Sophia’s POV
My heart raced as I stood there facing Tyler and Jake, my mind a whirlwind of emotions. The circumstances were far from ideal, and their presence in Shadow City only added to my anxiety. The werewolves here were not known for their warm welcome towards humans, and the thought of Alexander finding out about Tyler and Jake being here was enough to make my heart race.
“Why are you here?” I blurted out, unable to contain the worry in my voice.
Tyler exchanged a quick glance with Jake before responding, his expression serious. “We were worried about you. You disappeared, and we couldn’t reach you. We had to make sure you were safe.”
Jake chimed in with a playful grin, attempting to ease the tension. “Yeah, we thought maybe you found yourself a handsome boyfriend.”
I shot Jake a disapproving look, not appreciating his attempt at humor. “This is serious, Jake.”
Tyler’s gaze met mine, his eyes filled with concern. “We’re not here to cause trouble, but we need to know you’re okay.”
I couldn’t help but feel a mix of gratitude and concern at their words. I wanted to reassure them that I was safe, but the reality of the situation was complex and dangerous. “You shouldn’t have come here. It’s not safe for humans.”
Jake chuckled, seemingly unfazed. “Don’t underestimate us. We can handle ourselves.”
Frustration welled up within me, and I shook my head. “You don’t understand. This is a different world, and it’s not as simple as it seems.”
Tyler’s expression softened as he spoke gently, “We just want to help, Sophia. We’re not leaving without you.”
My heart ached at his sincerity, at the genuine concern they both had for me. But the truth was, their presence here was dangerous-for them and for me. I needed to make them understand.
“You have to leave,” I insisted, my voice firm. “It’s not safe here, especially not for humans.”
Tyler’s eyes held mine, a determined glint in them. “We’re not leaving without you. We’ve come this far.”
The tension between us was palpable, and in that moment, I felt torn between my worry for their safety and my own desires to keep them close. But before I could voice my concerns, Tyler and Jake exchanged another glance, and I could sense that there was more they wanted to say.
“We need to tell you something,” Tyler began, his tone serious. “We’re not just ordinary humans.”
I frowned, confusion evident on my face. “What do you mean?”
Jake’s grin faded, replaced by a solemn expression. “We’re werewolf hunters.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The words hung in the air, heavy with their implications. Werewolf hunters? The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and I felt a whirlwind of emotions-shock, fear, disbelief.
“No,” I whispered, unable to fully process their revelation. “That can’t be true.”
Tyler’s gaze held mine, his expression filled with regret. “It is true. We’ve been tracking the werewolves, trying to understand their world and their movements.”
My mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. Tyler and Jake, werewolf hunters? It seemed like a cruel twist of fate, an irony that was almost too much to bear.
“We know about Alexander,” Jake added, his voice soft but determined. “We know he’s the Alpha of this place. And we know about your child.”
I felt a lump forming in my throat, and I struggled to find my words. “How… How did you find out?”
Tyler sighed, his gaze never leaving mine. “We have our sources. And we know that the werewolf hunter organization is planning something big. They’re targeting the werewolves, and if they find out about your connection to the Alpha, you’ll be in danger.”
Fear gripped me, and my mind raced with the implications of their words. The organization was powerful, and if they learned about my child with Alexander, the consequences could be catastrophic.
“We need to get you out of here,” Tyler urged, his concern evident in his eyes. “It’s not safe.”
I felt torn between the danger that surrounded us and the desire to protect the secrets I had kept hidden.
My mind was in turmoil, struggling to process the bombshell revelation that Tyler and Jake had just dropped on me. My secret, the carefully guarded truth about Alexander’s identity, had been known to them all along. It was as if the walls that had shielded me from the world were crumbling down, leaving me exposed and vulnerable.
“I… I can’t believe you knew,” I stammered, my voice trembling with a mix of shock and disbelief. “How long have you known?”
Tyler exchanged a solemn look with Jake before Tyler responded, his voice gentle but regretful. “We found out a while ago. We’ve been tracking werewolf activities for some time now.”
The weight of their words settled heavily upon me, and I felt a flush of embarrassment wash over me. All the times I had tried to protect the secret, all the efforts I had made to keep Alexander’s true identity hidden from the world-it had all been in vain.
I lowered my head, feeling a deep sense of shame. “I should have been more careful… I should have been better at hiding it.”
Tyler’s expression softened, and he reached out to gently lift my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. “This is not your fault. We’re here to help, not to blame you.”
I appreciated his reassurance, but the truth remained that my secret was no longer mine to bear alone. And now, Tyler and Jake were thrust into this complicated world of werewolves and humans, putting themselves at risk.
Feeling a mixture of emotions-gratitude, concern, and a tinge of desperation-I finally voiced the question that had been lingering in my mind. “So, what now? What’s the plan?”