Chapter 4 Sira's Pov

The voice was so familiar, but every time I heard it, my chest ached. "What's the point of trying?"

I looked around and tried to find his source, but everything seemed confused. The vista appeared blurry, as though it were in the fog. The only sound I could hear was my ears pounding.

I said in a faint, tremulous voice, "Stop."

"Simply stop." But, the voice simply became louder and more insistent. It was full of derision.

"Sira, you are not supposed to be here. You lack sufficient strength. You won't be."

I pushed out my gasp and looked into who was talking. The shadows moved around me, twisting as if they had their own will.

The voice went on to say, "He will never pick you."

Why would he desire a person like you?

A stab of pain went through my chest. It seemed as though the voice-his voice-came from everywhere.

Kieran Alpha.

In my dreams, his voice and presence tormented me. I retreated a step, but my surroundings changed, drawing me farther into the darkness. I was having trouble breathing.

I was immobile. My mouth opened to scream, but it never came out. Rather, I was encircled by fire. Burning and hot.

Fire. "NO!"

The fire wouldn't let me leave even when I yelled. It was all around me, singing my hair and licking my skin.

As it ate everything, I could feel the flames crackling and the heat growing.

Then I caught sight of Alpha Kieran. The fire outlined his figure as he stood tall in the distance.

There was nothing in those eyes of his that locked onto mine. No love, no warmth. Just empty, chilly voids. "Aid me!"

I sobbed and reached for him. "Please, Kieran!"

However, he remained still. The flames raged all around me, and he just stood there, motionless.

The heat threatened to smother me as it brushed on my flesh. The heat got hotter and stronger, and I could feel my legs giving out under me.

But I kept grasping for him even as I fell. "This isn't where I belong."

I said, but the fire muffled my words.

Then, as I was about to be engulfed by the flames, I woke up.

Everything around me was motionless. Quiet. However, I was conscious.

I immediately breathed air as my heart pounded my chest. I quickly lifted myself up and quickly sat around my legs around the blanket.

My skin was still warm from the fire. It wasn't authentic. It isn't possible. However, my hands- I went cold. They were emitting a weak but indisputable soft, pulsing glow.

The light in the dark room wavered and shimmered as I gazed at my palms. Enchantment.

I hadn't taken any action. This was not what I had requested. But here it was, directly before me.

In order to conceal the light beneath the material of my nightgown, I hastily jerked my hands away and pulled them into my lap.

My throat tightened with each breath. What had happened to me?

I tried to slow my breathing, my heart thumping.

It had been an overly vivid dream. Too authentic. I couldn't get rid of the sense that it had significance. That the Alpha's apathy and the flames-

that had also been genuine. However, why?

Why had my dream ended in flames, and why had he been in it?

In an attempt to relax, I bit my lip. Throughout my life, I have been scared of magic.

It had never made sense to me. I never intended for it to be a part of me. Everyone always reminded me that I was a hybrid, which was a mistake.

However, this was different. I had always been aware of my uniqueness. The pack's gaze on me, the way my senses functioned. Now, though?

It seemed like something more now. I exhaled in relief as the light in my hands gradually dimmed. However, I was still wondering: What did that mean?

Shaking off the last of my sleep, I sprang to my feet and headed for the window's tiny mirror. I needed to see myself. If anything had changed, I had to know.

Another oddity I couldn't explain was that I swiftly lit the candle next to the mirror with a spark from my fingers.

But I saw it when the candle sprang to life. The faint glow still hung around my skin in the reflection. Not only in my hands but now in my arms as well, a faint light enveloping me like a delicate fog. I murmured to myself, panicking, "No... no, no, no."

This did not meet my expectations. I wasn't ready for everything.

When the door to my room opened I froze. I was so busy with my own thoughts that I didn't notice someone approaching.

"Sira?"

It was too late to try and hide my radiant skin and give the impression that I wasn't panicking. He blinked with his eyes as he entered the room, and Zane's voice broke silence.

"OK?"

He spoke in a gentle, worried tone. I tried to be calm and nodded fast.

"I'm all right. It was only a horrible dream."

His eyes strayed to my hands, which I hastily drew into my lap and concealed under the material of my dress. But, it was useless.

Zane had seen it before. "You're not okay," he said. "I know about what you are hiding."

With a dry throat, I swallowed hard. "What do you mean?"

His face was unreadable as he stepped closer. "Your hands, sir. They are radiant."

I stood still "I... I don't know what's going on. It shouldn't be that way. I have no idea how I accomplished it"

As Zane moved toward me, his gaze grew softer. "You don't need to give an explanation. This is a sign, though, you should be careful. You are not only a hybrid, you are more than that."

A shiver went down my back. "Even so, what did that mean?"

He stopped me before I could inquire by raising a hand. "But, you must exercise caution. The wrong person will come after you if they notice this and comprehend what's going on."

"Who?" With hardly more than a whisper, I asked.

At first, Zane was silent. Instead, he looked over his shoulder, as if no one had heard. He looked at the door and then went back to me. "The Elders," he whispered quietly.

"They have been observing you. And the Alpha isn't even aware of it yet. But, when he does..."

I experienced a knot in my gut. The Alpha. I wanted to press for answers and ask more questions, but a noise cut us off.

The distinct sound of footsteps coming. Zane's gaze expanded. "Stay hidden. Right now."

I didn't ask him any questions.

I was pressed for time. In order to hide myself, I hastily moved the blanket from the bed to the room's darkest corner and wrapped it around myself. When the door to my

The room opened and I heard someone say, "Sira?"

I was down low. He was the one. The Alpha was the one.

My heart stopped beating.