CHAPTER 4:The Enemy’s Blood

Aria barely had time to react before Kael pulled her inside.

The door slammed shut behind them with enough force to rattle the windows. For a moment the house fell into complete silence except for the rapid beat of her heart.

She pulled her wrist free.

“Okay,” she said sharply. “You’re going to explain what that meant.”

Kael moved toward the window and glanced through the glass toward the forest.

His expression had turned completely serious.

“They shouldn’t have reached this area yet,” he murmured.

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Aria stepped closer.

“You said my father’s pack.”

Kael turned toward her.

“Yes.”

“My father doesn’t have a pack,” she replied.

“He does.”

“Not unless he secretly runs a wildlife sanctuary.”

Kael studied her carefully.

“Your father is Alpha Darius Hale.”

The name meant nothing to her.

“I’ve never heard of him.”

“I know.”

“Then how can you possibly know that he’s my father?”

Kael hesitated briefly.

“Because you smell like him.”

Aria stared at him.

“That might be the strangest sentence anyone has ever said to me.”

Kael did not smile.

“You carry his bloodline.”

The warmth inside her chest flickered again.

“I think you’re confusing me with someone else.”

“I’m not.”

Before she could argue further another howl echoed through the forest.

This one was much closer.

Aria felt the sound vibrate through the floorboards.

“That doesn’t sound like normal wolves,” she said quietly.

“No,” Kael replied.

“It doesn’t.”

He moved away from the window and crossed the room quickly.

“We need to leave.”

“What?”

“They’re tracking your scent.”

“My scent?”

Kael grabbed a flashlight from the counter.

“They know you’re here.”

“That makes absolutely no sense.”

“It will soon.”

Aria planted her feet.

“I’m not going anywhere until someone explains what’s happening.”

Kael stopped in front of her.

The tension in his posture made the room feel smaller.

“You want the truth?”

“Yes.”

“You’re standing in the middle of a territory controlled by werewolves.”

Aria blinked.

“Right.”

Kael’s gaze didn’t waver.

“And your father is the Alpha of a rival pack.”

The seriousness in his voice made her pause.

“You expect me to believe that?”

Another howl echoed outside.

This one sounded so close that Aria instinctively looked toward the door.

The sound was deeper now.

More aggressive.

Kael’s expression darkened.

“They’re surrounding the house.”

Her pulse jumped.

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

Aria took a slow breath.

“Okay,” she said carefully. “Let’s say for a moment that this insane story is true.”

Kael waited.

“Why would these wolves be looking for me?”

Kael’s wolf stirred beneath his skin.

Mate.

He ignored the instinct.

“Because they know who you are.”

Aria frowned.

“Which is?”

Kael looked directly into her eyes.

“The missing daughter of their Alpha.”

The words hung heavily in the air.

Aria shook her head slowly.

“My mother never said anything about that.”

“That’s because she was hiding you.”

“From wolves.”

“From a war.”

Another howl broke the silence.

This time it was right outside the house.

Aria’s stomach tightened.

“That sounded very close.”

Kael stepped toward the door.

“Yes.”

A heavy thud suddenly struck the outside wall.

Aria jumped.

“What was that?”

Kael’s voice dropped.

“They found us.”

The door handle rattled violently.

Something slammed against the wood from outside.

The entire frame shook.

Aria stared at it in disbelief.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

Kael turned back toward her.

His eyes had changed.

The calm expression she had seen earlier was gone.

In its place was something far more dangerous.

“Stay behind me,” he said.

The door cracked under another impact.

Aria’s pulse thundered.

“Kael…”

He didn’t look away from the door.

“Whatever happens next,” he said quietly, “don’t run into the forest.”

“Why?”

Kael’s voice hardened.

“Because there are at least six wolves out there.”

The door splintered.

And something began forcing its way inside.