Emily’s POV
“Where are we going?” I asked, seeing Luke drive past the turn-off toward the Opal pack.
“You will see,” Alex said, keeping his eyes on the road.
I frowned but didn’t ask any more questions and sat back, folding my arms around my waist and looking out the window.
We had driven out of the city, and before long, Luke took a turn off on a dirt road.
That spiked my interest, and I sat upright, looking out the window.
Huge trees suddenly surrounded us and spread down the road.
“Now I am really curious about where we are going,” I said, sitting back with my eyes on the road.
“We will be there in less than an hour,” Luke said, looking back at me through the rearview mirror.
“Where is there?” I asked. “Did you two decide to kidnap me?”
Alex chuckled at my response, shaking his head and looking toward Luke.
Luke nodded and smiled.
“That’s rude, you know,” I huffed, gesturing between them.
“Where are we being rude?” Luke said, taken aback. “We didn’t say or do anything.”
“I can see the two of you having a private conversation,” I said. “What’s so funny anyway?”
“Nothing is funny,” Alex suddenly said. “I just confirmed with Luke that everything is done.”
“What needed to be done?” I asked.
“You will see,” Luke said, bringing the SUV to a slower speed and taking a turn-off I hadn’t even noticed.
We were now in the middle of nowhere. Did we just drive into another pack’s territory without permission?
Less than five minutes later, Luke stopped the truck in an open gravel parking area and jumped out.
“Are you in the mood for some hiking?” Alex asked.
“Hiking?” I asked skeptically. “Where to? Didn’t we cross the boundary into another pack?”
Alex ignored my question and jumped out of the car, opening the door for me.
I got out of the SUV and looked around; something about this place looked familiar.
Have I been here before?
“Come on,” Alex said, smiling and holding his hand out to take.
I hesitated, not sure if I should trust Alex. I have never been fond of people acting suspiciously.
“Come on, Emily,” Willow mussed, jumping around excitedly in my mind. “Alex is our mate. He would hurt us. In any case, you did just tell him you would give him a chance.”
“You heard that?” I asked, feeling a bit annoyed.
Why did Willow always take Alex’s side?
“I did!” She called out, flicking her tail happily in the air.
I sighed hopelessly and nodded, taking Alex’s hand.
We walked in silence toward a footpath that flowed into the forest.
“I’m glad you agreed to come with me,” Alex said.
I chuckled nervously.
“I still don’t know where we are going,” I said.
Alex stopped and looked down at me. His face was smooth, and his eyes were warm and full of love.
“For what I am about to show you,” he said, searching my gaze. “It’s an Opal pack secret.”
My heart started to race, and worry crossed my mind. In the distance, something like a wolf’s call echoed through the forest, sending an ice-cold shiver down my spine.
What was Alex about to show me?
Was he keeping prisoners there?
Was he the one organizing the rogue attacks?
Alex calmly turned and started walking again, unconcerned about the wolf’s call.
Did he hear it, or was he ignoring it?
Should I ask him about it?
Would he answer me?
“I think you are overreacting,” Willow said when I didn’t move, and my attention snapped at her.
“Do you have any idea what or who is down there?” I asked, feeling worried. “This could be a trap!”
“I doubt that it’s a trap,” Willow said. “But I am curious about what he wants to show you.”
I have to admit, I was too. Will it explain the loss of pack members?
“Aren’t you coming?” Alex called, turning to look back at me. “It’s not that far anymore.”
“I-”
Alex sighed, shaking his head and smiling. The wolf had some patience!
“Emily, you can trust me,” he said, his silver eyes dancing in excitement. “Stop being so paranoid. I would never put you in harm’s way. Trust me.”
I gave in and went to his side. Alex wrapped his arms around my shoulders, pulling me to his side. His apple crumble scent forced the worries away.
“You will like the surprise,” he said. “And it might explain a few things.”
That made me worry again.
What kind of surprise will Alex reveal?
“Wait and see,” Willow said. “Ask him about Angelica!”
“Fine!” I hissed, turning my attention to Alex.
A nervous smile followed on my lips.
“I don’t want to sound like a jealous mate,” I said, looking at the forest. “But how did you get involved with Angelica?”
Alex let out a deep breath, and my gaze moved to find his as he stopped.
Was it a sensitive subject?
“It was many years ago,” he said, knitting his eyebrows together, thinking. “I was around the age of ten, if I remember correctly.”
We started walking again.
“I got lost in the forest, and that night we had a major storm,” he continued. “I eventually found the river and knew if I followed it, I would find my way back to the pack.”
Alex stopped, his eyes closed, and his face scrunched in worry.
Was he reliving the events?
“What happened?” I asked.
“The rain became worse, and eventually the river came down, washing everything away in its path,” Alex whispered. “I tried to swim, but it was no use. I eventually got pulled down into the water, and the last thing I remembered was a red flame and that my head hurt.”
Alex opened his eyes.
“I woke up with Angelica sitting next to me,” he said. “She had tended to my wounds.”
“Did she pull you out of the water?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I never asked her.”
I nodded in understanding and turned my attention to Willow. She had this funny look on her face, which meant she was overthinking something.
“So, Alex believes that he owes Angelica for saving his life?” Willow mused.
“Seems so,” I said, but was it even possible for an omega girl to pull Alex out of the water?
“Something doesn’t smell right,” Willow said.
About twenty minutes later, the sound of water could be heard, and it was close by.
“Is that a waterfall I hear?” I asked, feeling excited. Is that what Alex wants to show me?
“Yeah, one of the biggest in the area,” he said.
“Are we going to see it?” I asked, hopeful.
I love waterfalls. The downpour always fascinated me, as did the amazing scenery.
Alex nodded, while excitement started to bubble up inside me.
The forest suddenly opened, revealing a beautiful waterfall and a huge white building, like a temple.
My bewildered gaze snapped toward Alex, and a smile formed on his lips. He was hoping that would be my reaction.
“Is that?” I gasped, my eyes turning huge.
“It sure is,” he said.
“But how?” I asked, bewildered. “When did you discover it?”
I could not contain my excitement anymore; so many questions were going through my mind. I wanted to know everything about this magical place.
Alex kept quiet, and it made me frustrated. I guess he wanted to tell me when we were down below.
We followed a small, overgrown trail down to the white temple, and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I stood in front of it.
Two huge white marble sculptures greeted us at the entrance. They looked heavily dressed in armor and a bow and arrow-typical Lycan warriors wear.
“They are not…” My voice trailed off out of shock.
“No,” Alex said, amused. “Their Lycan, like you and me.”
“Alex,” I said, stopping in my tracks, my eyes pinned on the building in front of me.
Alex turned his gaze toward me, shifting his head to the side, and patiently waited for me to find the words to express myself.
“There are no Lycan temples left,” I said, looking at him. “Did you build this one?”
“No,” he chirped, shaking his head. “This temple is the last one in existence.”
“But how is it possible?” I asked, still denying the fact that I was looking at the precious building.
“The temple is protected by old Lycan magic,” Alex said. “Thus the reason why it still exists.”
“Magic?” I gasped in disbelief. “But how? Who is strong enough to hide such an enormous building in plain sight?”
“You will know soon enough,” Alex said.
The next second, Alex shifted into a beautiful black Lycan beast, threw his head back, and howled.
Who I met next brought me to tears.
****