Shadows of the past

Talon's POV

She looked up at me, still seated, her eyes filled with a soft, hesitant confusion. I took her wrist gently, guiding her outside in silence. Once I’d opened the car door and we slid into the seats, quiet settled over us, thick and nearly stifling. My throat felt tight, heart hammering—I wasn’t used to feeling like this. Words tangled on my tongue, weighted by pride, hesitation, nerves. I wasn’t one to apologize; I’d never cared much about people’s feelings, their opinions slipping off me like water. Hate, fear… those reactions made sense. At least they were real, unlike the pretense most people wore.

But with her…

I glanced over. Her profile caught in the faint glow of the dashboard, her features softened, yet unreadable. Somehow, this felt different. I swallowed, my voice low and almost rough. “I... I’m sorry, Anthena, for doubting you. I’ve got too many enemies. They’ve made me… careful. Too careful.”

Her expression shifted—surprise mingled with something else, an emotion I couldn’t quite place. She gave a faint, tentative smile. “It’s okay… Mr. President,” she said, her voice light, though her eyes lingered on me, searching.

Silence hung between us again, heavier than before. My pulse thudded in my ears, a slow, steady beat that pushed me forward. “I want to get to know you, Anthena,” I admitted, and once the words were out, I felt exposed, raw.

Her gaze met mine, brows lifting, the surprise in her eyes now unmistakable. But she didn’t respond. I felt the unfamiliar tug of vulnerability, uncomfortable yet undeniable, holding me there. “I… I don’t know how to explain it, but… I think I’m attracted to you,” I murmured, barely loud enough to be heard.

Her face shifted, first unreadable, then slipping into shock. She repeated, almost to herself, “…Attracted?” as though she were testing the word on her own lips.

“Yes,” I replied with a nod, letting the vulnerability hang between us, sharp and unsettling.

She stared at me, her gaze intense, as if searching for any sign that this was a game. And then, finally, she spoke. "I’m sorry, but… you should know—there’s something about me that—”

A sudden crash echoed through the night, snapping both our heads toward the noise. My body tensed, instincts flaring as I scanned our surroundings. Just beyond the edge of the street, in the shadows, I spotted a pair of eyes—gleaming, unblinking, fixed on us with a feral intensity.

A low, guttural growl broke the silence, and I felt something primal stir within me. I threw open the door, stepping out, my senses on high alert. But as I moved toward the shadows, I saw nothing, only darkness. Anthena followed, her concern clear on her face.

“Talon… what’s going on?” she asked, voice tinged with worry.

I hesitated, gaze still sweeping the path. “Anthena,” I said, keeping my tone low, “you should go home.” She looked at me, confused, but finally nodded.

"Did you drive?" I asked. She nodded again, uncertainly. “Then go,” I insisted. “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I watched her get into her car and pull away before crossing the road toward the shadows. I knew what I’d seen—those eyes, that growl. A rogue. As I moved further down the road, a faint path led into a dense pocket of forest, and there, I caught the familiar scent, sharp and musky, lingering in the air.

Show yourself!” I shouted, frustration spilling over as my voice echoed into the dark. A moment later, an old rogue emerged from behind a tall tree, his gaze sharp, sneering.

"Well, look who it is—the bastard Alpha himself,” he said, his voice dripping with contempt.

“Why are you here? Were you the one who killed my pack members?” My voice was tight, restrained, though fury simmered beneath the surface.

He chuckled, mocking. “Instead of doing your duty, you’re busy chasing a human woman around. Just like your father—obsessed with a human and tearing your kingdom apart over it.”

The words hit like a punch, stirring old, buried wounds. The last thing I wanted was to be anything like him. A growl slipped past my lips as I felt my wolf form rip through me, bones shifting as anger fueled my transformation.

The rogue grinned, transforming as well, and we lunged toward each other. It was brutal, a whirlwind of claws and snarls, but I fought with everything, finally pinning him down. Rage clouded my vision as I tore him apart, his words ringing in my head—I am not my father.

When it was over, I sank onto a rock, breathing hard. I called Evans, asking him to bring me clothes, and minutes later he arrived, the concern clear on his face as he handed me fresh clothing.

“Alpha, you should take guards with you,” he said, his voice soft, hinting at disappointment. “If you don’t trust anyone else, at least trust me and Lucian.”

I was silent for a moment, then nodded. “Evans… I think someone’s after me. I need your help to find out who.”

He nodded, bowing slightly, and left. I slipped into my car and headed home, mind still reeling from the fight and the rogue’s taunts.

As I neared a busy intersection, traffic slowed, red and blue lights flashing up ahead. Police cars blocked part of the road, signaling some kind of accident. But as I looked closer, a chill settled over me. Among the wreckage, I caught sight of a familiar car—Anthena’s. It was crushed, the side mangled, glass shattered across the pavement.

Panic seized me, and I pulled over, leaping from my car. I fought my way past the police barrier, shoving aside anyone in my way as I reached the vehicle. I looked inside, desperately searching, but Anthena was nowhere to be seen.

My chest tightened, the weight of dread settling in. “Where is she?” I demanded, but my words were swallowed by the chaos around me. And then, a small object caught my eye, lying just outside the car—a single, delicate silver bracelet she always wore, glinting under the streetlight.

I stared down at the bracelet, the silver gleam now cold and lifeless in my palm. My pulse thundered as the realization sank in—this was no accident. Someone had taken her, and they’d left this behind as a message.

I scanned the wreckage, desperation clawing at me. My mind raced, cycling through enemies and threats. Who would go this far? Who would dare to—

A vibration jolted me from my thoughts. I glanced down at my phone, and an unknown number flashed on the screen. I picked up, my voice tense, barely restrained.

“Hello?”

There was a pause, then a low, taunting chuckle came through, chilling me to my core. “Looking for something, Alpha?”

My jaw clenched, a fury unlike anything I’d felt in years swelling inside me. “Where is she?”