章 11: Chapter Eleven
Lena's footsteps were soft against the marble floor as she wandered the halls of the mansion, her mind restless. Sleep had eluded her again, and her dreams—when they came—were little more than fragmented memories wrapped in shadows.
She wasn't even sure why she had come to the library. Maybe she hoped to distract herself with a book, or perhaps it was the only place in the house that didn't feel suffocating. Either way, the door was slightly ajar when she arrived, and the faint sound of voices drifted into the hallway.
Lena hesitated, her hand hovering near the doorframe. It felt like Damien and Vanessa were having a silent heated argument and for a second, she thought it best to leave. Until she heard her name.
Curiosity prickled at Lena's thoughts, and she edged closer to the door. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but the sharp edge in Vanessa's tone made her pause.
"Why hasn't she shifted yet?" Vanessa demanded, her voice carrying an undertone of frustration.
"She's not ready," Damien replied, his tone neutral.
"Not ready?" Vanessa let out a humorless laugh. "Damien, she's the last of her bloodline. If she doesn't transition soon, the Lycaons will tear her apart. You know that."
Lena's breath caught in her throat. They were talking about her.
"She's stronger than you think," Damien said. "She just doesn't know it yet."
"Strength won't matter if she doesn't awaken," Vanessa countered. "You can't keep shielding her forever. If she's truly the Aeternum, she should've transitioned by now. Unless…"
Damien's silence was heavy, and Lena leaned closer, straining to hear.
"Unless what?" he asked finally, his voice colder.
Vanessa hesitated, but then her words came, low and deliberate. "Unless you're wrong about her."
Lena stiffened, her hands balling into fists. Before she could think better of it, she pushed the door open, the creak cutting through their conversation like a knife.
Damien and Vanessa turned to her, surprise flashing across their faces. Vanessa recovered quickly, her sharp gaze narrowing as she folded her arms.
"Lena," Damien said evenly, his tone unreadable. "Couldn't sleep?"
Lena ignored the question, her focus fixed on Vanessa. "You're wondering if he's wrong about me?" she asked, her voice steady despite the anger simmering beneath it.
Vanessa's lips curled into a faint smirk. "I didn't realize we had an audience."
"Don't deflect," Lena shot back, taking a step into the room. "Go on. Say what you were thinking."
Damien stepped between them, his presence commanding. "Enough," he said, his gaze flicking to Vanessa. "This isn't a discussion we need to have right now."
Vanessa raised an eyebrow but didn't argue. Instead, she turned her attention back to Lena, her expression softening in a way that felt insincere.
"Lena," she said, her tone smooth, almost pitying. "I wasn't questioning you. I was questioning Damien's methods. He's been very… careful with you."
"Careful?" Lena repeated, her frustration bubbling over. "You mean keeping me in the dark about everything? Talking about me like I'm some project that needs fixing? That kind of careful?"
Vanessa tilted her head, her smile faint. "If you know so little, that's on Damien, not me."
"That's enough," Damien said sharply, his voice carrying a warning.
Lena turned to him, her anger flaring. "No, she's right. You've been keeping things from me since the moment we met. You talk about protecting me, but how am I supposed to protect myself when I don't even know what I'm up against?"
"Because knowing would put you in more danger," Damien said, his voice low but firm.
"That's not your decision to make," Lena shot back. "It's my life. My family. My… legacy. Whatever that even means."
Damien sighed, running a hand through his hair. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to argue, but then his shoulders sagged slightly.
"You're right," he said finally. "You deserve answers. But this isn't the time."
"It's never the time," Lena said, her voice softening. "When will it be, Damien? When I'm dead?"
His eyes darkened, and for a moment, Lena thought he might walk away. But instead, he stepped closer, his gaze locking onto hers.
"I made a promise," he said quietly. "To your father. To your family. I promised I'd keep you safe, no matter what."
Lena's chest tightened, the weight of his words sinking in. "Safe from what?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"From them," Damien said. "The Lycaons. The hunters. Everyone who sees you as a threat—or a prize."
"And you think hiding me away will stop them?" Lena asked, her frustration giving way to desperation. "They'll keep coming, won't they? No matter what you do."
Damien's silence was answer enough.
Vanessa cleared her throat, breaking the tension. "I think I'll leave you two to sort this out," she said, her tone laced with amusement. She brushed past Lena, her smile faint but smug. "Good luck, Lena. You're going to need it."
Lena watched her leave, the sound of her heels clicking against the floor fading into silence.
"Charming," Lena muttered, turning back to Damien.
"She's blunt," Damien admitted, his tone softening. "But she's not wrong about one thing. You are running out of time."
Lena frowned. "What does that mean? What happens if I don't… transition?"
Damien hesitated, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Your body will fight itself," he said finally. "The wolf inside you—it's not just dormant. It's suppressed. If it doesn't awaken naturally, the strain could kill you."
Her breath caught, the words hitting her like a punch to the gut. "Kill me?" she whispered.
"That's why I've been careful," Damien said, stepping closer. "Why I've tried to shield you from this world. I thought… I hoped you'd have more time."
"Time for what?" Lena asked, her voice trembling.
"To become who you're meant to be," Damien said simply.
Lena stared at him, her mind racing. Every answer seemed to bring more questions, more uncertainty. But one thing was clear: she couldn't keep pretending this wasn't real.
"What do I do?" she asked finally.
Damien's gaze softened, and he reached out, his hand brushing against hers. "You trust me," he said. "And you let me help you."
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