Desmond sat in the quiet of his room, the shadows of the night creeping along the walls. The words Kael had spoken earlier echoed in his mind, gnawing at him. "You're connected to it," the werewolf had said. Desmond had no idea what it was—no clue as to what forces he was tied to, but he could feel it, deep in his bones. Something was pulling at him, something darker and more dangerous than anything he'd encountered so far. And he was beginning to understand that his powers were just the surface of something far bigger.
It was late, the moon casting an eerie glow over the forest outside. Desmond had been avoiding sleep lately, his mind too restless to quiet. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw flashes of the fight with the vampire from weeks ago, the agony of almost losing everything, the taste of death in his mouth. Every fight, every moment of growth, only made him realize that he wasn't in control—not really.
Desmond's training had been intense, relentless even. Elias had pushed him to his limits and beyond, teaching him to control his abilities, but there was always this lingering sense of being untethered, as though something was slipping out of his grasp no matter how hard he tried to hold onto it.
But tonight felt different. Tonight, the pull he had been feeling grew stronger, sharper. It was as though the very air around him was charged with energy—a force that wasn't just his own. Desmond couldn't explain it, but he knew something was coming. He could feel it in his gut. He wasn't alone in this fight anymore, but who was on his side? And who was waiting for the right moment to strike?
The sound of a soft knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts.
"Desmond?" Elias's voice was low, cautious.
Desmond rose from his chair and opened the door to find his mentor standing there, his expression unreadable. Elias had always been a man of few words, but tonight he seemed different, more guarded.
"You're up late," Elias remarked, stepping inside. "Something on your mind?"
Desmond hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to voice the unease that had been building inside him. He couldn't shake the feeling that things were about to spiral out of control.
"I'm just… I don't know." Desmond ran a hand through his hair, frustration creeping into his voice. "Kael's words… they're messing with my head. The whole 'you're connected' thing. I feel like I'm caught in something I don't even understand."
Elias studied him carefully, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I know it's a lot to take in. But you've got to stay focused. You're not just a player in this game, Desmond. You're the piece everyone's watching. And if you're not careful, they'll pull you in different directions."
Desmond frowned, rubbing his temples. "I don't even know who they are. Kael says I'm connected to something darker. And then there's the whole 'you're a pawn' thing." He shook his head, frustration bubbling over. "It's like I'm being pulled in a hundred different directions and no one's telling me what I'm really up against."
Elias's gaze softened, but there was a heaviness to his words. "You're dealing with a lot right now. But you're not alone in this. I'm here, and so are the others. But the truth is, Desmond, there's a reason you're so important. A reason that doesn't make sense yet."
Desmond looked up at him, the question on his lips pressing harder than ever. "What do you mean?"
Elias took a deep breath, glancing around as if making sure no one was listening. "The supernatural world… it's older than you realize. There are things in play that no one understands fully. But you—you are the key. The anomaly. You were born out of something that shouldn't be possible, and that makes you dangerous to both sides. To vampires, werewolves, even witches. They don't know what to make of you, but they can feel your power."
Desmond took a step back, his heart racing. "You're saying I'm not human?"
Elias met his gaze. "No. Not entirely. Not anymore."
Before Desmond could process that revelation, the unmistakable sound of footsteps echoed outside the door. Elias tensed immediately, and Desmond's senses flared to life. Someone was here, and they weren't here to chat.
A figure stepped into the room, and Desmond's breath hitched when he recognized who it was.
Kael.
The werewolf looked as calm and collected as ever, but there was an edge to his presence that sent a chill down Desmond's spine.
"I see you're still alive," Kael said, his voice tinged with something darker than usual. "I came to check on you."
Desmond didn't trust him—not after everything that had happened—but he couldn't deny that Kael's words had been laced with something that demanded attention. He wasn't here for small talk.
Elias's posture shifted, standing slightly in front of Desmond. "Why are you here?"
Kael's eyes flicked between the two men, a slight smile curling on his lips. "I think you both know why I'm here. Desmond's not the only one with questions. You've kept things from him, Elias. And now, it's time for him to know the truth."
Desmond's pulse quickened. "What truth?"
Kael stepped forward, his gaze never leaving Desmond's. "The truth about why you're here, why you've been hunted, and what your role really is in this war."
Elias stiffened, his expression hardening. "I've told you before, Kael. He's not ready."
Kael met Elias's eyes, and for a moment, there was a silent standoff between them. Then Kael spoke, his voice low but filled with resolve. "Desmond is ready. And it's time he knew why the wolves have been keeping an eye on him."
Desmond's heart pounded in his chest. "What does that mean?" he demanded.
Kael's gaze shifted to Elias before returning to Desmond. "It means that the wolves have been waiting for someone like you. The anomaly. And whether you like it or not, the choices you make now will determine which side you fall on."
Desmond could feel the weight of the words pressing on him, his mind racing with possibilities. He had always been different, but now the stakes were higher than he ever could have imagined. The lines between allies and enemies were blurring, and he was standing at the center of it all.
The question was: What side would he choose?