Midnight Secrets with the Alpha Billionaire

Lena's POV

The cold night air stung my skin as I ran, the sound of my own panicked breathing drowning out everything else. I didn't know where I was going—just away. Away from the mansion, away from the danger, and away from the crushing weight of the prophecy that seemed to have chained itself to me.

Branches tore at my clothes, the forest closing in on me as though it had teeth. My legs ached, but I couldn't stop. Not now. Not with the memory of those glowing, predatory eyes still haunting me.

"You can't outrun this, Lena," I whispered to myself, my voice trembling.

But what else could I do?

The crack of a twig snapped me out of my thoughts, and I froze, every muscle in my body tensing.

"Damien?" I called out, my voice barely above a whisper.

No answer.

I turned slowly, my eyes scanning the darkened woods. Nothing. Just shadows and the faint rustle of leaves. But the feeling was unmistakable. I wasn't alone.

"Show yourself!" I demanded, my voice shaking more than I wanted it to.

A figure stepped out from the darkness, and my heart nearly stopped. It wasn't Damien. It wasn't even one of his pack members. This man was taller, leaner, with an air of casual confidence that bordered on arrogance. His tousled brown hair caught the moonlight, and his piercing green eyes locked onto mine with unsettling intensity.

"Well, hello there," he drawled, a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Who are you?" I asked, backing away instinctively.

"Riley," he said, his voice smooth and disarming. "Damien's cousin."

Relief flooded me for a brief moment before suspicion set in. "I didn't know Damien had a cousin."

He chuckled, a low, amused sound. "That doesn't surprise me. Damien's not exactly the sharing type."

I crossed my arms, trying to steady my breathing. "What do you want?"

"Want?" Riley repeated, tilting his head as though the question amused him. "I want to help you, Lena. You looked like you could use a hand."

"Help me?" I scoffed, eyeing him warily. "Why would I trust you?"

"Good question," he said, his smirk fading slightly. "You shouldn't. Not entirely, anyway. But I think you'll find I'm more useful alive and on your side than anything else."

"Useful how?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

"Let's just say I have a knack for being in the right place at the right time," he replied cryptically.

Before I could press him further, a low growl rumbled through the trees. My blood turned cold as the sound of heavy footsteps approached, each one deliberate and menacing.

Riley's expression shifted in an instant, his easy charm replaced with sharp focus. "Stay close to me," he said, his voice low and urgent.

I didn't argue.

The first wolf burst through the underbrush, its massive form illuminated by the moonlight. Its yellow eyes locked onto me, and I felt a primal fear unlike anything I'd ever known.

"Down!" Riley shouted, grabbing my arm and pulling me to the ground just as the wolf lunged.

Riley moved with inhuman speed, shifting mid-leap into a sleek, powerful wolf. His fur was darker than Damien's, almost black, with streaks of silver running along his sides. He collided with the attacking wolf, their snarls echoing through the night.

I scrambled backward, my heart pounding as the fight unfolded in front of me. Riley was faster, more agile, but the other wolf was relentless.

"Lena, move!" Riley's voice was sharp in my mind, his telepathic link startling me into action.

I stumbled to my feet and ran, not daring to look back. But the fight followed me, the sounds of snapping jaws and ripping flesh growing closer.

Just when I thought I couldn't run any farther, I tripped, falling hard against the forest floor. The wind was knocked out of me, and before I could recover, the attacking wolf was on me, its claws digging into my shoulders.

"Lena!" Riley's voice roared in my head, but he was too far away.

I struggled, panic overtaking me as the wolf's hot breath hit my face. It growled low, its jaws opening wide—

And then it was gone, yanked backward with such force that it yelped in surprise. Riley stood over me, his wolf form covered in blood, his eyes blazing with fury.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice softer now.

I shook my head, too stunned to speak.

"Good," he said, his body shifting back into his human form in one smooth motion. "Because we need to move. Now."

He helped me to my feet, his grip steady despite the tension radiating off him.

"What the hell was that?" I asked, my voice shaking.

"Victor's wolves," Riley said grimly. "They've been tracking you."

"Why?"

Riley hesitated, his jaw tightening. "It's not just the prophecy, Lena. You're worth more than you know."

"What does that mean?" I demanded, my frustration boiling over.

He glanced at me, his expression unreadable. "I'll explain everything. But first, we need to get somewhere safe."

We walked in silence, the forest eerily quiet after the chaos of the attack. I couldn't shake the feeling that Riley was hiding something, but for now, I had no choice but to follow him.

Eventually, we reached a small clearing, the moonlight casting a silver glow over the scene. Riley stopped, turning to face me.

"You need to be careful," he said, his voice low.

I frowned. "You think I don't know that by now?"

"I'm not just talking about Victor's wolves," he said, stepping closer. "I'm talking about Damien."

My stomach twisted. "What about him?"

Riley's green eyes locked onto mine, his expression deadly serious. "Don't trust him."

The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, their weight pressing down on me.

"Why?" I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Riley's lips quirked into a sad smile. "Because Damien will do whatever it takes to protect the pack. Even if it means sacrificing you."

The world seemed to tilt, Riley's warning echoing in my mind.

"Lena," he said, his voice softer now, almost gentle. "You're worth more than you know. To all of us. But especially to him."

I stared at him, my heart pounding. "What aren't you telling me?"

Riley didn't answer. Instead, he stepped back into the shadows, his form disappearing into the darkness as though he'd never been there.

And I was left alone, his words lingering in the cold night air.

As I stood there, trying to make sense of everything, a faint glow caught my eye. It was coming from my hand.

I raised it slowly, my breath hitching as I saw the mark etched into my skin.

It wasn't just glowing—it was changing. The lines twisted and shifted, forming a symbol I'd never seen before.

And in the back of my mind, Riley's warning echoed louder than ever.

"Don't trust Damien."