Chapter four

A night of tossing and turning brought me into a new day.

The sun was bright as it poured through the windows, making me cover my face with my forearm. A loud sigh left my mouth at the sound of birds chirping loudly.

It was another day for the rest of the world.

Where my life fully crumbled into pieces, everything else continued as normal. Families were sharing breakfast. People were rushing to their dream jobs. Someone was boarding a plane to the country they've been saving up for since they could remember.

And I had no idea what to do now.

It was so strange because I was certain at this time yesterday. Mum and I were going to wake up and have that tennis showdown we had been talking about. Afterwards, I was going to continue my piano lessons and then attend my home school class.

I was going to go to college and travel the world.

But now... could I even do that anymore?

Of course not. I knew that truth now.

I pushed myself off the bed, making sure to make it before anything else. Afterwards, I stepped into the bathroom next to it and took a shower. I allowed the hot water to wash what it could of last night, but nothing would be able to make me feel better.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I went to the closet across the room and pulled out a shirt that the lion had thankfully left for me last night. He had been kind enough to let me stay in one of the many rooms of his house.

Many empty rooms.

I had been very disoriented last night, but I still noticed the pinpoint silence of this huge house. There wasn't a single soul in here besides his.

I remembered what the hyenas had said last night.

"You really want to start a war with us, lion? You remember what happened the last time your clan did. Oh wait, that's why you're the last member of your clan."

Were they the reason this house was empty? The reason why Mum had found him all alone as a baby?

I slipped the shirt on, watching as it fell low enough to cover my lady parts. It was clearly his. He had been caught off guard by my arrival, so he had no women's clothes.

My feet carried me out of the bedroom, and I retraced my steps back to the living room. We needed to talk. Last night, he told me he was giving me his life, but I had no idea what that really meant.

When I got there, my steps slowed down, and two pairs of eyes turned to look at me. I looked around in confusion, my eyes landing on a huge duffle bag on the brown sofa.

"Is this the girl, Thane?" An unfamiliar man asked, eyeing me with curiosity. I blinked and turned to the lion.

"Your name is Thane?" I asked him. I hadn't remembered to ask.

He glanced at me. "You've never heard it before?"

I shook my head.

"Funny," he said quietly. "Your mother is the one who named me. I was too young to remember my real one."

My brows shot up. That did sound like a name my mother would choose.

"I'm Wren." I pointed at myself.

His brow lifted. "I know. Unlike you, your mother actually told me about you. Even if it was very brief."

Oh.

I really was the only one in the dark about everything.

"She's pretty." The other man said, giving me a polite smile. "I'm Eren. A good friend of Thane's."

Thane didn't look at him as he spoke, "More like an overly familiar acquaintance."

"Ouch. That really hurts my feelings. Especially after I did you this favour and brought clothes for your new friend."

Eren patted the dufflebag and looked at me. "So, Wren, Thane told me of your situation. Your father is an asshole, Jesus Christ. I mean, I already knew that, but this is a stretch."

My lips curled into a frown. "I'm sorry, who exactly are you? What do you know about my father?"

Eren looked at me curiously. He was handsome, just like Thane was. He had dark red-orange hair that was pushed back neatly, a black stripe covering some of the strands.

I wondered what animal he could turn into.

His eyes were a pale brown, way lighter than the near gold Thane's were.

"Your father pitched his little business to me a year back. Something about being the human face of my company, though I think I'm human enough to be my own face." He smiled.

"You worked with him?" I asked.

"God, no. Can you imagine that horror?" He asked. "He works with the worst type of clans. I mean, who in their right minds would associate themselves with the Hyenas and the Owls?"

I started to understand a little bit. Each animal had a specific clan, even though the clan bit was still confusing. That meant the hyenas were a clan on their own. Then this guy has his own clan. And Thane...

His clan was gone.

"Are clans your way of saying families?" I asked.

"You don't have to be related to be in a clan. You just need to be the same animal. Though some clans welcome different animals if their interests align."

Thane looked at Eren. "Just as you welcomed that killer into yours?"

Eren's smile cooled over as he glanced at Thane. "Julien is misunderstood. He's young and is discovering his own strength."

"He wiped out the entire Viper Clan."

My eyebrows shot up. A single shifter killed a clan of venomous snakes?

Eren waved his hand to dismiss Thane. "If he ever decided to turn against me, my clan and I could neutralise him easily. However, he has brilliant potential, and I'll take in anyone who may strengthen my clan."

"Your Clan?" I blinked. "As in it belongs to you?"

Eren tilted his head. "Of course."

He turned back to Thane before I could ask him what type of shifter he was and what the hell kind of shifter could take out a bunch of vipers.

"But this small talk is not why I'm here," Eren said, sitting back. "And these clothes are not why you called me. Why am I really here, Thane?"

Thane frowned. "I need your help."

Eren's brows shot up, and he leaned forward. "Whatever for?"

He looked pained as he continued talking. "I promised Wren that I could give my life to her, but my life may not be enough."

I looked at him in confusion as he spoke.

"The hyenas never rest until they get what they want, and right now they want her dead. I can handle them by myself, but we both know they have allies."

Eren nodded. "Crocodiles are their most recent recruits. I must say, they're very good at gathering forces."

Thane nodded. "I may not be able to deal with them by myself."

My lips parted. No, was he asking for help? Why? Just because of a promise he made to my mother? He didn't need to do all of this.

I shook my head. "Thane, you don't have to—"

"I'm happy to help you." Eren interrupted me, his eyes bright. It was as if he was hearing the best news of his life. "You know I've been wanting to be allies with you for the longest time. How long have I been pursuing you? Three years?

Thane nodded once.

"But of course, you know what I expected from you in return," Eren added.

Thane nodded again.

Eren grinned. "If you want me to help you and pretty little Wren in this battle, you need to agree to be a part of my clan.

The Tiger Clan."