Page 26 of Howl For A Kiss
Lena's voice grew reverent as she recited the ancient words: "The third one who hides in the shadows will help to bridge the two worlds with their strong leadership and mind, forcing reconciliation between traditional values worth preserving and progressive changes necessary for survival."
The color drained from Elena's face. Damon watched as recognition dawned in her expression and watched her put the pieces together with the same tactical brilliance that made her a formidable rebellion leader.
"A secret hybrid," Elena whispered, her voice barely audible. "Someone hiding their true nature. Or someone who had their true nature hidden from them, like me."
Damon's wolf howled internally, recognizing this as the moment when everything changed for Elena. For her destiny.
"Wait. So my hunch is right?" Lena's voice sharpened through the speaker. "Elena, are you saying?—"
"I just found out two days ago," Elena blurted, then immediately looked stricken that she'd revealed such crucial information. "I'm a hybrid. My father lied to me about my mother being human." She paused, swallowing hard. "I just had my first full transformation into my white wolf form last night."
Silence stretched across the phone connection, heavy with implication. Damon could practically hear Lena's mind racing as she processed this revelation.
"Elena." Lena's voice was breathless with awe. "You're really the third hybrid. You're part of the prophecy that will restore our shifter world."
"No." Elena shot to her feet, pacing to the small window. "No, that's impossible. I'm just a rebellion leader trying to reform cruel pack laws and take down the corrupt High Council."
"My mentor Rhea had a vision of a white wolf when I told her about the third part of the prophecy and the secret hybrid," Lenacontinued, relentless in her excitement. "A white wolf is rare and pure—a sign of your destiny. You have strong leadership, a brilliant mind, and you're literally forcing reconciliation between tradition and progress through your rebellion efforts."
Elena spun around, her eyes wild with panic. "I never asked for this. I never wanted to be anyone's savior."
"Elena—" Damon started, but she was already moving toward the door.
"I need air."
She bolted from the bedroom, leaving Damon staring at the empty doorway. He could hear her footsteps echoing through the cabin, then the slam of the front door.
"Lena," Damon said, his voice rough with frustration. "This isn't good news."
"Are you insane? She's the third hybrid of the prophecy! This changes everything?—"
"No, it makes her their top target now," Damon cut her off, his protective instincts roaring to life. "The Council will stop at nothing to eliminate her once they discover what she represents."
"But Damon?—"
"I have to go." He ended the call and shoved the phone into his pocket, already moving toward the door. Elena was out there alone, overwhelmed and vulnerable, processing the devastating revelation that her entire life was tied to an ancient prophecy she'd never wanted.
And she still doesn't know that she's my mate. Or that I'm the Beta of the very pack system she's fighting against.
Damon's jaw clenched as he reached for the cabin door. His lies were compounding, building toward an inevitable confrontation that would probably destroy the best thing that's ever happened to him.
ELEVEN
ELENA
Elena burst through the cabin door and the cold November air hit her face like a slap. Her long-sleeved white top and black cargo pants offered no protection against the morning chill, but she barely registered the temperature. Her world had just been flipped completely upside down—again.
A cosmic joke. This has to be some kind of cosmic joke.
She wrapped her arms around herself, pacing frantically across the snowy ground. Five days ago, she'd been Elena Walsh, rebellion leader with a clear mission: steal the ancient Council records, expose the Council's corruption, and reform the oppressive pack laws. Straightforward. Achievable.
Now? Now, she was apparently some mystical chosen one destined to save their entire shifter world. The third part of an ancient prophecy she'd never even heard of until five minutes ago.
"The third one who hides in the shadows will help to bridge the two worlds with their strong leadership and mind."
Lena's words echoed in Elena's mind, each syllable feeling like another weight added to her already crushing revelations. Elena kicked at a fallen branch, sending it skittering across the frozen ground.
"This is insane," she muttered to herself, her breath forming small clouds in the frigid air. "I didn't ask for any of this."
