Am not your Enemy

TATIANA POV

. Standing with Raphael near the entrance, a small band of warriors summoned by him—one beta and two omegas-would be accompanying us to the Silver Fang territory.

"We want to remain small," I told Raphael while adjusting the several supplies we had amassed. "Too much commotion would arise. The Silver Fang Pack would never let us slip by undetected."

Raphael nodded, glancing at the fighters lined up. "I trust these three. They're very capable and loyal. We might need them when we get there."

Just as we were stepping out, Lorenzo came up to me, his round and pretty little face full of worry. He placed his small arms around my own waist and looked up at me with wide eyes full of fear. "Mommy, I’m scared,” he barely whispered.

I squatted down and gave him a tight hug. "I know, sweet boy; but you will be safe here. You must promise me to stick with the others and stay away from Harper and her baby. They are not good people."

I didn’t realize Raphael had been listening to this whole conversation. He stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "Tatiana, don’t give him such thoughts. He is still a little boy.”

"He has to know the truth, Raphael," I said firmly. "This world has evil in it, and he has to learn how to deal with it.”

“Strength derived from fear is not strength," he gently argued. "He should be sheltered from the darkness, not sent forth to do battle with it."

Between us, Lorenzo's gaze whipped back and forth, his confusion apparent. "I want to be a brave mommy to you like you are," he said.

I softened my look and knelt down in front of him. "You will, baby. Just remember that bravery is not the absence of fear but conquering it."

With a tight squeeze of me, he looked up with tears in his eyes. "Promise you will come back?"

"I promise," my voice strong and steady, although my heart wasn't. "You will hardly know that I am gone; I will be back before you know it."

Meanwhile, as we collected our belongings, Raphael was having a brief meeting with the warriors. He then gave them his final orders. Tension hung in the air, and during that time, while assembling to leave the manor with the burden of the mission upon our shoulders.

"Are we ready?" he asked, turning in our direction.

"As ready as we will ever be," I said, forcing a semblance of confidence I did not feel.

The outburst of crisp morning air hit us sharply as we stepped out, further reminding us of all that was out there awaiting us. The face of the forest closed up dense around the manor, shadows flitting between trees. I took a long breath to let it all out.

"Stay close to me; we are off the well-beaten tracks," Raphael said, and that put my feet back on the ground. "We don't want to be noticed.”

I pondered over those words as I peered into the night. "We move fast and silent. Observe everything. The Silver Fang area is dangerous without room for mistakes."

Glancing backward toward the manor on our way out, I thought to myself, It feels like an eternity since I have been here, and all this is now at stake. The burden of my crushing decision weighed upon me; however, I could not allow fear to weaken my resolve.

"Tatiana," he said gently, pulling me back into the present. "Are you sure? It is dangerous to go into enemy territory."

"Yes," I replied, keeping my voice steady. "But we have no choice. We need that herb to save your mother; that must be done."

"As I was saying," Lorenzo said, tugging on my sleeve. "I don't want you to go. What if something happens?"

I crouched down to catch his frightened gaze. "Nothing will happen to me, I promise. I will be back before you even know it. You just need to be brave a little longer."

"But I'm scared," he said, a tear lighting up his eyes.

"I know, but you need to trust me," I said, squeezing him tightly. "You're so strong, and so many people here will protect you."

Footsteps came closer, and Raphael turned to see the beta and omegas prepared to depart. "It's time," he said. "We leave now.”

As we were about to head out, a sudden shudder seemed to ripple through the clearing. I felt it deep inside, something foretelling danger ahead. Every instinct told me this trip would be no picnic; some lurking presence was watching us.

"Stay together," I urged the group, the sound of my heart thudding like a drum in my ears. "Do stay close."

Yet another moment passed before I swallowed back any last doubts or fears, took a deep breath, and proceeded. There lay before us a dark road that would lead straight into the forest. I steadied my nerves against imagination and focused on the task ahead.

The forest was changing in yet another instant. One moment it was loud with a welcoming cacophony; the next, there was eeriness to the silence that sent chills through my spine. I shot a sidelong glance in Raphael's direction; he appeared to have felt the same unsettling pressure that I was sensing.

A sudden crack of a branch nearby made us alert. My heart raced with excitement, and I gestured for everyone to halt.

"You heard that?" I asked.

Raphael nodded and squinted even harder. "We must move carefully."

The sounds intensified as one figure came hurtling out of the bushes before we could even blink. I stepped ahead instinctively to shield our group.

"Who goes there?" the beta growled, standing protectively in front of me.

The figure flung herself out of the undergrowth, wild-haired, fiery-eyed. "I'm not your enemy!" she shouted, arms raised in surrender. "Please, you have to help me!”

"Help?" I said, thinking rapidly by myself. "What do you mean by that?"

"The Silver Fang Pack is plotting something evil, and if you're here, you're in danger!" she rushed.

Before I could utter another word, a loud crack from the trees seized our attention. The tension in the air thickened with the appearance of more figures, shadowed intruders stepping forth from the blackness.

"Get ready!" I yelled, pumped with adrenaline as we prepared for the greater danger rushing towards us.

But just as I was preparing for the cross into our protection, I was hit with a wave of wind, and a veiling darkness swallowed me.

The end of the chapter left the air fraught with uncertainty, and all that remained was to leap into danger with an unknown outcome.