Chapter 17: The Edge of Tensions. Lucas POV

“Get up already,” I muttered to myself, dragging a hand through my hair. My body felt as though it had been running all night, even though the sunrise hardly made it through the wooden slats of my window. A weird heaviness that I couldn't get rid of settled in my chest.  

The Nightshade Pack's morning activities were already under way by the time I made myself get dressed. Wolves trudged along the trails with resolute precision, their voices drowning out the sound of the woods outside. As sharp as the knife in my belt, my objective continued to loom in the back of my thoughts. It was unnecessary to remind me of the prophecy.  

When I got to the council hall, Oliver was already waiting with his arms folded and his sharp eyes following every move like a predator assessing its prey. 

Oliver snarled, "You're late," as soon as I entered the council hall. A number of heads turned to face me as his piercing voice broke through the hushed whispers of the assembled wolves.  

I ignored the sharp edge in his eyes and rolled my shoulders slowly. "I wasn’t aware punctuality was critical when we’ve yet to find anything concrete."  

Oliver's jaw tensed, but he remained silent. Rather, he moved aside to expose a rudimentary map of the Nightshade Pack's domain on a table. A red X denoted a place in the south, where his finger pricked.  

"Rogue activity was reported here by scouts," he stated. We're on the move now. You're here with us.  

The abrupt instruction made me tense, but I nodded. Sure, rogues were an annoyance, but this didn't shout urgency. Nevertheless, it was evident how tense Oliver and his warriors were. They had been frightened by something, which was not encouraging.  

It was a strenuous climb to the southern borders. The air became dense and oppressive as the midday heat mercilessly pressed down. The crunch of boots on dry leaves and the occasional snap of a twig filled my ears as I followed the group.  

Oliver took the lead, moving deliberately, almost impatiently. With cautious eyes, his troops scanned the thick woodland on either side of him. I maintained my distance, alert for any indication of danger. The cool surface of the relic around my neck pressed against my chest like a reminder of my purpose, making it feel heavier with every step.  

The air changed as we got closer to the reported location. There was a subtle, bitter tinge to the smell of rogues that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on edge.  

“There,” one of the scouts muttered, pointing ahead.  

As we got closer to the disturbed area, we fanned out and slowed down. Broken branches and faint paw marks carved into the bark of neighboring trees covered the ground. A dried blood trail wound its way farther into the woods.  

Oliver knelt by the marks, his brows knitted in contemplation. He said, "Testing boundaries," after a pause. "They’re not bold enough to breach yet."  

I said, "They're close enough to be an issue."  

Oliver glared over his shoulder at me. "Noted."  

I could see the thoughts racing through his head despite his contemptuous tone. He didn't want to acknowledge that the rogues might actually pose a threat, regardless of what was going on.  

The sun had already begun to set when we arrived back at the pack grounds. My thoughts wouldn't stop racing, even though my body hurt from the hike. The slight indications of rogues weren't sufficient to cause concern, yet I couldn't get rid of the uneasiness that was eating away at me.  

As I headed to the council hall to share our findings, I spotted a familiar face.  

Anna.  

Her motions were quick and rapid, and she was crouched over a patch of soil close to the gathering area. It was impossible to ignore the strain in her shoulders.  

Despite the raging storm inside of me, I shouted out, "Anna," in a firm voice.  

She didn't raise her head.  

"Wait, Anna."  

She stopped this time, her hands motionless on the floor. She got up slowly, but she didn't look at me.  

"What do you want?" she said in a cold tone.  

"I simply... I wanted to talk.”  

Then she turned, pain and rage burning in her eyes. “Talk? You've spoken long enough. You were responsible for ruining my life. What else is there to say?”  

"I didn't mean to..." The weight of shame entangled the words as they caught in my throat.  

"What did you not mean?" She lost her temper. “Didn’t mean to get an innocent man killed? Didn't you intend to ruin what I had left?"

Each of her remarks pierced the shame I was trying to conceal more deeply, like a physical blow.  

"Anna, I..."  

Her voice was shaking as she replied, "Just stay away from me. You’ve done enough.”  

Maia appeared before I could reply, her face as steely as a rock.  

“You heard her,” Maia said firmly. Despite her lack of height, she appeared larger than life due to her defiant posture. “Leave her alone.”  

I paused, caught between knowing I had no right and wanting to protect myself. I nodded at last and took a step back.  

The remainder of the evening was a blur. When I presented the elders with the report, they hardly noticed it before kicking me out. I walked to my lodgings, my frustration simmering beneath the surface.  

My skin was burnt by the relic around my neck, which served as a continual reminder of my purpose. The prophecy. The danger.  

Anna, too.  

Her flaming eyes would not leave my thoughts, no matter how hard I tried.  

Anna, what are you concealing?  

As I sat on the side of my bed and gazed at the relic, the question continued to haunt me. The elders’ instructions echoed in my head: Eliminate the threat before it destroys us all.  

I didn't think a human, much less one like Anna, would pose a problem. But the indications were there, becoming more obvious every day.  

I noticed movement close to the meeting area as I ventured outside into the crisp night air, my mind still jumbled. Anna was standing there, the moonlight illuminating her form.  

I hesitated for a second, not knowing if I should go up. Then she turned as though she could sense my eyes.  

Across the distance, our gazes locked, and for a split second, something flickered in her face—maybe recognition, perhaps terror.  

She turned and vanished into the darkness before I could figure it out, leaving me with more questions than answers.