The silence after Leo's words felt heavier than the fight.
"They'll come after you again."
It echoed in my head.
Over and over.
I swallowed slowly. "Start talking."
None of them moved immediately.
That alone told me—
Whatever this was…
It wasn't small.
Evan was the first to step forward.
Of course.
"You shifted," he said calmly.
"I noticed," I replied flatly.
Kai let out a quiet breath, running his hand through his hair. "Not like that, you didn't."
I frowned. "Explain."
Leo's gaze stayed on me.
Sharp. Calculating.
"You didn't fully transform," he said.
"I've never done this before," I snapped.
"That's not the point."
My patience snapped.
"Then what IS the point, Leo?!"
Silence.
Then—
Evan answered.
"You moved like a trained wolf."
My chest tightened slightly.
"That's impossible."
"Exactly," he said.
Kai stepped closer, his voice lower now.
"And your eyes didn't just glow…"
He paused.
"...they changed."
A small chill ran down my spine.
"Changed how?"
This time—
Leo answered.
"Silver."
My heart skipped.
"Wolves don't have silver eyes," Evan added quietly.
"They don't," Kai confirmed.
I forced out a small laugh. "Okay… so what? I'm just different?"
No one laughed.
No one even smiled.
That's when it hit me.
This wasn't "different."
This was worse.
"What aren't you telling me?" I asked.
Leo's jaw tightened.
Evan's gaze softened slightly—but he didn't look away.
Kai just stared at me like he was trying to figure something out.
Then finally—
Evan spoke.
"There's only one kind of wolf with silver eyes."
My chest tightened.
"And?"
He held my gaze.
"An Origin."
The word meant nothing to me.
"…What?"
Kai exhaled slowly. "That's not supposed to exist anymore."
I frowned. "You're not making sense."
Leo stepped forward now.
Close enough that I felt it again—
The bond.
Strong. Steady.
Different from before.
"Origins were the first bloodline," he said.
"Before packs. Before ranks."
My stomach dropped slightly.
"Stronger," Evan added.
"Faster," Kai continued.
"Unstable," Leo finished.
I shook my head immediately.
"No."
But my voice wasn't convincing.
Even to me.
"They were erased," Kai said.
"Hunters, rogues… even Alphas," Evan added.
"Everyone feared them," Leo said.
My chest tightened harder.
"Why?"
This time—
They all answered in different ways.
"Because they couldn't be controlled." — Leo
"Because they broke bonds." — Kai
"Because they created them." — Evan
Silence.
My heart pounded.
"That doesn't mean I'm one of them."
But even as I said it…
I remembered.
The way the bond felt.
Not normal.
Not balanced.
Stronger.
Different.
Like it had its own will.
Evan stepped closer again.
Slow. Careful.
"You didn't just react to the bond," he said quietly.
"You affected it."
My breath caught.
Kai frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Evan didn't look away from me.
"When she touched us…"
"The bond didn't just activate," he continued.
"It changed."
Leo's expression darkened slightly.
I noticed.
"So what are you saying?" I asked.
Evan answered without hesitation.
"I think she's the reason we're all bound."
Everything went still.
My heart stopped for a second.
"…What?"
Kai blinked. "That's not possible."
Leo didn't say anything.
Which was worse.
"I didn't do anything," I said quickly.
"No," Evan agreed softly.
"You didn't choose it."
My chest tightened.
"Then why me?"
This time—
No one had an answer.
The silence stretched.
Uncomfortable.
Heavy.
Real.
Until—
Kai spoke again.
Low.
Careful.
"If this is true…"
I looked at him.
"…then you're not just rare," he continued.
"You're a target."
Leo's expression hardened immediately.
"They already know."
My stomach dropped.
"What do you mean?"
He looked at me.
Straight.
Serious.
"That rogue wasn't случай."
A chill ran down my spine.
"You're saying it came for me?"
"Yes."
Simple.
Final.
Terrifying.
Evan crossed his arms slightly.
"Rogues don't organize unless there's a reason."
Kai added, "And they don't risk Alpha territory for nothing."
My chest tightened again.
"So now what?"
Leo didn't hesitate.
"You stay close."
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
Kai smirked slightly. "Didn't you hear him?"
Evan's voice came softer.
"It's the only way to stabilize the bond."
I crossed my arms.
"And if I say no?"
Leo stepped closer.
Close enough that my breath caught slightly.
"Then you deal with it getting worse," he said.
His voice dropped.
"And next time…"
He glanced briefly toward where the rogue had been.
"…we might not get there in time."
Silence.
My heart pounded.
Because deep down…
I knew he wasn't wrong.
The bond pulsed again.
Stronger.
Heavier.
Like it was agreeing with him.
I exhaled slowly.
"…Fine."
Kai's smirk widened slightly.
Leo didn't react.
Evan just watched me.
Carefully.
But something in me whispered—
This wasn't protection.
This was the beginning of something bigger.
Something dangerous.
And somehow…
I was at the center of it.