Chapter 2 The Night That They Came for Her

"You're the one they've been afraid of for years. The true heir." Ethan's breath caught. The room felt smaller now, like the air had been sucked out.

"What did you just say?" he said.

Lina's eyes flicked to the door, her words frantic but low. "Keep your voice down. They're always listening."

"No, no... don't do that. Don't drop a bomb like that and then go quiet!" He pushed himself up on the bed, groaning as his side throbbed. "What do you mean, true heir? To what?"

Lina paced the small cell, her boots tapping softly against the stone floor. "There's a prophecy. You were born into it. You were supposed to die as a baby-Dorian made sure of that. But your grandfather... he took you and disappeared."

Ethan swallowed. "He always said we moved a lot because of his job." "No," Lina said, stopping in front of him. "He was running."

Ethan felt the world tilt again. "Running from what?"

"From them. From this pack. From Dorian. From your fate." His laugh was dry, bitter. "Fate? Lina, I'm nobody. I trip on my own shoes. I faint when I see blood."

She sat down beside him, her tone serious. "And yet, you survived the pit." He turned to her. "Only because you-"

"No. I didn't help. That was all you. Your dog is waking up." Ethan shook his head. "Then why do I still feel so weak?"

"Because you're scared. You're holding him back." He looked down at his shaking hands. "Maybe I don't want to be part of this."

Lina's voice relaxed. "I didn't either. Not at first." Silence stretched between them. Then he asked quietly, "Why do you stay?"

She didn't answer right away. When she did, her voice was barely a whisper. "Because I have nowhere else to go."

Ethan looked up at her, really looked. The scars. The tired eyes. The way her jaw stiffened like she was holding back a scream.

"What did they do to you?"

Lina blinked, as if surprised he asked. "Enough." He reached out, unsure, then gently touched her hand. "I'm sorry." She stiffened. Then... she didn't pull away.

"I used to be like you," she said after a while. "Innocent. Hopeful. Weak. I loved someone once. He was a boss. He used me. Left me. And when I found out I was pregnant, Dorian found out too."

Ethan's heart sank. "What did he do?"

"He took my baby," she said simply. "Said a traitor didn't deserve love." His stomach turned. "Lina... I... "

She shook her head. "Don't pity me. Just survive. That's all I want from you." Ethan holded his jaw. "No. I want more. I want out. And I want to help you get out too."

Lina's eyes looked worried, but she looked away. "You're not strong enough yet." "Then help me be strong." Before she could reply, the door burst open.

Two guards stormed in. Ethan stood, shielding her. "What's going on?"

One guard growled, holding Lina by the arm. "Alpha wants her." "No!" Ethan shouted. "Don't touch her!"

The second guard backhanded him. Ethan hit the wall hard, panting. Blood filled his mouth.

Lina didn't fight as they dragged her out. Her eyes met Ethan's one last time. "Stay alive," she mouthed.

The door slammed shut. Ethan pulled himself up, breathing heavily. "No. No, no-bring her back!" But they were gone.

He slammed his hands against the door, yelling until his throat burned. "Damn it!"

Meanwhile, in the Alpha's chamber... Lina stood tall, hiding her fear. Dorian circled her like an animal.

"You're getting too close to him," he said. She didn't move. "He's just a boy." Dorian laughed grimly. "He's more than that. And you know it."

"What do you want, Dorian?"

He stepped closer, touching her hair behind her ear. She fought the urge to stab him right there.

"I want obedience. I want trust. And I want him broken." "Why? Because you're scared he'll rise?"

Dorian's smile disappeared. "Because he is not fit to rule. He's weak. Confused. And I will not lose everything to a weak, frightened mutt."

"You're forgetting something," Lina said coldly. "Oh really?" "He has something you never will."

Dorian raised an eyebrow. "What's that?" She leaned close, eyes angry. "Hope." He slapped her hard.

She stumbled but didn't fall. Didn't cry. Just smiled with blood on her lips. Dorian growled. "Take her to the tower. No food. No light. No sound."

As the guards dragged her away, she thought only of Ethan. Please, wake up.

...............................

Back in the cell, Ethan was still moving when the old wolf entered. He didn't look like the others. Worn clothes. Deep scars. A limp in his left leg.

Ethan backed up. "Who are you?"

"Name's Ronin," the old man said. "I trained your father. And now... I'm here to train you." Ethan narrowed his eyes. "Why now?"

"Because Lina asked me to." Ethan's heart twisted. "Where is she?" "In trouble." "I have to help her!"

Ronin raised a hand. "You'll be dead before you reach the hall. Help her by living. By becoming what you were born to be."

Ethan stalled. Then nodded slowly. "Okay. What should I do?" Ronin threw him a wooden stick. "We start with pain."

Ethan caught it, barely. "Figures." Training days were tough. Ronin showed no mercy. "You think your enemies will wait while you whine about your bruises?" he barked. Ethan gritted his teeth, staff raised. "I'm trying!" "Try harder!"

He learned to block. To strike. To move faster than his fear. When he fell from tiredness, Ronin poured cold water on him. "Get up!"

He learned to breathe through pain. To listen to the words of his wolf. To feel the energy changing in his body.

At night, he dreams of Lina. Her voice. Her strength. He dreamt of Dorian's cold smile. He dreamt of his grandfather, whispering: You were born for more.

.......................................

One week later

Ronin sat across from him, nodding. "You've come far. But the hardest part is next." "What?"

"Letting your wolf out." Ethan tensed. "I'm not ready." "You never will be," Ronin said. "Not until you face what broke you."

"I don't know what broke me," Ethan said, irritated. "Yes, you do," Ronin said softly. "You just don't want to remember."

That night, Ethan sat in the corner of the cell, hugging his knees. He said, "Why me?" But the answer didn't come. Not yet.

The next morning

Chaos burst through the pack house. A warning bell rang. Shouts. Screams. Ronin rushed in, with eyes wide. "They're moving Lina to the execution pit." Ethan froze. "No." "You're not ready-" "I don't care!"

Ronin grabbed his arm. "If you go now, there's no going back." "I wasn't planning to come back," Ethan said, voice steel.

He ran through the hallways, his heart racing in his chest. He dodged guards, clawed through people, until he saw her.

Lina. Shackled. Bloody. Dragged toward the pit by Dorian himself. Ethan didn't think. He screamed. "Let her go!"

Dorian stopped. Smiled. "Ah. The little rat awakens." Ethan ran forward, but guards blocked him.

Dorian laughed. "She's going to die, and you can't do a damn thing about it." Ethan's wolf roared inside him.

His body convulsed. Bones snapped. Skin stretched. He fell to his knees, gasping. "Let. Her. Go," he growled-his voice deeper, unnatural.

The guards stepped back. Dorian's smile faltered. "No... it can't be..." Golden eyes flared. Fur pushed through skin. Claws burst from fingers.

Ethan stood-not as a boy... but as a glowing wolf with silver spots in his fur and a growl that shook the earth. Lina's eyes widened. "Ethan..." Dorian screamed, "Kill him!" Ethan jumped.

Blades met. Wolves attacked. Blood spilled. Lina screamed as a guard stabbed her side. She fell, coughing blood.

Ethan turned, distracted. Dorian lunged at him with a glowing blade. It sank deep into Ethan's chest.

He breathed heavily, everything went black. And the prophecy... began.