Chapter 2

• Astrid sat up in bed, her heart hammering in her chest.
• Kellan's words echoed in her mind: "I think we’re in danger."Unable to sleep, she paced the room, thoughts of whirlwind of confusion and fear.
• She couldn't dismiss the urgency in his voice, nor the strange connection she felt to him. Who was Kellan, and what had happened when she touched him?
• Morning light filtered through her curtains, intensifying her need for answers. Downstairs, Kira was making breakfast.
• The smell of coffee filled the air, but Astrid had no appetite. She needed to talk to her mother but didn't know how to begin.
• “Morning,” Kira said, her tone forcedly cheerful. “Did you sleep well?”
• Astrid shook her head. “Mom, we need to talk. For real this time.”
• Kira’s smile faltered. She put down the coffee pot and turned to face Astrid. “What’s on your mind, sweetheart?”
• “The man I healed yesterday... he called me last night. He said we’re in danger. What’s going on?”
• Kira’s face went pale. “He called you? How did he get your number?”
• “He said he followed me. Mom, he sounded scared. I need to know what’s happening.”
• Kira sighed, rubbing her temples. “Astrid, there are things I’ve kept from you to protect you. But maybe it’s time you knew the truth.”
• Astrid leaned forward, her heart pounding. “What truth?”
• A loud knock on the door interrupted them. Both women jumped.
• Kira moved quickly to the window and peeked through the curtain. Her face tightened with fear. “Astrid, go to your room. Now.”
• “But—”
• “Go!” Kira hissed.
• Astrid retreated to her room, her mind racing. She heard the door open downstairs and muffled voices. Straining to hear, she crept closer to the top of the stairs.
• “Kira, we know she’s here,” a deep voice said. “You can’t keep her hidden forever.”
• “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Kira replied, her voice shaking. “Please, just leave us alone.”
• The man’s voice grew more insistent. “We have orders, Kira. She must come with us.”
• Astrid’s heart pounded. Why did they want her? What had her mother been hiding?
• Kira's voice trembled. “You can’t take her. She’s my daughter, and she’s not a threat to anyone.”
• “Your daughter has powers that could change everything,” the man replied. “Dante himself has ordered us to bring her in. We know she’s special.”
• Astrid’s breath caught. Dante? Whoever he was, he held power over these men.
• Kira’s voice became pleading. “Please, give us more time. She doesn’t even know what she is yet.”
• The man’s tone softened. “Kira, we don’t have a choice. Dante has been searching for her for years. He believes she can help the pack in ways we can’t even imagine.”
• Astrid’s phone buzzed on her nightstand. She picked it up and saw another message from Kellan: “I’m close by. If you need help, text me.”
• Her fingers trembled as she typed back, “I need help. They’re here for me.”
• Kellan’s reply was immediate: “I’m on my way. Stay hidden.”
• Astrid’s heart raced. She had to be ready for whatever came through that door and trust that Kellan would find her in time.
• Downstairs, Kira's conversation grew more urgent. Astrid could hear the desperation in her mother’s voice, mingling with her own rising fear.
• Then, silence. The front door closed with a resounding thud.
• Astrid inched closer to her bedroom door, straining to hear.“Astrid,” Kira’s voice called up the stairs, shaky but composed. “You can come down now.”
• Astrid hesitated before stepping out of her room and descending the stairs. She found her mother standing in the foyer, pale and drawn.“Who were they?”
• Astrid asked, her voice trembling.
• Kira took a deep breath. “They’re part of a group that works for someone very powerful in the werewolf community. They’ve been looking for you.”
• “Why? What do they want with me?”
• Kira glanced around nervously. “They believe you’re special. There’s something about you that they need.”
• Astrid felt the world tilt beneath her feet. Her whole life, she’d known she was different, but this was beyond anything she could have imagined.
• “What do you mean? What do they need me for? And the drugs you’ve been giving me to suppress my abilities... how could you, Mom?”
• Kira’s eyes widened in shock, her hands shaking. “Astrid, I only did it to protect you. I thought it was for the best.”
• Astrid felt a surge of betrayal. “Protect me? You’ve been keeping me in the dark and lying to me! How is that protecting me?”
• Tears welled up in Kira’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Astrid. I thought I was doing what was right.”
• Astrid’s anger began to subside, replaced by sadness. “We need to figure this out together. Whatever’s coming, we’ll face it together.”
• A loud knock on the door again. Both women froze.
• Kira approached the door cautiously. “Who is it?”
• “It’s me, Kellan,” came the reply. “Please, let me in.”
• Kira hesitated before opening the door. Kellan stepped inside, his eyes immediately finding Astrid.
• “We need to leave. Dante’s men are still out there, and they’ll be back. We don’t have much time.”
• Astrid looked from Kellan to her mother, her mind a whirlwind of questions and fear. “Where will we go?”
• Kellan glanced out the window. “Somewhere safe. But we need to move now.”
• Kira nodded. “He’s right, Astrid. We have to go.”
• Astrid felt a surge of panic. Her whole world was being upended, but she had little choice. “Okay,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s go.”
• They quickly gathered a few essentials. As they slipped out the back door, Astrid glanced back at the only home she had ever known, feeling a profound sense of loss.
• Kellan led them through the darkened streets. “There’s a safe house not far from here,” he said. “We’ll be safe there, at least for a while.”
• Astrid nodded, thoughts racing. She had so many questions, but now wasn’t the time. All she could do was follow Kellan and trust that he knew what he was doing.
• As they approached the safe house, Astrid felt a strange sensation, a pull she couldn’t explain. She glanced at Kellan, wondering if he felt it too.
• “We’re here,” Kellan said, stopping in front of a small, nondescript building. He opened the door. “This way.”
• Inside, the safe house was modest but comfortable. Kellan led them to a small living area.
• “We should be safe here for now,” he said. “But we need to figure out our next move. Dante won’t stop looking for you, Astrid.”
• Astrid looked at her mother, feeling a mix of fear and determination. “What do we do now?”Kira took Astrid’s hand, her grip firm.
• “We stay together and stay strong. We’ll figure this out, one step at a time.”
• Astrid nodded, feeling a sense of resolve. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew she was ready to face it.
• And she wouldn’t do it alone.Just then, her phone buzzed again.
• She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat as she read the message from an unknown number: “Astrid, there’s more you need to know. Meet me at the old park at midnight. Come alone.”
• Her hands trembled as s
• he showed the message to Kellan and Kira. They exchanged worried glances, and Astrid knew that the journey was only just beginning.