CHAPTER 8

No one moved.

Not even the air seemed to breathe.

The man in black stood at the doorway like he owned the place.

Calm.

Unbothered.

Dangerous.

Thalia could still feel her heart pounding hard in her chest, but something else was there too… something strange.

That same feeling from before.

Like her body recognized him.

And she didn’t understand why.

“Step away from her.”

His voice was quiet, but it carried weight.

The kind that made people listen… even when they didn’t want to.

The man who had grabbed Thalia earlier took a slow step back.

“Who are you?” the leader asked, his tone no longer as confident as before.

The man in black didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he walked in.

Slow.

Steady.

Each step echoed against the broken floor.

Thalia watched him carefully.

So did everyone else.

“You don’t need to know who I am,” he said finally. “You just need to leave.”

The leader scoffed.“We’re not here for you.”

“I know,” he replied calmly.

“Then stay out of it.”

Silence.

Then—“No.”

Simple.

Final.

Dorian growled low in his throat, still in his wolf form.

Damon stood close to Thalia, ready to move if needed. Dracula…Dracula hadn’t taken his eyes off the man in black since he entered.

There was something sharp in his gaze now. Something calculating.

Like he was trying to figure him out.

And failing.

The leader let out a breath, clearly irritated.

“You’re making a mistake,” he said.

The man in black tilted his head slightly.“Am I?”

“Yes. This has nothing to do with you.”

He smiled faintly.“It has everything to do with me.”

That made the room go quiet again.

Thalia frowned.

What does that even mean?

The leader’s expression hardened.

“Last chance,” he said.

“Walk away.”

The man in black didn’t even blink.

“No.”

That was it.

That one word broke whatever patience was left.

“Fine,” the leader snapped.

“Take him too.”

Everything happened at once.

The attackers moved again.

But this time—It didn’t go the same way.

The man in black didn’t shift.

He didn’t need to.

He moved fast.

Too fast.

One second he was standing still…The next, he was already in front of the first attacker.

A sharp crack echoed in the room.

The man dropped instantly.

Thalia’s eyes widened.

“What the…”

Another attacker lunged at him.

He stepped aside easily, grabbed the man’s arm, and twisted.

A scream followed.

Then silence.

Body down.

Just like that.Dorian paused mid-fight for a second.

“…What is he?” he muttered.

Damon didn’t answer.

Because he didn’t know either.

The fight shifted.

Fast.

What had been chaos a few seconds ago…

Turned into something else.

Fear.

The attackers hesitated now.

They weren’t expecting this.

None of them were.

“Fall back!” one of them shouted.

But it was already too late.

The man in black stepped forward again.

“You came for her,” he said quietly.

“So why are you leaving?”

No one answered.

They couldn’t.

Because now…

They were the ones being hunted.

Within minutes—It was over.

The room fell silent again.

Bodies on the ground.

Broken wood everywhere.

The air thick with the scent of blood and tension.

Thalia slowly stood up.

Her legs felt weak.

Her head spun slightly.

But her eyes stayed fixed on him.

The man in black.

He turned toward her.

And just like that…

Everything else faded.

“Are you hurt?” he asked.

His voice was softer now.

Different.

Thalia blinked.

“…No.”She hesitated.

“Thank you.”

He nodded once.

Like it was nothing.

Dorian shifted back, breathing hard.

“You mind explaining what the hell that was?” he demanded.

The man in black glanced at him briefly.

“No.”Dorian scoffed.

“You just walked in, took down five wolves like it was nothing, and you’re saying ‘no’?”

“Yes.”That only made Dorian more annoyed.

Damon stepped in before things could escalate again.

“Look… we appreciate the help,” he said.

“But we need answers.”

Dracula finally spoke.

“You knew they were coming,” he said.

It wasn’t a question.

The man in black met his gaze.

“Yes.”

“Then you know why they’re after her.”

A pause.

Then—“Yes.”

Thalia’s heart skipped.

“Then tell us,” Damon said.

Silence.

The man in black looked at Thalia.

Long.

Careful.

Like he was deciding something.

“You’re not safe here,” he said instead.

Thalia frowned.

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I know.”

“Then answer me.”

His expression didn’t change.

“I will,” he said.

“But not here.”

Dorian crossed his arms.

“And where exactly is ‘not here’?”

The man didn’t look at him.

“Somewhere they can’t reach you.”

“That’s not happening,” Dorian said immediately.

Thalia looked at him.

“Why not?”

“Because we don’t know him,” Dorian replied.

“And I’m not letting you go anywhere with a stranger.”

She raised a brow.

“Since when do you care?”

The words slipped out before she could stop them.

A small silence followed.

Dorian’s jaw tightened.“That’s not the point.”

“It kind of is.”Damon sighed.

“This isn’t the time for that.”

Dracula stepped forward slightly.

“Where are you taking her?” he asked.

The man in black answered without hesitation.

“To the truth.”

That made Thalia’s chest tighten.

“Look,” she said slowly, “I don’t even know your name.”

He looked at her.“

You don’t need to.”

“I think I do.”

A pause.

Then—“…Kael.”

The name settled in the room.

Simple.

But it carried something.

Thalia didn’t know what.

“Kael,” she repeated quietly.

He nodded once.

“You said I’m not safe,” she continued.

“Then explain why.”

His eyes softened… just a little.

“Because now they know you’re awake.”

Her brows pulled together.

“Awake?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve been awake my whole life.”

He shook his head slightly.

“No,” he said.

“Not like this.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Confusing.

Frustrating.

Thalia let out a breath.

“I’m tired of people speaking in riddles,” she said. “If you know something, just say it.

”Kael looked at her for a long second.

Then—“You’re not just a hybrid,” he said again.

Her heart dropped.

“You said that already.”

“And it’s still true.”

“Then what am I?”

The question came out softer this time.

Almost unsure.

Kael opened his mouth to answer—Then stopped.

His gaze shifted slightly… past her.

Toward the door.

His expression changed again.

Serious.

“Not here,” he said quietly.

Dorian groaned.

“You keep saying that—”

“They’re coming back.”

The words cut him off.

Everyone went still.

Again.

Damon looked toward the door.

“I can’t hear anything.”

“You won’t,” Kael replied.

“Not yet.”Thalia’s chest tightened.

“How many?” Kael didn’t answer immediately.

Then—“More than before.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

“Then we don’t have time,” Damon said.

Dorian ran a hand through his hair.

“Great. Just great.”

Dracula’s eyes went to Thalia again.

Sharp.

Focused.

“We move now,” he said.

Thalia swallowed.

“Move where?”

No one answered.

Because the truth was—They didn’t know.

Kael stepped closer to her.

“Stay close to me,” he said quietly.

She hesitated.

Then nodded.

Because right now… He was the only one who seemed to understand what was happening.

Even if he wasn’t saying everything.

Outside—The night grew darker.

Heavier.

And somewhere in the distance…

Something howled.

Not like a wolf.

Something else.

Something worse.

And for the first time—Thalia realized this wasn’t just about being a hybrid anymore.

It was bigger than that.

Much bigger.