Chapter 27 – The Calm Before the Storm
The warmth of last night’s laughter had barely faded when reality came crashing back.
Raine woke up to the sound of hushed voices drifting in from the hallway. Her body ached—not from training, but from the ridiculous game night that had spiraled into chaos.
She rubbed her temples and pushed herself up. The scent of coffee mixed with the morning air, and for a moment, she let herself **enjoy the quiet.**
Then she heard Xavier’s voice.
And **all the warmth vanished.**
\---
She stepped into the hallway just as **Xavier, Reed, and Ivy** stood huddled around Xavier’s phone.
The atmosphere was **tense.**
Reed’s jaw was clenched. Ivy’s usual playfulness was **gone.**
Xavier noticed Raine first. His golden eyes flickered toward her, unreadable. "Morning, Evernight."
"Morning," she muttered, crossing her arms. "What’s going on?"
Ivy hesitated before answering. "We got word from our contacts."
Raine raised a brow. "About?"
Xavier turned the phone toward her.
The screen showed **a burnt-down safe house.** Charred remains of walls. **Bloodstains** on the ground.
A single **symbol** painted in red.
The mark of the **Elders.**
Raine’s stomach **dropped.**
"They were looking for you," Xavier said, voice calm—but **too calm.** "But they didn’t find what they wanted."
Raine swallowed hard. "Did anyone survive?"
Reed exhaled. "One. Barely."
Ivy’s eyes darkened. "They’re getting bolder."
Raine clenched her fists.
This was her fault.
Her display at the fight club had **exposed her.**
She had put innocent people at risk—people who had been **hiding her without even knowing it.**
The Elders weren’t waiting anymore.
They were **hunting.**
\---
Raine stormed past them, heading for the training room.
"Where are you going?" Xavier called after her.
"Training," she said through gritted teeth.
She **had** to be ready. She **had** to make sure she wasn’t the weak link in this fight.
She barely made it two steps before Xavier **blocked her path.**
Golden eyes locked onto hers. "No."
Raine’s **wolf bristled.** "Move."
Xavier didn’t. "I just said you’re not ready."
Raine **growled.** "That’s exactly why I need to train!"
Xavier’s expression remained unreadable. "Tell me, Evernight. What’s your plan?"
Raine hesitated. "What?"
"You heard me." Xavier tilted his head. "What’s your plan? You want to train? Great. But for what? You still can’t access your power. You still rely on instinct. And if the Elders find you tomorrow?"
Silence.
Raine’s nails bit into her palms. "I’ll fight."
Xavier smirked. "You’ll die."
Raine’s wolf **snarled.** "I—"
"You think I don’t know how this works?" Xavier’s voice **hardened.** "I’ve seen wolves like you before. Running on anger. Running on fear. Do you know what happens to them?"
Raine **glared.** "Let me guess. They die."
Xavier’s smirk didn’t fade. "Exactly."
A sharp, burning frustration built in Raine’s chest.
She hated this.
Hated the **helplessness.**
Hated that he was right.
Hated that no matter how hard she pushed, **she still wasn’t enough.**
Xavier’s golden gaze softened. "That’s why I’m not letting you rush this."
Raine let out a slow breath. "Then what do I do?"
Xavier smiled. "We do things my way."
Raine frowned. "And what exactly is that?"
Xavier’s smirk turned dangerous.
"We start playing offense."
\---
The private jet **rumbled** beneath their feet as they took off.
Raine sat across from Xavier, arms crossed. "Are you ever going to tell me where we’re going?"
Xavier swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand. "You’ll see."
Reed, who sat beside her, sighed. "I don’t like this."
"You never like anything fun," Ivy muttered, stretched out on the seat.
Xavier chuckled. "It’s simple, really. If the Elders are looking for Raine, then maybe we should start looking for **them.**"
Raine’s eyes narrowed. "That sounds incredibly stupid."
Xavier raised a brow. "Or incredibly smart."
Raine exhaled sharply. "You don’t think they’ll see this coming?"
Xavier grinned. "Oh, they’ll see it. But by the time they react?"
His golden eyes glinted.
"It’ll be too late."
\---
In the heart of a **hidden sanctuary**, the Elders gathered.
The High Elder sat at the head of the grand table, fingers tapping against the dark wood.
"We have confirmation," one of them announced. "She is alive."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
The High Elder leaned forward. "And the power she displayed?"
"Unstable," another Elder admitted. "She hasn’t accessed it again."
The High Elder’s lips curled into a slow smile. "Then she is still weak."
A sharp **knock** interrupted them.
A hooded figure entered the room, bowing low. "The assassins are in place. They await your command."
The High Elder exhaled slowly.
"Good."
He lifted his gaze, eyes dark and knowing.
"It’s time we remind the world why her bloodline was erased in the first place."
\---
\#### **The Beginning of War**
The private jet touched down just as the sun dipped below the horizon.
Raine stared out the window, her stomach twisting with a feeling she couldn’t quite name.
Xavier’s plan was **reckless.**
Bold.
But deep down?
She knew they had no choice.
If she wanted to **survive**, she couldn’t keep running.
She had to become **something more.**
Something **stronger.**
Something the Elders would **never see coming.**
Xavier stood, stretching lazily. "Ready to make some noise?"
Raine clenched her fists.
"Always."
\---