I woke up to the sound of soft voices, my head throbbing as I blinked into the light. The room around me was unfamiliar—modern, simple, but not my own. My side hurt where the bandage pressed against my skin, and I instinctively placed a hand over it, the reality of what happened slowly filtering back into my mind.
"You're awake," a voice said, and I turned to see Xavier standing by the window, his expression unreadable.
"Where am I?" I asked, my voice rough. The last thing I remembered was the pain from the bite, then blackness.
"You're safe," Xavier answered, his gaze briefly meeting mine before he looked away. "Xulie healed you. The venom from the Vamon's bite was potent, but she slowed its progress enough to keep you alive."
I nodded, the words sinking in. I was alive. But barely. I looked around the room, spotting a few familiar faces: the older man, Jubart, sitting in the corner, and Xulie, standing closer to the door. She smiled at me, the warmth in her eyes soothing my rattled nerves.
"Xulie…" I whispered, meeting her gaze.
She gave me a gentle wave. "You're in the pack's family house," she said, her tone kind. "We took you here to keep you safe."
I nodded again, the faint memory of the Vamon's attack still fresh in my mind. But there was something else—something that wasn't adding up. The mark on my skin, the strange energy I could almost feel beneath it. It was all too much.
Jubart spoke then, his deep voice pulling me from my thoughts. "That mark on you… the Nura... it's not something that can be ignored. If it isn't suppressed, it will grow, spread throughout your body. And when it does, its effects will start to take full control. You'll become a beacon for the enemies. The Vamons, they'll know what you are."
I froze, my heart skipping a beat. "What does that mean? What happens if it grows?"
"If it manifests fully, your life won't be your own anymore," Jubart explained. "The mark means you're tied to this world now. A part of it, whether you want to be or not."
I swallowed hard, trying to process the weight of his words. "How do I stop it?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Xulie stepped forward, her gaze soft. "We'll help you," she reassured me, placing a gentle hand on my arm. "But Xavier's right. You'll have to be careful. You can't leave this unchecked."
I nodded, but there were still too many unknowns swirling around in my mind. Before I could ask anything else, Xavier turned to leave, his movements brisk, almost detached.
He went towards the veranda, leaving the room unannounced.
I watched him walk out, the silence in the room thick and heavy.
The others—Xulie, Jubart, and the remaining pack members—began to disperse, moving around the room as if they had their own tasks to attend to. I felt a sharp pang of loneliness, the sudden realization that I was now a part of a world I didn't understand.
My gaze shifted to the door. Without thinking, I stood up, my body still weak, and moved towards the exit.
I needed answers. And I wasn't going to get them by sitting around.
Outside, the air was cool, the sounds of the forest quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves. I spotted Xavier almost immediately, perched on a tree branch. He looked so at ease there, his posture relaxed but his expression tight with something I couldn't quite place.
I hesitated for a moment before stepping closer, my voice cutting through the silence. "Xavier?"
He glanced down at me, his gaze neutral. "What do you want, Layla?"
I bit my lip, trying to control the rush of questions that had been bubbling up inside me. "I need to understand," I said, my voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions in my chest. "Why are you so distant? Why do you push everyone away? You don't talk about yourself, about what's going on... Are you even... human?"
The last question hung between us, and I could see the momentary flicker of something in his eyes. But then it was gone, replaced by that familiar coldness.
"That's how I am," he said shortly, his tone colder than before. "End of story."
I felt my heart sink, but before I could say anything else, Xavier leaped off the branch, landing lightly on the ground below.
"Wait!" I called out, but he didn't turn back. He didn't even glance over his shoulder.
I stood there for a long moment, the silence around me deafening. Part of me wanted to run after him, to demand more answers, but the other part of me—something deeper—felt like pushing him was the last thing I should do.
A soft voice broke through my thoughts. "Layla?"
I turned to see Xulie approaching, her expression full of kindness. She stopped just a few steps away from me, her eyes warm but filled with quiet concern. "I'm sorry about Xavier," she said softly. "He's not good at talking about himself. He never has been."
"Why?" I asked, unable to hide the frustration in my voice. "Why does he act like that? Why is he so... cold?"
Xulie's gaze softened, and she smiled in a way that almost made my heart ache. "He's been through a lot," she explained. "And it's hard for him to let anyone get close. He wants to keep everyone safe, but he's afraid. Afraid of what could happen to the people he cares about if they're too close."
I could hear the sadness in her voice, a heaviness that lingered in the air. But it didn't make it easier to understand. "Is that why he's so... distant?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper. "Because he cares too much?"
Xulie nodded. "Exactly. He doesn't want to let anyone in, because he's afraid of what might happen to them. It's his way of protecting them. And you," she added, her eyes flicking to where Xavier had disappeared, "he's trying to protect you, too."
I nodded slowly, the weight of her words sinking in. It didn't make it any easier to understand Xavier, but it did explain some of his behavior. And that, at least, was a start.
Just then, the door burst open again, and two other pack members rushed in, their faces grim. "Xavier's ordered everyone to get ready," one of them said. "The Vamons have called in reinforcements. It's a full-scale attack."
I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. "What does that mean?" I asked, my voice shaky.
"It means they're coming for us," Xulie answered, her face hardening with resolve. "And they'll stop at nothing to get what they want."
Without another word, Xulie turned and headed toward the door. But before she left, she stopped and looked back at me. "Stay here, and don't move. You're not safe out there."
I watched as she disappeared into the chaos, my mind racing. I was part of something bigger now, something dangerous. And I didn't know if I was ready for it.
The door slammed shut behind her, and I was left standing there, the weight of everything pressing down on me.