"Are you okay? I heard your voice," he said as he walked in holding a cup.
She retracted her claws, and the pain that shot through her arm made her realize she was also bandaged on her arm.
"I am okay… I had a nightmare," she retorted as she settled back on the bed.
Evans nodded, then walked in, closing the door behind him with one hand. He walked to his bed and handed her the cup of warm tea gently. "You should take that. I made an order for food… I don't know if you'd like what I wanted to cook, so… the rider will be here any minute."
She nodded, then watched as Evans sat on the chair beside the bed. He had a black shirt on, so she couldn't see his wound. "You almost died last night. Why can't you obey a simple instruction?"
"I will live… you almost died too," he replied simply. "If I knew that man was so dangerous, I wouldn't have called you."
Her eyes snapped back to his. "He threw you out of the window. You think you'll live if you land on the floor?"
Evans held her gaze. "You also wanted to die helping me."
A faint smile appeared on her lips as she sipped the tea. "I've survived worse moments than that."
Evans did not reply. Instead, he leaned forward, curiosity drawn on his face.
"Who was that man, and why are you helping me?"
Her expression changed as she lowered the cup in front of her. "I don't think that matters now."
"If you are talking about his body, I've buried it, and I've cleaned everywhere where the blood was because you asked me not to involve the police. Can you please tell me what you know?" Evans explained.
Her expression remained the same, and she shrugged her shoulders. "You are doing well."
"I should be in class right now, but I can't… because creepy people are after me," Evans proclaimed calmly. "He knew everything about me. My father, my mother, and he even said something about Alpha's don. What does that mean?"
Her fingers tightened against the cup, then she shifted her gaze to him. "You are not an ordinary person."
"I know… and before you continue, what is your name?"
She hesitated, then replied, "Ophelia."
Evans nodded. "Please go on."
"Your father… was the Alpha of the Nightshade pack, and you're his son."
Evans furrowed his brows. "What are you saying?"
She heaved a sigh. "I know this is hard for you to accept, and I've been looking for a way to tell you, but today is the right day. Your father was the Alpha of the Nightshade pack, and you are his son. You are one of us."
Evans did not flinch. Then he let out a dry laugh. "Are you pulling my legs? Me? One of you… you mean one of those things from last night?"
"Yes, but you are greater than that."
Heavy silence stretched between them. The ticking of the wall clock hit louder, and sweat gathered at Evans' brows. He knew she was dead serious.
Evans stood up immediately and then ran his hands through his hair. "You are wrong… that is not right. My parents are normal. My life has been normal, even though it has been tragic, I've lived a normal life…"
"You have never lived a normal life, Evans," Ophelia cut in calmly. "Your parents are not normal. They just hid their true self."
"What are you even saying?"
"You see visions, don't you?" she inquired, her eyes fixed on him.
Those words hit him.
The memory of his sister lying in a pool of her blood… how helpless he felt.
"It is not just a random gift someone just has. It is tied to what you truly are," she added.
Evans stopped, then swallowed the lump in his throat. "Then… what am I?"
"You are a werewolf."
That word struck Evans like a death sentence.
He blinked twice, then let out a laugh. "What werewolf? I admit that you are one, but I'm not one of you… I see visions, but…"
Ophelia didn't react to his denial. She had expected it, but she had also prepared herself to face this moment.
"The Nightshade pack wasn't ordinary, Evans. Your father wasn't just any Alpha… he was the most feared. He ruled his pack with justice, and till now, his name sends shivers down his enemies' spines," she explained calmly.
Evans stopped pacing. He ran his hands through his hair as he sat back on the chair.
"Why didn't I know? No one told me… I was oblivious to all of this," he let out in a low tone.
Ophelia's expression softened. "Because you were hidden."
He furrowed his brows. "Hidden?"
"Yes. You were hidden from all of the packs. After your father died, the pack fell apart. Only the truthful and faithful ones stayed. Enemies came after his bloodline, even though we tried our best to exterminate most of them, a few found you," she answered back softly. "Your mother hid both you and your sister, but they found her… she had to do what she could to suppress your wolf after your sister's death. She raised you as a normal human."
Evans' chest tightened. "My mother?"
"She was protecting you. If you were my son, I'd do the same…"
Evans' expression darkened. "Don't put yourself in my shoes." He then added, "That man… was he one of my father's enemies?"
"He was a hunter," she retorted. "He is not a normal kind… he was probably paid by one of your father's enemies to look for you and hunt you down. Their only mission is to kill."
"But why are they searching for me… I did nothing to them."
Ophelia paused, then said quietly, "You are the heir. You're the Alpha of Nightshade."
The word hit harder than anything else.
Is he an heir?
He felt it… something curled in his chest. Something unfamiliar. His fingers twitched as he shook his head slightly.