It was the middle of the night when Aria stumbled upon the forbidden room. It had been weeks since her arrival, and despite the constant watchfulness of the pack, she couldn't help but explore the dark corners of the Shadowlands.
The pack house was vast, and as she wandered deeper into its corridors, she found herself in a part of the building she hadn't seen before. The walls were adorned with old, faded paintings of wolves, their eyes glowing in the dim light. The air was thick with the scent of dust and ancient wood.
She turned the corner and found a door. It was slightly ajar, the faintest sliver of light escaping from within.
Curiosity gnawed at her, and before she could stop herself, she pushed the door open.
Inside, the room was filled with old books, scrolls, and artifacts. But what caught Aria's eye was the large portrait on the wall—of the Shadow Alpha, his face younger, more vulnerable. His eyes were intense, but there was something different about them. They weren't cold or calculating. They were... searching.
Her heart skipped a beat as she stepped closer, tracing the outline of the portrait with her fingers.
As she did, a voice broke the silence.
"Shouldn't be in here."
Aria froze, her breath catching in her throat. She turned around to find the Shadow Alpha standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable, his arms crossed over his chest.
"I was just... curious," she said, trying to mask the unease in her voice. "I didn't mean to intrude."
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped into the room, his presence overwhelming. The air grew heavier as he approached her, his eyes locked onto hers.
"This is a place for the pack's most sacred secrets," he said quietly. "And some things are better left unknown."
Aria swallowed hard, the weight of his words sinking in. There was so much more to this world than she had realized. So many secrets that could change everything.
And she had just scratched the surface.