Chapter 7: THE SILENT RIFT

The tension was palpable now, thick and suffocating. Derrick's eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening like a cornered animal. "Careful, Alina," he growled, the warning in his tone unmistakable. "You've always been too soft. One day, that softness will get you. The pack killed." Alina didn't back down. "And you've always been too bitter. You see threats where there aren't any. She's not the enemy, Derrick. Maybe the only threat here is you." His lip curled, an ugly smirk playing on his face. "Funny. Luca used to say the same thing—before he started letting emotions cloud his judgment. Just like you." Alina stepped closer, nose to nose with him now. "And you've been waiting for a reason to tear this pack apart. Admit it. You don't care about protecting us—you care about control." The silence between them vibrated with fury, and I felt it in my bones. "Enough," I said softly, though my voice shook. "Please. This isn't helping." Both turned to me. Alina's features softened instantly, while Derrick's expression hardened even further. "You still think you belong here?" Derrick asked coldly. "Still think you can handle what's coming?" I straightened, fists clenched at my sides. "I don't know," I admitted. "But I'm not going to prove it by fighting people who are supposed to protect me." For a split second, something flickered in Derrick's eyes—regret, maybe. But it was gone as quickly as it came. Derrick's eyes scanned the darkness, sharp and calculating. "Then either Luca was wrong…" he muttered, his voice tightening, "or something slipped through." I took a step closer to Alina, my heart pounding against my ribs. The growl came again—closer this time, rumbling like thunder beneath the ground. Alina reached for the dagger strapped to her thigh, fingers trembling only slightly. "We need to move. Now." Derrick held up a hand, signaling silence. "No. We stand our ground. Running invites pursuit." Alina's eyes flashed. "She's not ready to fight. You know that." "She doesn't have a choice," Derrick snapped, already shifting his stance. "Whatever's out there isn't here to chat." The trees rustled—leaves shivering in anticipation. I swallowed hard. "What is it?" Neither of them answered right away. Then Derrick said, barely above a whisper, "Old blood. Something we thought we buried long ago." A snarl cracked the silence, closer than before. Alina turned to me, urgency in her eyes. "Stay behind us. No matter what." I nodded, but my legs were already shaking. Derrick's voice was low and grim. "If it crosses the line… we put it down." Then the forest split open. And the night came alive. "Faster!" Alina hissed, her grip tightening as branches whipped past our faces. "Don't look back." But I did. Just for a second. Yellow eyes flashed in the dark—too tall, too wrong to be one of us. My breath caught in my throat. "What is that?" I gasped. "Something that shouldn't be here," Alina said, voice grim. "Keep running!" We burst into a smaller clearing, moonlight spilling over the grass like silver blood. Alina shoved me behind her, spinning to face the shadows with her dagger drawn. The growling stopped. Silence. Too still. "Where's Derrick?" I asked, heart hammering. Alina's jaw was clenched. "Buying us time." I shook my head, panic rising. "We have to go back—" "No!" Her voice cracked like a whip. "You're not ready. That thing out there—it's not just rogue. It's ancient. Dangerous." Something shifted in the trees. The sound of breathing—wet and guttural—moved around us. Alina whispered, "If I tell you to run again… don't hesitate." Inside, the cabin felt colder than the forest. The fire had long burned out, and the air was thick with unspoken fear. Luca shut the door behind us with a hard *thud*, bolting it with trembling fingers. "What was that thing?" I demanded, breathless. "It wasn't a rogue. It wasn't like us." Luca turned slowly, his gaze sweeping from me to Alina. "It wasn't supposed to be awake yet." Alina crossed her arms. "You said we had time." "I *thought* we did," he snapped. "The signs weren't clear—until tonight." I stepped forward, voice cracking. "And Derrick? He stayed behind. We left him out there." Luca's jaw tensed. "He'll hold it off if he can." "If?" I echoed, heart sinking. "You think he might—" "No," Luca cut me off, eyes dark. "He's smart. And brutal when he needs to be. If anyone can survive a run-in with *that*, it's Derrick." I sank into a chair, hands shaking. "What *is* it? What's this prophecy?" Luca and Alina exchange a glance. I stepped forward, heart pounding. "And Derrick? He stayed behind. We left him out there, and you just—what? Slam the door and move on?" Luca's jaw tightened. "He knew the risk." "That's not good enough," I hissed. "He went out there *because of me*." "He made his choice," Luca said coldly. "Don't turn this into something it's not." Anger rose in my chest like fire. "Then tell me what *this* is, Luca. What's going on? Why was Alina the one who knew to come find us? Why do you keep acting like I'm supposed to just follow along while everyone else knows What's happening?" Luca's gaze darkened, a flicker of guilt flashing in his eyes. "You should've told me," I continued, voice shaking. "If there's something I need to know, say it. Stop keeping me in the dark!" Luca stared at me for a long moment. Then quietly, almost too quietly, he said, "You weren't ready." "I get to decide that," I snapped. Neither of us spoke. The air between us crackled. Then, from the fireplace, a log shifted and collapsed in the ash, the only sound in the room. "You don't get to shut me out anymore, Luca," I said, my voice hoarse. "Not when lives are on the line." He didn't respond. Just turned away, shoulders tense. And that silence said more than words ever could. Alina cleared her throat gently. "We should rest. Whatever's coming… We'll need our strength." Luca nodded stiffly and moved past me, his shoulder brushing mine—electric, brief. But he paused at the doorframe. Without turning, he said, "I'll find Derrick. I swear it." Then he was gone. I stood there, chest tight, wondering which version of Luca I'd see next—the protector, or the stranger who kept secrets like weapons. And for the first time, I wasn't sure which one scared me more.