Chapter 7 She's the one

I stood there, my breath fogging the glass, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. I didn't want to believe it. I didn't want to trust what I'd seen. But the image was burned into my mind.

Someone had been there.

Or had they?

The thought hit me like a wave, leaving me dizzy. Was I imagining it? Was my mind playing tricks on me? Was I just tired, overwhelmed by the strangeness of this house and everything that had happened today?

I closed my eyes, willing my breathing to slow. But no matter how much I tried to convince myself it wasn't real, I couldn't shake the feeling.

I knew what I'd seen. Someone had been sitting there. Watching me.

And then they were gone.

The air around me felt colder, heavier, as though the house itself was holding its breath. I backed away from the window, my hands trembling.

Maybe I was imagining things. Maybe I was just tired.

But deep down, I knew the truth.

Someone had been there.

I went back to my cleaning, trying to ignore the whirlwind of emotions spinning in my chest. But somewhere far from me, in the Alpha's den, a different whirlwind was brewing.

Lucian appeared in his chamber with a faint crackle of energy, his knees bending slightly under the weight of exhaustion. The teleportation had drained him more than he expected, leaving him hunched forward, one hand pressed to his stomach, the other gripping the edge of the nearby table. His chest heaved as he struggled to catch his breath.

Trevor, lounging in the chair by the fireplace, looked up from the book he'd been pretending to read. His eyes sparkled with amusement as a smirk tugged at his lips.

"Lover boy," Trevor drawled, shutting the book with a lazy clap. "Who's chasing you? You look like you've just outrun death itself."

Lucian shot him a warning glare but said nothing, his breathing too ragged to form words.

Trevor's smirk widened. "Don't tell me you went back there. Again." He leaned forward in his chair, the firelight catching the mischief in his eyes. "After what happened last night? Seriously, man, you've got a death wish."

Lucian straightened slowly, dragging the back of his hand across his damp forehead. His jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it.

Trevor laughed, the sound rich and unapologetic. "You did, didn't you? You went back."

"I had to," Lucian said finally, his voice rough.

"You had to," Trevor mimicked, shaking his head. "You're unbelievable. So, what did you find this time? Or is this another dead end?"

Lucian pushed himself upright, moving toward the chair opposite Trevor. He sank into it with a heavy sigh, his posture tense. "Not much," he admitted, his tone clipped. "It seems like she and her mother just moved to Oakwood. That's all I know for now."

Trevor raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. "And you think she's the one?"

"I know she is."

Trevor tilted his head, his grin fading into something more thoughtful. "What if she's not?" he asked quietly. "What if this whole prophecy thing is just a load of crap? What if she's not your so-called 'white wolf'?"

Lucian's expression didn't change, but his eyes darkened-a sharp, unspoken warning that hung between them.

"Time will tell," he said simply, his voice calm, almost too calm.

The tension lingered for a moment before Trevor broke it with a sly grin. "Alright, fine. But let's get to the real questions." He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What's she like? Is she pretty? What does she look like? Does she have long hair or short hair? What's the color? Come on, man, give me something."

Lucian's lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile threatening to break through his otherwise impassive expression. Without a word, he grabbed the nearest book-a heavy tome that had been sitting beside him-and hurled it at Trevor.

Trevor dodged easily, laughing as the book thudded against the wall behind him. "Touchy, aren't we?"

Lucian leaned back in his chair, his gaze steady. "She looks like your head," he said dryly. "Empty and annoying."

Trevor burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as he leaned back in his chair. The sound echoed through the chamber, cutting through the tension like a blade.

Lucian allowed himself a small smile, though his thoughts were elsewhere-on the girl who had consumed his mind, the one he couldn't stop chasing. Whatever secrets she carried, he would uncover them.

No matter what it was, the laughter between them faded into silence, the lightness of the moment giving way to the weight of reality. Lucian sat up straighter, his usual composed demeanor sliding back into place like a mask. His gaze settled on Trevor, sharp and unyielding.

"We can't afford any mistakes," Lucian said, his tone low but firm. "I need you to keep an eye on her."

Trevor arched a brow, leaning back with a lazy grin. "Her? Do you mean the girl? Lover boy, you're starting to sound obsessed."

Lucian's eyes narrowed. "Trevor, I'm serious. If she's who I think she is, this isn't just about me. It's about the pack. About all of us."

Trevor's grin faded, and he sat up, his playful demeanor shifting into something more serious. "Alright," he said, nodding. "What do you need me to do?"

"First," Lucian began, his voice steady, "make sure the council isn't acting suspicious. If they're even remotely aware of someone new in Oakwood, we'll know soon enough. For now, I need to be certain they aren't poking their noses where they don't belong."

Trevor tilted his head, considering. "And what about the pack? If word gets out that someone's moved into Oakwood-especially a human-it won't take long before questions start flying."

"That's why you need to keep everything under control," Lucian said. "Make sure no one notices anything unusual. No whispers, no rumors. As far as anyone else is concerned, nothing has changed."

Trevor nodded slowly. "And the girl?"

Lucian's jaw tightened. "Follow her.