The bond starts to break

Melissa’s POV

Things between Dennis and myself had changed since I discovered the prophecy and his hidden knowledge. The trust that previously bound us together seemed to be slipping away, replaced by a nagging unease. As I passed inside the packhouse, I attempted to shake off the turmoil in my heart, but it persisted like a shadow.

"Melissa." Dennis' voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see him standing by the door, his expression tense. "We need to talk."

I crossed my arms and kept my tone steady. "About what, Dennis?"

His eyes were filled with frustration. "You've been avoiding me since our conversation about the prophecy. I'm trying to protect you, yet you're acting as if I betrayed you.

"Because you did! "The words came out sharper than I had intended. "You concealed something very vital from me, Dennis. How can I trust you now?"

Dennis clenched his jaw and took a step closer. "I did not tell you because I believed it was the greatest way to keep you safe. I did not want you to bear such a big weight."

"That wasn't your decision to make," I muttered, feeling the sting of betrayal return. "I needed to learn the truth. "I needed to make my own decisions.

Dennis turned aside, his pride making him stiff and aloof. "Fine," he replied calmly. "If that's how you feel, I won't stand in your way."

The words hurt, but I held back tears. I didn't want him to see how deeply this upset me. I wanted him to fight for us and apologize, but his pride would not allow it.

I tried to forget about Dennis and focus on my workout. Damon joined me, as he always did, his constant presence providing comfort I had not realized I required.

"Alright, let's go again," Damon remarked, smiling as he took his stance. "Show me what you've got, Melissa."

I grinned, feeling my heart lift somewhat. Training with Damon has always felt like an escapable chance to forget about the insanity inside me. We sparred, moving in unison, our breaths falling in time.

When I stumbled, Damon's arms extended to catch me before I collapsed. Our faces were close, and his eyes were filled with something I couldn't quite identify. My heartbeat quickened, and I felt a warmth unrelated to the workout.

"Are you okay? "He asked quietly, refusing to let go.

I nodded, feeling strangely drawn to him. "Yeah... thank you."

The moment remained between us, full of unspoken words. For a brief while, I wondered if this feeling was something more. Dennis elicited strong feelings in me, yet this felt safe.

But as soon as the thought crossed my mind, guilt set in. This was not fair to Dennis or Damon. I stepped back and forced a little smile. "Let's keep going."

Damon nodded, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, but did not press. As we continued practising, I couldn't ignore the impression that something had changed between us.

Later that day, Lucas stormed into the packhouse, his face pallid and full of urgency. "Melissa, Damon, Dennis you all need to hear this."

We crowded around him, aware of the weight of his expression. Lucas took a big breath and said, "I learned something about Raven. He's made touch with another pack one almost as powerful as ours."

Damon's eyebrows rose. "Another pack?" Why should they collaborate with him?"

Lucas shakes his head. "I don't have all of the specifics yet, but it sounds like this pack has been hiding in the shadows, waiting for the ideal moment to strike. Raven may be assisting them in accomplishing this."

My mind whirled. "So he isn't alone?" That indicates he could be a part of something far larger than we realized."

Dennis scoffed. "Or it could simply be another of his games. Raven likes to have us chase shadows."

"But what if it is real?" I replied, my voice tougher than I felt. "If there's another pack out there, we need to be prepared. This might be the ' real enemy' he warned me about."

Damon nodded. Melissa's right. We cannot ignore this, Dennis. "We have to take this seriously."

Dennis' expression hardened and he did not answer. His quiet felt like a barrier between us, and I despised it. He was behaving aloof and belligerent, which further fueled the concerns in my heart.

Later that night, I discovered Dennis waiting for me in the corridor, his countenance unreadable.

"Melissa," he said, his voice lower than normal. "I need to know whether something has shifted between us."

The question caught me off guard, and I was unable to meet his stare. "What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean," Dennis remarked, his voice full of intensity. "Ever since you started training with Damon, it's like... it's like you're pulling away from me."

I drew a hesitant breath, unsure what to say. The reality was, that I had no idea how I felt anymore. My commitment

to Dennis seemed to be eroding, but I wasn't sure if that was fair. I was completely confused.

"Dennis... I..." I stammered, unable to finish. His eyes were filled with anguish, and the silence between us was heavy and agonizing.

He took a step back, his expression filled with betrayal. "Can't you even answer?"

I shook my head, feeling the heaviness of his displeasure. "I just need time, Dennis." There is so much going on that I don't know how to make sense of it all.

Dennis clinched his hands, anger flashing in his eyes. "You need time. Right." His voice was chilly, and it shot shivers through me.

Without saying anything further, he turned and went down the corridor, leaving me devastated and heartbroken.

As I watched him walk away, a sense of dread overcame me. I knew Dennis was in pain, but I had no idea how deep it went. And now I was afraid he'd do something reckless— something dangerous.

Unfortunately, I was too late.

Lucas came sprinting, breathless, as I was about to enter my room. "Melissa... Dennis is gone."

My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean by gone?"

"He left a note," Lucas explained, his face pallid. "He's going after Raven alone."

Panic overcame me. Dennis was going to face Raven alone, fueled by rage and pride. And I had no notion whether he would return.