Chapter 15: A Truth

Derek had left me with no option. 

I understood what he meant when he said he was still making decisions about my future. He had no faith in me. He viewed me as a risk to Redwater, a liability. I needed to convince him that I was worth the risk if I wanted to stay and if I wanted a chance to live.  

And that meant sharing everything with him.  

I found myself standing outside his office door once more the following evening as the sun began to set. My pulse pounded steadily in my ears as my hands balled into fists at my sides.  

It was this.  

I knocked.  

His voice was deep and even. "Come in," he said.  

I shut the door behind me and went inside. Derek was reviewing some reports at his desk, but as soon as he saw me, he leaned back in his chair and gave me that same piercing, evaluative look.  

He remarked, "You're back." "I assume you have a message to share?"  

I forced myself to look at him while I nodded. "I do."  

He pointed to the chair on the other side. "Sit."  

This time, I didn't hesitate. I spoke as soon as I settled into the chair. I said, "You were right," Something more significant is happening. something that I previously didn't fully comprehend."  

Derek's eyebrows went up. "Go on."  

I inhaled and steadied myself. "I was turned down by Jared. embarrassed me. Ordered my execution. But now, instead of simply killing me, he’s sending spies to find me. To bring me back." I met Derek’s eyes. "And I believe I understand why."  

Derek waited without saying anything.  

With the truth weighing heavily on my chest, I licked my lips. "Jared is searching for more than just me. He's trying to find something I stole.  

He was interested in that. His body tensed slightly, and his brows furrowed. "Something you took?"  

I gave a nod. "The day I escaped, I found something in my father’s study—something that Jared didn’t want anyone else to see." My fingers clenched together in my lap. It was a letter. a secret that my father had long concealed.  

Derek's face grew serious. "What did it say?"  

I took a deep breath. It came from the former Alpha, Jared's father. It mentioned a prophecy that included our ancestry.  

Derek didn't interrupt, but his eyes flashed.  

According to the letter, a wolf with a unique gift is born once every few generations. A gift that can change the pack's power dynamics. My father thought that Jared didn't have that kind of power. that he had read the signs incorrectly. I inhaled deeply. "He thought I was the one."  

Between us, silence descended like a storm cloud.  

Slowly and deliberately, Derek's fingers drummed against the desk. "You're telling me that this prophecy is connected to you—an Omega?"  

I gave a nod. "At first, Jared brushed it off. It seemed ridiculous to him. However, he ordered my father's execution after learning that he had concealed the letter. And then he came for me."  

Derek exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand along his jaw. "And do you have this letter?"  

My stomach turned over. "No. It was burned in the attack on my home. But I remember every word."  

He studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. He leaned forward then. "If this is accurate, Jared isn't pursuing you merely out of animosity. He is pursuing you because you could pose a challenge to his authority.  

"Exactly."  

Derek's wolf peered through his eyes as he drummed his fingers on the desk. Making calculations. Thinking about it.  

Then he grinned abruptly. It was sharp and cold. Risky. "I must confess, Claire. You're a real surprise.  

His tone irritated me. I said, "I didn’t ask for this," in a more forceful tone than before. "I didn't ask to be the target of an animal hunt. I didn't request that Jared ruin my life. I met his gaze, my pulse hammering. However, I made it through. And I'm not going to let him take that away."  

Derek maintained eye contact with me while an unintelligible expression crossed his face.  

Then he gave a nod.  

I noticed a change in him for the first time since I got to Redwater—not sympathy, not uncertainty.  

Show respect.  

He remarked, "You're stronger than you look."  

I stood up straight. "I had to be."  

Derek leaned back in his chair and let out a breath. He acknowledged, "You've given me a lot to think about." You've given me a reason to keep you here, though, which is more significant.  

Despite the glimmer of hope in my chest, I maintained a neutral expression. "So... what's going on?"  

Derek grinned again, but this time it was icier. "Now? We get ready for the impending war.  

I took a swallow. "You think Jared will come for Redwater?"  

"Oh, he will," Derek said. "The question is... will you be ready?"  

Even though his words made me shudder, I raised my chin.  

"I must be."  

Behind his eyes, Derek's wolf glowed with a sinister promise. "Good."  

I wasn't running for the first time since I got away from the Midnight Moon Pack. I wasn't hiding.  

I was refusing to back down.  

And I wasn’t alone anymore.

Derek continued to tap his fingers on the desk as he studied me for a long time. The way he gazed at me was unsettling; it seemed as though he was removing layers of my skin to find any indication of weakness.  

"Don't you understand what this means?" His voice was quiet but edged with something sharp.  

I took a deep breath. "That until he finds me, Jared won't stop?"  

Derek grimaced as he shook his head. "It means you’re not just some runaway Omega anymore. You pose a danger. Jared won't simply send spies after you if he thinks you have more power than he does. He is going to send his army.  

His remarks weighed heavily on my chest. I hadn't thought about what would happen if I succeeded because I had been focussing so much on surviving and avoiding Jared's hunters. if I survived.  

Jared would not permit it.  

My hands clenched into fists. Despite the fear tearing at my throat, I said, "Then I’ll fight," in a steady voice.  

Derek's forehead raised. "You?"  

I clenched my jaw. "Yes. Me."  

There was no mockery in his face, but a smirk appeared on his lips. Claire, you're not a warrior. Not just yet. However, I respect your perseverance.  

I retorted, "I don't need admiration." "I need an opportunity to demonstrate that I am more than just a weak Omega."  

Derek looked at me once more, his eyes lingering as though he was considering the veracity of what I had said. Then he stood slowly. The room's atmosphere changed abruptly as his presence became strong and oppressive.  

When he said, "Then let’s make a deal,"  

My heartbeat accelerated. "A deal?"  

Do you wish to fight? Alright. My warriors will train with you. You stay if you can prove yourself. If you fail…" His icy, cunning smirk reappeared. "Let's just say that Redwater has no space for dead weight."  

Unflinching, I looked him in the eye. "I'm not going to fail."  

Derek’s eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering through them. "We’ll see."