The room was silent except for the stable beep of the heart monitor. Dan fainted, his huge frame became unheard, his breath slowed down.
Mira was sitting next to him, her hands turned to fists. The glow that had previously vibrated with her fingers had gone, but she could still feel something inside her, shifting, growing. She knew what Silas said was already happening to her; she could feel it. She wasn't the same. And she didn't know what she was becoming.
Then, her phone rang. She frowned, pulling it from her pocket. Unknown Number.
A cold feeling settled in her stomach as she hesitated before answering.
"Mira," a familiar voice sounded from the receiver.
She remained still and looked closely at the screen of her phone again. Elara.
Her grip tightened on the phone. "What do you want? Why the call out of nowhere?"
Elara chuckled softly. "To talk. You have been looking for answers, haven't you? About what's happening to you? The strange occurrences are making your mind a whirlwind, right?"
Mira's breath seized; she tried to remain calm on the phone and not give a hint of her troubles. " All you are saying seems strange to my ears, and I don't have a hint about what you are talking about. I never expected to receive a call from you. And if you don't mind, I have a pressing thing to attend to."
"Come on now," Elara said smoothly. "We both know that's a lie. You're changing. You can feel it, what can't you do? The way your senses are sharp, your strength is increasing, your body is changing in ways that you can explain.
Mira could feel her heart beating faster than expected. How did Elara know? What could she possibly want to discuss with her?
She looked closely at Dane's unconscious form. "You should leave him," Elara continued. "Leave Voss Tower. Join me. You don't know how great you could possibly be with me. Stop living as a second fiddle and come over to be great."
Mira's jaw clenched. "Not a chance. I am never going to be used as a weapon against Dane, and to remind you, your assessment of Dane's health is wrong because he is perfectly fine."
Elara sighed. "You think Dane will protect you, but tell me, who will protect you from him? You have seen his true form, and you still believe you or any other alone has a chance against him?"
Mira frowned. "What's that supposed to mean? What are you insinuating with your talk?"
"Dane is stronger than any werewolf alive," Elara said. "But you might be something even greater. Do you really think he'll accept that? That his own kind will let you live if they see you as a threat? How much do you trust Dane to keep you alive when he realizes your full strength and you decide not to join his pack? Dane is never going to allow the chance."
Mira's fingers remained firm around the phone. "Dane isn't like that. With the little I have known him, he is way different from what you are telling me, and I believe I will take my chances with him."
"You sound so sure," Elara teased. "But has he told you everything? Do you think you know him more than myself?"
Mira's chest tightened. He hasn't.
Elara's voice softened. "I don't want to fight you, Mira. But I do want you to understand. You don't belong at Voss Tower. You belong with us. You belong with me. That place is evil, and the earlier you understand that, the better."
Mira swallowed hard. "And Lucian?"
A pause. Then Elara said, "Lucian has his own plans. Plans that could destroy everything—including Dane. Lucian is obsessed with Dane."
Mira's breath seized in her throat. "What do you mean?"
But the line went dead.
Who Can She Trust?
Mira lowered the phone, her thoughts racing. Elara was dangerous, but was she lying? Everyone so far is doing things to benefit them.
Lucian had let her go when he could have killed her. He knew what she was becoming, but he hadn't told her the truth. He just allowed her to leave with her mind filled with unanswered questions unattended to.
And Dane… Mira looked at him again. His face was pale, his body still weak from the fight.
What hasn't he told me?
Footsteps sounded behind her. She turned immediately. Silas stood in the doorway, arms crossed. "You shouldn't have answered that call," he said.
Mira narrowed her eyes. "You were listening? So you heard everything and said nothing."
"I monitor all unknown numbers that contact us," Silas said flatly. "For security reasons."
Mira smiled. "So, you heard everything?" Silas stepped forward. "I heard enough."
"Then tell me," she asked. "Is Elara lying? What she right with what she said so far? Should I be scared for Dane or take my chances elsewhere?"
Silas didn't answer right away. That hesitation made something twist in Mira's gut.
Finally, he said, "Elara wants to use you. She doesn't care about you. She only cares about power. I know you may not want to hear this, but I will say it anyway. Dane is the best bet amongst everyone because they are all after personal gains, but Dane is after the life of werewolves as a whole."
Mira folded her arms. "And Lucian?"
Silas's jaw tightened. "Lucian is dangerous. More dangerous than you realize. Whatever Elara told you… it's worse than that."
Mira stared at him. "Then tell me the truth, Silas."
His expression darkened. "I would if I knew it. But there are things even I don't understand. A whole lot is happening that are above my understanding."
Mira breathed out sharply. "That's not good enough."
Silas stepped closer. "Listen to me, Mira. If you trust Elara, she will tear you apart. If you trust Lucian, he will destroy everything you care about. Dane is the only one who can keep you safe."
Mira shook her head. "But Dane is unconscious, Silas. And right now, I don't know who I can trust. I do not even know what is happening to me right now. ,
Silas maintained his gaze on her. Then, without saying another word, he left.
Mira's breath seized in her throat, her mind filled with various questions.
She needed answers. And she needed them now.
Her eyes shifted toward Dane's desk.
She hesitated, and then she walked slowly to the desk. She had never checked his things behind him before, but he was not here to stop her.
Her fingers went over the smooth wood before opening the top drawer. Papers, reports, files—but then she saw it. A small, sealed envelope. Her name was written on the front.
Mira. Her breath seized. Dane had written her a letter. Her hands kept shaking as she picked it up.