Rex pov;
By the time Rose showed me to my room, exhaustion weighed me down like a boulder. After the tension of the meeting, her bubbly chatter was oddly comforting, even if I barely had the energy to respond.
"You'll be safe here," she said with a reassuring smile. "Just try to keep a low profile for now, okay? And let me know if you need anything."
I nodded, murmuring a quiet thank you as she left.
The moment the door shut, I collapsed onto the bed, letting out a long breath. But before I could fully relax, the book came to mind. Its presence beneath my mattress was both a comfort and a burden, a secret pressing against my conscience.
I reached down and pulled it out, my fingers running over its worn leather cover. My heart pounded with anticipation.
What are you hiding?
As I flipped it open, the first page was ordinary enough—faded ink in a language I didn't recognize. But the moment my fingertips brushed against the words, a strange warmth spread through my skin. The ink began to glow faintly.
A whisper curled through my mind, soft but urgent.
"It's time."
My wolf.
Before I could process what that meant, a sharp knock at the door made me jolt.
I barely had time to shove the book back under the mattress before the door swung open.
Alpha Aries stood there, his dark eyes unreadable, his presence filling the space.
"Am I interrupting?" His voice was calm, but there was something in his tone—an edge that sent my nerves spiking.
I straightened, forcing my expression into neutrality. "No."
Even though it didn't matter. He was already inside.
Aries' POV:
Rexxona stood before me, her posture carefully neutral, but I could feel the tension rolling off her.
There was something about her—something she was trying to hide. And I had every intention of finding out what it was.
I didn't waste time. "The book you're carrying… what is it?"
A flicker of shock crossed her face—so quick that most wouldn't have caught it. But I did.
"I…" She hesitated, her gaze dropping slightly. "It's just a personal item. Nothing important."
I exhaled slowly. "Don't lie to me." My voice hardened just enough to make her flinch. "Whatever it is, it's connected to you. And to the power I can feel coming off you."
She stiffened.
For a moment, I thought she'd deny it. But then her shoulders sagged slightly, and she let out a quiet sigh.
"It's… complicated," she admitted. "The book belonged to someone I knew. It's important to me, but I don't fully understand what it is yet."
She was telling the truth. At least, partly.
I studied her, weighing my next words carefully.
"I don't know who you are, Rexxona," I said, voice quieter now. "But I've seen enough to know you're not just a rogue looking for shelter. You're running from something—or someone."
Her jaw tightened, but she didn't deny it.
I took a step closer, keeping my tone steady. "I need to know I can trust you. The Awoke Pack has its own problems, and I won't risk bringing more trouble to my people."
She lifted her chin then, her amber eyes locking onto mine. There was something fierce in them. Defiance. Pain. Strength.
"I don't want to cause trouble," she said, her voice steady. "I just… need time to figure things out."
I held her gaze for a beat longer before nodding.
"All right," I said. "I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. But if you want to stay here, you need to contribute. Starting tomorrow, you'll train with the pack."
Her brows knit together. "Train? Why?"
"Hunters," I said simply. "They've been getting bolder, targeting werewolves near our borders. I need every capable fighter ready in case things escalate. That includes you."
She hesitated—clearly weighing her options—but then nodded. "If that's what it takes, I'll do it."
I studied her one last time before stepping back. "Good. Training starts at dawn."
As I left the room, a nagging feeling settled in my gut.
I wasn't sure if I had just made a strategic decision…
Or if I had just walked straight into something much bigger than I realized.
.
.
.
The second the door shut behind him, I exhaled shakily.
I reached for the book again, pulling it from its hiding place.
Carefully, I opened it, tracing my fingers over the faded ink. The warmth returned, pulsing beneath my skin like a second heartbeat.
Aries' words echoed in my mind. I need to know I can trust you.
I didn't know if he'd still trust me if he learned the truth—about the book. About me.
But for now, I had time. A chance to figure things out.
Carefully tucking the book back under the mattress, I crawled into bed, exhaustion pressing down on me. My body ached, but my mind refused to quiet.
Tomorrow, everything would change.