn't really about Rory, is it?"
Lila's throat tightened. "Shut up."
"You feel left out," Mira pressed, stepping closer. "Like no matter what you do, no one will ever look at you the way they look at her."
Lila turned away, pressing her nails into her palms. "Just leave me alone, Mira."
Mira exhaled but didn't argue. Instead, she reached out, resting a hand on Lila's shoulder. "I know you're angry. But if you let it fester, it'll eat you alive, I'm also angry, but then. Alpha Dorian is still our father."
Lila stiffened under her sister's touch but didn't shake her off. She stayed silent as Mira gave her shoulder one last squeeze before stepping away.
Maverick's stood on a side fighting with himself, his hands trembled slightly as he watched Ethan, his mind wondering into a long-forgotten memory. A memory of childhood laughter, of promises made in innocence, of a bond shattered before it could truly form. He hadn't thought about it in years, but now, as he looked into Ethan's golden eyes, it all came flooding back.
"Do you remember me?" Ethan's voice was smooth but edged with something darker, something dangerous.
Maverick swallowed hard, clenching his jaw. "I remember enough."
Lachlan turned sharply, his eyes narrowing. "What do you mean?"
Alexander crossed his arms. "More history we would want to know?"
Ethan chuckled, low and mocking. "It doesn't matter now. What matters is why I'm here. And I won't leave without what's mine."
A chill ran through the crowd, the weight of his words sending shivers down spines.
It was cold, empty, and yet, somehow, she felt weightless. There was no pain, no struggle, only the feeling of silence stretching into eternity. Then, out of the void, a faint light shown, growing brighter, warmer.
She turned toward it, and suddenly, she wasn't floating anymore. Her feet touched something solid, a soft surface that felt like grass, but when she looked down, it was nothing but endless golden mist.
She knew this place. "Back again, child?"
Rory's head snapped up at the familiar voice. Standing before her was the same old woman she had met before, her long silver hair cascading down her back, her eyes filled with something ancient.
"You," Rory breathed. "Where am I? What is this place?"
The woman smiled, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "The space between dreams and fate. A place where truths are revealed, if one is willing to listen, the question is, are you?"
Rory took a step forward, suspicion lacing her features. "I don't understand. Why am I here?"
The woman bent her head. "Because it is time."
A cold wind swept through the mist, swirling around them. Rory shivered, crossing her arms. "Time for what?"
The woman's form shimmered, her body rippling like water. Then, in the blink of an eye, she wasn't a woman anymore.
A wolf stood before Rory, majestic and ancient, its silver fur gleaming under an unseen light. Its eyes burned with wisdom and power, and when it spoke, the voice echoed through the vast emptiness.
"You are not ordinary, Rory." Rory's breath hitched. She took a shaky step back, her heart hammering against her ribs. "What….what are you?"
"I am the spirit of the first Alpha," the wolf said. "A guardian of bloodlines, of destiny. And you, child, are at the heart of a prophecy older than time."
Rory's head spun. "Prophecy?"
The wolf nodded solemnly. "An ancient curse runs through your veins. One that ties you to the four."
Rory swallowed hard. "The four?"
"The four Alphas," the wolf intoned. "Maverick, Lachlan, Alexander… and now, Ethan. They are bound to you, as you are bound to them. Their fates, their strength, their very existence, weaved together by forces beyond their control."
Rory shook her head violently. "No. That doesn't make sense. I never asked for this!"
The wolf's eyes darkened. "And yet, it is yours to bear."
A sharp pain shot through Rory's chest. She gasped, clutching at her heart as images flashed through her mind, Maverick's intense gaze, Lachlan's steady strength, Alexander's calculated smirk, Ethan's burning intensity. They were all together, their voices overlapping in an unspoken words, unfulfilled destinies.
Rory stumbled back. "Make it stop!"
The wolf watched her struggle but did not move. "The bond cannot be broken. It can only be fulfilled… or shattered beyond repair."
Rory panted, shaking her head. "And what happens if it's shattered?"
The wolf's expression darkened. "Then the curse will consume you all."
The words hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Rory stared at the wolf, her mind racing.
"This curse…" She hesitated. "What does it do?"
The wolf sighed, lowering its head. "It twists the bond, turning love into hatred, unity into chaos. If left unchecked, the four will fight, not for you, but against you. Until only blood remains."
Rory's stomach turned. "No… No, that can't be true."
"It is the way of fate," the wolf said. "Unless you choose to change it."
Rory's breath came in short gasps. "How?"
The wolf stepped closer, its golden eyes piercing through her very soul. "You must awaken. You must remember, and you must choose one true mate."
A sudden, violent pull yanked at Rory's body. She gasped as the golden mist spiraled around her, swallowing her whole. The wolf's voice echoed in the distance.
"Wake up, Rory. Wake up before it's too late, you have to find your way out of here." the Goddess said, and just then, everything went black.